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Watercolor painting of Mt. Hood by Amanda Cardwell-Aiken The Exploration of Mt. Hood: Artwork by Amanda Cardwell-Aiken

Covert Gallery Exhibit, October 2025 - December 2025

The Clark Library invites you to a reception with Amanda Cardwell-Aiken celebrating their art exhibit: The Exploration of Mt. Hood. The reception will be held Thursday, October 23 from 4-6 PM in the Covert Gallery on the main level of the Clark Library.

In The Exploration of Mt. Hood,  Amanda Cardwell-Aiken, UP Theater Costume Shop Manager, explores the UP Core Habit of Aesthetics and Creativity through the embracement of multiple perspectives. Rather than aiming for a singular, realistic portrait, the series of watercolor paintings covers a range of styles, from loose impressionism and the abstract to more structured illustrative techniques. Inspired by the Bluff's view of Mt. Hood, the exhibit is less about representing Mt. Hood as it is and more about discovering how many ways it can be seen - through color, tone, emotion, curiosity, and the joy of seeing the familiar with fresh eyes.

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Signed 1994 West Coast Championship basketballUP Women's Basketball: A Look Back

Covert Gallery Exhibit, March 2025 - October 2025

Women's basketball has been the cornerstone of UP Athletics for four decades! Look back at some pivotal moments and stand-out players in the program. Visit  the  Dr. James T. Covert Gallery to enjoy images and artifacts from those decades, including the signed basketball from the 1994 West Coast Conference Championship win!

 

 

ceramic bowl Holding: New Work by UP Ceramic Faculty

Covert Gallery Exhibit, November 2024 - March 2025

Visit the latest exhibit in the  Dr. James T. Covert Gallery showcasing works by UP Ceramic faculty member Kowkie Durst and his predecessor, Victoria Christen. The exhibit,  Holding: New Work by UP Ceramic Faculty, shows how the works of Durst and Christen are connected by their shared curiosity to locate ways in which bodies or objects hold the vestiges of relationships with others, both past and present.

Kowkie’s recent project, the rock bowls, is an exploration of how he holds emotions in his body.  These objects, which are inspired by river rocks or the cells in the body, act as cradles or canyons for the memories we carry and store.

Victoria’s work in ceramics, fiber work, and paintings hold memories of her grandparents, parents, family and friends as well as the inherited knowledge and lessons they have bestowed. Together, they form a braid of memories and learning, symbolized by concrete objects such as the braided rugs (and rug making skills) passed on from one generation to the next, and by the repurposing and weaving together of inherited materials, ideas, and traditions. 

Image: Bowl with Sky View, 2024 by Victoria Christen

Cross and anchor symbol on Library plaza paver University Emblems

Covert Gallery Exhibit, June - October 2024

The University’s dedication to Holy Cross values and our educational mission is woven into the very fabric and foundations of campus life at the University of Portland. The Cross and Anchor symbols ornamenting door frames and engraved in the cornerstones of residential and classroom buildings alike memorialize this dedication, while the sculptures that adorn our campus remind us to slow down and reflect. The symbols and art that make up this exhibit represent UP’s desire to bring our community together around shared values. We hope the photos inspire you to seek out and enjoy these objects on our beautiful campus.

Image: Cross & anchor symbol on Library plaza paver.

Book outline with text that reads Library Excellence in Access and Diversity Award 2024 Clark Library Earns Diversity & Access Award

Congratulations to the Clark Library! Insight Into Diversity has announced that our library is a recipient of the 2024 Library Excellence in Access and Diversity (LEAD) Award, the only private university in Oregon to receive it. This award honors academic libraries' programs and initiatives that encourage and support DEI across their campus through research, technology, accessibility, outreach, and more. The Clark Library team is proud to be recognized for our DEI work and is dedicated to advancing the University’s efforts to create an inclusive environment where our diverse community of students, faculty, and staff can flourish.

Two Black students from UP yearbook 1969 Liberated Archives: Memory Work Partnership with Don't Shoot PDX

Covert Gallery Exhibit, January - May 2024

Mark your calendars for a reception with exhibit collaborators on March 21, 4-6pm in the Covert Gallery!

What is UP's role today when it comes to realizing racial and economic justice in North Portland? Visit the Dr. James T. Covert Gallery on the main floor of the library for an exhibit that hopes to spark consideration about these important questions. The exhibit is a collaboration by students and faculty in UP's Social Justice Capstone course, Public Research Fellows, and local community organization Don't Shoot Portland, with additional support from UP Ethnic Studies. It highlights themes of systemic oppression, displacement, and collective resistance in Portland, with an emphasis on the lived experiences of minoritized communities on UP's campus and North Portland. Can't make it to the library? Check out the online exhibit

Image: Black Student Union yearbook photo from The LOG , 1969.