For the better part of 20 years, Spring Break Jake’s existence as a human being has been profoundly shaped by insomnia & sleep deprivation.

NIGHT LIFE 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 is still, the inner world is in turmoil. This collection taps into the isolation & peaceful chaos of insomnia from a healthy distance 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.

New to this body of work is Jake’s incorporation of a method learned in therapy for connecting with one’s inner child: drawing with the non-dominant hand. Simplistic, almost cave painting-esque drawings are created with a white charcoal pencil as a means of integrating his wounded, tired inner child with a healing adult. The use of home & houseplant illustrations represent the one place in the world we should be guaranteed to feel safe at any age; in our home, in our room, in our bed. Insomnia takes that away, turning the bed into a place of fear and dread, creating anxiety over the coming day. The deliberate motion of the brush strokes convey such movement in the mind, reflecting time’s forward motion as the clock keeps ticking til morning.

Each painting in NIGHT LIFE 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.

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, Jake 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.