Guest Curatorial Program featuring Nancy and Theo Downe's Le Guin

The Center for Contemporary Art & Culture’s Guest Curatorial Program featuring Nancy and Theo Downe's Le Guin
About this Event

86/26

Featuring Artists: Phil Harris, Connie Kiener, Georgiana Nehl, Lucinda Parker and Arvie Smith

August 27 - Oct 3, 2026

Opening Reception: August 27th 4-6pm

Reception at 1TH: September 3, 5-8pm

Closing at 1TH: October 1, 5-8pm

Overview

86/26 reflects on the demands and rewards of a long studio practice through the works of five artists who live in Portland. Phil Harris, Connie Kiener, Georgiana Nehl, Lucinda Parker and Arvie Smith all studied or taught at PNCA (or its antecedent, the Museum Art School) at some point during the last forty years. 86/26 pairs work from the mid-1980s with recent work to show how artists’ progress can be recursive and discursive over time, not a simple trajectory of technical improvement or repetition.

About Guest Curators Nancy and Theo Downes-Le Guin

Nancy and Theo Downes-Le Guin have co-curated several exhibitions, including Weaving Data (2023) and Just Playin’ Around (2025) at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University and Ronny Quevedo: scrimmage at Stelo Arts (2026). Both curators have long involvement in Oregon arts communities, including Nancy’s work at the Portland Art Museum (1986-1989) and Theo’s founding of UPFOR Gallery (2013-2020).

About The Center for Contemporary Art & Culture’s Guest Curatorial Program

Featured in Ed Cauduro and Dane Nelson Collection Studies Labs, CCAC’s Guest Curatorial Program is a platform for Portland-based curators, organizations, and artists to present ambitious exhibitions in conjunction with CCAC’s exhibition schedule. With a focus on PDX and Pacific Northwest creatives, the Guest Curatorial Program invites new voices of all levels and corners of the community.