Portland, Ore. - The Portland Center for the Advancement of Culture�s (PCAC) Modern Zoo gallery has been growing since its June opening and will culminate with a fundraiser for the nonprofit on Saturday, August 16, from 6 � 12 pm featuring music by The Alan Jones Sextet, a performance installation by Allison Farrow and video artist Sujin Lee, and literary readings by six local writers curated by author Erin Ergenbright.

PCAC is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting local artists and sustaining the cultural economy, and this benefit will help launch the organization into the future. PCAC�s primary goal is to provide regional artists with a permanent neutral space in which they can showcase their work, similar to the temporary Modern Zoo gallery. At the August 16 benefit, visitors will be able to reserve a copy of the Modern Zoo catalog on CD-ROM, and get details about PCAC�s fall and winter art shows and programming.

The fundraising event features music by local jazz drummer/composer Alan Jones and his sextet with Randy Porter on piano, tenor saxophonist John Gross, Paul Mazzio on trumpet and flugelhorn, acoustic bassist Paul Imm, and Warren Rand on alto sax. The Sextet�s arrangements are unpredictable and unique, and the three-horn frontline uses a sophisticated harmony to explore the melodies of the leader's progressive post-bop compositions, setting the group well ahead of its peers.

Brief literary readings on the nature of the fleeting begin at 7:30 pm curated by Erin Ergenbright, co-author of The Ex-Boyfriend Cookbook. This one-hour reading called "Temporary Measures" features Larry Colton, Anna Keesey, Phil Busse, Matt Love, Charis Collins, and Erin Ergenbright. Then head to the staging room to view "I Haven't Always Been A Bear", a performance installation by Allison Farrow in collaboration with video artist Sujin Lee. This piece was developed from text that was written in New York shortly after the events of September 11 and takes on issues of beastliness, terrorism, the anxiety of the market, the marketing of anxiety, hairiness, and the performance of gender. Catering will be provided by Black Dog.

The Modern Zoo
With over 100,000 square feet of gallery space provided by Cathedral Park Place, 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 current exhibits and events at the Modern Zoo, visit PCAC online at www.portlandart.org.

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