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Nov 20,2008
Hermitage is a Home
by Julie D
I dropped into Hermitage this week and had my usual head spinning desire for everything in the shop. Jennifer June is the talented proprietress of Hermitage, with an exquisite eye for the stupendously cool and unique. One of the things Jennifer does best is bring work from independent artists living outside of Portland into Portland. I like that when I go to her shop, I can say, who is this by? Instead of ... oh I love this, it is by so and so, right? While Hermitage is the home to many lovely home accessories, the main focus here is on wallpaper. Jennifer retails some of the most unique and special wallpaper designers I have come across. Much is handmade, screen printed, block printed or hand painted. A perusal of her books made me consider wallpapering my whole house. But I have refrained. For now. If this sounds too good to be true, it is. Jennifer will be closing Hermitage's Portland doors in January and relocating to Seattle. I am not sure what Seattle has done to deserve suc
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posted at 10:52 PM
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Nov 12,2008
Full-On Fall Foliage at the Japanese Garden
by northwest nola
If you ever wanted to see fall in the Japanese Garden , it's here, so wait no longer. I took the garden up on its "free day" event earlier this week and found a beautiful array of fall colors, fall foliage and fall flowers. Having never been to the garden before, I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but I must admit I was impressed. There were gardens of all types - stone gardens, "normal" gardens, water-based gardens, sculpture gardens, all with a Japanese flair. At every turn I found a new surprise be it waterfall or cozy, covered reflecting bench. I would, love, however to see this garden covered in snow. I know that is asking a lot, being in Portland, but I can only imagine that it would be simply gorgeous! If you get a chance this fall, I recommend hitting the garden up for a colorful look at this season as seen through a Japanese-inspired lense. Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 223-1321
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posted at 08:41 PM
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Nov 12,2008
Call for Artists
by Julie D
The Pearl Design Center is organizing a holiday event called the North Pearl Wonderland and they need artists! An art and craft sale is scheduled as part of the event and they are inviting and encouraging local artists to participate. Participation is free, and space is limited. This event is scheduled to take place Saturday, November 29th at NW 14th and Raleigh. All interested in participating should contact Sabrina Park. Sabrina.Park@Intrinsic-Design.com
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posted at 10:54 AM
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Nov 8,2008
A Felted Miracle!
by Julie D
I got the biggest thrill today when I passed by Knit Purl, a great yarn shop in SW. They commissioned LeBrie Rich , queen of felt, to create an entire life-sized Thanksgiving dinner out of felted wool yarn. A spectacular site! Their large picture window displays a full sized turkey, side dishes, and pie...all felted and made from hand-dyed wool. Even the clock on the wall, candelabra, and flames are made of felted wool. You have to stop by and see it with your own eyes. LeBrie's masterpiece will be on display through December 1st. Knit Purl 1101 SW Alder
posted at 06:21 PM
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Nov 8,2008
Rachel Ann Austin
by Julie D
Rachel Austin , carpenter turned painter, is a delightful artist living in SE Portland. She is inspired by small precious moments often missed in the hustle of the day. I love the shapes and colors that she uses, and in addition to her oil paintings, she uses various other mediums, such as watercolor and mixed media. She has a private studio, but you can buy and view her work at some really cute local shops. Cheeky B , Tilde , and Noun to name a few. She will also be showing at a couple of sales in person this winter: The Sunday Best , November 30th The Crafty Wonderland , December 14th Read More...
posted at 05:21 PM
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Nov 6,2008
Portland Art Museum Shows Integrity
by TeachStreet
Portlanders should be proud to know that the Portland Art Museum has demonstrated its high level of integrity and transparency in regard to the art pieces that it acquires. In September the museum acquired a sculpture of Ganesha Stele that had little historical art record to track its origins with. It is not the kind of art piece you can design after taking a class or two in sculpting, so the museum is not worried about an impostor taking claim. The museum director, Brian Ferriso, said "this is all about transparency". Brian Ferriso is a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors ("AAMD") that was developed as an oversight committee for controversial matters just like these. Photo: AAMD
The purpose of the AAMD, as stated on their website, is to support its members in increasing the contribution of art museums to society.
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posted at 06:19 PM
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Nov 5,2008
Pretty Paper Maven
by Julie D
There is a snappy new book shop in town! Only it's not a place to purchase books. It's a place to repair them, create them and treasure them. Meet the fabulous book, box and paper maven Molly Lewis. One visit to her studio will have you wishing you could re-cover all of your old books with the most amazing handmade covers you have ever seen. Molly is the founder of Hinged Strung Stitched and specializes in making custom presentation boxes, photo albums and books. She can build you a beautiful journal from scratch, or create an intricate clamshell case to hold your treasures in. Call her up to schedule a visit at her studio and you'll find yourself unable to pull yourself away. One could lounge for hours on one of her white tuffet stools, drinking tea and talking paper. She is a friendly girl with a wealth of knowledge who will gladly tell you anything you ever wanted to know about the art of book binding. If you don't make it to her studio, though you really should, you can catch
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posted at 07:34 PM
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Nov 5,2008
Museum of Contemporary Craft Downsizes
by shooter
DK Row at The Oregonian reports that the Museum of Contemporary Craft has announced budget and staff reductions. Row reports that the reductions are anticipatory. The museum sees corporate, foundation, and possibly individual grants shrinking in the near future, and wants to keep the institution sustainable as the economy continues into a recession. More information will be forthcoming.Plan a visit to the museum and give this great institution your support.
posted at 11:59 AM
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Nov 3,2008
Butterfly wings are causing hurricanes at the Leftbank Project
by CHYCHELE
The leftbank project was fortunate enough to play host to "The Butterfly Effect: A Visionary Gesture by Leslie B. Durst" . A quick google of "butterfly effect" comes up with two answers: 1.) a property of chaotic systems (as the atmosphere) by which small changes in initial conditions can lead to large-scale and unpredictable variation in the future state of the system 2.) an Ashton Kutcher movie about a missing car and how it messed up his universe or his hair or something The first definition is closer to PICA 's hope for their Butterfly Effect. Ten years ago Leslie B. Durst began commissioning twelve pieces of art from a different artist each year and giving them to people all over the world. Some of the recipients were actively involved members of the art community, some were not (this is where the butterfly effect comes into play). To kick off the showing, Cloud Eye Control was on hand to debut their new show "Under Polaris". T
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posted at 08:50 AM
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Oct 29,2008
Miracle Theatre’s La Carpa del Maestro
by shooter
We recently attended the opening performance of Miracle Theatre 's annual Day of the Dead production, La Carpa del Maestro . Miracle Theatre has the longest running Day of the Dead celebration in Portland. Full disclosure, Neighborhood Notes is a sponsor of Miracle Theatre's 25th season.This year's Carpa continues with the tradition of a variety show, but the addition of a plot unifies the acts and gives the show more weight. The story is the relationship of a master and his apprentice.
We thoroughly enjoyed the show. It was funny and thoughtful, with dancing, acrobatics, and short skits all done in skeletal makeup. What makes it a cohesive performance is how the master/apprentice relationship is woven throughout the performance. Want to know more, read Willamette Week's review of the show.
If you'd like to see La Carpa del Maestro it runs through November 9, tickets are available online . Check out th
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posted at 08:58 AM
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