RACC and PICA are pleased to announce a series of text installations/events by Canadian artist T.S. Thomas, which will take place in public spaces in Portland between May 13-25th, culminating with a major newproject for Pioneer Square on Monday , May 20th, from approximately11:00 to 6:00 pm

T.S Thomas is a writer and performer who uses words as a sculptural medium for interventions in spaces including parks, lakes, terminals, etc. He often quietly arrives wearing an "official city worker outift"and begins to insert language onto the ground in the form of white plastic letters. Carefully measuring and adjusting he spells out poem fragments or declarative statements that comment on aspects ofcommunication, vision, and the specific site. These texts unfold in time as passersby interact with him or watch as his letters form words and then sentences that comment on various concerns. These ephemeral work are experienced at the time of their making or later on in video and photographic documentation. This is the first time that Thomas has done work in Portland. His project is supported by RACC's IN SITU program of temporary sculptures.

Curator Stuart Horodner has included Thomas in PICA's current exhibition called WORDSINDEEDS; a show that includes eight diverse contemporary artists who use words to explore family history, architecture, film, poetry, and entertainment.These artists take the occassionally dry and sober aspect of language based art and liven it up in surprising and engaging ways.

On Saturday May 11th, Thomas created a text piece within a large square ofbirdseed on the PICA gallery floor which took several hours to install. Later, while visitors to the gallery watched, Thomas swept up his labor in a matter of minutes, making the text linger in the minds of stunned visitors. This work will serve as a link to the other outdoor events, and in each case the notion of time and memory will be referenced.

For any information about T.S. Thomas and his projects, please contact Stuart Horodner at PICA at 503-242-1419 ext 233 or Kristin Calhoun at RACC.

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