Historic Downtown Oregon City

In 2007, Laura Rambo bought her first digital camera and turned to her garden as she looked for something interesting to photograph. And now, three years later, she is the featured artist for Oregon City’s March First Friday Art Walk. Her photos are on display at Busch Furniture at 804 Main Street.

Rambo is co-chair of Oregon City’s blossoming First Friday Art Walk. The monthly event brings together local artists and business owners in a celebration of commerce and culture. The next event is March 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

When she got her first camera, Rambo decided she wanted to do more than just take pictures of flowers. For her, just the recording of an image was not enough. After taking a photo, Rambo begins the process of editing and printing in a creative way that produces breathtaking images that she frames and sells in a number of galleries.

“I want to work beyond the image into a level of self that is both reflective and revealing,” she said.

Now she is ready to head in a new direction with black and white photos of old barns and buildings. She wants to push her own boundaries and experiment more with natural light.

Rambo is working hard to help plan art activities for summer events, including exhibits for the First City Celebration downtown on July 31, as well as coordinating future First Friday events.

Oregon City’s First Friday Schedule for 2010

Throughout summer, business on Main Street, 7^th Street, and Washington Street hosting an artist or artwork for First Friday will be marked with balloons.

First Fridays in Spring  5 to 8 p.m.

• 5^th March
• 2^nd April

First Fridays in Summer 5 to 8 p.m.

(First Friday artists move outside with Arts in Action with artist on the sidewalks.)

• 7^th May
• 4^th June
• 2^nd July
• 6^th August

First Fridays are produced by the non-profit Main Street Oregon City and the Three Rivers Artists Guild. The Oregonian is a print media sponsor for the First Friday series.

Posted in Home, News & Press

Downtown Oregon City Sees New Creative Talent and Retailer

Oh Shiny!  Artisan Marketplace opens March 3rd at 216 14^th Street.

Oh Shiny! Artisan Marketplace is a new business venture in Downtown Oregon City designed to bring recycled, reused, repurposed and green art, as well as local artists and their creativity to retail market. The new shop at 216 14th Street currently has fifteen artists lined up for opening day, with more artists added regularly, so the inventory of locally produced art will always be fresh and exciting.

“My goal in opening this business was to have a creative outlet for artwork and the ability to get it to market,” said Tonya Meyer artists and entrepreneur. “It’s important to get high quality hand crafted product into people’s hands.”

Entrepreneur and artist Tonya Meyer  created Oh Shiny! to show people what can be created with found objects.  For more than 6 years Ms. Meyer has been working with recycled, reused and repurposed material in her own artwork.

“I feel strongly about keeping a green outlook on the world and many of our artists make art out of less than nothing, like Joe, who welds animals with junk metals, his creations are astounding,” said Tonya Meyer artist-entrepreneur and founder of Oh Shiny! at 216 14th Street. Mrs. Meyer, an artist and an entrepreneur creates jewelry out of broken plates that would otherwise be headed for the landfill.

Each month Oh Shiny! will feature a different artist. The retail location has more than 1,000 square feet of display space. Ms. Meyer is currently working with 18 artists interested in showing at this downtown retail location at 216 14th Street.

“My goal is to have a 50/50 balance between art and recycled art,” said Tonya Meyer artist-entrepreneur and founder of Oh Shiny! at 216 14th Street. “We’re always on the lookout for new things.”

Starting on the first Friday of every month and going through the month, Oh Shiny! will hold an artist meet and greet, as well as list times that artists will be in the store so visitors and customers can interact with featured artists.

“It’s exciting to see this level of energy and creative evolve in historic downtown Oregon City,” said Oregon City Downtown Manager Lloyd Purdy. “Downtown OC is now on the map for artists, entrepreneurs and creative professionals.”

In March, Oh Shiny! will feature artist and potter, Rob Oxley. He has been throwing pots for a decade, experimenting in different clays, textures and finishes. He will be on hand often at Oh Shiny! working the pottery wheel.

###

Posted in News & Press

Midnight Shot of Arch Bridge by Devin Conroy-Groves

Oregon City Arch Bridge, shot at midnight looking east into downtown Oregon City.  Composition includes predominant features of this gateway to downtown –the bridge and the municipal elevator in the background. Photo by Devin Conroy-Groves.

Conroy-Groves started focusing on industrial photography in March 2009. “I like to focus on life during the night,” said Conroy-Groves. Conroy-Groves’ photos capture the reality of night that most people miss.

The photo shown is one of a series of four that will be showcased on the downtown website throughout the next month. Devin’s work will be on display at Coffee Rush at 900 Main Street during First Friday – March 5th.

Posted in Home, Photo Album

Downtown Oregon City’s artists, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals continue to develop collaborations with private business to cultivate commerce and culture in Oregon City.

Last week a volunteer group of artists from the Three Rivers Artist Guild put the finishing touches on the “Nomad” Gallery – currently at 900 Main Street – just in time for Oregon City’s February First Friday event. The “Nomad” Gallery is a moving venue that showcases local art and artists in an empty downtown storefront. The display space for art exists only so long as a first floor downtown space is empty. When the space is rented this wandering art display finds a new home at a new location.

“The idea of a wandering art display that pops up wherever there is space creates a unique opportunity for downtown Oregon City,” said Lloyd Purdy, Executive Director of the non-profit Main Street Oregon City. “Exploring art in surprising places is always fun for a downtown visitor.”

Two weeks ago, 750 square feet of office space became available at 900 Main Street, with direct access to Main Street and a parking lot. This location is known as Settlers Corner and is home to first floor businesses – Coffee Rush and Subway.

Through the work of volunteers from the Three Rivers Artist Guild a team of artists were quickly assembled to outfit the space as a gallery – as a temporary filler until a tenant decides to rent the space.

“Adding culture to the commerce of downtown is a great mix,” said Don Slack, owner of 900 Main Street. “It’s great to see this much energy and vitality in downtown Oregon City.”

The “Nomad” gallery will probably only be open during First Fridays or for special events or meetings. The art is always visible through a large bay of floor to ceiling windows facing 9th Street. The gallery features a variety of artwork from local artists from paintings to photography.

“Local artists really appreciate the opportunity to interact with local businesses,” said Mike Wonser, incoming President of the Three Rivers Artists Guild. “We’re creating some very positive partnerships through art.”

Recent projects that combine commerce and culture in downtown Oregon City include the First Friday Art Walk which continues on the First Friday of every month in 2010, the Art in Windows program that features the creative talent of local artists displayed in downtown storefronts and the Three Rivers Artists Guild Gallery on 7th Street that shares space with Second Hand Prose the Friends of the Library bookstore across from City Hall in Oregon City.

###

Posted in Home