Bear Deluxe 28 (Contemporary Art Issue) Hits the Streets. Whadya' think?

Last night Orlo celebrated its 16th birthday with a spirited event at the Someday Lounge in Portland. On hand was the new issue of The Bear Deluxe Magazine to make its official public debut, though it has been around town for the past 10 days or so. Copies were snatched by many loyal readers and leaders from the local arts community. The issue is also now in stores across the country and landing in subscriber mailboxes as we speak.

If you haven't seen the new issue, you can visit the Orlo website (www.orlo.org) to find a list of distribution outlets. Around Portland, the surest bet is to look in the outdoor distribution art boxes around the Alaphabet and Pearl Districts, though you can find copies at many other outlets as well.

For those who haven't seen the special issue, it features six individual artists and artist teams (Ryan Pierce, Linda Gass, Lucy and Bart, Maslen and Mehra, Melody Owen, and Josh Keyes) as well an interview between artists Harrell Fletcher and Fritz Haeg, a curator's statement from Massimiliano Gioni, director of special exhibitions at the New Museum, and excerpts from the interactive interview with Stephanie Smith started here on Landscape and Canvas.

Special thanks and call-outs are due to art director Kristin Rogers Brown and senior designer Vanessa Morrow for bringing it all together in a template and design that allow the works to speak for themselves.

Now it's time for the readers to speak. Let's hear your feedback on the new issue as well as related movements happening around the country.