EVENTS
2025
EVENTS AT A GLANCE
Architecture (ARCH)
Film
College of the Arts (COTA)
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA)
Art + Art History + Design (A+AH+D)
Music & Theater (M&T)
Community Partner (CP)
Event continues on multiple dates.
Events may be subject to change. Please check pdx.edu/arts for updates on specific events before attending.
Spring is a time of change – shifting from gray skies to pastel-colored buds on every tree, from quiet reflection to outward venturing. This season, however, many of us are experiencing a significant amount of disruptive change in the world. In the face of all this uncertainty, it can be tempting to retreat into inaction, drawing ourselves and our loved ones closer, and turning away from the outside world.
But despite this inclination, moments of beauty manage to unexpectedly sneak through our defenses and melt those protective layers – reminding us that we are made to feel, to experience, to be courageous, to love. Those moments of power and vulnerability are so often brought to us by the staggeringly beautiful notes of a piece of music; the lyrics of a poem that pierce us with emotion; the exquisite stroke of a paintbrush that penetrates the eye and settles deep within our hearts, or the graceful roofline of a building against the sky.
And so I turn, with purpose, to art in all its forms during these worrying times, and I invite you to do the same. Fortunately, right here at the College of the Arts, we have an abundance of inspiring cultural experiences to share. A seasonal highlight is always the PSU Opera spring production, and this year’s Puccini one-act operas will be no exception. From the exciting annual Film student showcase and a joyous Choir reunion celebrating Professor Ethan Sperry’s eventful 15 years at PSU, to thoughtprovoking Master of Architecture thesis presentations and fascinating Art History lectures on the art and architecture of Pompeii, we truly have something for everyone. Join us!
Leroy E. Bynum, Jr. Dean, College of the Arts Portland State University
On the cover: In the School of Architecture, Master of Architecture candidates spend their final year of this rigorous program designing a fully fleshed-out architectural project, addressing a pressing issue such as ecological or social resilience through research, investigation and design. On May 7–9, the 2025 cohort will present their thesis projects to invited juries, and on June 12, they will show off their work to the larger community in an exhibition-style event. Shown here, Rebecca Silk ʼ24 presents her thesis, a wetland basketry center demonstrating how architecture can facilitate a reciprocal relationship between people and plants. See pages 6 and 10.
TUE 1 THU 3 FRI 4 THU 10 FRI 11 TUE 15
Just Playin’ Around—Featuring the work of 11 contemporary artists, Just Playin’ Around is a peephole into some of the many ways in which art is play, play is art, and both are in all of us. The exhibition is curated by Nancy and Theo Downes-Le Guin. Runs through April 26.
JSMA | TIMES VARY | FREE JSMA AT PSU
Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize—This annual exhibition celebrates the work of recipients of the Arlene Schnitzer Visual Arts Prize. The 2024 recipients are Olivia DelGandio (MFA in Contemporary Art Practice: Social Practice, ʼ24), HD Garner (BFA in Art Practice, Comic Studies Certificate, ʼ24) and Michelle Jackson (BFA candidate in Art Practice, ʼ25).
Runs through April 26.
A+AH+D, JSMA | TIMES VARY | FREE JSMA AT PSU
Noon Concert: Percussion Area Recital—The PSU Percussion Ensemble presents a chamber music program for percussion instruments, including works with film projection. The program includes works by Garth Neustadter, with film projection by Kjell van Sice; Caroline Shaw; Anthony Chmielewski; John Psathas; Luis Rivera; and David Lang, with animation by PSU first-year percussionist Addi Mickalauskas.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Fridays@1—On most Fridays at 1:00 p.m. during the academic term, PSU School of Architecture students and faculty gather to hear from professional architects and designers, scholars, visiting artists, innovators and students in the program.
ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX
Noon Concert: Woodwind Area Recital—PSU Woodwind Area students perform their annual spring recital.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Fridays@1 See April 4.
ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX
Ko-ichiro Yamamoto Guest Artist Trombone Recital A performance by Ko-ichiro Yamamoto, an internationally renowned trombonist and the first Japanese trombonist to hold a principal position in a major American orchestra.
M&T | 7:30 PM | $20 GENERAL; FREE WITH PSU ID LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Virtue and vice: Prepare to be transfixed by PSU Opera’s springtime production of Puccini’s beloved one-act operas, “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi,” running April 18–27. The two operas make up two-thirds of Giacomo Puccini’s renowned “Il Trittico” (1918), a musical triptych exploring themes of death and deceit in Dante’s “The Divine Comedy,” which Puccini originally intended to be performed as a trio. A study in emotional contrasts, “Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi” showcase Puccini’s extraordinary dramatic versatility. From the heart-wrenching story of loss and maternal devotion of “Suor Angelica,” to the hilarious and biting tale of familial greed, jealousy and manipulation of “Gianni Schicchi,” this double bill offers a cathartic rollercoaster of emotions and musical brilliance.
“Suor Angelica” and “Gianni Schicchi” are graced by some of the most well-known pieces in the opera world – the tragic “Senza mamma,” sung by the grief-stricken Angelica over the death of her child, and “O mio babbino caro,” a proclamation of love by the character Lauretta in “Gianni Schicchi.” See page 4.
LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL WED 16
Ko-ichiro Yamamoto Guest Artist Trombone Master Class Internationally renowned trombonist Ko-ichiro Yamamoto will present a trombone master class for PSU students. See April 15.
M&T | 4:30 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Noon Concert: String Area Recital—Solo and chamber music performances by the top string students at PSU.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Fridays@1 See April 4.
ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX
Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi by Puccini See page 3. Additional performances on April 19, 26 and 27.
M&T | TIMES VARY | $45 GENERAL; $30 SENIORS; $20 STUDENTS
LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL
Noon Concert: Jazz Area Recital—PSU Jazz Area students perform their annual spring recital.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Show & Tell Design Lecture Series—At the Graphic Design program’s lunchtime lectures, design professionals share wisdom on current topics in the industry.
A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL
Outliers and Outlaws: Film Screening and Director Q&A See page 5.
FILM | 4:00 PM | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Fridays@1 See April 4.
ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX
Be Honest—Graphic Design students show their work at the 15th annual student portfolio showcase. It’s part portfolio show, part party, part open house, part alumni reunion, and all fun.
A+AH+D | 5:00 PM | FREE WIEDEN + KENNEDY
Friends of Chamber Music: META4—Based in Finland, this multi-prize-winning string quartet is known for its sonority, range of expression, and unity of voicing. Additional performance on April 29.
CP | 7:30 PM | $32–$59
Living out loud: From the 1960s through the 1980s, Eugene, Oregon, was a haven for lesbian-identified people seeking a supportive community where they could live and work with joy. Branded as outsiders by the larger culture, they built a safe harbor on their own terms – ultimately shaping mainstream culture and politics in the process.
PSU film professor and director Courtney Hermann’s new documentary “Outliers and Outlaws” uncovers the history of this resilient community. Through candid personal stories, the film reveals the power of courageous and creative living. The film premiered to a sold-out audience at the QDoc festival in November 2024, followed by a sold-out run of screenings at Cinema 21 in December. “Outliers and Outlaws” is part of the Eugene Lesbian History Project, an award-winning digital humanities project that also includes an oral history archive, a traveling museum exhibit and an online digital exhibition.
Join the School of Film and the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies Department for a public screening of “Outliers and Outlaws” on April 24, followed by a Q&A with director Courtney Hermann and guests on the theme “Queer Storytelling from the Archive.” See page 4.
THU 1 FRI 2 MON 5 WED 7
Show & Tell Design Lecture Series See April 24
A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL
Noon Concert: Piano Area Recital—Undergraduate and graduate piano students perform their annual spring recital.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Fridays@1 See April 4.
ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX
PSU Choirs: Horizons—Portland State’s Rose and Thorn Choirs’ final concert of the year, under the direction of Peter Freeman and Ian Timmons, includes songs about identity, evolution and vision from an array of time periods and genres.
M&T | 7:30 PM | $10–$20 ST. PHILIP NERI CATHOLIC CHURCH
Ex Fundamentis: The Evolution of Façade Masonry in Pompeii—M. Taylor Lauritsen, Ph.D., PSU adjunct assistant professor in art history, discusses the development of residential and commercial façade design in Pompeii from the late third century BC to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. See page 11.
A+AH+D | 4:00 PM | FREE ART BUILDING 200
Master of Architecture Public Thesis Presentations
See page 1. Runs through May 9.
ARCH | TIMES VARY | FREE SHATTUCK HALL
The art of now: The Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design at Portland State University celebrates the work of graduating students in the MFA Contemporary Art Practice (Art + Social Practice) and BFA Art Practice areas in the 2025 BFA/MFA Exhibition. Learn more about the work of these artists at gallery talks held weekly on Wednesday afternoons throughout the exhibition, which runs May 15 to June 7 at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU. The show kicks off with an opening reception on May 15. See page 7.
THU 8 FRI 9 WED 14 THU 15 SAT 17 TUE 20
Show & Tell Design Lecture Series See April 24.
A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL
Noon Concert: Voice Area Recital—PSU Voice Area students perform their annual spring recital.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALLL
Fridays@1 See April 4.
ARCH | 1:00 PM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL ANNEX
You’ve Got a Friend: Music of Carole King and James Taylor
M&T | 7:30 PM | PAY WHAT YOU CAN; FREE WITH PSU ID LOCATION TBA
2025 BFA/MFA Exhibition See page 6 Runs through June 7.
A+AH+D, JSMA | TIMES VARY | FREE JSMA AT PSU
Show & Tell Design Lecture Series See April 24.
A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL
Noon Concert: Brass Area Recital—PSU Brass Area students perform their annual spring recital.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Opening Reception: 2025 BFA/MFA Exhibition See page 6.
A+AH+D | 5:00 PM | FREE JSMA AT PSU
Single Reed Day—A day of master classes, lectures, workshops and more with PSU faculty members Barbara Heilmair (clarinet), Mark Pipes (saxophone), and Ed Protzman (director of bands). The event culminates in a joint concert including the world premiere of “Beyond The Red Carpet,” by Nicole Buetti, performed by the trio s’Zwitscherl, an ensemble featuring musicians from three different nations (Switzerland, Germany and Japan).
M&T | 9:00 AM | $5–$15 GENERAL; FREE WITH PSU ID LINCOLN HALL
Comics Confluence Festival—This inaugural festival, presented by PSU Film and Comic Studies students, features workshops and panels led by comics industry professionals, including Kelly Sue DeConnick, Brian Bendis, David Walker, Diana Schutz and more. Artwork will be on display, in addition to a film screening at the end of each day. Runs through May 18.
FILM | 2:00 PM | FREE LINCOLN HALL 315 AND 331
Noon Concert: Guitar Area Recital
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
THU 22
Show & Tell Design Lecture Series See April 24.
A+AH+D | NOON | FREE ART BUILDING 320 AND VIRTUAL
Noon Concert: Music Education Area Recital—Music Education majors and their efforts to learn secondary instruments are celebrated in this interactive concert.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
PSU Theater: Love and Information—In Caryl Churchill’s humorous, haunting, fast-moving play, over 100 characters in 57 vignettes explore what it means to be human in a world increasingly seduced by technology, data, and the virtual world. Preview May 22; opening night May 23. Additional performances through May 31.
M&T | TIMES VARY | PAY WHAT YOU CAN; FREE FOR STUDENTS BOILER ROOM STUDIO
Wind Symphony Spring Concert—PSU Wind Symphony performs with the Mount Hood Community College Wind Ensemble.
M&T | 7:00 PM | $10–$15; FREE WITH PSU ID SMITH BALLROOM
SUN 25 TUE 27
THU 29 FRI 30
PSU Chamber Choir: Weaving Past & Present See page 10
M&T | 4:00 PM | $25–$100 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Jazz Combo Nights—The Jazz Area Combos present a series of small group performances featuring a variety of jazz and contemporary music arranged or composed by students and faculty. Additional performance on May 28.
M&T | 7:00 PM | FREE STUDIO THEATER
Noon Concert: Composition Area Recital—PSU Composition Area students perform their annual spring recital.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
PSU Choirs: Completing the Canvas—Celebrate the vibrant growth of singing at Portland State and in the Portland community. Featuring works by Sydney Guillaume, Zanaida Robles, Elaine Hagenberg, and a sneak peek at an upcoming world premiere.
M&T | 7:30 PM | $10–$20 FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
SUN 1 TUE 3 WED 4 THU 5 FRI 6
A Collaboration Celebration—PSU Percussion Ensemble and Sonic Arts and Music Production studio present new works for percussion and live electronics. Soloists from the studio of Professor Tomás Cotik will present Portland-born composer Lou Harrison’s rarely performed Suite for Violin and American Gamelan.
M&T | 3:00 PM | $10 GENERAL; FREE WITH PSU ID LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
University Band Spring Concert—The University Band presents its spring concert, joined by the Portland Metro Concert Band.
M&T | 7:00 PM | $10–$15 GENERAL; FREE WITH PSU ID LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL
Rewire Festival—Sonic Arts and Music Production program students, in collaboration with PSU Theater lighting design students, present a songwriting showcase, large-scale sound installation and performances by the SAMP Laptop Ensemble. Continues through June 11.
M&T | TIMES VARY | FREE STUDIO THEATER AND BOILER ROOM STUDIO
Artist Talk and Exhibition: Xavier Pierce at KSMoCA KSMoCA’s Spring visiting artist, Xavier Pierce, PSU alum and first-grade teacher at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School, is an interdisciplinary artist who often paints and references his early interest in architecture.
A+AH+D | 10:00 AM | FREE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SCHOOL MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART (KSMOCA)
Noon Concert: Musicology Area Presentation—Research projects by music history/musicology students.
M&T | NOON | FREE LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Photobook Exhibition—PSU Photography students’ photobooks will be on display at this exhibition, with an opening reception June 5. Continues through June 28.
A+AH+D | 5:00 PM | FREE BLUE SKY GALLERY
Assembly: Art + Social Practice—PSU Art + Social Practice students present an annual conference featuring student-led events and workshops. Runs through June 7.
A+AH+D | TIMES VARY | FREE DOWNTOWN PORTLAND, VARIOUS LOCATIONS
School of Film Annual Showcase—An annual portfolio show and a curated showcase of the best in cinematic production and writing in the School of Film, offered both in person and online.
FILM | 3:30 PM | FREE LINCOLN HALL 121, STUDIO THEATER AND LOBBY
The major lift: This year, not only is Portland State’s award-winning Chamber Choir celebrating 50 years of creating exquisite, joyous music of the highest caliber, but 2025 also marks Dr. Ethan Sperry’s 15 years as Director of Choral Activities at PSU. On May 25, in a concert titled “Weaving Past & Present,” Chamber Choir alumni from the past 15 years will reunite in song, performing works by Eric Whitacre, Moses Hogan and Ēriks Ešenvalds, plus perennial favorites like “Precious Lord” and Ethan’s signature arrangements of “Balleilakka” and Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.” The concert is the final performance before the Choir embarks on its summer tour of Southeast Asia. See page 8.
PSU Jazz with Inara George—Jazz faculty and students perform original arrangements of work by nationally known singer-songwriter Inara George, joined onstage by George herself.
M&T | 7:30 PM | PAY WHAT YOU CAN; FREE WITH PSU ID LINCOLN PERFORMANCE HALL
The Oregon Chorale Presents Carmina Burana—The Oregon Chorale presents Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana,” featuring members of the PSU Percussion Studio. Additional performance on June 8.
M&T, CP | 4:00 PM | PRICE TBA LOCATION TBA
PSU Orchestra Candlelight Masterworks Series—The PSU Orchestra led by Ken Selden premieres a serenade for strings by retired PSU professor Bryan Johanson, and performs works by Mozart, Sibelius and Fauré, with special guest, pianist Julia Lee.
M&T | 3:00 PM | $20 GENERAL; $15 STUDENTS AND SENIORS; FREE WITH PSU ID LINCOLN RECITAL HALL
Master of Architecture Thesis Exhibition See page 1
ARCH | 10:00 AM | FREE SHATTUCK HALL 212
Art and Imagination: A Family Portrait from Pompeii Professor Diliana Angelova of University of California, Berkeley, discusses a family portrait from a Pompeian house buried by Vesuvius in 79 CE and the dynamic relationship between art, reality and imagination. See page 11.
A+AH+D | 5:00 PM | FREE ART BUILDING 200
YOUR GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCE SUPPORT THE COLLEGE OF THE ARTS
“Being awarded this scholarship is such an honor. It is validation that my efforts towards becoming a graphic designer are valued and it is encouragement to put my all into the last year of my degree.”
—Scholarship recipient, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Graphic Design, College of the Arts, Class of 2025
Your generosity plays a crucial role in uplifting our students and faculty in the College of the Arts (COTA), helping them achieve their dreams. With your support, they acquire the skills and develop the portfolios needed to serve as visionary leaders in an ever-changing world. By contributing to COTA scholarships, faculty research, initiatives, and programs, you help PSU cultivate the next generation of artists and sustain a vibrant, creative community. Thank you for making a difference!
Contact Kailin Mooney, Director of Development, at mooneyk@psuf.org or or 503.725.5031 for more information.
To make a gift, visit bit.ly/give-arts
Antiquarians will delight in two special lectures this term: M. Taylor Lauritsen, Ph.D. gives a talk, “Ex Fundamentis: The Evolution of Façade Masonry in Pompeii,” on May 5, and Diliana Angelova of UC Berkeley will present “Art and Imagination: A Family Portrait from Pompeii,” on June 12. See pages 6 and 10.
CAMPUS VENUES
1
Lincoln Hall
1620 SW Park Avenue
Boiler Room Studio—Room 55
Performance Hall—Room 175
Recital Hall—Room 75
Studio Theater—Room 115
Room 121
Room 331
Room 315
2
3
Smith Memorial
Student Union 1825 SW Broadway
Smith Ballroom
Fariborz Maseeh Hall (FMH) 1855 SW Broadway
Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU (JSMA at PSU)—
Ground Floor
4 Shattuck Hall
1914 SW Park Avenue
Shattuck Hall Annex
Room 212
5 Art Building
2000 SW 5th Avenue
AB and MK Galleries
Room 200
Room 320
TICKETS, PARKING & SAFETY
Tickets—Purchase tickets through the University Box Office at pdx.edu/boxoffice or 503.725.3305.
Parking at Lincoln Hall—The nearest parking is in PSU Parking Structure 2 (SW Broadway and Mill)
Parking Rates
Mon–Sat—$5 after 5 p.m. Sat—$7 all day Sun—$5 all day
Metered street parking is also available.
Health and Safety—Events at Portland State University follow health and safety protocol as set by local, state, and federal officials. Please check pdx.edu/arts for updates on specific events before attending.
OFFCAMPUS VENUES
Blue Sky Gallery 122 NW 8th Ave
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School Museum of Contemporary Art (KSMoCA) 4906 NE 6th Avenue
First United Methodist Church 1838 SW Jefferson Street
St. Philip Neri Catholic Church 2408 SE 16th Ave
Wieden + Kennedy 224 NW 13th Ave
