I recently had the opportunity to visit the Jordan Schnitzer Foundation in Northwest Portland twice within a week. Both visits were VIP events celebrating the art of Mel Bochner and the remarkable Jordan Schnitzer art collection. I was fortunate to return for a second time to explore the art warehouse at the back of the Collection. Jordan Schnitzer is a passionate advocate for the arts and STEAM education, and he led a special tour for some of us who support OMSI (https://omsi.edu). I was struck by his profound sense of gratitude and stewardship in sharing this incredible art collection with the public.
The Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation boasts one of the largest contemporary art print collections in the world. This collection is culturally significant, providing important access to artworks that are made available to the public through free lending exhibitions to other museums and institutions. This approach enhances public engagement with art, in contrast to the common practice of purchasing artworks for private spaces.
The Mel Bochner exhibition at the Schnitzer Collection was particularly impressive, featuring hundreds of pounds of paint compressed onto the prints. Bochner's words create connections in both expected and unexpected ways. Interestingly, this exhibit sparked more controversy than one that might present nudity; words, after all, can be weaponized and cut deeper than visuals at times.
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