Cat Rescue on Mt. Tabor

Dear Liza,

Last week at the Mt. Tabor Art Walk, we got to see a cat rescue. We were never quite sure if the cat actually needed rescuing, but it was impressive, anyway.

There was this fir tree, and this cat. A regular, small-ish, domestic cat with a collar on. The cat was on a limb of the tree, and seemed in mild confusion. Two young men seemed willing to step up to resolve the situation.

Several onlookers, including two little girls, a neighborhood cat, and a crow (who found the whole thing hilarious), gathered to watch as one of the fellows climbed the tree. Creaking branches did not dissuade him.

He made is way up to cat level, and after much wrangling and reaching, caught hold of the cat. The cat was not happy with the grabbing, but gave in to the inevitable. The climbing fellow handed off the cat to his ground team, and all was well.

The fellow placed the cat on the ground, checked for damages, and gave him a pat. The rescued cat headed for a quiet corner while the heroes took their bows.

This is the sort of thing that happens all the time, magical moments of humanity out in the world. I love being able to get out there and see it!

Love,

Grandma Judy

Mt. Tabor Art Walk, 2024

Dear Liza,

This past Sunday Auntie Bridgett and I made a return visit to the Mt. Tabor Art walk. We drove rather than bussed this time, because there were other things to do later on.

First we visited Jo Brody, a jeweler, painter, multimedia artist and all around fun person. We looked at all her neat stuff and talked like old friends. She and Bridgett were having so much fun, comparing notes and geeking out at each other’s art!

Jo’s husband, Mark Brody, is one of my favorite artists on the tour. He makes bright, inventive mosaics that just inspire my brain! This new piece, that looks like a topographical map, is built on a piece of slate. Amazing.

This year he has shifted to these wonderful pieces with burnt wood that can be stained and sculpted. Such wonderful stuff!

We wandered down to Coquine and got some sustenance, then headed back up to David Ross’s house to enjoy his paintings of bunnies who play musical instruments and go out to celebrate. I didn’t take any pictures, but we bought some cards!

We also visited Dennis Anderson and his bright oil painted street scenes, and Jo Ellen Rademucher and her inspiring abstract expressionist paintings that were full of layers and speckles.

By this time, we were wearing out and wanted to head home. My brain was so full and happy!

Lovr,

Grandma Judy

Mt. Tabor Art Walk Adventure

Dear Liza,

The summer activities continue! Sunday was the Mt. Tabor Art walk. We covered a lot of ground, met some lovely people, and saw a lot of art!

We decided to take the bus to get around, and mapped it out ahead of time with Trimet’s online maps. Auntie Bridgett also marked up a paper map so we knew where we were going.


We took snacks and water to avoid hungry-grumpiness and caught the number 14 to get to our first artsy neighborhood.

First on our tour was Georgina Ottavarino, who does collage and hand-made books. Her work is so precise and colorful, and she was so good at explaining things, I got inspired to do some more of both!


Georgina’s little studio is set in her backyard garden. Everything about her yard was peaceful and inspirational. I never wanted to leave.

Our next stop was a house where three artists were sharing space, and I visited with Tami Katz, who does beautiful fused glass. We talked about doing art with friends over Zoom and Skype during the pandemic shutdown, like I do with Ruthie Inman. I guess we all found ways to stay happy.

Bridgett and I ate our peanut butter and jam sandwiches sitting on a curb in the sun, enjoying the tree-lined neighborhood and the conversation of folks going by.

Our next group of artist studios were about a mile north, so we walked a block and caught the number 71 and then the 15 up the hill, to save our leg muscles. We found jeweler and artist Jo Brody’s art displayed in the front porch, and her husband Mark’s mosaics around back.

Jo does wonderful work, but I was there for the mosaics!

Mark’s work was inspirational. Large and small, quirky or not, comic or poignant, he does it all.

Mark told me about his work in progress, a giant cement toy jack, currently in his basement. When it is finished, it will be moved (not an easy task) to Lake Oswego for their Gallery Without Walls this summer.


We walked up the street and found Pat Stevens, who makes prints. I love her work, and how she uses bits she doesn’t like as quilty pieces! We talked about getting together with grand daughters who live far away. Her Elena is in Montana, much closer than you are in Denmark!

When our eyes were full, it was nearly 3:00 and time for the second part of our day. I’ll tell you about that tomorrow!

Love,

Grandma Judy