A Little Look Ahead
What amazing weather we have been having! June has delivered so beautifully for us.
Jeff celebrated his 60th birthday exactly how he wanted to. We went to Bend with a couple of our besties and proceeded to eat and drink too much. I forced them all to go antiquing and when the complaining got too loud we ate and drank some more.
It was lovely.
We stayed at the McMenamins’s Old St. Francis School Hotel in downtown Bend. Highly recommend! It was really convenient and comfortable. Could use better lighting and more set down places in the bathroom for all of our toiletries but everything else was excellent.
It was so dark in our room, however, that we thought we only had one trash can…turns out we had three. It's just that they were black and we couldn’t see them. 😂
We’d stay there again for sure.
Bonnie also had a birthday! She’s 11 and doing pretty well for a olden Golden!
Image: Crossing El Dorado #2 by Catherine Freshley, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24". Via of Catherine Freshley Art.
A Weird Segue Into Finding Art in Portland
Before I forget, I am going to make a weird segue to suggestions on some of my favorite ways to find art in the Portland area because I get asked this all the time and I was asked this again just recently.
Galleries are obviously great places to do that and Portland has some fantastic ones, but there are also some more interesting and less expensive ways to find art, so here is a quick, not at all comprehensive list for you.
Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts
The Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts is a fantastic annual source for highly talented artists of all mediums. This year’s festival has already come and gone, but put it on your radar for next year.
One of my favorites is Catherine Freshley, so be sure to look her up and say “hi” if you get the chance. She also has a gallery, so if you missed the show, you can always meet her and see her work another way.
Jeff and I have had great luck buying art at the student show in the past, so go check that out while you are there. It’s amazing the emerging talent that you see.
First Thursdays, First Fridays, and Art Around Portland
There are always the First Thursdays and Fridays to take advantage of, and this website has a great list of what’s coming up all over Portland: https://www.travelportland.com/events/portland-street-fairs/
And our favorite, not to be missed, you’ve heard me mention it before, way to see art, meet new artists and be a voyeur into peoples homes and studios is Portland Open Studios, which is coming up in October.
This is an annual tradition for us and I really encourage you to check it out.
Garage Sales, Vintage Shops, and the Joy of the Hunt
And then, lastly, if you’re not buying new art from the artists, buy vintage!
The annual Eastmoreland Neighborhood Garage Sale has already passed for this year, but keep an eye out for it next year. DO NOT GET IN MY WAY when it comes back around!
Another great way, aside from garage and estate sales, are vintage shops, of which Portland and the metro area have some of the best.
Urbanite has both vintage as well as new art, which is awesome! They have a beautiful art gallery that rotates in new artists monthly, and throughout the store there are artists showing their craft in and among vintage finds.
It is a great place to find something truly unique and cool.
Buy What Pulls at Your Heart
Most importantly keep this in mind when you are shopping…buy what pulls at your heart, what makes you smile, and don’t worry for a minute about what people will think.
It’s yours, all yours, and that’s all that matters.
Summer Solstice and What Comes Next
June is the month of the Summer Solstice. It was the longest day of the year and is the kick off of Summer and signifies change.
It also means that the days are getting shorter, so we need to squeeze as much life out of them as we can…and I plan on it.
Change is good.
Some of you know what I am talking about. Those of you who don’t will very, very soon.
There is a lot going on and all of it is good…weird...exciting…sad…but good nonetheless.
Stay tuned.
‘Til next time,
Arlene