Whenever I find myself muttering about the ugly high rise construction, the homeless explosion, the trash and the traffic, I stop and reflect - Portland, OR, is still a fabulous place to live. This celebrated city is home to unique happenings and glorious locales that make it weirdly great.
This is my unofficial guide to great days in Portland.Mt. Tabor Art Walk
On one weekend in May, when gardens are bursting with rhododendron and Iris and the golden chain trees fling their yellow branches over sidewalks, SE Portland artists open their homes and studios to the public. These beautiful homes are nestled into the hilly streets around Mt. Tabor, a dormant volcano covered with woods and trails. Anyone with the readily available map is welcome, a testament to the welcoming vibe that still permeates Portland.
In one home, the dining room was transformed by a display of Jo Brody's hand-carved silver jewelry oxidized and embellished with vintage glass, gems and silk ribbons. A gemlike floral arrangement of yellow Ranunculus and Star of Bethlehem spoke of the season in sunshine colors, while soft jazz played in the background. Downstairs and all through the yard, husband Mark's glass mosaic pagodas, birdbaths, wall fountains and garden creatures added a whimsical, functional or simply beautiful touch to the surroundings.Other highlights of my tour this year: After walking through an immaculate garage with two kayaks hung neatly on the wall, I entered a display gallery of Tomek Szelagowski's incredible photographs printed on metal. Depictions of Iceland, of Washington's Enchantment Lakes, a Hawaiian volcano spewing fire, a gecko on Italy's Amalfi Coast, a bicycle leaning against a wall in Vietnam - the intense clarity and color of these images is utterly mesmerizing.
On the lovely Western Seminary campus I found friend and former neighbor Adrienne Stacey, a potter who incorporates leaves, flowers and other natural elements into her pieces, which are often meant to embellish the garden. After a long hug we exchanged news of our children amidst the wandering crowd. Her work, as always, is evolving, incorporating new perspectives and techniques and purposes. Excited customers left bearing carefully wrapped pots, bringing Adrienne's art to their own homes and gardens.
Photographer Larry Olson celebrates the natural world in enormous photographic images that transport you to places of unimaginable beauty. His work covers all corners of the planet, but dwells particularly on the spectacular Pacific Northwest.
Olson's creative flair is also evident in his own garden that invites exploration. On French doors leading out to the expansive backyard, a handwritten sign announced: "The garden is open." That spirit of hospitality, and the layering of natural beauty with human creativity, makes this one of my favorite events of the Portland year.
This year's Mt. Tabor Art Walk featured 22 sites where 41 artists displayed paintings, prints, ceramics, jewelry, photographs, mosaics, glass, mixed media, garden art and much more. The event is held annually in May.
