The Rothko exhibit may be getting most the press, but upstairs at the Portland Art Museum is an equally spectacular exhibit, albeit of a different world entirely. Inspired by a dream, the California-based sculptor and filmmaker John Frame, who’s had retrospectives at the likes of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, created a dark, whimsical world unto his own, where sculpted characters blend human parts with animal and machine. Slowly, he’s bringing the characters to life in a stop motion animated film, playing sculptor, cinematographer, set designer, and composer. It’s an exhibition not to be missed, particularly if you’re a fan of Tim Burton, DreamWorks, LAIKA, Fantastic Mr. Fox, or the like.

Frame will be in town for a sold-out behind-the-scenes tour on Saturday, March 17 and a not-yet-sold-out talk on Sunday, March 18.

Frame walked me around the exhibit before it opened to talk about the world he’s created and his experience jumping from sculpture to stop-motion animation. I’ve paired his interview with photos of his sculptures and excerpts from his film.

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