Portland State Magazine, Spring 2021

SPRING 2021 // 17 PATRICK WEISHAMPEL ALISON HERYER ALISON HERYER SANTIAGO FORERO let the student decide whether they want to become a fashion A small sampling of Heryer’s designer or work in the entertainment industry or do concep- costumes includes (clockwise tual performance art,” she says. from top right) Portland Center To that end, she helps students tailor an educational expe- Stage’s production of “Sense rience that suits their desires. “I’ve got a student right now and Sensibility,” the photography who’s developing a portfolio around sustainable textiles where collaboration “The Olympic she’s creating her own leather out of mushrooms, weaving Games,” as well as “The Idiot” and dyeing grasses and creating shoes,” she says. Others are and “The Difficulty of Crossing pursuing inclusive and sustainable fashion, soft sculpture, live a Field,” both produced by the performance and stop motion. Students are also beginning to University of Texas at Austin. build portfolios around textiles for augmented reality, virtual reality and video games. “I love that students are thinking about how to create a new world within the industry,” she says. THE TEXTILE ARTS program is still small, but thanks to a signifcant donation of looms and other weaving equipment from the now defunct Oregon College of Art and Craft, Heryer and the School of Art + Design faculty plan to expand it.Teir goals include launching a certifcate program in conjunction with the School of Business and a pre- college program for high school students interested in apparel and textile design. Additionally, thanks to a gift from Sue Horn-Caskey and Charles F. Caskey that funded her professorship, Heryer plans to launch new outreach initiatives, including guest workshops on surface design and digital weaving that will be open to the public, as well as international collaborations, alumni support resources and open-source publications around issues of sustainability and inclusive design. “One of the reasons I came to PSU is its motto, ‘Let knowledge serve the city,’”Heryer says. With that ethos in mind, she is dedicated to making the Textile Arts program an asset to the University, the Portland creative community and beyond. —KAREN O’DONNELL STEIN EVENTS NOON CONCERT SERIES APRIL 1-JUNE 3 PDX.EDU/MUSIC-THEATER/NOON-CONCERT Experience the sounds of the School of Music and Theater in this weekly online concert series happening Thursdays at noon. Listen to student recitals in an array of instrumental concentrations, including piano, guitar, brass, composition, jazz and more. . PORTLAND IN CONVERSATION: THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE PUBLIC CITY APRIL 16-MAY 28 PDX.EDU/ARCHITECTURE/UD-SERIES The School of Architecture hosts a free online spring lecture series on urban design, part of the newly formed PSU Urban Design Collaborative, a joint effort of the School of Architecture and the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning. MFA/BFA SHOWCASE MAY 25-JUNE 27 PDX.EDU/ART-DESIGN/EVENTS Join the School of Art + Design in celebrating the work of graduating students in the MFA Studio Practice, MFA Art + Social Practice and BFA Art Practice programs with this digital exhibition. PSU FILM SPRING SHOWCASE STARTING JUNE 11 PSUFILMSPRINGSHOWCASE.COM The School of Film’s online showcase features award-winning student work and a portfolio show, where these emerging professionals share their work with friends, family, alumni and the media. LOUISE BOURGEOIS: WHAT IS THE SHAPE OF THIS PROBLEM? JULY 27-OCT. 24 PDX.EDU/MUSEUM-OF-ART/UPCOMING From the collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and his Family Foundation, this exhibition explores the haunting, expressive work of French-American artist Louise Bourgeois.