Archive for January, 2010
Posted by Lloyd Purdy on 21 January
Oregon City’s First Friday celebration of commerce and culture continues in 2010 on the first Friday of every month. Friday, February 5th local artists and local businesses will celebrate from 4 to 7 p.m. Local artist Russ Eversole is one of the participating artists in February’s First Friday. His work will be on display at Hopps Upholstery at 916 Main Street.
Click here to read the [Meet the Artist] press release on Russ Eversole and see more info on upcoming First Friday events.
Posted in Home
Posted by Lloyd Purdy on 21 January
Meet the Artist: Russ Eversole, Handy Man and Creator of Rough Cut Elegance
Oregon City’s First Friday celebration of commerce and culture continues in 2010 on the first Friday of every month. Friday, February 5th local artists and local businesses will celebrate from 4 to 7 p.m. Local artist Russ Eversole is one of the participating artists in February’s First Friday. His work will be on display at Hopps Upholstery at 916 Main Street.
Russ Eversole has been an Oregon City resident for five years. He explores his creativity through handcrafted hemlock and cedar boxes. “I don’t work from a blue print,” said Eversole. “I pick out a piece of wood and let my creativity guide the results.”
Russ’s creations range in size from hope chests, to tool boxes and even elegant wine boxes that hold a bottle of wine and up to four wine glasses. He uses hemlock on the outside for a “rough and rustic” feel and details the inside with cedar or quilted satin or velveteen.
Using standard shop tools: a table saw, router, ban saw and a brad nailer Russ spends anywhere from four to eight hours on a typical handcrafted box depending upon the intricacy of the woodworking. “The pattern, color, and texture of the wood present an opportunity for creative expression,” said Eversole. “Using unique wood with flaws like knots or holes adds character – it’s my goal to bring out the unique character of the wood I’m working with.”
Russ even recycled the old sideboards of his flat bed pickup into a toolbox for himself. Russ is relatively new to the local art scene. He retired from Home Depot and started a handy man business “Rent-A-Russ” in May 2009. “I love creating and working with my hands,” said Eversole. “In my retirement I get to do that as an artist and a handyman.”
Russ is also the current President and a formative member of the Three Rivers Artist Guild (TRAG) with 120 local artists members. “I’m new at doing art,” said Eversole. “Through TRAG I’ve been introduced to metal sculpture, acrylic painting, oil painting and stain glass on top of my woodworking.” The Three Rivers Artists Guild is open to all levels of artists – brand new or experience – working on all types of art. The group supports artists who express their creative side while “enlightening the community about art and local artists.” The Three Rivers Artists Guild also focuses on developing the creative skills of its members. Producing, participating in and supporting First Fridays in Oregon City is an important part of the guild’s mission.
“I don’t have a studio to showcase my work,” said Eversole. “Interacting with visitors during First Friday is a very nice way to meet people and explore Oregon City’s creative culture.”
Oregon City’s First Fridays are produced as a partnership between the Three Rivers Artist Guild and the non-profit Main Street Oregon City. The Oregonian newspaper is a media sponsor for the series.
Photo Captions: Russ Eversole’s Toolbox, Wine Box and Weathered Box.
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First Friday Schedule for 2010
First Fridays in Winter 4 to 7 p.m.
5th February
First Fridays in Spring 5 to 8 p.m.
5th March
2nd April
First Fridays in Summer 6 to 9 p.m.
(First Friday artists move outside with Arts in Action with artist on the sidewalks.)
7th May
4th June
2nd July
6th August
First Fridays in Fall 5 to 8 p.m.
3rd September
1st October
First Fridays in Winter 4 to 7 p.m.
5th November
3rd December
Posted in News & Press
Posted by Lloyd Purdy on 13 January
The one-year-old non-profit Main Street Oregon City tasked with revitalizing historic downtown Oregon City has added a new Director to its volunteer based leadership team.
Marcia Wimmer, Development Director for Providence Willamette Falls Medical Foundation, joins the Main Street Oregon City board of directors with a diverse background in financial services, membership association, and volunteer management experience.
“Marcia has very relevant experience that will serve our organization well in 2010,” said Lloyd Purdy, Executive Director of the non-profit Main Street Oregon City. “She also has a deep commitment to Oregon City as a community.”
Marcia’s professional work with the Providence Willamette Falls Medical Foundation is to develop donors through community involvement. She works with foundation and hospital personnel and volunteers, community leaders, and professionals in fund raising efforts for the hospital.
Prior to working at Providence Willamette Falls Medical Foundation, she worked for the Portland Business Alliance where she was responsible for incorporating programs and outreach to help support business development initiatives. Marcia has also represented a major west coast financial institution where she was involved with relationship management and marketing.
Marcia fills a Main Street Oregon City Board seat that is reserved for a large employer in Oregon City. The non-profit Main Street Oregon City Board of Directors represents a range of downtown stakeholders including business owners, property owners, residents, and community leaders.
“I am excited to be involved with the Main Street Oregon City program,” said Marcia. “As members of the community, Dave and I take advantage of a lot that’s offered and we’re proud of the changes we’ve seen this past year. There is a lot of benefit to the entire community by having a vibrant downtown and I’m looking forward to helping make that a reality.”
Marcia’s community engagement experience includes fifteen years of leadership roles and fund raising activities for Rotary. During her tenure with the Rotary Club of Portland, she served as a trustee on the Portland Rotary Charitable Trust board, providing oversight for the management of philanthropic activities and budgets. She currently serves as President of the Rotary Club of Oregon City.
Marcia and her husband David reside in Oregon City.
Posted in News & Press
Posted by Lloyd Purdy on 3 January
Business is booming in Historic Downtown Oregon City. Fourteen new businesses were created or located downtown during 2009, and only one business closed its doors during this same time period.
“Historic Downtown Oregon City is a great place for unique businesses,” said Lloyd Purdy, Downtown Manager for Historic Oregon City. “From coffee shops to professional offices, and creative firms to restaurants we saw a very nice mix of businesses open downtown this year.”
Downtown Oregon City, which stretches from Blue Heron Paper Company on 5th Street to Miles Fiberglass on 15th Street is home to more than 170 business ranging from retail and restaurants to commercial and professional offices.
14 New Businesses Opened Downtown in 2009
The Verdict Restaurant and Bar
The Caufield House Café
Remember Books
Pioneer Pub
Oregon City Ice House
The Vintage Shop
Garage 31, Airbrush Studio
David Boyer Floor Covering
Premier Choice Insurance Agency
Cinematics, digital animation studio
Clink, high-end motion graphics studio
Woodfeathers
Second Hand Prose Bookstore
Three Rivers Artist Guild Gallery
Much of this new business growth was driven by investments in building upgrades and improvements which combined exceeded $1.2 million. At least six downtown properties underwent substantive remodels and updates in order to house new tenants.
Because of affordable rents $12-$16 per square foot, a great location on the waterfront, and a unique downtown experience, historic Downtown Oregon City is growing and adding businesses while other areas of Portland, like the Pearl District, are loosing tenants.
“We’re working to develop a vibrant downtown that offers a unique experience to employees, visitors and shoppers,” said Lloyd Purdy, Downtown Manager for Historic Oregon City. “Downtown Oregon City is positioned to continue to attract new businesses in 2010.”
Happy New Years from Downtown Oregon City!
Posted in Home
