HOOD RIVER, OR — February 2026 — Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA), in partnership with Black in the Gorge (BiG), is proud to present Black Infinity House, an immersive gallery exhibition featuring Black and BIPOC artists from across the Pacific Northwest. Running February 6 through March 1, 2026, the exhibition is curated by August Oaks and will be on view at Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Avenue, Hood River, OR.
Black Infinity House follows the momentum of 2025’s Rooted in the Gorge exhibit and expands the region’s commitment to celebrating and uplifting BIPOC artists and makers through visibility, community-building, and cultural connection. Featuring a wide range of mediums—including drawing, painting, photography, textiles, ceramics, sculpture, fashion, digital work, and mixed media—the show highlights the breadth of creative talent thriving throughout the Columbia Gorge and beyond.
At the heart of the exhibition is a concept rooted in the idea that Blackness is infinite—a living, evolving, and expansive cultural force that cannot be reduced to a single definition.
“The Black Infinity House art exhibit is focused on highlighting the visions, expressions, experiences and imaginations of local, Black artists across multiple mediums,” said curator August Oaks. “This artists’ showcase is an experiential exhibit… meant to demonstrate Black art through the process of its creation, consumption and cultivation.”
Designed as an experiential “house” within the gallery, Black Infinity House invites visitors to move through three themed spaces:
- The Studio — exploring identity and artistic creation
- The Living Room — centered on culture, gathering, and creative consumption
- The Porch — connecting cultivation, nature, rest, and safe space
“This isn’t some stuffy art show with a few paintings hanging from sterile, white walls. This is an immersive art experience meant to celebrate the vibrant sense of magic that resonates in culture and connectivity,” says Oaks.
The exhibition also features materials and community support from local businesses including Ice Cream for Crow Vintage, ADHD Records, Artifact, Hood River Stationers and the Gorge Rebuild-It Center.
“It’s been so awesome to be able to collaborate with our local community. The openness and support to not only acknowledge our culture but celebrate our history in such an important and creative way has been so cool and incredibly special,” says Robin Allen of Black in the Gorge.
In addition to celebrating artistic excellence, the exhibition also serves as a fundraiser supporting the Black in the Gorge Scholarship Fund, created to assist Gorge residents who identify as Black/African American, Black biracial, or Black multiracial in pursuing educational goals across all ages and stages of life.
Opening Reception
The public is invited to attend the Opening Reception on Friday, February 6, 2026, from 5:00–7:30 PM, at Columbia Center for the Arts.
Exhibition Details
Black Infinity House
📍 Columbia Center for the Arts
215 Cascade Avenue, Hood River, OR 97031
📅 February 6 – March 1, 2026
🎉 Opening Reception: Friday, February 6 | 5:00–7:30 PM
Media Contact
August Oaks (Black in the Gorge, CCA)
📧 august@iazas.com
Robin Allen (Black in the Gorge)
📧 blackinthegorge@gmail.com
Columbia Center for the Arts
📧 info@columbiaarts.org
About Columbia Center for the Arts
Columbia Center for the Arts (CCA) is a nonprofit arts organization in Hood River, Oregon, dedicated to enriching the community through visual art exhibitions, performances, and cultural programming.
About Black in the Gorge
Black in the Gorge (BiG) is a local mutual support organization focused on community care, cultural programming, and strengthening connection for Black, biracial, and multiracial residents of the greater Columbia Gorge region. BiG also leads fundraising efforts for the Black in the Gorge Scholarship Fund.
