Japan Institute of Portland Japanese Garden is proud to present a week-long celebration of the artist-in-residency project End Of Summer in downtown Portland with mini-exhibitions on display from Sep. 21 – 27 at the Bullseye Projects in the Pearl District.
Related Event: END OF SUMMER Cafe Talks 01 Related Event: END OF SUMMER Cafe Talks 02Established in 2016 by Matt Jay (1987 – 2022), End Of Summer is a cross-cultural art program based in Portland, Oregon. It is comprised of an annual summer residency for emerging artists and creators from Japan, to immerse themselves in the natural and creative landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. The gallery space will share how the residency program began, including personal stories from the participating artists that relay how the experience of working in the art communities of the Pacific Northwest changed their lives and their understanding of an artist’s practice.
Exhibitions on Display
End Of Summer Exhibit
The gallery space will feature information on the history of the End Of Summer residency and how it became one of the most personal art programs in Japan and the U.S. The space also will include personal stories from the End Of Summer artists, relaying how the experience of working in the art communities of the Pacific Northwest changed their lives and their understanding of an artist’s practice.
Retrospective of EOS posters by Studio Bang-Gu
A retrospective view of the graphic design posters for End Of Summer by Studio Bang-Gu, an innovative collaborative practice founded by Daisy (Dal Hae) Lee and Lucien Ng in 2016. Meet the designers and experience their 2024 design with sound and motion.
Related Event: End Of Summer Cafe Talks with Studio Bang-Gu
Poem of Perception
Poem of Perception features the sculptures of Kenji Ide of Kanagawa Japan, previously exhibited in the Calvin and Mayho Tanabe Gallery at Portland Japanese Garden in October 2022. This was the launch of Matt Jay’s curatorial work for Portland Japanese Garden and marked the beginning of his relationship with Japan Institute.
The Matt Jay End Of Summer Art Collection
Enjoy video, music, sculptures, and other exclusive art created and curated to celebrate Matt Jay’s vision for the artistic communities of Portland and Japan. Contributing artists include Tom Sachs, Neville Brody, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Sho Shibuya, Storm Tharp, and Mic Crenshaw.
About Matt Jay (1987-2022)
Matt Jay was the Founder and Director of End Of Summer, a cross-cultural art program dedicated to exploring and supporting contemporary modes of expression from Japan. End Of Summer regularly organizes satellite exhibitions and symposiums in the U.S. and Japan with its programming centering around an annual artist residency and lecture series in Portland, Oregon. Additionally, Jay was the co-founder of THAT YEAR, an interdisciplinary creative studio, which forges connections between Asia and the U.S. through art and design.
More About End Of Summer
End Of Summer (EOS) exists to build a dialogue between the U.S. and Japan through the Pacific Northwest and the expression of creative ideas. End Of Summer explores the art of Japan in an increasingly globalized society, reconsidering notions of East and West, center and periphery.
In its original format under the creative vision of Matt Jay, up to six Japanese artists were invited to participate in the program through an open call. The residency uses the setting of Portland, a city with deep cultural ties to Japan, a community-oriented ethos, and dynamic arts scene—a haven for creative exploration. Furthermore, the program emphasizes research-based experiences rather than a demand for artistic production.
Carrying the creed of the project manifested by its founder, End Of Summer looks forward to continuing its mission. While Japan Institute seeks to harness the traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge artistry already embedded in Portland Japanese Garden, both organizations are supported by the vibrant and creative energy of the Pacific Northwest.
About Japan Institute
Japan Institute was established in 2022 as a programmatic arm of Portland Japanese Garden to provide a cultural intersection between the East and West through the shared appreciation of nature and creativity. This sibling organization allows the Garden to share and expand the arts and cultural programs beyond the Garden’s physical boundaries, deepening international partnerships with like-minded organizations, while continuing to engage diverse people in dialogues about creativity and connection to nature.
This program is presented by Japan Institute of Portland Japanese Garden and Art J Foundation in partnership with Bullseye Projects
For more information, please contact Yuki Wallen, the Matt Jay End Of Summer Program Manager, at ywallen@japanesegarden.org.
Portland Japanese Garden and Japan Institute share the mission: Inspiring Harmony & Peace
