On view at PNCAs Gallery 214.
  • Ruth Lantz
  • On view at PNCA's Gallery 214.

It's First Thursday time again, and if you're planning on heading West of the river for the art walk, I've got a few shows I'd like to tip you off to.

After the jump: new illustration and sculpture by Ryan Bubnis at the new Grass Hut; animals in tween bling at Breeze Block; Michael Reinsch inside a mobile gallery; Nike's graphic designers at Compound Gallery; and Maggie Casey and Ruth Lantz at PNCA's Gallery 214 (pictured above).

Ryan Bubnis has been infusing folk and tribal imagery with urban content for some time. His new show at Grass Hut, this time right now is our time, looks to wade in those same waters. According to the press release, "[Bubnis] will have new works of his organic spaced out folk heads on wood and paper, and a brand new print release brought to you by Hungry Eyeball." And remember, Grass Hut recently moved up the street to 400 NW Couch St. 6-9 pm.

BURLAP_2B_PotatoAd_Stephen_Scott_Smith.jpg
  • Breeze Block/Mark Woolley Gallery

For September, Mark Woolley Gallery is taking over Breeze Block Gallery to present the work of Stephen Scott Smith in Burlap 2B. The press release describes the show's sweeping themes and roving mediums: "Smith explores his memory of family, pop culture, nascent sexuality, art, politics, and AIDS through large scale drawings, wood carvings, installation and video." 323 NW 6th, 6-10 pm.

Getting out of the gallery and simultaneously into it, Michael Reinsch is debuting Gallery Walk, his TBA:11 project that will be traipsing through the city over the next few weeks. For full details, check out my rundown on the project from our TBA:11 guide. To describe Gallery Walk briefly, Reinsch constructed a wearable gallery, and he's going to walk around in it and spew poetry built from artist statements and gallery missions. Reinsch starts his walk at PNCA at 6 pm. Keep a tab on Gallery Walk's tweets for locations, times, and other updates. 1241 NW Johnson St.

On view at PNCAs Gallery 214.
  • Ruth Lantz
  • On view at PNCA's Gallery 214.

And while you're over at PNCA, I'd encourage you to drop by Gallery 214 for Maggie Casey and Ruth Lantz' Variations. Casey (fiber artist) and Lantz (various 2d mediums) took on "the progress of repetition" as the focus of the show, presumably challenging or bowing to the idea that great art is born from "elusive changes." 6:30-9 pm, 1241 Northwest Johnson St.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Stop by Compound Gallery if you want to check out a whole slew of artists who've done graphic design work for Nike (see the above hand bill for contributing artists). 107 NW 5th Ave, 7-10 pm.