Portland Spring

Spring in Portland means the trees are in bloom and the Timbers soccer team is on the field. Included in today's post is a black and white of tree blossoms and a view of the Timbers Army cheering the Timbers to a 1-0 victory over the league's best team the Real Salt Lake.

Hills and Shoes

Two landscapes from here in Portland. First up is a black and white of the West Hills from Wallace Park near Chapman School. That's followed by a view from the inside of the Fluevog store in downtown Portland. The shoes and boots spread across the counter reflected in the mirror as if they were trees and houses.

Shoes in Portland

Well there are shoes here and especially in the Fluevog store here in Portland. What attracted me though was the Jaguar MK 10, restored and modified by none other than John Fluevog himself.

US Customs House

The US Customs House went up for auction and was purchased last year. There doesn't appear to be much happening with it at this point. Here the building seems to be reflecting on its past and future in the courtyard's pool of rain water.

Buildings and Building Reflections

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First up a building reflection ... This is the Gregory in the Pearl reflecting on the window of PDX Contemporary. Inside the window is Amjad Faur's Plastic House. Faur's work has been showcased this month of April.


And then later this evening on the way to the Gerding Theater to see Opus Big Pink was itself showcased against the dark clouds that had passed over downtown Portland.

Life in a Jar

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While walking through the Portland Art Museum today, I came across this sculpture. Her only complaint was not that she was encased in a glass jar but that she had no name. Something about how Jean-Auguste Barre could have let us all know who she really was. She is quite lovely and definitely worthy of a minute or two the next time you're at the museum.

Day at the Museum

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Yesteday was a glorious day to be out in the sun. Today it mostly rained, so a much better day to be inside. And if you're going to be inside you might as well be inside at the art museum. Here are three from the Portland Art Museum.

First up would be a portion of William Morris' 399 pieces of blown glass. They're on permanent display at the east end of the 4th floor of the Hoffman Wing showcasing Northwest Art. Next to them is Arvie Smith's Dem Golden Slippers a candid view of the history of African Americans.


And then there's Henk Pander, a Portlander for years. His Bombardier will linger with you for days. Why is he there without the pilot and navigator? What's he thinking as he looks at you while his plane heads for its fiery end. All of this painted in Pander's classic expressionist style.


And also a large Chihuly, known as L'Arbre Rouge.

Sun Sun Sun

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Some of you will remember Steve Martin's character in LA Story. As the weather forecaster, he would chant "sun sun sun sun sun". This applied more often than not in Los Angeles but not necessarily here in Portland - except for today. This image is taken at the Meadow, on the edge of Forest Park. Just behind me is the city of Portland. Within steps of my house I have a park that's 26 miles long!

Keeping Portland Weird

On the Streets of Portland

Sometimes the best views of people are not from the front. Nike and Polka Dots wouldn't look the same nor would the two cellos or celli for the purists if they were taken from the front.

Sun and Tulips

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Spring may have actually arrived in Portland. Although hail pelleted Portland on Monday, today has been quite mild by comparison with sun, sun, sun. The tulips beamed with approval.

Goldfish in Portland

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That would be Goldfish Bowl at the Portland Art Museum...

Here's Roy Lichtenstein's Goldfish Bowl currently on view at the Portland Art Museum. It's on loan so if you want to see it in person you'll need to plan ahead since the owner could decide to take it back at any moment.


As Lichtenstein did in a number of his images, he's triggering off of another artist's work. Here it's Matisse's Goldfish and Palette. Matisse had created two goldfish scenes in 1914. This one is an abstraction of an earlier more conventional view. He's outlining the forms in black as Lichtenstein repeated in his bronze sculpture.

Twenty-two Rooms

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Pittock Mansion sits above Portland. The views from here can be quite striking. Early in the morning though it's best to look back at the building.

Color on a Grey Day

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Today has been another grey day. However, if you look around you can always find bright spots of color...

Looking to the Future

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Our friend Zane Smith attends Winterhaven here in Portland Oregon. His eighth grade class wrote, directed and produced a rock opera. He played John Wilkes Booth...

These three performed Frankie and Johnnie on the Titanic


It was an evening of promise as we looked to our future when these young people are in charge.

Portland Timbers Opening Game ~ April 14, 2011

Here's a view of the Timbers Army at the beginning of the Timbers Opening Game at the old PGE Park, new Jenn Weld Field. The Timbers went on to win 4-2 against the Chicago Fire.

Blue Sky Moments

There were a few moments of blue sky today. During one of them the moon beamed down on us revealing the Fremont Bridge ...

Outside and In

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NW Irving is a treelined pedestrian paradise. Blossoms still hang in the trees but are being slowly invaded by the summer leaves.


Take a moment and go into Visage, the local eyewear shop on NW Johnson and 10th. This month you'll be treated to larger than life portraits...

Paremski and Pioneer Square

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Natasha Paremski played Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 1 at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall. Her performance came between the Oregon Symphony's performance of Bohuslav Martinu's Symphony No. 6 and Beethoven's Symphony No. 6. That's quite a few sixes...

That's Michael Francis on the left. He was the guest conductor for the evening.



Here was the marquee ...


and here's a view of Pioneer Square on the way to the Schnitz.

Baby Stencil

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This stencil has appeared on a window in Northwest Portland. Sprayed on it seems to be climbing the earthquake bracing.

End of Hike

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Today's hike ended in a "marshy" area that produced this grand specimen of skunk cabbage.

Forest Park Hike

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Today was a day spent mainly indoors. However, late in the afternoon I went out for a hike in Forest Park. Access to over 26 miles of trails is within two blocks of my home. There is no excuse for not going for a hike.

Eastern Sky

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Tonight was opera night, two short Ravel pieces. But this view awaited us as we approached downtown... It was a beautiful evening. Tomorrow is supposed to be grand!

NW Film Center

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Portland is blessed with a very active arts scene. Included along with the various museums, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera and other numerous venues is the Northwest Film Center. It offers a myriad of activities and classes, click here for more information.

Someone has added a Charlie Chaplin to the outside of the building so that Chaplin is both outside and in. I'm hoping that it's left there since it really adds to the effect of the building.

Looking Down ~ Portland Japanese Garden

Follow these steps when you're at the Portland Japanese Garden and you'll see incredible beauty ....

Portland Art Museum

From the top floor of the former Masonic Temple, looking West.

Cherry Blossoms ~ Tom McCall Waterfront Park

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The walk between the Steel Bridge where I stood to take this image and the Hawthorne Bridge in the distance is always beautiful. During the Spring when the cherry trees are in bloom it is nothing short of spectacular. Today the sun shone down on us Portlanders for a few hours before noon.

Two from the Portland Art Museum

Duane Hanson's Dishwasher always attracts a crowd. Today it was a class at the end of their tour of the Portland Art Museum. They're closely examining this very life-like sculpture of someone who could be your neighbor resting during a day of work.



Light and shadow play off the glass on the fourth floor of the Hoffman. It a piece blown by Dale Chihuly, called by some the divine Chihuly.

Spring Squirrel

A much more grey day today. This character was running around the South Park Blocks across from the Portland Art Museum. He seemed quite possessive of what looks like a seasoned peanut in the shell.

First Day of April ~ Cherry Blossoms