Historic Downtown Oregon City

The Main Street Oregon City non-profit has recently awarded $13,000 to 13 downtown locations for façade improvements related to new signs, awnings, and improved storefront lighting.

Look for the improvements at The Caufield House, Bridge View Beer and Wine Supply, Tony’s Smoke House, Coffee Rush, Garage 31, Pioneer Pub, AJH Financial, Ruud’s Jewelers, Busch Furniture, Laura Edmond’s Farmer’s Insurance Office, Mi Famiglia, David C Bouyer Co, and at the newly opened Vintage Shoppe for furniture and décor.

Pictures are coming!
For more details about this post,
view the full press release here.

Posted in Home

Take a look at a recent story about downtown Oregon City in the Daily Journal of Commerce. There’s a great picture of local businessman Robb Crocker and some thoughts on the closure of the Oregon City Arch Bridge.

Click Here to see the article.

Keep an eye out for future news stories where we focus on the positive work we are doing to overcome this challenge.

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A First Friday Event in Downtown Oregon City
Friday October 2^nd from 4 to 7 p.m

Downtown Oregon City’s first First Friday event Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush premieres a monthly first Friday art series downtown on Friday October 2^nd from 4 to 7 pm. This uniquely Downtown Event utilizes empty storefront windows decorated with artwork, artists hosted by downtown businesses, and artists “on the street” exposing themselves…in a very appropriate way, to create Arts in Action.

“Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush showcases the potential for commerce and culture downtown,” said Lloyd Purdy, Downtown Manager for Oregon City. “It leverages creativity and the creative process to encourage people to visit historic downtown Oregon City.”

What’s Happening Where from 4 to 7 pm on Friday October 2^nd:

• Artists showcasing their talent and creative process at Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street.
• Artists showcasing their talent and creative process at Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street.
• Live Music and Featured Artwork at Winestock at 820 Main Street.
• Arts in Windows Exhibit at 900 Main St. Suite 104.
• Art in Windows Exhibit at Fournier Group at 814 Main Street.
• Meet the Artists at Busch Furniture at 804 Main Street.
• Featured Artwork at Mi Famiglia at 701 Main Street.
• Featured Artists & Work at The Caufield House 8th & Main Street
• Meet the Artists at Pilates with Fe at 702 Main Street.
• Art in Windows Exhibit at ECP Copy at 623 Main Street.

Our first Arts in Action is fueled by Coffee Rush, but it will be visitors that energize Downtown on Friday October 2nd.  Please join us for Downtown Oregon City’s first First Friday night on the town on October 2^nd from 4 to 7 pm and see what Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush is all about.

Mary Wonser, Hand Weaver

Downtown’s first First Friday event Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush is sponsored by Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street in downtown Oregon City.  Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush is produced as a collaboration between the Three Rivers Artist Guild and the non-profit Main Street Oregon City. The Oregonian newspaper has also signed on as a Downtown Oregon City First Friday series’ media sponsor.

If you would like to participate in future First Friday art events by hosting an artists at your business location or displaying artwork in your storefront window please let us know. We look forward to expanding this downtown activity as interest from businesses and artists increases.

For more details about Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush or to sponsor future First Friday events downtown contact Downtown Manager Lloyd Purdy from the non-profit Main Street Oregon City at 503.522.1564.

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Posted in News & Press

Downtown Sign Fund Commits $13,000 to façade improvements downtown.

The non-profit Main Street Oregon City has awarded $13,000 to downtown business owners for façade improvements related to new signs, awnings and improved storefront lighting.

A second round of funded projects was announced today by the non-profit Main Street Oregon City. These new projects include funding for improved signs at the newly opened Caufield House at 723 Main Street, new awnings at Bridge View Beer and Wine Supply at 622 Main Street, a new sign at the recently remodeled Tony’s Smoke House and Cannery at 1316 Washington Street, new signs at Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street, a new sign at Garage 31 at 1128 Main Street, sign work at Pioneer Pub at 720 Main Street, and new lighting for a sign at AJH Financial at 216 7^th Street.

Projects previously funded include a new sign at Ruud’s Jewelers at 812 ½ Main Street, Busch Furniture at 804 Main Street, Laura Edmond’s Farmer’s Insurance Office on 7th Street, Mi Famiglia at the Corner of Main Street and 7th by the Oregon City Arch Bridge, a new awning at David C Bouyer Co. window coverings and flooring store at 1401 Washington Street, and a sign for newly opened Vintage Shoppe for furniture and décor at 212 14^th Street.

The first business in historic downtown Oregon City to install a new sign with the support of the downtown sign fund was Ruud’s Jewelers at 812 ½ Main Street. Ruud’s Jewelers has been a family owned business downtown since 1967. They’ve been at the same location for 44 years.  The third generation of the Ruud family is now involved with the operation of the store that specializes in jewelry sales, jewelry repair and clock repair.

“It was very exciting to see a new sign go up at Ruud’s Jewelers,” said Lloyd Purdy Downtown Manager for Oregon City.  “The quality and craftsmanship of the sign they had custom created for their businesses sets a good standard for the improvements we’re working toward downtown.”

“Our old sign has been in place since day 1 back in 1967 – it was outdated,” said Gary Ruud, owner of Ruud’s Jewelers. “The new sign is modern yet it still fits with the look we’re developing in downtown Oregon City.”

The Downtown Sign Fund created by the non-profit Main Street Oregon City is funded with a grant from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and funds from Oregon City’s Urban Renewal Commission. With this Main Street Oregon City managed project, business owners and property owners can match dollar for dollar up to $1,000 on the best sign, sign lighting, or awning improvement projects downtown.

The state funds granted to downtown Oregon City are earmarked for building façade renovation with a specific focus on improving the quality of business signage on historic buildings in downtown Oregon City. Grant funds are gathered in part through the Oregon State Lottery Funds administered by the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department.

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Posted in News & Press

Looking for something to do tomorrow? Join downtown businessman Jason Prouty for an open house — on the street! Saturday, September 12th from Noon to 6 p.m. Jason will showcase the last 15 years of his artistry, creativity and work.  Jason is the owner of Garage 31, an airbrush arts studio at 1128 Main Street in Downtown Oregon City. The newly remodeled Oregon City Ice House at 1200 Main Street will be joining in this street-closing event with free food. They will also offer drink specials as part of their grand opening celebration.

Good things are happening in Downtown Oregon City. Entrepreneurs like Jason Prouty from Garage 31, Dale and Roylene Connors form Oregon City Ice House and Spirits, and property owners like Dan Kelley (who did an amazing remodel of 1200 Main Street) are part of downtown Oregon City’s growing success.

Help celebrate their hard work and enjoy a sunny afternoon downtown on Saturday, September 12th. Hope to see you there!

(Want to see photos and a review from this event? Click here.)

Posted in Home

Downtown Oregon City’s newest event Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush is part of a first Friday event series that highlights the creative process of area artists.  Galen Hayes a digital photographer is a Three Rivers Artist Guild member participating in Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush on Friday October 2^nd, in downtown Oregon City.

Galen is currently working on a series of abstract photos with a process called fractal photography.  There’s actually no camera involved. Galen works through a digital process using software and mathematical equations to manipulate an image.  In this process he works with a graphic display of math. Lines and shadows are treated as numbers and combinations. Galen is an artist who “puts together the math part.” It’s a fairly new technique with the technology less than 5 years old.

“It’s different and strange, yet beautiful – it’s intriguing,” said Galen as he described the result of his recent work. Galen is also exploring infrared photography. He uses a camera that has been converted to capture light waves the human eye cannot see “I’ve always wanted my photography to look like something other than photography,” said Galen, a clinical coder at Willamette Falls Hospital “Using infrared photography I can really explore a scene.”

When describing his creative process Galen looks through the viewfinder to frame a shot. He may take 30 to 40 shots of the same composition. With this product to work with he applies his creative process to the “post capture” process.

Galen focuses primarily on landscape and urban settings. This week he is embarking upon a trip to Western Montana to photograph landscapes.   His subject matter will be mountains and glaciers.  He will also visit old ghost towns in western Montana and capture the architecture. “What I shoot has a life of it’s own,” said Galen. “As I spend more time with a place or setting I begin to see things that I normally wouldn’t see.”

“Downtown Oregon City’s Arts in Action event is an opportunity for me to share with people what I do as an artists, my process, the equipment I use, and maybe help people come to a better understanding for photography,” said Galen. “It’s a chance for people to understand the value of art. The value art adds to life.”

Galen’s work will be on exhibit downtown through January 2010 at 702 Main Street in the Pilates studio as part of a group exhibition sponsored by Pilates with Fe. Join us Downtown on October 2^nd for Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush and explore the world of photography with Galen Hayes.

Downtown’s first First Friday event Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush is sponsored by Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street in downtown Oregon City.  Arts in Action…Fueled by Coffee Rush is produced as a collaboration between the Three Rivers Artist Guild and the non-profit Main Street Oregon City. The Oregonian newspaper has also signed on as a Downtown Oregon City First Friday series’ media sponsor.

What’s Happening Where from 4-7pm on Friday October 2:

• Live Music and Featured Artwork at Winestock at 820 Main Street.
• Arts in Windows Exhibit at 900 Main Street Suite 104.
• Art in Windows Exhibit at Fournier Group at 814 Main Street.
• Meet the Artist at Busch Furniture at 804 Main Street.
• Featured Artwork at Mi Famiglia at 701 Main Street.
• Meet the Artists at Pilates with Fe at 702 Main Street.
• Art in Windows Exhibit at ECP Copy at 623 Main Street.
• Live Music and Meet the Artist at The Caufield House at 723 Main Street.
• Art in Windows at Madco Draperies and Floor Coverings at 818 Main Street.
• Twenty Five Artists showcasing their talent and creative process at Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street.

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Posted in News & Press

Tough economic times show what’s important to people. One downtown businessman has seen an increase in demand for services as customers focus on what’s important to them – their ride, their image and how cool their bike looks.

“Riders care about their bike – it’s their image – its who they are,” said Jason Prouty, owner of Garage 31 an airbrush art studio at 1128 Main Street in downtown Oregon City. “I know customers who cancel their cable and phone line, but they still have money to make their bike look cool.”

For 15 years Prouty has applied his craft and creative touch with art and graphics to motorcycles, cars, racecars, helmets, wall murals and more. Prouty, an Oregon City resident, began his career as a muralist working on giant images on the sides of buildings and in large rooms.

“I can pretty much work on anything paint will stick to,” said Prouty owner of Garage 31 an airbrush arts studio at 1128 Main Street in downtown Oregon City. “With every project I try to challenge myself.”

Working out of a space shared with PBMC (Picnic Basket Motor Company), Prouty’s projects focus on adding a creative touch to motorcycles, choppers, custom bikes and gear.  In a typical year he customizes 40-50 bikes. “A rider will spend $25k for a new Harley,” said Prouty “If they get it re- painted every two years is feels like a whole new bike.”

“My work is really about mapping and design,” said Prouty as he explains his process. From a Harley Davidson logo re-applied to the side of a gas tank to a full themed chopper that takes more than 150 hours to complete Prouty’s goal is to make people and their rides look good.  Prouty’s process includes meetings with clients to get a feel for their ideas and what they want as a theme for their bike, car or gear.  He develops a range of ideas and always finds at least one that speaks to his customers. He begins by mapping out a design, which is the unique part of every project, and finishes with airbrushing. A large project may take one to three weeks.

While the canvas may change for this downtown artists entrepreneur – a helmet, a fender, a gas tank a car hood –Prouty knows that his work has to look good from five feet away parked on the curb or 20 feet away traveling down the road.

On September 12^th from Noon to 6 pm Prouty will host an open house showcase on 12^th Street in downtown Oregon City.  It’s an opportunity for him to bring together 15 years worth of work all in one place and share his craft with the community.

Prouty expects more than 50 bikes and between 5 and 10 cars on hand for this showcase. He is partnering with the newly renovated and renamed Oregon City Ice House & Spirits at 1200 Main Street for this street-closing event.

Posted in News & Press

Click the photos to see them enlarged.

Posted in Photo Album