Tempo Giusto

Tempo Giusto •

Littman Gallery (SMSU 250): Tempo Giusto

In an age where time is fragmented and attention is divided, Tempo Giusto invites us to embrace the slow, the thoughtful, and the intentional. The Italian term "tempo giusto" refers to playing music at the "right" or "correct" tempo. In this exhibition, it serves as a metaphor for how we approach time in our own lives—not rushing through moments, but engaging with them fully and meaningfully. This approach involves dedicating time to specific experiences, places, and interactions, and engaging with the materiality and context in which they unfold. It’s about not just spending time, but deeply inhabiting it and responding to the world around us.

This exhibition brings together a group of artists whose work encourages us to give things the time they need. Through their unique practices—spanning video, botanical sculptures, stitching and mending—these artists remind us of the importance of slowing down, allowing processes to unfold at their own pace, and resisting the urge to rush ahead. Their work invites us to reconnect with the act of paying attention, fostering a deeper, more patient engagement with the world and encouraging us to be more present and thoughtful in our interactions with it.

Featuring the works of Diana Lehr, Julie Perini, Lisa Occhipinti, Jennifer Rasmussen, and Sharon Svec.

Curated by Simeen Anjum

The Sun’s Gentle Marks

The Sun’s Gentle Marks •

As we step into the sunshine season in the Pacific Northwest, Sharon Svec’s practice comes to life. She has created a unique technique that uses the sun to imprint images onto fabric. This approach is deeply rooted in her love for expression, nature, and the universe.

Photographs are carefully composed or selected, then edited and printed as negatives on transparency. These transparencies are exposed onto the fabric under direct sunlight. The sunlight imprints the images onto the fibers, creating a natural, ephemeral connection between the digital and organic worlds. Additional layers are stenciled with spray paint, adding depth and complexity to the work.

Through the creation and display of this work, Sharon reconciles her own struggle between the digital and natural worlds. Her work evokes a sense of peaceful meditation, inviting viewers to reflect on the interplay between the two realms. It draws viewers into a reflective, contemplative space.

White Gallery: The Sun’s Gentle Marks

Upcoming Exhibitions

Littman Gallery: North Pole Studios - 07.03.2025 to 08.28.2025

This exhibition features works created by 25 artists with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities who work at Portland-based progressive art studio, North Pole Studio. The collection will include a diverse selection of 2D and 3D works which represent the selected artists unique lived experiences, interests and values. This exhibit will amplify and celebrate the stories and artwork of underrepresented neurodivergent Oregon artists whose stories are so rarely visible but who are making invaluable contributions to the local and national contemporary art world.

Through this exhibition we intend to expand and deepen public understanding of the progressive Art movement and the artists and practices that are central to it.

White Gallery: Archive - 05.16.2025 to 09.09.2025