Present inspiring contemporary art in Portland, OR

Consider the accomplishments of 2012:

In February, YU and FearNoMusic presented “John Cage, 100 Years,” inaugurating the year’s programming throughout our landmark building.

In March, Paris collective castillo/corrales spoke to us on attitude and institution making.

In April, Common Room, a New York and Brussels based architectural office, designed our exhibition space.

In June, the SAUL STEINBERG exhibition opened. Stuart Bailey joined us for a talk on J.D. Salinger and Steinberg before the exhibition traveled to ARTSPACE in New Zealand.

In July, we opened, “, , , , , , ” a series of exhibitions about Scottish artist Ian Hamilton Finlay with selections by Will Holder. Caitlin Murray of the Judd Foundation, and Tim Johnson have since continued the series.

In July, we hosted an exhibition on Alvar Aalto at Alvar Aalto’s Mount Angel Library in rural Oregon.

In September, YU’s first Artist in Residency began with the curatorial team Cinema Project. CP has since activated our theater with over 45 films.

In October, the German artistMARIANNE WEX installed her first American exhibition which continues to Presentation House in Vancouver, BC.

In November, critic and poet Charles Bernstein gave a talk about his friend George Kuchar as part of our ongoing Kuchar Retrospective!

And more music: we presented performances by Ethiopian legend Mahmoud Ahmed (upon which Mayor Sam Adams declared May 5 “Mahmoud Ahmed Day”) and the British electronic musician Mark Fell. Portland’s Daniel Menche made a site specific sound piece and Patrik Czak performed Walter Marchetti’sNatura Morta. 

None of these programs were possible without the generous support of our members and friends. PLEASE JOIN US BY BECOMING A MEMBER OR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP TODAY.

2013 will be another ambitious year of bringing emerging and under-represented artists to Portland. By supporting YU, you support the creation of new culture.

Curtis Knapp & Steve van Eck
YALE UNION (YU)