Michael Stevenson Jr.
Artist Bio
Michael Bernard Stevenson Jr. received their BFA from Alfred University School of Art and Design and is currently studying to receive their MFA in Art and Social Practice from Portland State University. After receiving their first degree Stevenson remained in the community receiving an unofficial education from restaurant owners, shopkeepers, and organic farmers which impacted their work as an artist. Stevenson has produced a variety of socially engaged collaborative and interdisciplinary projects since 2009. After moving to Portland Stevenson has exhibited work at KSMoCA, the Tiny Gallery, in Show Motel Florida, The Cohen Gallery with Public Annex, at Columbia River Correctional Institution, and at PICA.
Milo Martinez is an undergraduate student and artist studying in his senior year at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. In the past, his practice was primarily pictorial, and centered around representational drawing, painting, and sketching of the urban environment. Since, Milo has focused on the relevance of the found object within larger sculptural works. Objects of significance such as childhood toys and personal belongings are of particular interest, as well as objects collected from around the greater Portland metro area. As his practice emerges, a desire to create both interactive and socially engaged work continues to grow. Bridging this desire with his material practice is a concept Milo plans to explore in his upcoming thesis work.
Piano: “Kinderklavier”
The Kinderklavier, which means child piano in German, is inspired by my German cousin Fabio and his son Vincent. While visiting I learned that young Vincent’s favorite word was auto, which is German for car. When talking with Fabio about how Vincent was doing he described that Vincent’s favorite game to play was infrastructure. Delighted by this, I utilized elements of my practice including youth oriented projects, found object/toy construction, and surrealist leaning sculpture for this international collaboration.
Milo Martinez, a student of mine from Reed College, spent last year making absurd and ornate material object collages that begged to enlist him into this Piano. Push. Play project. Together we took a trip to the Goodwill Bins to sort through, collect, and purchase $125 dollars worth of toys by weight. With our primary material acquired, a few trips to the hardware store helped us plan out and build this imaginative play filled wonderland. Our hope is that it’s as fun to play on, with, and around as it was for us to make!