Nationale — Local services in Portland

So, when you're trying to figure out which art galleries in Portland are likely worth your time, I strongly suggest adding Nationale to your list. It will be a short list, but Portland is a small city, really.

If you're like me, you're looking for a gallery with aesthetic vision, that won't just show whatever they think will sell. You're looking for art that will surprise you, puzzle you, cause your brain to activate. Art from artists you've probably never heard of but are happy you saw their work.

Nationale is that kind of gallery, and May, the owner, is as passionate as any gallerist you'll meet. She chooses her artists carefully but there's a wide variety to the kind of work she shows. It's worth the trip to East Burnside to see what she's showing. (Especially watch for any show by Pace Taylor, who has a sense of line and color that reminds me of RB Kitaj--in a good and original way.)

Oh, and she has a rich and interesting selection of books...

I love this gallery, I have followed May’s curatorial effort since she was in the tiny space on SE 28th & Burnside. She has introduced me to a wide array of Portland's artists, and I am so inspired by her gallery’s evolution. Any opening promises life and perspective-altering experiences whether it be a performance, film, lecture, or work exhibited in the gallery. I especially appreciate that gallery openings are generally now on a Sunday afternoon and kid-friendly, making them much more accessible and fending off any real art snobbery that might intimidate an on-looker. May was absolutely one of the pioneers of present-day Portland’s appeal and I am ever so thankful Nationale has found a home base. I will follow this project...

A gorgeous and intimate space within Portland's confines, ranging from the thoughtful curation of tone poem's musical offerings (ranging from CDs, vinyl, and cassettes) to an eclectic selection of poetry and biographies on display - not to mention its doubling as an art gallery for contemporary artists working to date. It's a place to truly escape from the buzz of everyday activity and absorb in a meditative...