Portland, Ore. - Don�t miss this final chance to view the largest independent art show in the Northwest. The Portland Center for the Advancement of Culture (PCAC) will close the doors to its massive temporary exhibition, the Modern Zoo, with a closing party of epic proportions from 6 pm - Midnight on Sunday, August 31.

The closing party will feature music by the acclaimed Rob Scheps Big Band with Rob Scheps on tenor/soprano sax & flute; Gary Harris, Scott Hall, Jake McLain and Jim DeJoie on saxes; trombonists Stan Bock, Lars Campbell and David Bryan; Rich Cooper, Jay Thomas, Greg Garrett and Mike Hankins on trumpets; Sid Bos on piano; bassist Essiet Okon Essiet; JaTtik Clark on tuba; and Alan Jones on drums. During the music performance, local designer Alison Gross will debut her new and experimental fashion label Fresh Cookie that produces one of a kind handmade, leather handbags as well women�s clothing. And Thandi Rosenbaum will perform a 5-minute dance+fashion performance piece called "The Troop". Barbequed food and refreshments will be available, and guests are invited to bring their own food to grill.

Pete McCracken, who locked artist David Eckard in a room at the Modern Zoo for his film project called "Artist", is orchestrating a day-long improvisational electronic symphony where musicians have been asked to perform in a sort of electronic "drum circle" sponsored by Red Bull to keep them awake through the all-day performance.

Since its opening in June, the Modern Zoo has grown from 21 to more than 100 Northwest artists and musicians in all disciplines. PCAC�s next art show, called Process, will open in this fall in Portland. PCAC has paired eight local artists with documenters who will record their artistic processes to produce a rock opera, animated video, a photo collage, and more. Participating artists and documenters are: painter Kevin Gilmore and Ovid Media; encaustic painter Liz Obert with illustrator Amy Honeyman; writer Cassandra Sterling and sculptor Lee Kelly; painter Bill Park and Suzanne Twining, animator; mixed media artist damali ayo with James Moore; mixed media artist Kim Hamblin; and musician Joe Haege with painter Zefrey Throwell. Location for this show is being determined.

The Modern Zoo
With over 100,000 square feet of gallery space provided by Cathedral Park Place LLC, this massive temporary exhibition houses the work of 100+ regional artists in all disciplines. Music concerts, theater and dance performances punctuate the venue after normal hours on select weekends. Located at 6635 N. Baltimore on the historic St. John�s peninsula, exhibit hours through August 31 are 12 - 8 pm, Friday to Sunday. Admission during normal gallery hours is a $2 - 10 suggested donation; special events vary. To be apprised of PCAC events, visit us online at www.portlandart.org or call 503-236-5200.

About the Portland Center for the Advancement of Culture:
PCAC was established in September 2002 as a nonprofit art organization dedicated to supporting local artists and sustaining the cultural economy. PCAC aims to provide regional artists with a permanent neutral space in which they can showcase their work. It will also provide artists with a much-needed resource center to help educate and facilitate the research and creation of art across all disciplines. PCAC founders Bryan Suereth and Gavin Shettler are both established art curators.

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For more information:	Melissa Logan, 503-317-8498 or melissa@portlandart.org
	Sara Frazier/Fresh Cookie, 503-703-7205, sarafrazier@mail.com