Portland has had rapid growth in recent years, making its housing market one of the hottest in the nation at that time. Portland houses for sale are in high demand. The Portlandia parody of its hipster people has contributed much to the city’s reputation as being culturally, artistically, and hip. Although the city has long been associated with and drawn creative persons, its visual art scene has received little national attention. There is something for every inhabitant in Portland’s local arts and entertainment sector. The Oregon Symphony, for example, performs music from classical composers as well as renowned movie themes. Nearly every night of the week, author readings are held at Powell’s City of Books. The Portland’5 Centers for the Arts are a group of locations in the center of the city that showcase a variety of performances throughout the year, including dance groups, touring musicians, stand-up comedians, and more. The list keeps on. Read on for why Portland is an artist’s paradise.
Portland Art Museum
One of the earliest art museums in the United States is the Portland Art Museum (PAM), which has been collecting and displaying artwork since 1892. The permanent collection features Native American art, Asian art, American art, and photography with a focus on the history of the city. The Rothko Pavilion, an addition to the museum that will be finished in 2021, was revealed as a project in 2016 and includes a more accessible entry, rooftop deck, sculpture garden, and glass-walled public viewing area. PAM is where you can see everything from Monets to Wendy Red Stars to doodles made by guests on interactive message boards to ancient Roman statues. The Center for Contemporary Indian Art, which hosts two rotating exhibitions of contemporary Native artists each year and incorporates modern works into the other Native American galleries, is one of the center’s highlights.
Yale Union
At a light-filled loft in the Buckman neighborhood, artists founded and manage the nonprofit gallery known as Yale Union. Their exhibits are incredibly diverse, with a recent installation and writing show being replaced by an ongoing performance. The company takes pride in working with out-of-the-box, experimental artists, and their most recent production, The Dope Elf, lived up to expectations. It was a continuous theatrical residency that critically (and irreverently) examined pop culture’s fascination with magic and mysticism and was live streamed on their website.
Blue Sky
A nonprofit gallery called Blue Sky has been showing modern photography in Portland for more than 40 years, during which time they have gathered a sizable collection of Northwest artists. Two galleries that feature regional photographers are housed there, along with a public library and archive. Visitors can go through flat file drawers of Northwest photography and buy prints starting at $50. Overall, the venue is simple and brimming with interesting pieces created by regional artists.
Private Places
Another ramshackle, compact location that has emerged as a hidden gem for regional artists is Secret Spaces. The facility, which doubles as artist-founder Bobbi Woods’ studio, is creatively used for a variety of exhibitions, from serious to lighthearted.