NORTH POLE STUDIO // Colors of Spring

Featuring artists Ocean Stever, Dan Tran, Nathan Ueno, Doug Wing, & Davis Wohlford
Curated by Laura Popescu, Nationale Community Coordinator thanks to a recent Make|Learn|Build Grant from RACC 

On view in the Project Room March 5–April 3, 2022

Winter’s end invites the slow warmth of spring to approach. The plants on our windowsill ache to fall under the sunspots reflected through the glass. Ducks in our local park’s pond gather in groups to float together as we follow their peaceful path through the sparkling ripples along the water. The transitioning of seasons can symbolize a greater change in one’s life. For many, the warm tones of spring can lead to greater promises of memories spent in the sun, finding beauty in the everyday scene. The group exhibition Colors of Spring, featuring five artists from North Pole Studio, is meant to connect the viewer to scenes that spark liveliness, warmth and subjects that inspire us to focus on romanticizing the simple moments of life through a creative lens.

Colors of Spring marks Laura Popescu’s debut project as Community Coordinator. Since July of last year, Popescu has been supporting Nationale on Sundays, while developing her skills as an independent curator by meeting and reaching out to other curators and creatives within the diverse arts community in Portland. Thanks to a recent Make|Learn|Build Grant from Portland’s Regional Arts and Culture Council, Popescu will organize and present three shows in Nationale’s Project Room. Being able to work alongside the individuals at North Pole has been an honor, as Popescu believes their mission to promote the narrative of diverse perspectives is essential to supporting the arts community as a whole.

North Pole Studio is a women-owned nonprofit arts organization focused on supporting neuro-divergent adults who participate as active members of the arts community. The studio was founded in collaboration with Davis Wolhford, whose pieces Clown, Sheep in Field, and Sitting Ducks are presented in Colors of Springs, and who worked on designing a studio supportive of diverse sensory needs. Located in the collaborative building of NW Marine Art Works, the space is meant to create a close connection directly with artists in the community through proximity, mentorship, and exhibition opportunities. Art facilitators and volunteers dedicate their efforts to uplifting artists as they explore their creative practice and access professional developmental opportunities. North Pole Studio hosts three separate programs for exhibiting artists, young adults, and main studio artists in addition to weekly classes. Through these resources and a strong foundation of artists and facilitators, North Pole Studio fosters self-determined individuals to overcome the access barriers that separate creatives with disabilities from the arts community. 

At North Pole Studio, neurodiversity is not only accepted but valued; diverse perspectives and experiences are recognized as a strength. Co-founder Davis Wohlford identified the North Pole Studio’s values as compassion, kindness, honesty, bravery, and most of all, magic. Our community strives to practice these values every day.

ARTISTS’ BIOs
Ocean Stever is a writer and visual artist from Gresham, OR. Her writing and artwork serve as a vehicle to explore several themes, most notably color and deeper meaning in her personal life. In her most recent work, Stever uses paint and paint pen to explore the interplay of layered colors. In addition to paint, Stever works in digital art, textiles, and collaging. Stever started with North Pole Studio by taking classes in May 2021 and transitioned into becoming a studio artist soon after. 

Dan Tran is an origami expert, dabbles in spray paint, and is passionate about cooking. Tran is incredibly knowledgeable about historical and current events, as well as pop culture. References to Vietnamese history and culture are often woven throughout his work. Tran is self-taught and has an intuitive understanding of layout, composition, and color. Most recently, Tran has expanded into still life painting, depicting scenes of organic matter and seasonal meals. Tran has been creating at North Pole Studio since May 2021. 

Nathan Ueno was born and raised in Portland, OR. Ueno works across a variety of materials with rich color such as paint, pastels, markers, and colored pencils. Ueno’s work is characterized by his symbolic interpretation of the world around him and bold blocks of color. This is where he explores his interests including maps, calendars, sports, music, sun and sand, and nature. Ueno has been creating at North Pole Studio since 2021.

Doug Wing is a lifelong artist working across a variety of mediums, most notably in photography and paint. Wing works both at the North Pole Studio and in his home studio in Canby, OR, which is covered in his photographs and paintings. Wing’s abstract paintings are marked by blocks of carefully planned colors, bold lines, and often a specific combination of letters. Wing is also an accomplished landscape painter.

Self-taught artist Davis Wohlford lives in southwest Portland and has been making art since childhood. Wohlford is a storyteller and all of his works reflect his most valued characters, stories, and morals. He works across a variety of mediums and is an aspiring filmmaker. Wohlford is North Pole Studio’s founding artist and serves on the board. He has been creating at North Pole Studio since April 2021.

Laura Popescu is a Portland-based emerging arts administrator and curator. She is hoping to receive her masters in art history, and wants to gain relevant curatorial experience while working at Nationale. As a first-generation graduate—her parents are immigrants and didn't attend college—Popescu is focused on contributing exhibitions to support local underrepresented communities and bring recognition to the diverse art community Portland has. She is keen on providing an outlet for artists to create a space to share their narratives and build their network. Popescu would like to thank Sula Wilson, Mary Ellen Anderson, Jamie Jackson, and all of the incredibly talented artists and supporters at North Pole Studio, as well as RACC, for their ongoing support and inspiration.

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