One of the reasons we live here is good art made by good artists. But something happens when a city plays good host to good artists: not only do they continue to move here, they stay, make good work, and most interestingly, meet one another and one thing leads to another (that’s another another) and they find compatriots, collaborate, share group shows, inspire, found arts spaces, and more. The collision of artists in the intersection of Portland is what makes things so delicious.
To celebrate and to encourage more of this sort of thing, the Regional Arts and Culture Council is hosting Art Spark every third Thursday at Living Room Theaters’ Lounge. Every Art Spark will be hosted by a different artist, arts advocate or ?, and this Thursday, March 21, from 5-7 PM Portland’s Arts & Culture Commissioner Sam Adams will make a most genial host.
Six@Six give the Art Spark host six minutes at 6 PM for a performance, a question, or a talk of their choosing. RACC promises “Freewheeling conversation for the rest of the 114 minutes.”
POSTED: March 18th, 2008 | AUTHOR: lisa | FILED UNDER: art | TAGS: art, arts | 1 Comment »
Or rather the soon-to-be Hotel Modera and one-time Portland Inn/Day’s Inn circa 1962 at SW Clay and 5th. Anticipate the renovation of this central hotel that promises the kind of distinctive design polish you see at few Portland hotels. Because of the steady hand of interior design firm CorsoStaicoff (Hotel Murano, Hotel Max) and Holst Architecture (Belmont Street Lofts, 937 Condominiums, Clinton Condos) partnering on the design for Posh Ventures, expect the Modera to nail a true-to-its-roots reinvention of this mid-century downtown hotel.
“We really wanted to let it be what it is, to respect the integrity of the building. Over the years, it had all these appendages attached to it, all of these ideas piled on. We didn’t just want to put lipstick on it,” says Denise Corso. “We took away the unneccessary ideas that had built up over time, bringing the building back to its original nature.” CorsoStaicoff were originally approached by Posh for the project and recommended a very short list of architecture firms they knew could make the project happen. Hence Holst.”Working with Holst, we are carving out a brand new lobby. The entrance has been moved onto Clay, and we’ve created a whole new lobby experience. Before there was no event in the lobby; there barely even was a lobby. Now there is more public space, more public activity. The parking lot (and there was a pool) is transformed into a courtyard with fire pits and a green living wall that is also viewable from all of the guest rooms,” says Corso. “It’s the largest transformation of any project we’ve done from streetside.”
All of the guest rooms are being redone with all new interior finishes and the palette is all warm tones. “For the interior, the story is about comfort,” Corso says. Other goodness: the hotel is on the new Green streetcar line scheduled to open this fall. Expect a soft opening May 15.
*Sugar Hill Gang “Rapper’s Delight,” but you knew that didn’t you?
POSTED: March 18th, 2008 | AUTHOR: lisa | FILED UNDER: design | TAGS: architecture, art, design | 1 Comment »