Wondrous Anatomy by North Pole Studio’s Curation Club Exhibition

Wondrous Anatomy, an exhibition organized by North Pole Studio’s Curation Club: Max LaZebnik, Eli Karn, Ocean Stever and Nathan Tanner

Participating artists: Aaron Cunningham, David Wohlford, Dan Tran, Connor Barnum, Ocean Stever, Nathan Tanner, Nathan Ueno, Doug Wing, Annie Rose Macer, TJ Lightburn, Hunter Vorhaben and Anna Beth Wright

Exhibition Statement

Our experience as part of the Curation Club has been fun, exciting, and eye-opening. Working together as a group, we shared ideas and explored how a curated exhibition could come to life. One of the biggest things we discovered is that curation itself is a creative practice and an art form in its own right. We learned how very different works can connect, sometimes through something as simple as a shared color or subject, like buildings or blue backgrounds. The process was thoughtful and enriching, helping us understand both how possible and how complex organizing an exhibition can be. It also encouraged us to think about accessibility and how exhibitions can welcome more people in.

To decide on a theme, we began by brainstorming ideas inspired by the artworks. Some of our early themes included “Nature,” “Stranger than Usual,” “Times They are a Changing,” “Humor,” and “Outer Space.” As a group, we voted and initially chose “Stranger than Usual.” From there, we selected works that embraced a sense of the unusual. As we looked more closely, we noticed a recurring thread: anatomy. Across the pieces, there were skeletons, humans, animals, plants, and even mythical creatures. This discovery helped us shape a title that could unify the exhibition.

We thought carefully about language when coming up with the exhibition’s title. While “Strange Anatomy” reflected our theme, we recognized that the word “strange” can carry negative connotations when used to describe people. We also considered “Curious Anatomy,” but it didn’t feel quite right. Eventually, we arrived at Wondrous Anatomy, a title that celebrates difference in a positive way. “Wondrous” suggests something unique, remarkable, and worthy of appreciation.

For us, this exhibition is about anatomy in the broadest sense. It goes beyond human or animal bodies to include plants, imagined beings, and even the structures of society itself. At the same time, it reflects individuality and self-expression. The artworks are shaped by personal interests: pop culture, magical creatures, horror, time, collage, and more and show how we each bring our own perspectives into what we create.

As artists with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities, this exhibition is also a celebration of difference. It highlights how creativity allows us to express who we are and how we see the world. There is both beauty and strangeness all around us, and Wondrous Anatomy invites viewers to notice, appreciate, and find meaning in both.

About Curation Club

The Curation Club is a collaborative, artist-driven initiative at North Pole Studio that centers artists with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities as curators, decision-makers, and cultural producers. We believe that exhibition-making is not only a professional practice, but a creative and social process: one that should be accessible, equitable, and responsive from its very beginning.

About North Pole Studio

North Pole Studio supports careers in the arts, and exists to increase opportunities for artists with autism and intellectual / developmental disabilities to thrive as active members of the arts community. We foster self-determination and facilitate meaningful connections through total engagement in the arts.

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The Hawk and the Naked Guy

A short film by Charlie Kralian

The Hawk & The Naked Guy is a short experimental stop-motion animation created during my exploration of character and set building using 3D materials. The project also served as a learning process for making animated movement feel more alive and for developing my skills using a mirrorless camera to capture stop-motion sequences.

Rather than focusing on a fully developed narrative, I prioritized experimentation with materials and movement discovering what kinds of motion and expression were possible with the characters I built. The story emerged from these experiments.

The film follows a naked man who hikes up a hill and climbs a tree to reach a hawk’s nest containing three eggs. As he attempts to take one, the hawk catches him and carries him away, eventually dropping him back on the ground. He wakes up in his own bed to the sound of his dog barking, realizing the journey may have been a dream, though he is left uncertain when he discovers he is still holding an egg. The film ends in this ambiguous moment, grounded in his everyday space with his pets, but carrying something from the dream with him.

Charlie Kralian is a Portland-based multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans digital art, photography, video, and stop-motion animation. Drawing from a wide-ranging interest in visual media, his work centers on storytelling that blends humor, playfulness, and emotional warmth. Their projects often feature cute, endearing creatures and lighthearted narratives that invite viewers into imaginative worlds.

This exhibit is made possible thanks to a Career Opportunity Grant from Oregon Arts Commission