Portland Audubon's 42nd Wild Arts Festival

I always feel a little bad reviewing something that has already ended, but even if the 42nd Wild Arts Festival is done, maybe now is the time to decide you will attend the 43rd.

We attended largely for our interest in wildlife and birds, but while there I thought a lot about the nature of creativity and art. 

We expected to find a lot of wall art. We did, but that was not all. There were also dish towels and jewelry and hanging ornaments and pottery.

Certainly there were things that could be functional but were going to be used as decor, but there was a wide variety of style and form.

Then, even once you get to wall art, there is still so much variation.

There will certainly be some things not to your taste, but others that are.

Being in the area we also visited the Portland Art Museum, and combining the two just ended up being very inspiring.

With the art you could find the artists, and visit with them. We did not take as much advantage of that as we could, perhaps feeling some guilt for knowing that we would not be buying.

I will add, though, that with the wide variety of items available, there are options for different budgets.

The event also featured a silent auction, a book fair with author signings, and the Audubon Nature Store was also on site.

It is a good opportunity to remember the beauty and wonder that lies around us. I love Corvids, and there was a whole booth of them.

COVID: Masking was not strictly enforced, though we were not the only people wearing them. We were able to spread out fairly well.

Accessibility: The navigability was pretty good, which I would expect for a modern university building like the PSU Viking Pavilion. I will caution that if you approach from Hall, or from the street car, you will find stairs. The ramp is on the College Street side.

https://www.wildartsfestival.org/

Winter Wonderland at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve

While the holiday event is over, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve is still there.

https://www.hillsboronewstimes.com/news/winter-wonderland-coming-to-jackson-bottom-wetlands/article_cedd125f-cb8b-590d-8dc5-b5844b3e7390.html 

I still want to talk about the holiday event, because it is Christmas Eve, and it was also really cute. They had little goats with bells and antlers like reindeer!

There were also crafts and a story hour, and concessions like popcorn and bundt cakes. We did not participate in those (though the popcorn smelled good!). Our primary participation was with the Winter Walk.

The trail is always there, but there were three additions to the trail.

In addition to a storywalk, featuring The Mitten by Jan Brett, and Christmas decorations on the trees, there were also animal photos added.

Counting the rabbits on the trail became part of the event's scavenger hunt.

That was the hardest question on the hunt, but also a good one for the preserve year-round. There are many animals that can be seen, and those are tracked on this board on the side of the building.

Inside there are displays involving taxidermy, skeletons, feathers, and examples of homes to teach more about the local flora and fauna.

 There is a gift shop as well.

Outside that window you see some busy bird feeders, and another little pathway where you can view many birds.

Much of it is set up with information about good water practices and leaf practices for being Earth-friendly at home.

The preserve is right next to the Clean Water Services Hillsboro Treatment Facility, so there may be a special emphasis on protecting water. There is an overall emphasis on conservation, including a boxes for bats and mason bees and pollinator habitats.

 There is a definite risk in focusing on outdoor events in December, but the weather was fantastic.

 I know we will want to go back in warmer months to see more. There are other trails.

COVID: We actually saw staff wearing masks, which was a pleasant surprise. In addition, there is room outdoors to spread out. They also did have hand sanitizer by the goats.

Accessibility: The goats were the one possible flaw here, as there was a small step to get into them, but I believe they would have been able to work around this if asked. Otherwise, there are accessible trails and restrooms. 

There is a set of steps on the outdoor viewing platform, but there is a ramp on the other side. It is one of the better setups I have seen.

Overall we were impressed.

ttps://www.jacksonbottom.org/

Viewing GOPA! -- Gresham Outdoor Public Art

Starting with the Gresham Outdoor Public Art brochure, it was not clear what the most efficient route would be for seeing everything.

Looking at the brochure and a map of Gresham, I carefully plotted out a course that worked out pretty well, except for a few snags. Today I present the benefit of my experience.

Only 18 of the artworks are in downtown Gresham proper. The otter "Slider" (#8) and crow "Seeker" (#9) are 3.5 miles away at Nadaka Nature Park, as covered last week.

Once we are looking at downtown, then the obvious starting place is the Gresham History Museum at 404 N. Main Avenue, home to four of the works. You will find #7, the "Little Free Library"...

#20, "Sunday at the Carnegie"...,

and #18, "Family Ties", right on the grounds. Then, what do you see on the sidewalk there?

Yes, it is #16, "Bike Rack", though this is one of many stylish bike racks in the downtown area.

You then walk down one block to 3rd and Main, with a statue on each corner, on kind of an animal theme. Here you find #4, "Bless This Nest" featuring a duck family...

as well as #6, "Blue", representing a Great Blue Heron.

Many of the smaller details are delightful, so take your time viewing the statues.

I have mentioned before the sense of history. That continues with #14, "Driscoll", representing a guide dog trained in Gresham, a training site for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

https://wagandcluck.com/historic-gresham-unveils-bronze-sculpture-driscoll-beloved-guide-dog/

Gresham is also known for its Soroptimist Teddy Bear Parade, commemorated with #13, "Teddy".

https://pamplinmedia.com/go/42-news/554638-443699-gresham-teddy-bear-parade-marches-back-to-downtown-next-month

    

Having now viewed each corner of 3rd and Main, head East on 3rd toward Roberts. First you encounter #1, "Mr. Gresham", honoring Todd Kirnan..

https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/408666-307670-mr-gresham-todd-kirnan-honored-with-life-size-statue

 

Just a little bit further and you will find #3, Mural.

It is hard to take a sidewalk picture that fully represents a mural, but notice some of these details, like the Historical Society and the Teddy Bear Parade.

Continue East on 3rd until Hood, and you will see #17, the "Imagine" Pillars.

From here you can also see #10,  the "Pillars at the Arts Plaza". (As you can see, there was an open air market going on that day.)

Head West back to Roberts and turn left (South) down to just past 2nd in the alleyway. There is #19 Mural. None of the murals are titled, but they do show wildly diverse styles and themes.

Keep going toward Powell, across Main to Main City Park. The skateboard park is on the other side of the war memorial, and #12, "Crash", is there.

Going West on Powell, you now have a decision to make. We waked down a fairly steep hill toward the Japanese Garden, in our attempt to find #2, "Japanese Cranes", and #15, "Mandarin Duck and GOPA Tiles". Our attempt failed, so I don't recommend that.

You can reasonably walk along Powell to the park's driveway, down past Tsuru Island and on to Ebetsu Plaza. You will find the statues and tiles there.

It could also be reasonable do those separately, driving into the park and parking near the Plaza. Driving is going to be recommended for the other two park statues. 

You can walk it, but it is the longest stretch without multiple artworks on the way. So, you could also simply follow Powell, cross at Main, and get to Jazzy Bagel for #5, a mural depicting the building's former inhabitant, Rexall Drugs.

Bisecting Main by Jazzy Bagels is 1st. Go right on 1st to Miller, then right on Miller to 2nd. Other than the two parks, this is the most out of the way part with #11, a mural depicting historic and contemporary African Americans.

It feels almost hidden compared to the rest of the art. Really, Gresham?

COVID: This was all outdoors, and it was easy to keep distanced.

Accessibility: Surfaces were smooth, though the grade can get a little steep getting from Powell to Ebetsu Plaza. That may be another point in favor of driving there.

 

https://www.greshamoutdoorpublicart.com/ 

 

Also related: https://sporktogo.blogspot.com/2022/12/gresham-main-city-park-and-japanese.html