Jennifer Gately, curator of Northwest art at the Portland Art Museum, has just released her final list of selectees for the Oregon Biennial 2006. The Biennial, to be held July 29-Oct. 8, is arguably the region's most important exhibition, with the power to win emerging artists valuable press attention and potential gallery contracts. Of the 760 artists who submitted work for consideration this year, only 34 made it onto Gately's pick list. The selectees are:

"This year's Biennial is dynamically different from past exhibitions with its range of mediums and intentions. It includes artists that represent a strong respect for history, and hints at shades of the future," says Gately.

Painting:

Pat Boas (Beaverton)

Michael Brophy (Portland)

Anna Fidler (Portland)

Kristan Kennedy (Portland)

Zack Kircher (Portland)

Lucinda Parker (Portland)

David Rosenak (Portland)

Storm Tharp (Portland)

Sculpture:

Brad Adkins (Portland)

Marcy Adzich (Eugene)

Benjamin Buswell (Portland)

Matt Clark (Portland)

David Eckard (Portland)

Heidi Preuss Grew (Salem)

K.C. Madsen (Portland)

Bill Will (Portland)

Amanda Wojick (Eugene)

Photography:

Holly Andres (Portland)

Mark Hooper (Portland)

Federico Nessi (Portland)

Shawn Records (Portland)

Video:

Grace Carter and Holly Andres (Portland)

Andrew Ellmaker and Mark Brandau (Portland)

Vanessa Renwick (Portland)

Installation:

Chandra Bocci (Portland)

Jesse Hayward (Portland)

Brittany Powell (Portland)

Mariana Tres (Portland)

Drawing:

Ty Ennis (Portland)

Matthew Picton (Ashland)

Laura Vandenburgh (Springfield)

Digital:

Emily Ginsburg (Portland)

Jo Jackson (Portland)

More than 760 artists from Oregon and Clark County, Wash. submitted slides including:

• 556 from Portland

• 96 from the Willamette Valley

• 41 from the Oregon Coast

• 40 from southern Oregon

• 19 from eastern Oregon

• 16 from Clark County, Wash.

The picks are ecclectic but not eccentric, ranging from established warhorses like Lucinda Parker to up-and-comers like Brad Adkins. Gately is to be especially commended for including Ashland artist Matthew Picton and Portlander Chandra Bocci, two of the most exciting artists working on the West Coast. The inclusion of David Eckard, who has a penchant for bizarre installation and performance pieces, should also enliven the proceedings.

Making this diverse group of selectees coalesce into a credible exhibition is a challenge that will occupy Gately from now well into the summer. For more on Gately, see WW's upcoming Q&A with the curator, which will hit newstands on Wednesday, March 22.

This story originally published to the web on 3/18/2006