The Body Beautiful in Ancient Greece

Although The Body Beautiful is a traveling show that originated at the British Museum in London, its Portland installment admirably cross-pollinates with Northwest artists and arts organizations. This celebration of Classical statuary, vases and other artifacts partnered with Seattle sculptor and conceptual artist John Grade (winner of the Arlene Schnitzer Prize at 2011’s Contemporary Northwest Art Awards) and Oregon Ballet Theater. The result was a moving dance performance in October entitled Ekho. Choreographed by Christopher Stowell, it wove the myth of Narcissus into a homoerotic pas de deux, with two male dancers mirroring one another’s movements as if glimpsing one another on the glassy surface of a lake. Grade’s fabric-based sculptural set pieces exemplified a cross-disciplinary spirit all too rare in the Northwest art scene. Let’s hope these and similar endeavors continue. Closes Jan. 6.

 

Where: Portland Art Museum
Phone: 226-0973
Address: 1219 SW Park Ave.