Truth!

Seen yesterday on the plaza of the Portland Art Museum. Seems like a pertinent reminder these days.

Preparing for Art in the Pearl

Every Labor Day weekend, artists and craftspeople from all over the USA come to Portland for a three-day long exposition and sale of their wares. The day before (Friday September 2 this year), white tents are erected on the North Park Blocks, and the artists begin to set up. Here are a few photos from September 2.

Art on a Wall

In downtown Portland, at the corner of SW Stark and 11th Avenue, is a wall that is a constant target of poster and graffiti artists, and then subject to weather and other random damage. The results remind me of a combination of Jackson Pollock and Robert Rauschenberg.

Art Students

Outside the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) in the old post office building in Portland.

Looking at Pictures

One of my favorite subjects for photos is people looking at art. First Thursday in Portland's Pearl District, when new exhibits are on display and lots of people turn out to see them, is a wonderful opportunity to take such photos. Here are four from yesterday. The first is a painting by Michael Knudson at Blackfish Gallery. The other three are by Jac Chartier at Elizabeth Leach Gallery.

Color in the Pearl

Having just posted a blog asserting that buildings in the Pearl District are mainly drab and colorless, I feel that I must post a counter-example: the newly built Residence Inn by Marriott. Its bright yellow sticks out like a sore thumb, but yields some nice visuals.

Foliage in the City

The Pearl District in Portland is mainly gray or brown concrete, with some glass and steel high-rises thrown into the mix, enlivened more by people than by colorful architecture. But there is some softening by vegetation: ground plantings and small trees.