Arts & Culture

Reading Ahead

3 Upcoming Books by Portland Authors

Does your nightstand need a genre-bending food memoir, a wellness-obsessed sci-fi novel, and a first-person report of an adult autism diagnosis? Of course it does.

05/22/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Bookshelf

Riot Grrrl History in Kathleen Hanna’s Rebel Girl

The Portland-born musician’s memoir details ’90s Olympia, Bikini Kill, life on tour, and some serious trauma and healing.

05/17/2024 By Margaret Seiler

Life’s Fictions

Miranda July in Conversation with Portland Novelist Chelsea Bieker

“A feeling of recklessness is what made me write it down,” July says of her latest novel, All Fours. “I’m pointing at a thing and calling it out.”

05/15/2024 By Chelsea Bieker Illustrations by Becki Gill

Interview

‘Unlikable’ Narrators and the Impossible Expectations of Motherhood

Portland author Kimberly King Parsons unpacks her hotly anticipated debut novel, We Were the Universe.

05/10/2024 By Michelle Kicherer

Down the Aisles

11 Portland Authors’ Favorite Indie Bookstores

Where do Renée Watson, Dane Liu, Erica Berry, and Jon Raymond shop for books? Hint: it’s not Amazon.

05/06/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

As Told To

In ‘skin & bones,’ Renée Watson Writes for Her Devout Readers’ Parents

"I’m always writing for that little girl who needed to see herself and her ancestors represented in stories."

05/03/2024 By Matthew Trueherz Photography by Michael Raines

First-time Caller

Alison Roman Is in Her Advice Hotline Era. We Got Her Portland Tips.

Her podcast is called Solicited Advice, and that’s exactly what we did.

05/01/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Tradesies?

Soho House Deals in Social and Cultural Capital. But It Trades for Art.

With nearly 150 works from Portland’s biggest artists, the social club’s art collection paints a picture of the current art scene.

04/30/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Required Reading

Must-Visit Portland Indie Bookstores

Our list of more than 20 shops spotlighting the African diaspora and children’s books, sci-fi and fantasy, artist monographs, comics, and…yarn?

04/24/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Self Portrait

Y La Bamba Calls In from Mexico City

“Leaving the US has been the biggest blessing for me,” they say. “It’s like I’m in a different portal.”

04/19/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

For Kicks

Back to the Future and into the Metaverse: 100-Plus Years of Sneakers at PAM

Marty McFly’s Nikes, those Big Red Boots, and a few pairs that literally don’t exist have plenty to tell us about ourselves.

04/12/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Awards Season

Erica Berry and Patrick deWitt Are among the 2024 Oregon Book Awards Winners

Kwame Alexander presented seven Oregon authors with new badges to add to their book covers at Monday’s ceremony.

04/10/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Our TED Talk

The Most Anticipated Talks and Performances of TEDxPortland 2024

A Jordan executive, Y La Bamba, and two James Beard Award winners are billed for the annual event.

04/03/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Slow Burn

How Writing Romance Helped Alison Cochrun Embrace Her Queerness

The former high school English teacher, raised and based in Vancouver, is now a full-time author of love stories.

03/29/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Busking for Permits

Johnny Franco Wants to Lick the City’s Wounds with His Guitar

A Brazilian immigrant campaigns for a vibrant city, by way of free concerts.

03/29/2024 By Michelle Kicherer

Self Portrait

Reyna Tropical Is in Concert with the Universe

Ahead of a new album, the guitarist and singer shares her healthy diet of ancestral dialogues, TikTok dances, and Sushi Ichiban.

03/27/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Old School

The Portland Art Gallery Where Age Is an Asset

Geezer Gallery (yes, it’s really called that), an exhibition space and arts center, is devoted to showing seniors’ work.

03/22/2024 By Matthew Trueherz

Golden Years

Can Third-Act Careers Work Out?

We asked artists, literary agents, career coaches, and gallerists about who succeeds in midlife creative careers.

03/20/2024 By Rachel Saslow Photography by Jason Hill

420-Friendly

This Guidebook Tours the Country’s Coolest Cannabis Destinations

In Green Scenes, Portlander Lauren Yoshiko scopes out cat-themed dispensaries, consumption-friendly treehouses, and chic smoke shops.

03/12/2024 By Rebecca Jacobson

Till Death

What Separates Tattoo Connoisseurs from Art Collectors?

For many patrons of the extraordinarily tactile medium, tattoos aren't so different from paintings.

03/11/2024 By Matthew Trueherz Photography by Jason Hill

Portland Monthly