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From our sponsors at Benjamin:
Adaptation: Group Exhibition of Art Inspired by Authors
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 7, 5-8 p.m.
Exhibition: Thursday, July 7 through Saturday, July 30

Benjamin Benjamin Art Gallery
1720 NW Lovejoy Street
www.benjaminbenjamin.com

Creative and artistic people are often remarked for their powerful imagination, frequently manifested in the ability to visualize the real and unreal in their minds eye. Because of this, the draw of literature and love of the written word seems to be natural for artists. The words taking life in their thoughts, with vibrant shapes, colors, smells and inflection that are for the artistic mind intense and at times all encompassing.

Nine artists were collected, each tasked with creating visual art inspired by their favorite author, whether it be a portrait of the writer or an image from the literature itself.

The opening of the show will be celebrated on Thursday July 7th from 5-8PM, and will feature beer from local brewery Upright Brewing. Upright Brewing specializes in farmhouse inspired beers rooted in France and Belgium but made with local ingredients and a Pacific Northwest twist.

Below are the artists and their chosen authors:

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Casey Burns: Fresh off Scion Installation in Culver City in Culver City, Casey returns to his home base city of Portland. The award-winning illustrator, fine artist, printmaker and graphic designer is among the most popular figures in contemporary art, and any chance to see him here in the Northwest should not be missed. His subject, Raymond Chandler, mastered the American detective story and created some of literature's most beloved protagonists, including Phillip Marlowe.

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Johnny Acurso: The Oregon native had no hesitation when asked which author he wanted to paint: Haruki Murakami. Anyone familiar with Johnny's work from the Society of Illustrators Los Angeles or his work with Time-Out New York, McGraw Hill, The Portland Mercury or MTV will agree this is a perfect pairing. Johnny, who comes from one of the western most points of earth, has a style marked with fascination of the exotic and far away eastern culture that is perfect for interpreting the works of the award winning author from Japan.

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Scott Chase: Scott Chase uses charcoal and pencil to create portraits. His pictures are very real, and that trueness captures not just the beauty of the person but the imperfections that make us human. These are the exact same attributes most often used to describe Charles Bukowski's writing. A perfect match? Absolutely!

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Tim Doyle: Sometimes fate intervenes, delivers a perfect situation. Tim Doyle, the Austin Texas resident is already a gallery favorite due to his very popular prints, and was already working on a series about Kurt Vonnegut. Tim brings the rare combination of limitless talent and cleverness. Tim is recognizable from his work for companies such as Creature Design, The Astor Theatre, ABC/Disney's Lost Poster project and Mattel's He-Man art show in Los Angeles.

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Adam Hanson: This Chicago based artist best known for his gig posters will take aim at literatures biggest rock star: Edgar Allen Poe. Whether doing work for Dashboard Confessional, The Get Up Kids or Glitch Mob, Adam manages to strip things down to simple images that capture sheer joy of the experience, whether it is a rock concert or a good read.

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Antonia Manda: An artist who has illustrated books, is an avid reader and has been with The Benjamin Benjamin Gallery since day 1? Antonia is all of these! Her colorful layers are one of a kind, and so popular among our gallery patrons that she is considered by some to be our gallery's signature artist. Her subject: Pulitzer prize winner and American writing treasure Willa Cather.

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Elvis Panther: Is one of the newest and most exciting artists in the Portland scene. His work is edgy, punchy and absolutely mind blowing. His subject is the elusive and mysterious Austin Osman Spare, best known for his invention of symbols, automatic writing devices and theories about the relationship between the conscious and unconscious mind.

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Susan Reagel: Fans of art will appreciate the difficulty of Susan's work: she uses imagery to tell an entire story, often featuring places or creatures that have never existed. Her subject matter is primarily dark and warning fairy tales. These traits make Edgar Allen Poe's stories the perfect subject for her to bring to life.

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Bennett Slater: Bennett is an illustrator and designer currently laying down roots in Vancouver, Canada. His love of science fiction and old cartoons, coupled with his honed artistic skills make him the perfect artist to interpret Roald Dahl, and bring his comic universe to our gallery walls.