"My images aim to be twenty-first century relics with roots in the vernacular past. In both content and execution, their purpose is to chronicle the imperfections and impermanence of daily existence, affirming that at its core, life is disorderly, unpredictable, absurd, sometimes disturbing, yet always interesting, and to paraphrase Gabriel Garcia Márquez, also the best thing ever invented—even as we seem to frequently do our very best to test the limits of this idea to the point of extinction.” When artist Peter B. Leighton was nine years old, he saw the science fiction film The Amazing Colossal Man for the first time. It is an unforgettable Cold War parable, featuring a US soldier who is accidentally exposed to nuclear radiation and subsequently morphs into a 60-foot madman before being destroyed by the US Military. Leighton notes this film’s unmistakeable effect on shaping his worldview of embracing the humor and absurdity of life in spite of its tragedies. This outlook also permeates the artist’s inventive series, Man Lives Through Plutonium Blast. For this body of work, Leighton digitally pieces together analog snapshots to create imaginary vernacular photographs of the twentieth century experience, complete with “monochrome men fallen from grace, ambivalent women standing on the cusp of empowerment and reinvention, and feral, free-range children born to run, all with the enduring threat of an end of the world as they know it circling high overhead.” Peter B. Leighton is an artist currently living and working in Tumbaco, Ecuador. In the 1970s he served as an assistant to photographer Tom Wright, who was a key figure in documenting the emerging rock scenes in 1960s Great Britain and the United States. Since the 1980s, Leighton has focused his attention on digital imaging as a viable process for fine printmaking, while also serving as a corporate e-strategist for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, and operating a fine arts digital imprint, Penny Prints Press, in Austin, Texas. This is Leighton's first exhibition of Man Lives Through Plutonium Blast. First Thursday Opening Reception April 7, 6:00–9:00 PM Artist Talks: Peter B. Leighton: Thursday, April 7, 5:00 PM Amanda Harman: Saturday, April 9, 3:00 PM

Come and enjoy one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, OPS Style! As always, all of our shows are free :) About the Company: Original Practice Shakespeare Festival is dedicated to bringing a new style of Shakespearean performance to the Portland area by reviving the old. When Shakespeare originally penned and performed his plays, theatrical practices were very different than modern audiences are accustomed to. First Folio editions of Shakespeare's plays include all the cues an actor needs to perform his or her role without rehearsal. This allows the truest reaction to the story as it progresses. OPS Fest performs using the same techniques as they did in Shakespeare's own time, which means limited rehearsal; an onstage prompter; fast paced, energetic acting; and lots of audience interaction. This lends a much more immediate, organic and improvisational feel to the performances. Come prepared to cheer, boo, and generally reply (as a group) to what you're seeing onstage - the OPS actors thrive on it! Forget whatever audience rules you've learned. That mythical "fourth wall" you've heard of doesn't exist in an OPS production.

Portland's own nine time award winning physical comedy company, A Little Bit Off (creators of Beau & Aero), presents Bella Culpa - a slapstick comedy that follows two peculiar servants in an Edwardian manor as they bustle around trying in vain to complete all of their chores. With a mess of silver buckets, a slew of uninvited furry guests, and impressive circus-style acrobatic flair, this off-beat comedy will leave everyone chortling. Like Downton Abbey Meets The Three Stooges. "Physical comedy at its best." - London Free Press We're thrilled to announce that White Collar Crimes will be opening the evening with a short scene from their touring show Perpetual Wednesday! A Little Bit Off and White Collar Crimes toured the much of the same Fringe circuit last summer, and will be tromping around to many of the same places again this summer. THE DEETS: Show at 7:30pm Doors just after 7 Online Tickets: $15 Adults / $12 Kids 12 & Under At the Door Tickets: $20 Adults / $15 Kids 12& Under Echo Theater 1515 SE 37th Ave, Portland, OR 97214 Link to Online Tickets: https://www.artful.ly/a-little-bit-off/store/events/8624