Project Background: Artist Jodie Cavalier will bring her uncanny ability to translate the essence of an experience into evocative, minimalist sculptural form (picture a folded sheet of corrugated metal for a waterfall, a loosely tied sheet of rolled foam for a hug) to focus on the iconic postmodern architecture of the Portland Building itself.
Love it or hate it, the Portland Building is one of this country’s earliest postmodern icons, it is clearly distinct from other buildings with easily identifiable color, design and ornamentation details that immediately set it apart. Cavalier proposes to create a dialogue between its postmodern design and her minimalist aesthetic. By distilling the essence of this well-known Michael Graves monument and focusing on a select set of architectural elements—the signature small-format windows, the frequently repeated triangular shapes, and the distinct use of line and color—the artist hopes to build a bridge between two seemingly irreconcilable styles.
About the Installation Space: Each year the Portland Building Installation Space series reserves several exhibition opportunities for advanced students in fine art. The format and presentation requirements for these student installations are identical to those for established professional artists. The Regional Arts & Culture Council created this separate eligibility category to help introduce emerging talents to the world of public art. Jodie Cavalier is the first student artist to present work this season.
About the Artist: Jodie Cavalier is a Master of Fine Arts candidate in Visual Studies at Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) here in Portland, Oregon. Her research explores ideas of function, value, and the body through a combination of video, photography and installation. For more information visit www.jodiecavalier.com
Viewing Hours & Location: 7 am to 6 pm, Monday – Friday. The Portland Building is located at 1120 SW 5th Avenue in downtown Portland.
For more information on the Portland Building Installation Space Series including images, proposals and statements of all the installations selected since 1994, go to www.racc.org/installationspace.