While the east coast slowly begins to melt, the west is starting to take it's annual leave of ol' man winter. Much to the chagrin of the Olympic planning committee, who is thawing out too. Pictured above are roses just begining to leaf in my backyard, a flower of which Portland is so renown for.
There is a bit of which-is-better rivalry of east vs west with each of the sides claiming they don't really care who is better since their side clearly is. Every year, I always mention to them that come February, spring is here - and they pooh pooh me with a yeah, it's sunny and GORGEOUS here too. But as I hear the groans of my family dealing with the massive meltdown and bad traffic conditions in Baltimore, it can't be more apparent where 'd like to be. In June when it's rained for a solid month, I may feel different, but today as the day is blue and fresh and clear, I can't help but be very happy to live where I do.
"Imagine a club house (or hut) made of beards, fluorescent paint, driftwood, plastic toys, beat up skateboards, swimming suits, colorful string and bottle caps. That’s Grass Hut"
Along the same vein as zine/gallery shop as Portland's Reading Frenzy, Grass Hut is the brainchild of artist Bwana Spoons who invited some friends to be in an art show a few years back. Fellow beardos, Scrappers, Le Merde, Martin Ontiveros, and Apak took it and turned it more into a colorful wildfire of creativity that has spread connecting artists from around the world. They're now curating group shows, teaching each other how to make toys, making websites for each other, painting murals, working the shop counter, and making each other laugh with fart jokes.
Grass Hut is also home to the finest indie-published zines, crafts, goofy toys, limited edition prints and random other stuff. It's now grown into it’s extended family: Tm Biskup, Arbito, Snaggs, Shawn Wolfe, Gargamel, David Horvath, Kiyoshi Nakazawa, John Black and You. Currently, the Staying Put show will be donating funds to Art Loves Haiti. New shows open every first Friday of the month. Most artwork can be purchased online as well, so even if you can't run over there, do check them out.
Grass Hut is located at 811 E Burnside. Wednesday - Sunday 12-7pm
It only takes the first "Ba dada da da dum" of the staccato horns sounding the famous Olympic theme song and you'll find me giddy and glued to the tevee at all hours of the day for the two weeks it takes to cover the athletic festivities. Superbowl, world cup, world series - I could care less. But the Olympics - how grand! There's something good about the world coming together peacefully if only to kick each other's butt in sport. I'm especially fond of everything skating (speed and figure) but also looking forward to the crazy stunt skiing and some hard core half pipe.
Besides the amazing skills these fearless people execute, it's their individual stories that are so fascinating. There's always the tale of poor single parents who've driven their kids 200 miles twice a week for fifteen years to attend practice. But then take the Indian luger Shiva Keshavan's story, for instance. He arrived without a suit and his sled was held together with tape. On Friday, there was the story of the death of the Georgian luger, which broke everyone's heart.
Besides the skills of the athletes, every two years, designers and artistic directors choreograph amazing opening ceremonies and graphics the entire world sees. While controversy is always present at the Olympics, the branding for this year is one of the best. I love the movement and the colors of what the Pacific Northwest is about, all greens and blues, pattern on pattern, yet not too busy. The imagery of the athletes is a little too much like stock illustration, but it's hard to please everyone. Overall, it's a great job.
I also love their use of the Inukshuk, totems and the native symbols which make the Pacific Northwest so unique.
One of the best Olympic brands, the 1972 Munich Olympics (which also hold a terrible story).
Pacific Northwesterners: Come to Reading Frenzy in Portland, Oregon for the 11th Annual Valentine's Invitational at 6pm to bid on Kapuanani artwork. Dozens of artists contribute Valentine themed artwork to benefit a local non-profit. This readyear's recipient in the Special Education PTA of Portland (SEPTAP). Bidding starts at 6pm. 921 SW Oak st. Portand Oregon 97205