photo: Lauren Coleman
It was no surprise to us that one of Alicia Rose’s secret superhero powers is “major multitasking.” You’ve seen, for the past two seasons, her brilliantly theatrical photos for OBT’s “Who’s Your Dancer,” series, and she regularly shoots the bands that populate her other world, that of booking the fab Doug Fir. Meanwhile, she’s Miss Murgatroid, accordion queen. Did you catch all that? Read on.
Qualities you most admire in design: originality, function, line, vision, style, color, fit, funk, divine inspiration and overall quality. Diane von Furstenberg.
Qualities you most despise in design: unimaginativeness, poor execution, crap material, overdesign, trendiness, lack of inspiration.
Reading: Portfolios That Sell by Selena Oppenheim, Gun For Hire by Helmut Newton
Listening to: Grizzly Bear, TV On The Radio, Richmond Fontaine, Subtle, Birdy Nam Nam, Viva Voce, Darker My Love, Junior Boys, Small Sails and about 8 million other bands…it’s my job and a serious obsession.
Dream project: To shoot the cover or a feature for Vogue, Surface, Rolling Stone. To do conceptual and super awesome shoots with more of my favorite bands PDX bands like The Shins, The Thermals, Menomena, Pink Martini as well as doing more national work in music, fashion and beyond. I’ve got a lot of ideas in my head. Music is very visual for me though. Having unlimited access at Doug Fir has inspired me to dive deeper into music portraiture. Generally it seems like a lost art that’s relatively under appreciated and under produced. Biggest recent dream - to learn how to direct.
Favorite virtue: animal lover, generous of heart, bizarre sense of humor
Favorite vice: a delicious glass of wine and fine Oregon smoke
Tragic flaw: secretly shy, often oblivious, romantically challenged
Secret superhero power: personal and professional reinvention, major multitasking, connector of creative souls.
That which keeps your afterburners firing: my good friends, delicious snacks, my cat Charlie, live music and laughing my ass off as often as possible .
What you’d like to be when you grow up: a mother.
Portland’s best kept secret: Lately I’ve been obsessed with the soaking pool at the Kennedy School. That doesn’t suck. I love the beaches at Sauvie Island, it’s like being in another world. Parts of forest park are so lovely and private. There are secret under bridge areas that have been blowing my mind location-wise for recent shoots. Of course there is always someone new cooking amazing food somewhere in this city. Yum.
Portland heroes (sung or un-): Mike King, one of the most amazing graphic designers in the universe. Dave Allen, Gang of Four, a rock and roll cat with far more than 9 lives and a hell of a lot of fun to hang out with. Bwana Spoons, my best friend and an amazing artist. Craig Thompson, genius graphic novelist and an excellent sport. Hazel Millie Spoons, my fairy goddaughter. I could go on, Portland is filled with some unique souls.
Interesting on the horizon (PDX): I have a photography show in December at the Press Club on Clinton street that will feature a selection of fancy limited edition custom prints - including some stellar outtakes - from my OBT “Who’s Your Dancer” series. Apparently there will also be a commercial spot series happening as well later in the year on KGW and some swinging parties set to roll at Bridgeport Brewery. Next year Bwana Spoons has asked me to be part of a Polaroid show at Grass Hut Shop, I’m super excited to make a project out of that. Who knows, perhaps Miss Murgatroid will come out of retirement in 2007. I’ve been missing my accordion lately.
WHAT TO DO NOW?