Tag: Botjoys

Gary Hirsch First Friday

Dear Liza,

This past Friday Auntie Bridgett and I walked over to SideStreet Arts for their First Friday show. Gary Hirsch, who makes the Botjoy characters and murals that are all over Portland, was showing his paintings.

The artists at SideStreet provided snacks and beverages as everyone enjoyed Gary’s quirky paintings and happy company.

Many of the paintings sold even before the show opened, thanks to SideStreet’s website, but we could still enjoy them. Paintings that had been sold had a discreet red dot placed on their label.

The associate artists I enjoy were also on display. Julia Janeway had her delightful rabbit ceramics out.

And Jennifer Foran’s beautiful forests painted on slices of wood were as serene as ever.

As we headed home we enjoyed the window display, which included the title of the show: Thoughts, Feelings, Actions.

I feel very fortunate to be able to enjoy art, and artists, in Portland!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Making Botjoys with Gary Hirsch

Dear Liza,

You have seen these delightful murals when you visited Portland….you even had your picture taken with one, years ago when you were a tiny Liza.

Well, last Saturday, Auntie Bridgett and I got to make some tiny bots with the fellow who started it all, Gary Hirsch. Gary was running a bot-making workshop at the SideStreet Art Gallery and we were offered two spare spaces. Yes, please! SideStreet Arts is the only gallery that offers his bots and other artwork for sale.

Gary started the session off with some fun improvisation games, to get us thinking together and “outside the box”. It was fun to talk to new people.

The supplies are very basic. Classic, heavy dominoes and oil-based Sharpie markers make for a non-spilly sort of table. Gary asked us to think of someone who might need extra encouragement or recognition, and to keep them in mind as we made the bots.

Carol, a lady at our table, thought of her pets.

Auntie Bridgett thought about bees and people in her improvisation group.

I thought about Ruth, the lady who manages the Blair Community Garden. She works very hard and makes the world happier, healthier, and more beautiful. I will pass it along to her when I see her.

And, of course, whenever I have been making art or looking at art, I always find art out in the world. Look at how these tiny fragile tendrils growing around the gallery door go with the bright pink and green of the new sign!

Love,

Grandma Judy