About this Event
Please join us at PNCA for exhibition openings, performances, and refreshments.
Welcoming our neighbors from near and far, First Thursdays in the North Park Blocks are an opportunity to come together in celebration of art, joy and community. First Thursdays are a vital part of the cultural ecosystem of Portland. For decades, these monthly events have been a highlight of nightlife in the Pearl District and North Park Blocks, increasing cultural connection and retail activation downtown.
Happenings + Exhibition details coming soon!
2026 PNCA Symposium: Art, Aura, and the Algorithm
This year's PNCA symposium invites the community to explore "aura," artistic presence, authenticity, and meaning, in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems. Over three days, the program moves between panel discussions, a séance inspired performance, an artist led sewing circle, an interactive workshop, and keynote lecture by poet and AI researcher Sasha Stiles.Together, these events examine what algorithmic tools make possible for artists today, new forms of collaboration, generation, and expression, alongside what they may constrain or displace, from embodied presence to the unpredictability of the human hand. What happens to creative connection when making is mediated by machines, and what is gained or lost in the process?
More information here
Aura Archive: Aura Photography & Readings bring the unseen to light.
Each of us carries a distinct energetic signature. Allow us to give you a visual imprint of your energetic blueprint, reflecting your traits, skills, emotions, experiences, and how you show up in the world. Instagram @auraarchive.0000001
Neighborhood Partners Include:
Adams and Ollman
Augen Gallery
Blackfish Gallery
The BLACK Gallery
Blue Sky, Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts
Elizabeth Leach Gallery
Froelick Gallery
Gallery 114
J. Pepin Art Gallery
Landdd
Laura Vincent Design & Gallery
Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education
PDX Contemporary Art
The Schnitzer Collection
Stelo Arts
Waterstone Gallery
The Writer’s Block
and more!
View the to see a more expansive list of museums, galleries, emerging art spaces in the neighborhood!
Event venue & nearby stays
Pacific Northwest College of Art, 511 Northwest Broadway, Portland, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.