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This week in Portland art and culture news, two reopenings and a barbeque. by Suzette Smith Welcome to Art Snack. This round-up is a continuation of a newsletter I wrote during the pandemic, which started out focused on remote art before softly transitioning to short updates on local arts and culture scene happenings. The idea was: Would you like a short, digestible culture news snack? Portland's arts and culture scene has so many moving parts that it can be a little hard to get everything in one place. If the thing you want to read about isn't in this week's Art Snack, check back next week. And it never hurts to put it on my radar. Anyhoo, let's snack! Portland Frog Brigade debuts a dance and an LLC On Saturday, January 10, approximately 10-15 protesters wearing inflated frog costumes performed a not-very-synchronized dance beneath the bright lights of the South Portland Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Heralded on a flyer as the "Original Frog Dance" the loose choreography—set to "We’re the Frogs,” an AI-created ballad by local lyricist Delanae Elle Eanaled—lasted just over three minutes. An organizer with the Frog Brigade, Will—also known as "Ribbit Wrangler"—told the Mercury that the costumed dancers had practiced only that day and for “not very long.” The performance consisted of “moves someone could make in a frog costume.” Portland Frog Brigade formed an LLC in December, and the group now has an extremely green website with tips and guidelines for those trying to build out their own surreal brigade infrastructure. A portion of the site titled How to Frog: The Inflatable Resistance Handbook contains advice on deescalation and practicality issues associated with wearing a giant inflated costume. (e.g. "Practice walking, crouching, and sitting beforehand.") On January 19, which was Martin Luther King Day, Urban League of Portland made the group an honorary member due to the frogs' commitment to nonviolent protest. "We acknowledge there are different ways of protesting," the group wrote. "Everyone needs to find the way that works for them. Ours will always be creative peaceful dissent." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Portland Mercury (@portlandmercury) Whitsell Auditorium reopens Two months after Portland Art Museum unveiled its finished Rothko Pavillon, the Whitsell Auditorium began offering screenings again, exclusively on Saturdays and Sundays at 2 pm. Now called PAM CUT at the Whitsell, the subterranean theater reopened with ★ by Johann Lurf and continued with programing that includes Fantasia (1940), All That Jazz (1979), The Substance (2024), The Holy Mountain (1973), and Mulholland Drive (2001). It's not the most head-turning line-up of repertory films, but at least Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie (1972) and The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989) feel a little off the beaten cult classic path. PAM CUT invited an assortment of personalities to help program this initial series, called Maximalist Dreamscapes. Among those who picked out films are documentarian and music video director Lance Bangs, TV writer and content creator Remy Solomon, and an Instagram account devoted to Hollywood fits called Looks on Screen. Northwest Library reopens on NW Pettygrove That was fast! Multnomah County Library's little, corner spot on NW Thurman closed to the public on Nov 25, 2025, and just over a month later opened a newly revamped 11,000 square feet space at 2030 NW Pettygrove. While the move felt swift, it was part of a series of ongoing upgrades—partly funded by a 2020 county bond measure voters approved to expand, modernize, and build new library facilities. That money came with a time limit, which is why the library system has seen a flurry of construction over the past few years. The new space is over twice the size of the old location, which was a leased space. The system purchased the Pettygrove building in 2021 and renovated it before moving the popular location, which is…

Deux Groupama et un Uno X dans l' habituelle échappée plus ou moins publicitaire ou pour tenter de grignoter en vue d'un classement final, face à deux ou trois coureurs des seules armadas Inéos et Visma, sans que tous les autres n'estiment nécessaire de bouger, le décor des forces de la saison parait déjà planté... Andresen contrecarre les ambitions de Brennan et Welsford, mais le prologue de la veille les plaçait déjà dans un mouchoir, à moins de dix secondes de Watson, tout comme d'autres membres du top 10, Teutenberg ou Lamperti... Ce sprint très rapide bien particulier se faisait à deux, deux bêtes de préférence, et ceux qui sortirent au mieux l'emportent, histoire de placement diront les uns, notamment les vainqueurs, ou de hasard, ce que penseront peut-être les autres ...

The renowned actress and singer made a drastic decision after the Denver Broncos' victory in the Divisional Round.

After an All-American season in 2025, Jaxon Smith has elected to medically redshirt the 2026 campaign. Statement from Jaxon Smith and Head Coach Alex Clemsen. pic.twitter.com/lNQyKDJggG— Maryland Wrestling (@TerpsWrestling) January 20, 2026 The loss is a crushing blow for Maryland wrestling, a program that has already struggled to hit the ground running after an 0-4 start to conference play. Smith hasn’t hit the mat since a Nov. 15 matchup at The Citadel. The Terps have since gone 2-4 overall. Smith’s 2024-25 season was nothing short of historic, becoming Maryland’s first All-American since 2019. Smith ended his season sixth overall in the nation and posted an outstanding 24-10 record in the 184lb weight class. Smith also finished second in the U23 Nationals and third in the U23 Pan-Am Championships, wrestling at 86kg.  Smith was the most decorated athlete in College Park last year, earning awards such as 2025 NWCA Scholar All-American, Maryland Male Medal of Honor and Maryland Student-Athlete of the Year. With this season serving as Smith’s final year of eligibility, Maryland will need to appeal to the NCAA for a medical waiver in order to retain his services for next season. In other news Maryland men’s basketball will face No. 11 Illinois Wednesday night. Matt Germack previewed the conference bout. Guard Diggy Coit has been named National Player of the Week for the second time this season after his 43-point performance against Penn State. Diggy Coit 🤝 2x National Player Of The Week📰: https://t.co/QCSAvkpsHX https://t.co/PLaltJeMtt pic.twitter.com/eFTgEXxej8— Maryland Men’s Basketball (@TerrapinHoops) January 21, 2026 Maryland defender Luca Costabile signed a professional contract with Toronto FC II. Congratulations to Luca on signing with @TorontoFCII 🐢🔥📰 https://t.co/gbCHEPI2Ta pic.twitter.com/HUQWeglMIg— Maryland Men’s Soccer 🐢 (@MarylandMSoccer) January 20, 2026 Three Maryland women’s lacrosse players received preseason All-American honors. Preseason All-Americans 🇺🇸Kori, Kayla, and Neve named Preseason All-Americans by USA Lacrosse! 🔗: https://t.co/07vA6jDFaN pic.twitter.com/JPaJCmUKvL— Maryland Women's Lacrosse (@MarylandWLax) January 20, 2026 Maryland track & field released its 2026 schedules. Mark those calendars for the outdoor season! pic.twitter.com/qMb6EkMSGL— Maryland Track & Field (@MarylandTrack) January 20, 2026 Kicker Sean O’Haire re-signed with Maryland for 2026. Sláinte to year two.@SeanOHaire4 is back‼️ pic.twitter.com/fPehBNQ7tz— Maryland Football (@TerpsFootball) January 20, 2026