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..
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.
.jpg)
.JPG)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment