Our Portland spring keeps turning out more flowers, and I just can’t keep up!
The chestnut blooms are about six inches tall and smelling sweet.
As the daffodils and hyacinths fade a bit, the tulips have come up. Giant red ones…
and tiny yellow ones.
Wisteria blooms are climbing all over front porches, smelling sweet as candy.
And every tiny yard is edged with the fallen peels of cherry trees, drifting like soft pink snow.
Spring always feels extra-exuberant in Portland, maybe because every single living thing is so grateful for the warmth and sunshine after our damp, chilly winters.
First things first, I can’t believe that it is August already and wisterias are still blooming here in Portland!
Wisterias in August
This past Friday there was a new show at Sidestreet Gallery, the gallery in our neighborhood where Auntie Bridgett is showing her art. We started with dinner at Ankeny Tap and Table, which is always tasty. Bridgett had street tacos, and I had macaroni and cheese, which was so good and such a huge serving that I brought a bunch home for leftovers.
My people being silly!
But between dinner and home was the gallery. We got there while they were still setting up, so we got to look around and chat with the artists.
The Relic, by Cathi Newlin
Cathi Newlin was the featured artist of the month. She does delightfully quirky ceramic dogs and other critters, including this wonderful political piece that shows a giant dodo bird perched on an elephant, which is standing on an old fashioned child’s pull toy. It is intelligent and funny and cracks me up.
The other featured artist was Don Hall, a painter who seems to do a lot of self portraits, in various poses.
Don Hall’s Falling
The other resident artists were also showing, like Dawn Pantteja, Alicia Justus, Michael Allan Pratt, and Denise Krueger. The ceramics and paintings were delightful, as was the wine, snacks, and conversation.
And of course, Auntie Bridgett’s cups and collages were on display. I always love seeing her art out in the world, playing nicely with the other art.
Dear Liza 