Opb's State Of Wonder

This week, a tasty sound sandwich consisting of two ingredients:1) We've got advance coverage of the Seattle Art Fair with a Think Out Loud discussion on the Pacific Northwest's foray into the high-end art fair market. If you're just tuning in, art fairs have become a driving force in how artists and gallerists move new work. Seattle dealers are trying to connect with high-level patrons with their own four-day event. We hear from Portland gallerist Elizabeth Leach and art critic Jen Graves of The Stranger.2) Also we revisit a special show guest-curated by KMHD's program director Matt Fleeger, one of our favorite guys in the building. While he shapes the sound of Portland's jazz radio station, he's actually somewhat of a reluctant jazz guy. He'll share some top spins on his radar this year, talk about artists he thinks are breaking boundaries and show us some new ways to think about a traditional American form. • 13:35 - We talk about jazz past, present and future with bassist and composer Chuck Israels,

This is it, folks: we’re in the peak heat of the summer music season. PDX Pop Now is this weekend. Pickathon plucks through Happy Valley next weekend. Then there’s MusicFestNW, the Britt Festival, Sisters Folk Festival. It’s a never-ending cavalcade of lawn chairs and beer gardens and singers backlit by spectacular sunsets.Which is why we’re going to spend the hour hearing from some of the bands who’re currently ruling our playlists and also happen to be touring through this summer. 1:21 - Last week, we traveled to Joseph to record a show from the writers’ festival, Summer Fishtrap. In preparation, we started looking at some of the amazing artists linked to the area, and one in particular stood out. The band Joseph is made up of three sisters: Allison, Meegan, and Natalie Closner. Unlike many musical siblings, they didn’t grow up singing together, but you can't tell from their pristine harmonies. 10:40 - The band Calexico is named after the border town of Calexico, California, and their music is all ab

Every summer, writers from all over the country head to the base of the towering Wallowa Mountains for Summer Fishtrap, a conference about writing and the West. This year, they celebrated the 100th anniversary of the birth of one of the festival's founders, the journalist and historian Alvin Josephy, with the theme “Hidden From History: Stories We Haven’t Heard, Stories We Haven’t Told.”We couldn't resist the draw of a roadtrip to the mountains, so we invited a number of Fishtrap founders and visiting writers to join us for a live show at the Josephy Center for Arts and Culture. A round table with festival founders Kim Stafford (writer and Lewis and Clark professor) and Rich Wandschneider (former longtime Fishtrap director and now head of the Josephy library), as well as festival board president Rose Caslar, a Wallowa County native who took her first Fishtrap class at 15. They talk about Josephy's influence, the place of Western writing, the reaction to hanging a four-point buck rack in a Lewis and Clark C

This week, we take you behind-the-scenes at one of the city's most dynamic theaters, Artists Repertory Theatre, with a show recorded in front of a live audience on the Alder Stage.The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under the artistic direction of Dámaso Rodriguez, the theater has both expanded its resident artist company from five people to more than 20 and opened its doors to eight other performing organizations, from Profile Theatre and Hand2Mouth to Portland Revels and the Risk/Reward Festival.And at the center of what everyone's now calling "The ArtsHub" is Rodriguez. He is on a mission, and he lays it out for us this hour as guest curator. 0:00 - Rodriguez moved to Portland two years ago from Los Angeles, where he co-founded Furious Theatre Company and worked as associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He tells us about his original plans to grow Artists Rep's resident artists company — and how it's going thus far. 9:17 - Musical interlude by the band Bourb

We've got a picnic of music and news for you this week. So grab a plate; we're going to pile it high. Rumors flying about superstar mandolinist and Portland transplant Chris Thile's possible ascension as the next host of "A Prairie Home Companion." Portland Art Museum hires a new curator of Modern and Contemporary Art. Hip-hop artist Glenn Waco's day in court. Seasoned session man Dave Depper talks about stepping onto the big stage with Death Cab For Cutie. The band plays Portland's Edgefield on July 8th and then at Bend's Les Schwab Ampitheater on July 9th. Portland's oldest gallery, Quintana Galleries, prepares to close its doors, after 42 years representing Native American artists. Lidia Yuknavitch talks about her new book, examining war, and those who witness it. Other Lives drops in for an opbmusic session. Curator Henry Skerritt talks about "No Boundaries," the Australian Aboriginal abstract paintings on view now at PICA. KHMD's Neighborhood Series visits the Polyrhythmics. T

Who says the past is behind us? This week, creators are bringing new life to traditional forms.1:19 - We meet the dream team behind Cascade Record Pressing, Oregon's new vinyl record plant in Oregon City. 8:53 - We remember painter Shirley Gittelsohn with Oregon Art Beat, who died June 12. The celebration of her life will be held at Reed College on Aug. 1. 12:28 - OPB's All Things Considered Host Kate Davidson reports on Portland's no-pay phone, Futel Phones. 17:03 - We talk with New Orleans songwriting and producing legend Allen Toussaint. He's bringing his band to play the Safeway Waterfront Blues Festival on July 3 at 7 p.m. 29:52 - Oregon Shakespeare Festival mashes up the music of the Go-Go's with an Elizabethan comedy in a new play, "Head Over Heels," by Tony Award-winning playwright Jeff Whitty (he's a Coos Bay boy). 39:13 - Oregon Art Beat reprises a spellbinding story about painter John Simpkins, pursuing his practice in the Alvord Desert.42:33 - The high school jazz band to end all hi

This spring, Third Angle New Music knocked our socks off with its unique partnership with "New Yorker" music critic Alex Ross.In his history of 20th century music, "The Rest is Noise," Ross wrote about the role West Coast composers played in shaping classical music, as well as jazz and rock idioms, writing that, among other things, they expanded the boundaries of their era, creating work that still has power and playfulness in equal measures. So Third Angle put together a special program that included the likes of Steve Reich, Portland-born Lou Harrison, and more, and brought Ross to town to talk about the works between performances. Also on the show: Past and future — "The Goonies" persistent hold on Astoria, Oregon. It's a story in anticipation of our live show recording in Astoria on June 15.

We are stoked, stoked, and stoked about summer — too much good stuff happening. Here's what's coming up on this week's show to help you kick down the door on your weekend.1:33 - A quick hello to the entrepreneurs behind Cascade Record Pressing, the new vinyl record press in Milwaukie.2:37 - One Flaming Arrow — a new feast of a festival featuring music, vis art, film, and more from contemporary Native American artists. 7:40 - KMHD previews the Reed College Tango symposium. 19:13 - Zach Dundas dives deep into the world of Sherlock Holmes with his new book, "The Great Detective:The Amazing Rise and Immortal Life of Sherlock Holmes". 29:10 - Oregon Art Beat's Eric Slade profiles conductor Andres Lopera of Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Their season finale show is June 6 at the Newmark Theater. Watch the full Art Beat profile here. 34:54 - Artist Lou Watson unveils an experimental composition built around the sounds of Sandy Boulevard, from leaf blowers to how that McDonald's billboard would sing if it c

This week's crop of wonders finds the fantastic in familiar things, and the inspiration in the extraordinary: 1:00 - Karen Karbo is railbound! She's one of 24 writers out of 16,000 to score the first round of the Amtrak writers' residency. 3:00 - Walidah Imarisha and Adrienne Marée Brown on editing the sci-fi anthology "Octavia's Brood." 10:14 - Oregon Ballet announces that it's found a new home: the South Waterfront. 11:44 - What Are You Looking At? Namita Gupta Wiggers reviews work by Ai Weiwei at the Portland Art Museum. 19:19 - We remember Alvin Josephy, who laid the groundwork for Wallowa County's thriving cultural scene. 23:20 - KPAI's Morning Host Larry Duckworth introduces us to his favorite spins. 28:32 - From the Literary Arts Archives: Poet Mark Doty. 37:36 - opbmusic session with one of Portland's most dynamic new transplants, Robin Bacior. 44:30 - "Oregon Art Beat" introduces us to painter Gabe Fernandez.To read more, visit our site: http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/st

We kick off the Memorial Day Weekend (and dare we say summer) with a show about music and makers. 1:25 - Dan Vidmar of Shy Girls talks about his new mixtape release and the challenges of keeping emotional honesty in performance. 11:55 - Where are they? A screaming lack of women artists on the summer festival circuit.16:25 - Josh Lifton of Crowd Supply and Kelley Roy of ADX Portland on makers' mad month of May.26:50 - An opbmusic Studio Session with Helio Sequence.33:30 - Producer Aaron Scott checks in from the Southeast Oregon Symposium on the Arts and Economic Development.35:05 - Philip Glass, in conversation with Portland Opera General Director Christopher Mattaliano at a Powell's Books event.

Ready for some new? Here comes an hour of creative horsepower.1:17 - "Grimm" stars Sasha Roiz and Silas Weir Mitchell on their stage turn with PCS's "Three Days of Rain."7:25 - Just when we'd had our fill of post-apocalyptica, here comes Portland Playhouse with "Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play." It's an absurd send-up of the form, where "The Simpsons" have become the stuff of myth and legend, written by former Oregonian Anne Washburn.12:33 - Likewise, a fab new bar with bleachers for seating, serves up perhaps the first-ever bartender-in-residency program, inviting local artists to mix cocktails and creativity. Plus, one menu item includes shutting down the bar and driving to the coast for a seafood dinner. 24:45 - 1939 Ensemble expands to a trio and bowls us over with its new record.31:44 - Summer reading recommendations from Paisley's librarian. 34:54 - Celebrated author Kazuo Ishiguro ("The Remains of the Day" and "The Buried Giant," released in March) from the Portland Arts & Lectures Archive Project.

1:25 - Paige McKenzie, perhaps the Pacific Northwest's biggest homegrown YouTube star, talks about creating the runaway-hit series The Haunting of Sunshine Girl from her house outside Portland. She reads from her new YA novel on Saturday, May 9 at 4 p.m. at Jacobsen’s Books in Hillsboro.11:00 - We check in on winners of Bend's inaugural Cultural Tourism Fund grants — a brand new system of support for arts & culture organizations like BendFilm and Atelier 6000.18:55 - Opbmusic's Jerad Walker shares his love of one of Portland's newer musical transplants Other Lives. Their new album, "Rituals," reflects their newfound home. They play Monday, May 11 at Doug Fir.20:55 - PICA's debaucherous art party, the DaDa Ball, was legendary in its day. And now the contemporary arts organization is bringing it back for its 20th anniversary on May 16, calling it TaDaDa. We hear what all the fuss was about from some of its organizers. More info on the arty craziness and all night party here.30:45 - Los Portenos writing coll

This week we're mashing up past and present.2:07 - A Triangle Productions world premiere, "Storefront Revue: The Babes Are Back," tells the story of the anything-goes creative maelstrom that was Portland's Storefront Theater in the 70s and 80s. 12:30 - Video game developers large and small come together for a PIGSquad challenge: build a game in 48 hours. Sleep? Who needs it?21:17 - Katherine Boo talks about revealing the hidden world of a Mumbai slum in "The Beautiful Forevers" on "Think Out Loud" during a live show at Literary Arts.29:36 - Guster is just one of many national bands that come to Portland to record their albums with one of our talented record producers. In their case, it was at the Cottage Grove studio of producer Richard Swift, who also tours with The Shins and The Black Keys. During a recent opbmusic session, Guster talks about the role Swift played in their new album, which many critics have hailed as a modern update on their guitar pop sound.35:28 - Paisley School, which has a total K-12 st

Today's show feels a bit rough around the edges — in a good way, like rugged-smelling aftershave or good-quality field-dressed jerky. OK, maybe it's not quite so chewy as all that, but every bit as satisfying. For links and more details about the stories below, visit our page: www.opb.org/radio/programs/stateofwonder/segment/state-of-wonder-apr-25-2015/1:21 - Etsy's IPO roils the waters among makers and sellers. Check out the great story our friends at "Rendered" produced about this!4:02 - A panel of the federal court of appeals issues a decision against The Slants' trademark case.6:19 - University of Oregon physicist/psychologist Richard Taylor has discovered that computers can determine a real Jackson Pollock from a fake based on mathematic patterns called fractals. 13:25 - opbmusic premieres a new video project with Oregon bands performing on location in state parks. It's called Road Sessions, and it's spearheaded by Weather Machine frontman Slater Smith.16:23 - "Oregon Art Beat" gets (hexen)beastly on the

00:40 A Wonderful tour through PLAYA - Summer Lake. it's a residency program for artists and scientists, the kind of place where time stops and ideas hit the ground running. 34:00 Revolution Hall, a new music venue that hits the sweet spot on Portland's music venue map. 43:50 Rick Bartow gets a retrospective at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

This is the show you've been waiting for! And we, at least, can't wait any longer:1:15 - Sleater-Kinney joins us in the studio. All three members. Swoon.19:35 - The NW Film Center kicks off the festival Essential Gus Van Sant (and His Influences). Film critic Shawn Levy and writer Mario Falsetto, author of "Conversations with Gus Van Sant," join us in the studio to talk about Portland's cinematic bard.29:07 - A crazy indie-choir crossover strikes April 18 when local musicians Alan Singley and Sama Dams joins forces with the 150-voice Camas High School choir to perform new works by local bands and international composers. It's called "Joined Voices."37:30 - "Oregon Art Beat" takes a look at the emerging artist Samantha Wall, whose striking portraits of women spark the imagination.43:40 - Superstar choreographer Darrell Grand Moultrie has worked with everyone from Beyonce to Harlem Dance Theatre, and now he's bringing his moves to OBT's spring show, Impact.

Wonderous sounds this week! And feasts for the eyes, too.1:30 - Damien Rice talks about finding his way back to music with "My Favorite Faded Fantasy," a much-anticipated record — and his first in eight years. He's at the Keller Auditorium on April 20th.8:45 - We drop in on a rehearsal with two of Portland's best known actors, Isaac Lamb and Rebecca Lingafelter. They have a growing body of collaborations (they seem to always play either lovers or siblings), including Third Rail Repertory Theatre's new production, "Belleville," which they perform in the evenings while Lamb directs Lingafelter in rehearsals for the one-woman show "Grounded" by day. 18:10 - We update the case of Larry Ulvi, the Portland man who's accused of wire fraud. Prosecutors say they believe he forged works by Mark Tobey and other artists.22:05 - As part of Portland Photo Month, we talk with two excellent artists with shows this month. Photographer Colleen Plumb explores the relationships between humans, animals, and the natural world at B

We’ve got a special show for you this week: it’s the Wonder homage to fiction. With the Oregon Book Awards coming up on April 13, we spend the hour with the five finalists for the Ken Kesey Award for Fiction.The group is made up of three debut novelists, two poets, and one past winner of the fiction prize. We've talked with three of them before, and we brought the other two into the studio to round out the cohort.1:20 - Willy Vlautin is as skilled and prolific a polyglot as they come. His band Richmond Fontaine has released 10 studio albums; he’s penned four critically acclaimed novels including “Lean on Pete” which won both the Oregon Book Awards’ fiction prize and Reader’s Choice Award in 2011. Hollywood made a movie out of his first book, “The Motel Life.” In this conversation he tells us why he continues to write about hard-luck characters in "The Free" and what it is like to write bar songs for his new band, The Delines, who play Thursday, April 16 at Kelly’s Olympian in Portland.11:35 - Cari Luna start

This week, we take you behind-the-scenes at one of the city's most dynamic theaters, Artists Repertory Theatre, with a show recorded in front of a live audience on the Alder Stage.The longest-running company in town has hit a creative artery. Under the artistic direction of Dámaso Rodriguez, the theater has both expanded its resident artist company from five people to more than 20 and opened its doors to eight other performing organizations, from Profile Theatre and Hand2Mouth to Portland Revels and the Risk/Reward Festival.And at the center of what everyone's now calling "The ArtsHub" is Rodriguez. He's on a mission, and he lays it out for us this hour as guest curator. 0:00 - Rodriguez moved to Portland two years ago from Los Angeles, where he co-founded Furious Theatre Company and worked as associate artistic director of the Pasadena Playhouse. He tells us about his original plans to grow Artists Rep's resident artists company — and how it's going thus far. 8:39 - Musical interlude by the band Bourbo

Everything looks different this week somehow — bigger, brighter, more vivid. Is it us? A new projector? A bird? A plane? Or is it the Wonder? Come hear what we have for you: 1:13 - Oregonian reporter Bryan Denson tells us about a breaking art forgery caper. 5:34 - The Hollywood Theatre raises the curtain on its new 70mm projection system with "2001: A Space Odyssey." We hear about the treasure hunt behind tracking down the now defunct technology. Well, almost defunct: the Hollywood might just debut Quentin Tarantino's new film with it, too 15:29 - New in paperback: Rene Denfeld's affecting novel of prison life,"The Enchanted." 23:49 - KMHD sits down with Nicholas Payton for "A Jazz Life." 27:26 - More details on which historic figures will represent Oregon at the National Statuary Hall Collection. 33:23 - Feast on an opbmusic session with Ural Thomas & the Pain as the band goes on tour around the state for McMenamins' Great NW Music Tour. 37:28 - Painter Roger Shimomura's vibrant, pro