Get inspired with a new interactive art exhibition that will have you thinking about words like you never have before.  Step inside the world of text-based conceptual art with “Mel Bochner: Words Mean Everything – From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation”, open at The Schnitzer Collection in Portland June 1 - October 12, 2024. 

“Mel Bochner: Words Mean Everything” is an exciting, thought-provoking celebration of printmaking through renowned artist Mel Bochner’s exploration of language, communication, and meaning. “Throughout his career, Bochner has often played with color and language as a means of examining how we perceive and find meaning in the world around us. His work measures, documents—and even shouts—thoughts, while always conveying an underlying message: What are we thinking and how do we express it?” ARTnews Top 200 Collector Jordan Schnitzer said. 

Bochner is known for his ability to challenge the way we think about through a combination of words, colors, and engineering. His process includes compressing oil paint and paper pulp with 750 tons of force. 

“Mel Bochner: Words Mean Everything” pays homage to the art of printmaking. Through Bochner’s works, the exhibition allows visitors to learn about prints; their artistic value, and the techniques used to create them. 

Bochner’s own journey, from misadventures in his early life to becoming a world-famous artist, adds a touch of humor and humility to the experience. From being fired as a museum guard for falling asleep behind a Louise Nevelson sculpture to talking his way into an art critic position with no prior experience, Bochner’s path to success is as intriguing as his art.

The exhibition features more than 40 of Bochner’s incredible works from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation, one of the most notable in North America. 

Schnitzer, one of the world’s top art collectors, is known for sharing his private collection with millions by loaning groundbreaking artworks to institutions large and small. The Schnitzer Collection is an extension of that mission. It is a local, educational art space in Portland that showcases uniquely curated exhibitions using pieces from the more than 22,000 works in the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. 

Throughout its run, the exhibition will feature robust programming including free Saturday events, educational activities, and the opportunity to schedule group tours. 

“Mel Bochner: Words Mean Everything – From the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation” will be open and free to the public June 1 – October 12, 2024, Thursday – Saturday from 12 – 5 p.m. at The Schnitzer Collection.