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Category Archives: Arts & Culture

Concordia poet inspired by area sights

Posted on November 28, 2022 by Web Manager Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News
Carey Lee Taylor

Our neighborhood is home to Carey Lee Taylor, an accomplished poet and photographer whose inspirational sources include what she sees in Concordia. Take her poem “A Woman on 22nd and Killingsworth.” Taylor explains how she came to write it after a walk in Concordia.

“‘A Woman on 22nd and Killingsworth’ was inspired when walking home from Alberta Park one winter morning at the beginning of the pandemic,” she says. “The image of this couple stayed with me all day, and the poem, I hope, gave them a chance to be seen with the dignity they deserved.”

Taylor is the author of The Lure of Impermanence (Cirque Press 2018). She is a Pushcart Prize nominee and winner of the 2022 Neahkahnie Mountain Poetry Prize. Her work has been published in Ireland and the United States, and she holds a master of arts degree in school counseling. She has lived in the Concordia neighborhood for four years. You can learn more about her at careyleetaylor.com.

A Woman on 22nd and Killingsworth

sits in a wheelchair
outside Cornerstone
Community Church —

foam curlers in her
hair, she pulls a tube
of lipstick from her purse.

At the curb
an orange extension cord
snakes from the open door

of a duct-taped camper
to an electrical outlet
beside her.

An unshaven man steps
from the camper, moves
towards her, bends

down, and kisses
all that pink—bedded in her hair
like Magnolia blossoms,

clasped
to her head
like a crown.

 

Concordia Neighborhood #3

It makes no difference to the sky
what happened here,

or the east wind taking its
much-needed break.

Even St. Michael
was taking vacation

from shattered glass
and squeal of tire

seated at the bar of some
scuzzy seaside honky-tonk,

on the ebb tide
of his third beer.

Concordia Art Works – ‘Allery’ to feature paintings

Posted on November 25, 2022 by Maquette Reeverts Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News
Jennifer Jones stands in front of the “Allery,” which she hopes will become a Concordia attraction. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

Halfway down an unassuming alleyway between 27th and 28th avenues heading north from Killingsworth and on the backside of a bike shed, you will find two large framed paintings. Dubbed the Allery, a play on the words “gallery” and “alley,” the work is the brainchild of Jennifer Jones, one of the owners of the residence.

Jones is a collage artist, and during Covid times she spent a lot of her time walking through the neighborhoods. Combining her love of public art and engaging her neighbors and friends with events like “Movies on the Bike Shed” nights, she decided to start this unique gallery in her alley.

Kristen Diederich is the first artist to exhibit on the framed 2′ x 8′ panels. The artist lives in the neighborhood and painted her flower-inspired work directly on the installed wood panels.

Openings for the Allery will be complete with wine and cheese and fall on the traditional gallery opening dates of Last Thursdays.

Kristen Diederich is the first artist whose work is being featured in the Allery. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

Jones is looking for other interested artists with the goal of changing out the artwork each month or so. The plywood surface is supplied by the Allery and can be taken to a studio and painted before being installed. All work is for sale, but be aware that the finished work will be open to the elements. Jones plans to start a Facebook page to keep everyone updated on this unique community gallery space.’

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette, holds a master of arts degree in art education and serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org.

Concordia Art Works – Resident created ‘Dream Boy’ to adorn street

Posted on July 25, 2022 by Maquette Reeverts Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News
Sharon Wagner sculpted “Dream Boy” out of clay and placed it in a tree in front of her home. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

What to do when you retire? Sharon Wagner was faced with just that problem seven years ago when she left the U.S. Forest Service and decided to learn to work with clay.

Drawn to the sensual feel and pliability of the material, she focused on hand building rather than using a clay wheel. Although she has created functional wares, she prefers to create sculptural works.

Wagner lives on a bike path, with her house located on the corner of Alberta Court and NE 37th Avenue. Her yard is alive with windsocks and whirligigs, and in the tree near the road is a life size figure of a boy made out of clay.

Using photos of her friend’s twin boys, Wagner made “Dream Boy” in four clay pieces: the head, two halves of the torso plus a leg and a backpack that sits at the foot of the tree. The pieces were created at the Multnomah Art Center and assembled after the last firing.

The work took her a year to finish with months needed to dry the clay before it could go into the kiln to be fired. One bubble left in the clay or even residual moisture could cause the clay to break or even explode when fired.

“One of the biggest challenges of making Dream Boy had to do with the shape of the tree and the shrinkage of the clay,” she said. The clay she used shrinks almost 11% from wet clay after it is fired, making it a real challenge to ensure the work would sit perfectly into the crux of the tree.

Through her big front window, Sharon can watch as people enjoy her artwork. “The public space between our houses and the streets is ours to take care of for the good of everyone. This is my way of taking care of it.”

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette, holds a master of arts degree in art education and serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org.

Concordia Art Works – Artist raises funds for Ukraine war victims

Posted on June 27, 2022 by Maquette Reeverts Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News
Anya Mironets Keyes is raising funds for victims of the Ukraine-Russia war by selling such paintings as these pictured above. Contributed photos.

Born in Kyiv, Ukraine, Anya Mironets Keyes moved to the United States when she was 16. Her family has lived in Ukraine for 14 generations.

“When I moved to the U.S. I was a junior in high school,” she said. “I didn’t speak English then and to get enough credits to graduate I took as many art classes as possible because I didn’t have to speak. My AP art teacher taught me fundamentals and instilled in me the idea that I could be an artist one day.”

Being a first-generation immigrant, a career in arts was not a reliable choice, so she studied and became a pharmacist. Nonetheless, Keyes continued pursuing her art, creating paintings in oils and watercolors, centered around her Ukrainian identity.

Her experiences as a first-generation immigrant, a foreign-born mother, friend and American citizen are expressed in her atmospheric paintings, the most recent of which feature images of her fellow Ukrainians.

“I enjoy the creativity and solitude that comes with art,” she said. “It’s meditative and restorative. It truly is the best fit for me.”

When the war in Ukraine erupted, she felt helpless watching the senseless devastation of her home country and decided to create a body of work and donate all proceeds to help volunteer groups in Ukraine, especially in underserved areas. Her portraits, mostly of women, are currently available for purchase.

For more information, visit AnyaKeyes.com or visit the Blind Insect Gallery, 2841 NE Alberta St.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette, holds a master of arts degree in art education and serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org

Exhibit features resident’s botanical paintings

Posted on May 15, 2022 by Web Manager Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News 2 Comments

By Rob Cullivan | CNews Editor

Amy Daileda’s ‘Bitter Nightshade’ is among the paintings she’ll be exhibiting this month at Flour Market.

Concordia resident Amy Daileda will showcase a group of paintings in “Micro Flora,” an exhibit at Flour Market Bakery, 5507 NE 30th Ave., from Wednesday, May 4, through Sunday, May 29. A reception will take place from 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 6. Admission is free and open to the public.

Daileda said her paintings are being exhibited “mere blocks from where my subjects grow. Flora is a list of the plant life of a particular area, period or habitat. These acrylic paintings represent part of the flora of my Northeast Portland, Oregon native, edible, organic garden.”

The artist used macro, or close-up photos of plants to help her create her works. “I also study their botany, edible and medicinal uses, history and beauty, and try to connect to them using all of my senses,” she said. “Using acrylic paint on locally made wood panels, I painted them while working next to the studio window that overlooks our organic garden where they grow.”

The exhibit is part of the Taking. Up. Space. Initiative facilitated by the Artist/ Mother and Thrive Networks. Taking Up Space or T.U.S. is a female focused community global art exhibition taking place in more than 80 locations in May. You can learn more about them by visiting the #takingupspace2022 hashtag on Instagram.

Daileda has lived in Concordia for 21 years and is a clothing designer creating wearable art for even longer under the name Vivid Element. She said that this is her first painting exhibit since 1993.

“During the pandemic I started painting again,” she said. “Since we were quarantined at home, I used the details of plants and flowers I grow in our Backyard Habitat Certified garden as subjects. I studied painting in college and am now inspired to take it further. I’m thrilled to be showing at this great new bakery in our neighborhood.”

For more information, visit VividElement.com/art_event/micro-flora.

Concordia Art Works – Metalsmith’s jewelry reflects his experiences

Posted on April 17, 2022 by Maquette Reeverts Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News, Local Businesses
Precious metals, crystals and natural gems grace the
artwork of Claudio Starzak. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

Claudio Starzak was born in the Argentine Patagonia. After school, he and his friends would hang out at a local handicraft store, where he was introduced to metalsmithing, a common profession in Argentina.

With a modest set of tools, he spent years traveling through South and Central America. Claudio visited various cultures, experienced pre-Columbian and sacred sights, sat with healers and shamans, and met master jewelers – all while honing his metalsmithing skills.

His artwork reflects his experiences and stories. Organic, flowing precious metals embrace crystals and natural gems. A master of rings, earrings and pendants, he creates much of his work using an overlay technique, building up designs using layers of metal.

“My mission as an artist remains to inspire love, joy and harmony by bringing more beauty into this world.”

Custom and casted wedding rings are a big part of Claudio’s business. A good percentage of his jewelry is made from casting originals, but commissions from custom work kept his business afloat through COVID-19 times. It was also during that period that Claudio Starzak Jewelry was robbed, and he lost half of his inventory.

There was an almost 50% drop in jewelry sales during this time because no one was socializing and, therefore, not dressing up with jewelry. Claudio is looking forward to a productive and busy summer season.

Discover more at ClaudioStarzakJewelry.com.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette , holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org

Concordia Art Works – Local mask designer’s ware transforms actors

Posted on December 10, 2021 by Maquette Reeverts Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News
An interest in theater masks led Concordian Bruce Marrs to study the form of commedia del’arte. And he’s been making them ever since. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

Living as a street mime in Paris, Bruce Marrs was influenced by the use of masks in theater productions. A year later he tried his hand at creating masks while working with the Oregon Dance Theatre.

Although the show was not a success, it inspired him to want to learn more about the art form.

Bruce took an intensive class in commedia del’arte – a form of theater using masks that is both scripted and improvised – at Del’Arte International School of Physical Theatre.

He was hired to teach dance, mime and mask making. He worked at the school for the next 25 years.

During the summers Bruce worked at county fairs as a stilt character, dancer, clown or whatever was needed. Rather than changing makeup for each character, he decided to create a set of papier-mache masks from brown grocery bags.

The Pickle Family Circus and Jeff Raz of the Clown Conservatory in San Francisco commissioned a set of masks and, through word of mouth, there became a demand for his handmade character masks.

Bruce’s mask set of 10 characters became popular with universities, high schools and guest teachers all over the U.S., Canada, Scandinavia, India, England and Australia. Touring companies asked for custom sets for their shows.

He made and sold thousands of masks to sustain his family through the summers when school was not in session.

The masks are transformative for the actor, according to Bruce. “They are magic. The same mask on a different actor will be a different personage.

“For teachers, it’s always new and surprising. For students, they are, at first, invited to be other than themselves. Then they become responsible to discover and serve that new life.”

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette , holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org

Concordia Art Works – Sticker bombing abounds on Alberta Street

Posted on November 10, 2021 by Maquette Reeverts Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News
Slap tagging, sticker bombing, unsightly nuisance, chaotic and free human expression. Call it what you will. The Alberta Street is one of two local areas that make Portland the sticker graffiti capital. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

If you want to get your art, political message, logo or just your name out there, stickers are the media of choice to reach the masses. Slap tagging – or sticker bombing – has been a viral art medium since before the internet even existed.

Spray paint or a marker takes time and increases the chance of being caught. Stickers can be slapped up quickly. It is mostly an urban art form that focuses on walking, public transit and public spaces where people wait and look at their surroundings.

Stickers are easy, cheap and can be made at home in bulk or printed at the local print shop. Priority Mail stickers can be obtained for free from the post office and make a great surface for drawings or tags. Sticker artists often trade their work with each other to expand their distribution.

Some slap their stickers next to friends’ stickers to say hello, or they place stickers next to better-known artists to get noticed. This is called spot jockeying or side busting.

Portland is a hub for slap tagging and, over the course of the past decade, has elevated Portland to be the sticker capital with Alberta and Mississippi districts having high concentrations. That’s because both have specific walls that are popular with local and national sticker artists.

Like other forms of graffiti, slap tagging can be seen as an unsightly nuisance that contributes to the negative impact on livability. Others see it as a form of chaotic and free human expression – an attempt to reclaim boring environments or public space.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation spends an average $42,000 a year on cleaning street signs and helps coordinate community volunteers to clean graffiti.

There are also individuals who take the task upon themselves – which can end up stripping the reflective surfaces off street signs and rendering them illegible at night.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette, holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org

Concordia Art Works – Artist’s efforts pay tribute to his family, culture

Posted on October 8, 2021 by Maquette Reeverts Posted in Arts & Culture, CNA
William Hernandez applies the culture of his native Peru to his allegorical art. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

Trained as a painter at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes (National School of Fine Arts) in Lima, Peru, William Hernandez worked as a fine artist and graphic designer there before settling in Portland in 2009 at the age of 32.

William is one of the organizers for the first Intercambio de Artistas Latinos (Latin American Artists Exchange), which aims to create a network of artists in the Northwest. He is also an exhibitor, artist-in-residence and instructor at Milagros Theatre, and he organizes painting classes for immigrant workers at VOZ Workers Rights Education Project here in Portland.

Starting with a blank canvas, the artist paints without an initial sketch which he feels places limits on his creativity. Using oils or acrylics in bright rich colors he allows the creative process to be spontaneous.

William’s allegorical art reflects his culture. He expresses the stories of his childhood memories, his life before coming to the U.S. and the realities of the people of Peru. The past becomes a metaphor and, by using humor and sadness in a playful and dreamlike way, he draws in the observer.

“I would say that in many of my pieces my two sons and wife are represented in some form,” he pointed out. “The concept of family is very important to me as a visual expression.”

During the pandemic, his studio is now a more shared space with kids’ toys in the corner and a set up for online classes in another carved-out space. Although several public art projects were put on hold, he has stayed busy painting commissioned work.

To find out more about William’s work, visit WilliamHernandezArt.com or stop by the Blind Insect Gallery at Alberta Street and 29th Avenue.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette, holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org

Concordia Art Works – Sound of a chainsaw draws this wood artist

Posted on September 24, 2021 by Maquette Reeverts Posted in Arts & Culture, Concordia News, Local Businesses, Trees
Kevin Poest doesn’t have to purchase the materials for his medium. He lives in Oregon, where supplies from wood millers, arborists or neighbors are plentiful – and he puts each offering to artistic use. Photo by Maquette Reeverts

It wasn’t long ago that many people had workshops in their homes or garages. When things broke, you fixed them.

By the age of 10, Kevin Poest was using the workshop’s table saw while his grandpa made repairs on the family furniture. One day Kevin brought home a to use the lathe. That old chair was never repaired because little Kevin became inspired.

That chair leg became his first real piece of art and he never quit. Today by his backyard studio sit piles of materials garnered from wood millers, arborists or neighbors.

“When I hear a chainsaw I start walking toward the sound.” With a little effort and friendly neighbors, his material is free.

“I started with wood pallets. Once you cut and sand them, they are great pieces of wood.” His driveway stores his loot of street tree segments and burls waiting to be pulled into his workshop.

Kevin enjoys creating utilitarian pieces, including plates and bowls that show off the natural grain patterns while highlighting the irregular voids and edges of the natural medium. He is just as adept at making spindles and balustrades for historic homes, but the urns he makes for people’s loved ones are his favorite.

“It honors my work.”

Visit PoestsWood.com or @poestswood to donate wood or purchase his work.

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