Skater Shades

The latest experiment coming out of Portland's Shwood workshop. Check out how they made these one-of-a-kind sunglasses using broken skateboards! Love them. Via Honestly WTF.

Hula Seventy: Lodekka!

Contributor post by Hula Seventy



Double Decker Vintage Dress Shop? In my fair city of Portland, Oregon? Yes please! I first visited Lodekka back in early January and friends, it is as awesome as you might think. And the owner, Erin Sutherland, was incredibly sweet and personable. We talked for a bit while I shopped for vintage goodies and I was delighted to learn how Lodekka came about. After losing her job back in April of 2010, Erin threw herself wholeheartedly into opening a vintage shop. When the opportunity came along to purchase an old 1965 double decker bus, she jumped on it. Thus, the birth of Lodekka-- Portland's only Double Decker Dress Shop. (You can read more details about her experience here). Of course, I have a few personal photographs from that first visit to share with you today:



















Everything from vintage clothing and sparkly purses to old maps, sewing patterns, brownie cameras and record albums can be found in the comfortably packed double decker (and the prices are good too). So, should you find yourself in Portland, Oregon, get thee to Lodekka. It's a vintage shopping experience like no other.

Will Bryant Solo Show: Stuff I've Seen

Will Bryant's solo exhibition at Land Gallery in Portland, OR was reported back as a success! "Portland's finest showed up we were told and treated him like family." The show titled, "Stuff I've Seen" was a collection of new work inspired by a nostalgic soaked youth influenced by Michael Jordan, Pogs, Space Jam, Chuck Norris, in addition to wild shapes and pattern. Will was fortunate to meet so many wonderful people and connect in "real life" with several long time internet friends. The show ran November 5th to the 14th. Photos from the opening by Pat Castaldo and a (previously posted) video made by Aaron of FortPort!

Pieces from the show are available at buyolympia.com and schoolsupplies.gotopublicschool.com

Will Bryant Comes to Portland

Will Bryant comes to Portland from Aaron Rayburn on Vimeo.

A sweet video on Will Bryant (one of our contributors) who was in Portland this weekend where he shared some of his work at Land Gallery there in a solo show. Aaron Rayburn created this little film of him hanging his art at the gallery. Also check out FORTPORT for a post about his show which is up until November 15th. (Via Kate Bingaman-Burt).

Wanderlust: Traveling Retail Cart

Oh to hook up a freshly painted vintage trailer and hit the road selling vintage and handmade goods! A secret dream of mine, and well, that's just what owners, Vanessa and Dan Lurie did creating their traveling retail cart, Wanderlust.

Wanderlust, Portland's first traveling retail cart, is starting the holiday season off with a bang. After several 'soft-launch' events at food cart pods and outdoor markets around Portland during the Fall of 2010, their operation is up and running smoothly. Now they're ready for action- planning a grand opening party Saturday November 20th where you can expect cupcakes, a raffle, a wheel you spin for a discount on every purchase and some amazing vintage and handmade goodness all in conjunction with the Waterheater's Bazaar Bizarro flea market in Portland.

At Wanderlust shoppers can expect a nicely curated selection of vintage clothing including over 100 amazing dresses packed into their 10'x 7' shop. Men's western style button-ups hang inside the newly renovated 1969 Cardinal trailer along with the cutest handmade items from local and international artists such as Mary Kate McDevitt from Portland and Showpony out of the UK. Who knows where the future will take this little shop, there are even whispers of visiting San Francisco and Seattle in the Spring and Summer of 2011. Visit www.wanderlustmobileshop.com for the rest of their Holiday 2010 schedule and watch for them on the streets of Portland and other areas reachable by land.


Images from Wanderlust and Modish

Nicole Lavelle for Willamette Week

Contributer post by Will Bryant

The lovely Nicole Lavelle recently made some covers for the Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon's news weekly). I think they are absolutely amazing, but I'm biased because I'm pretty much giddy for anything she makes.



Here's a peek into the behind scenes! This lady knows whats up.

More from Nicole:
Portfolio
Flickr
This Place Projects
Friends of Graphic Design

WEST: A multimedia collaboration by Sarah Baugh and Nicole Lavelle

Land gallery will present WEST, a mixed-media (papercut, collage, drawing, pattern and installation) project by Portland artists Sarah Baugh and Nicole Lavelle. Natives of Idaho and California, these two now call Oregon home. Together they will muse on their place within the great American West. WEST features studies in materials and narrative, and the show's collaboration will reveal a synthesized cobbling of shared and individual experience. Baugh and Lavelle draw from graphic design, craft and art to wrangle an understanding of the pioneering spirit and the natural beauty of their region. The exhibition will be on display from February 12–28, 2010. Opening reception on February 12 from 6–8pm. Click here to see the exhibit being set up.

Land is located at
3925 N Mississippi
Avenue, Portland OR;
landpdx.com

Fort Port: Coming Soon!

Fort Port trailer from Aaron Rayburn on Vimeo.

If this bite-sized blog trailer (yes, blog trailer) is any indication, we've got a fun new design blog on the horizon based in Portland, Oregon. Curated by Benjamin Vickery and Aaron Rayburn, to be released in January, 2010.

For more information, visit Fort Port on twitter.

Love What You Do!

Portland State University's Friends of Graphic Design are presenting a new show this week called Love What You Do.

Exhibition: Thursday, November 5, 2009 – Friday, November 27, 2009
First Thursday Reception: Thursday, November 5, 2009 | 6-9pm
MK Gallery | 2nd Floor Gallery | PSU Art Building | 2000 SW 5th Ave. | PDX, OR

Exhibition Statement:
The education of a graphic designer is never finished.
We chose this field because it allows us to grow. It requires we spend our days thinking critically, scheming for solutions, investigating and observing the nuances of our visual world. Graphic design requires us to create new cultural content, invites us to tell the story of what we see and do.
We’ve learned that creating successful art and design requires a passionate dedication to the work we’re doing. The most interesting projects reveal unique truths about humanity.
The most touching projects allow a glimpse into the heart of the maker.
We are artists, illustrators, typographers, publishers, printmakers, web developers, writers, makers of diagrams and advertisements. We are observers, thinkers, and creators. We are graphic designers. We love what we do.

friendsofgraphicdesign.org
lovewhatyoudopsu.com

This Week from Lisa Congdon: Fontanelle Gallery

by Lisa CongdonEvery now and again I make some discovery that makes me very happy and renews my wonder and awe in art and in life. Fontanelle Gallery is one such recent discovery. Run by Leslie Miller and Jess Fogel (who is herself an artist), this Portland, Oregon gallery not only exhibits an amazing roster of emerging artists, they also sell the work (including a vast array of goodies like pillows, books and prints) of an even greater number of artists in their Parlor . Leslie and Jess have a fantastic collective eye.


{A List Of Food That Turns Me On, by Azsa West, is in Fontanelle's Parlor Shop}

According to their website, Fontanelle was "founded with the hopes of providing a gathering space for a unique population of Portland's creative community who produce, observe, and interact with art as a way of life.We hope that the space will connect our community with like-minded audiences, creating opportunities and inspiration for all."

The current show features the work of Coral Silverman , entitled Real Life and Other Myths. Silverman's paintings are hung alongside an installation of her sculptures made from found hardcover books.


{The work of artist Coral Coral Silverman }

Fontanelle has also shown some of my favorite artists solo, including Mark Warren Jacques and Shawn Creeden , along with a myriad of thoughtfully-curated group shows.


{On-lookers engage with the work of Mark Warren Jacques at his solo opening inside Fontanelle this past February.}

Fontanelle is located at 205 SW Pine Street between SW 2nd and 3rd Avenue, three blocks south of West Burnside.

Post by Lisa Congdon

PSU Senior Show

by Will Bryant

Everything Will Be Okay! is the 2009 graphic design senior show at Portland State. The show is for only one day, Thursday September 3rd, The Cleaners at Ace Hotel. Check out some of the of the student work!

Illustration work by Rory Phillips

Some nice tactile work by Krista Messer

Illustration by Belin Liu

Packaging design by Isabel Cattadoris

Poster and packaging design by Jimmy Presler

If you're in Portland go check it out!!!

will-bryant.com

Today we're kicking off our first post on our "virtual" Road Trip '09 from Portland, Oregon and we're pleased to have Abby Powell Thompson of abbytrysagain.com show us her city. Abby is a Portland based, self taught photographer who documents her daily life in film. The cameras she uses are vintage ones she's picked up and tinkered with. Her main camera is a broken Yashica tl-electro. She runs her personal blog called abby trys again as well as a small online shop where she sells prints of her photos. Her photos are often full of colors and soft focus. We asked Abby to send us some photo's and links that one would find in Portland. We of course loved what she sent! Thanks Abby!

Name: Abby Powell Thompson
Hometown: Portland, OR
Blog: abbytrysagain.com / Shop: abbytryagain.com

No. 1. REST:


Image is an Airstream parked in our neighborhood. Trailers dot the landscape here in Portland, it's not uncommon to see them parked all around.


No. 2. TREATS:



My cool treats pick ice cold home made chocolates. The ones pictured are made with local rosemary and local hazlenuts as well as organic cocoa. They are served with delicious espresso sodas and can be found at the very tiny but beautiful place called Sahagun. www.sahagunchocolates.com


No. 3. ACTIVITY:


My summer activity is a visit to Portland's Rose Gardens. They are perched on top of a hill overlooking the city and are in bloom in June through September. It's amazing just wandering through the acres of all sorts of beautiful roses. www.rosegardenstore.org/thegardensoverview.cfm


No. 4. SOUVENIR:


My souvenir that I would bring home from Portland would be a one of kind Karaline dress. The dresses are handmade in Portland and are timeless classics. They are available at tumbleweed boutique. www.tumbleweedboutique.com


No. 5. FAVORITE SHOP:


My all time favorite store in Portland is Ink+Peat. It's one part flower shop, one part vintage goods store and one part home furnishings. The displays are always great, too.
www.inkandpeat.com

Written and photographed by Abby Powell Thompson,
abbytrysagain.com shop: abbytryagain.com