The Purple Door Gallery to host NIGHT LIFE, an Exhibition on the Experience of Insomnia by Bend Artist Spring Break Jake
Opening Reception with the Artist:
Friday, June 13, 2025 | 5:00 - 9:00pm
Exhibition Dates:
June 13 - July 21, 2025
Gallery Hours:
Wed, Thurs: 2pm - 6pm
Friday, Sat: 2pm - 8pm
Sunday: 2pm - 6pm
Opening June 13, 2025 at The Purple Door Gallery in Portland, OR is an all-new body of work from local Oregon artist Spring Break Jake titled NIGHT LIFE. The artist will be in attendance for the opening reception on June 13th from 5-9pm at the gallery.
The exhibition probes the dynamic between slumber and mental health, articulating how sleep, or the lack thereof, shapes our lens of the world around us and in us. Jake’s mixed media paintings take a bird's eye view of the halcyon atmosphere in a deathly still bedroom while conveying the opposing reality happening in one’s restless mind; the outer world still, the inner world in turmoil. This collection taps into the isolation & peaceful chaos of insomnia from a healthy distance in order to put haunting memories on display in a new light. With the ultimate aim of solidarity, NIGHT LIFE allows the border between loneliness & connection to dissolve in the face of vulnerability.
Each painting allows the darkness of the palette, the surreal, domestic imagery, and the decaying effect of the texture to illustrate sleep’s impact on our mental health & the sense of despair found amidst a restless night. But as with all his work, Jake’s pieces contain elements of hope through healing. NIGHT LIFE acknowledges that no matter what we’ve been (or are currently going) through, everything is temporary and it is always possible to find our way back to paradise.
NIGHT LIFE is showing until July 21, 2025 with events throughout, including an anniversary celebration in the gallery on June 28th.
The Purple Door Gallery
Good Art. Fun space. No Rules. Be You.
The Purple Door Gallery, in the heart of Southeast Portland, is more than just a gallery—it’s a space where creativity and individuality take center stage. Established as a pop-up space in 2022, thoughtfully remodeled in 2023, and reopened in June of 2024, The Purple Door remains rooted in both tradition and experimentation. We offer a welcoming environment for artists and visitors to explore, connect, and express themselves freely. The gallery is itself a living, breathing canvas that transforms to every exhibit, becoming part of the artistic vision. At The Purple Door, we celebrate community, curiosity, and the ever-evolving journey of artistic discovery.
Spring Break Jake (b. 1989, Jacob Jerome Kenobi)
Spring Break Jake is a self-taught painter & mixed media artist born & raised in Minneapolis, MN, currently based in Bend, OR. His work has been shown throughout the West Coast, including solo shows in Bend, Portland, & Encinitas, group shows in Bend, San Francisco, & Los Angeles, and juried art fairs in Seattle, San Francisco, & LA.
He was selected as one of the first Artists-in-Residence with Scalehouse Arts in Bend and has participated in speaking engagements such as a panel discussion on the impact of art on health & well-being at the Reno Tahoe International Art Show, guest speaking at Oregon State University, and leading an art workshop in collaboration with the High Desert Museum. Jake’s work has also been featured in print publications such as Vanity Fair UK, British GQ, House & Garden, and Create! Magazine.
NIGHT LIFE will also exhibit at The Bunker gallery in San Luis Obispo, CA, from August 1-31, 2025.