Mayor Sam Adams

If you've ever seen a production of Eugene O'Neill's play Long Day's Journey Into Night, you know that families are, well...complicated.  If you haven't seen one, consider the fact that O'Neill stipulated that the play -- a very frank portrait of his own troubled family in the early 20th century, with all of its bruises and peculiarities -- was not to see the light of day until 25 years after his death.  In spite, or more likely because, of the deeply personal treatment of heavy subject matter, Long Day's Journey Into Night  is considered by many to be the high point of the American theatrical tradition.

Thankfully, in contrast to the strained relationships and doomed interactions of the play's Tyrone family, the international cast of world-class actors playing that family in the production of Long Day's Journey Into Night currently running in downtown Portland's Newmark Theatre is the very picture of healthy collaboration.  The show is a co-production of Australia's prestigious Sydney Theatre Company and Portland's own Artists Repertory Theatre (ART) featuring the likes of Oscar-winner William Hurt, grande dame of the Australian stage, Robyn Nevin, and ART's own Todd Van Voris, whom you might remember from his turn as Iago earlier this year.

Portland is home to talented actors, directors, set-designers, costumers and other theatrically-oriented artists who produce vibrant, exciting work year-round, but this production of Long Day's Journey Into Night is an exciting opportunity to watch our local theater community in creative dialogue with their peers from the other side of the globe.  The result is a conversation that not only enriches the artists participating in it and the audience members watching it take place, but also the entirety of the city hosting it.

Tickets for the final week of the Artists Repertory Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company co-production of Long Day's Journey Into Night are available here. The show closes on September 5, 2010. 

We wish our new Australian theater friends a fantastic last week in Portland.  Thank you for your work, and we hope to see you again soon!

The Portland Zine Symposium defines a "zine" as "a self-published magazine usually produced by one person or a small group of people."  That being the case, Mayor Adams and the Portland City Council commemorated the 10th Annual Portland Zine Symposium in the most appropriate way possible - with a self-published document of their own.

On the morning of Wednesday, August 8, 2010 Mayor Adams read an official city proclamation aloud in City Council that designated the weekend of August 28 and 29, 2010 as being in recognition of the Zine Symposium's first decade of existence, making it already the oldest zine-oriented gathering anywhere in the world.  On hand to speak a bit about the Zine Symposium in front of Council and a chamber full of zine afficionados were three of the event's organizers and champions of our local DIY publishing culture: Christina "Blue" Crow, Justin Hocking, and Alex Wrekk.  We were unable to hand-illustrate the proceedings and publish it as a zine, so this video will have to suffice as documentation of the historic moment (and the text of the proclamation is at this bottom of this post for good measure):

The Portland Zine Symposium is a free event open to the public and will be in full, grassroots swing this weekend at PSU.  Zinesters, comic-makers, artists, writers and independent publishing enthusiasts from near and far will come together for countless workshops, panels, discussions, zine-trades, and fun-inducing events.

What: The 10th Annual Portland Zine Symposium
Theme: "Zine Arcade!"
Where: Peter W. Stott Main Gym, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon SW 10th & Hall)
When: Saturday, August 28th, from 10:00am until 5:00pm and Sunday, August 29th, 10:00am until 4:00pm
Who: Presented by local zinesters, comic makers, artists, and writers. Attended by independent publishing enthusiasts from all over the world!
Why: To promote greater community between diverse creators of independent publications and art. This fun and free event helps people share their work while exchanging their skills and information related to zine culture. Through workshops, panels and discussions, Portland Zine Symposium explores the role and effect of all types of zines.

FREE!

Official City of Portland Proclamation in Recognition of the 10th Annual Portland Zine Symposium:

Whereas, the significance of zines and independent publishing is recognized throughout the world by the existence and celebration of International Zine Month; and

Whereas, zines create an outlet for any person anywhere to express themselves and share their ideas; and

Whereas, the creation, publication and distribution of zines and independently made publications is a manifestation of our First Amendment Rights; and

Whereas, zines provide a forum for all ideas, stories and histories to be shared regardless of class, race, age, gender, religion, and sexuality; and

Whereas, Portland represents a city in support of independent and self publishing individuals representing their own unique voices; and

Whereas, Portland is home to such institutions as the Independent Publishing Resource Center as well countless other organizations and small businesses which support zine publishing and distribution; and

Whereas, the Portland Zine Symposium is a conference and zine social exploring facets of independent publishing and D.I.Y. culture; and

Whereas, the Portland Zine Symposium is celebrating its tenth anniversary, making it the longest running zine conference;

I, Sam Adams, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the "City of Roses," do hereby proclaim August 28th and 29th, 2010 to be a weehend in recognition of the 10th Annual Portland Zine Symposium in Portland, and encourage all residents to observe this weekend.

It was pretty exciting when we first landed Leverage, and even more exciting to get them back for Season 3. So, to have them get the greenlight for Season 4 and be officially coming back to Portland next year for filming means we have a pretty good thing going.

Thanks to Vince Porter at the Governor's Office of Film & Television, Natalie Sept and I had the chance to visit the set with Commissioner Nick Fish this summer and here's what we heard about:

• Jobs: like, 200 of them. Leverage's production company, Electric Entertainment, has certainly brought in the stars like Timothy Hutton et al but it also employs a lot of really great local talent for cast and crew. Leverage highlighted this little fact by handing out 75,000 $2 bills as their per diem this year, just so we could have a visual reminder of the effect in our local economy.
• Support for local business: economists like to call it the "multiplier effect." Apparently, it's not just the people who get hired on the set who experience economic benefits from film production in Portland. Check it out: Michal Orczyk writes the Intern Report over at Oregon's Film Office, enjoy Film Industry a Budding Market for Portland Florist and Even Movie Stars Need a Two-by-Four. Next installment coming this Friday at Oregon Confluence.
• Electric Entertainment enjoys filming here--people in Portland are really quite nice. So, Portlanders, I ask you, what's next for Electric Entertainment & Portland? Another TV series? Leverage's Christian Kane concerts in the parks, perhaps?
• As we prepare for Legislative Session 2011... in a tough budget climate, it's even more important than ever that we understand exactly how Oregon's film incentive program is working and could use expanding.

Both the Oregon Production Investment Fund (OPIF) and Greenlight Labor Rebate programs are set to sunset January 1, 2012. These two programs are the primary marketing and sales tool for the recruitment of film and television productions to Oregon. In addition, the Greenlight Labor Rebate is a valuable tool for the commercial production industry and enabling local companies to not only sustain their business and workforce but also increase their business. OPIF was created in 2003 and it went into effect in 2005. Greenlight was enacted in 2005 and went into effect in 2007. Further, the City of Portland supports this industry through The Mayor's Office of Film & Video at the Portland Development Commission.

OPINION: Our proximity to Los Angeles makes a play at this industry a no-brainer.

FACT: The motion picture industry is a $11.5-13.6 billion trade surplus industry.

FACT: There are 40 states competing for this long-term industry through tax incentive programs.

FACT: 2009 forged $62 million in production--compare to 2008 at around $37 million and we were at around $2 million before we had an incentive program.

FACT: There is only one place in the U.S. that gets significant film work without an incentive program--Las Vegas, NV.

OPINION: We need to build the Strip or we need to continue to be in the incentive system…and expand it in a way that is both reasonable and gets us the highest return on investment.

Stay tuned for more on this as legislative session nears, but for now, answer all your questions on the incentive program here, apply for a job and move this industry forward here and read a recent review on this week's Leverage episode, "The Rashomon Job" here.

Portland is a city filled with musicians and bands.  We have a regular opportunity to see most of these groups perform, whether it's a garage rock band at a local art space, the Oregon Symphony at the Schnitz, or anything in between. There are, however, local musical ensembles whose performances the general public doesn't often have the opportunity to enjoy on their own aesthetic merits because they happen in solemn, professional, sacred or closed contexts. 

One such group is the Portland Police Highland Guard (PPHG), a traditional bagpipe and percussion band consisting of public safety and peacekeeping professionals from the Portland area.  The PPHG's central role is to honor and commemorate fallen police officers and firefighters throughout the Pacific Northwest at memorials, funerals and parades.

The PPHG takes its duty seriously, but they also have a real passion and enthusiasm for their art form, which they will be presenting to public in a decidedly more light-hearted mode this Friday, August 20.  The band will be playing a concert in conjunction with an interactive screening of the film When the Pipers Play, a screen history of the bagpipe and its effects on people in times of war and peace.  The event is free to the public and will take place at the Scottish Rite Center in southwest Portland.

Portland Police Highland Guard Pipe Band Concert + Film Screening

Friday, August 20

Scottish Rite Center (709 SW 15th Ave. Portland, OR)

Social Hour 7pm / Show 8pm

FREE

Take this rare opportunity to hear some great live music, get to know some music-loving police officers, learn a bit of history, and acknowledge the important public service that the PPHG provides in our community.  Here's a teaser:

Do you want to have a meaningful impact in sustaining and growing the Portland film industry? Do you have the experience and skills it takes? Here's your chance to answer that question and more by applying for the liaison position in the Mayor's Office of Film and Video at the Portland Development Commission. Check out more here and follow instructions here.

Position Summary: The liaison plans, organizes, coordinates, implements, reviews and participates in small to moderate sized projects and programs related to the development of Portland’s creative community, specifically in the areas of film & video, digital media, animation and related industries and supports implementation of the City’s five-year Economic Development Strategy and leads business retention, expansion and recruitment projects and initiatives to support the aforementioned industries.

Primary duties include preparing, coordinating and conducting business and industry research, retention and recruitment activities/projects, implementing industry plans, coordinating, preparing and reviewing documents for retention, expansion and recruitment prospects, working with start-up firms, and serving as the City of Portland’s primary liaison to the film & video industry. The liaison works closely with City, State, Regional and Federal agencies, businesses, industry associations and private developers to ensure projects and programs are consistent with City’s economic development goals, standards and policies and contributes to the PDC and the City’s development and neighborhood revitalization goals through participation on geographically focused teams.

More film & tv production (read: jobs) in Portland!

The news is out.  Local music favorite Carrie Brownstein (formerly of Sleater-Kinney) and SNL veteran Fred Armisen have teamed up to write and produce a sketch comedy series based in Portland, about Portland, called "Portlandia."

Here's the dish:
Los Angeles, CA – August 6, 2010—Independent Film Channel (IFC) has greenlit “Portlandia,” an original short-based comedy series that lovingly illustrates the people and values of Portland, Ore.  Fred Armisen (“SNL”) and Carrie Brownstein (vocalist/guitarist, “Sleater-Kinney”) star in the series, alongside guest stars Kyle MacLachlan (“Twin Peaks,” “Sex & The City”) and Aubrey Plaza (“Parks and Recreation”).  Armisen and Brownstein write the series with Allison Silverman (“The Colbert Report”) and Jonathan Krisel (“SNL,” “Tim and Eric”), who is also the series’ director.  The series is executive produced by Lorne Michaels.  “Portlandia” begins production later this month and is shot entirely on location in Portland...

Each half-hour episode of “Portlandia” will include interwoven short films starring Armisen and Brownstein, which portray the progressive personalities, aesthetics, and values of “Portlandia”, the creators’ dreamy and absurd rendering of Portland, Ore.  In the series’ premiere, viewers will meet the owners of a feminist book store; a militant bike messenger; an artsy couple who put cut-outs of birds on everything; and a punk rock couple negotiating a “safe word” to help govern their love life.  The first episode also depicts Armisen and Brownstein meeting with the Mayor of Portland (Kyle MacLachlan) who solicits the duo to write a new theme song for the city in a segment that also features the real mayor of Portland (Sam Adams) playing the assistant to MacLachlan’s “mayor.”  That theme song, and all the series’ original music, is written and performed by Armisen and Brownstein.

Here's the crew call for "Portlandia": http://oregonfilm.org/resources/jobhotline/ 

Full press release from IFC here.

Coverage:

Portland Business Journal
Portland Mercury
The Oregonian
Variety
Hollywood Reporter

In this corner: 3 year champion and former Work for Art campaign chair, Gregg Kantor & NW Natural

In this corner: Newcomer to the campaign chair seat but a history of serious arts-giving, Greg Ness & The Standard.

...Or will philanthropic heavyweight Carole Morse & Portland General Electric come into the ring and trip them both up?

Who will be the #1 company in employee-giving through Work for Art next year?

I do believe I heard Standard CEO Greg Ness throw down the proverbial gauntlet last night. Confident in his employees ability to give till it hurts, he told Gregg Kantor and NW Natural to enjoy the evening, because their spot at #1 won't last long.

Are you part of a company that wants to join the Work for Art campaign? Give me a heads up at jennifer.yocom@portlandoregon.gov and we can show you just how easy it is to become part of this growing collective of companies that invest in the arts.

And congratulations to Kathryn Jackson and all the folks at Work for Art for a tremendous giving year!

Via the Regional Arts & Culture Council:

Work for Art continues to grow

A record number of people have made funding arts and culture a priority by contributing to Work for Art in 2009-10. Nearly 1500 donors, including employees at 57 workplaces, participated in the annual campaign ending June 30, 2010 – a 16 percent increase in the number of donors from the previous year. Their gifts, in addition to those from corporations, foundations, and a public matching fund, resulted in a fundraising total of $675,772, up from $665,863 last year.

Work for Art has increased its totals every year since it was first established in 2005.

The results of the 2009-10 campaign were announced on August 3^rd by NW Natural President and CEO Gregg Kantor during a community celebration of arts organizations and participating companies, hosted by NW Natural. Kantor, who served as honorary chair of the 2009-10 campaign, also announced that Greg Ness, president and COO of The Standard, will chair the 2010-11 campaign.

"[Work for Art] is for me a reminder about how important, how critical, the arts are in our lives," Kantor said at the event. "If you look across history, the great cities and the great civilizations are defined and measured by the kind of art they produced. If we’re going to be a great city, if we’re going to be a great civilization, we have to create great art. And that takes resources."

Work for Art, a program of the Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), raises money primarily through employee charitable giving campaigns in Oregon and SW Washington. Most donations are matched by a public matching challenge fund (included in the total and provided by the City of Portland and Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties). Approximately 29 percent of this year’s total was donor-designated to specific organizations, and RACC distributes the balance of the proceeds through its established General Support and Project Grants program. In all, more than 80 of the region’s arts and culture organizations will benefit, and the continued growth of Work for Art has enabled RACC to award record sums to the arts community.

"I believe the arts have a truly limitless possibility here, and the potential to change the way we look at things," Ness said. "They can have an absolutely profound impact on people, and they’re clearly part of what makes this region such a great place to live, work, and bring up your kids and grandkids."

Despite the still-struggling economy, some workplaces more than doubled their number of donors to Work for Art in 2009-2010. Umpqua Bank experienced a 128 percent increase in donors and a 312 percent increase in money raised. Much of that spike in interest can be attributed to Work for Art’s Artists in the Workplace program, which sent actors from Live Wire! Radio to perform sketches at Umpqua branch locations last fall.

The City of Portland put a similar effort into their campaign, sending Mayor Sam Adams to greet potential donors on early October mornings to the tunes of jazz musician Dan Balmer and drummers from Portland Taiko. City employees increased their giving by 31 percent.

Top Ten Work for Art Campaigns 2009-2010:

1. NW Natural
2. State of Oregon
3. Portland General Electric
4. Burgerville
5. City of Portland
6. Zimmer Gunsul Frasca
7. The Standard
8. Stoel Rives
9. Multnomah County
10. Umpqua Bank

Coverage via The Oregonian.

Portland has been given the great honor of being the first city in the United States ever to host the biannual International Women Artists' Exhibition as well as the 84 distinguished female artists from 24 different countries which it brings together for a week of dialogue, collaboration and art.   

Mayor Adams was proud to officially welcome the international group to Portland at an opening reception at City Hall that was marked by regional color including a jug band, local beer from the Oregon Brewers Guild, remarks from the leadership of the Oregon Women's Caucus for Art and, of course, some very hospitable Royal Rosarian ambassadors in full be-caped regalia.  The mayor spoke about the complementary relationship between the exhibition and Portland, given the city's commitment to equity, creativity and cross-cultural understanding before cutting the ceremonial red ribbon and kicking off the festivities.  Fittingly, the reception took place in the building's north atrium underneath the art installation Suspended Migration by artist Dana Lynn Louis.

The week's program will culminate at Portland State University's Littman Gallery on August 5 with a First Thursday opening of Her Presence in Colours IX, the exhibit featuring the women artists' work.  More information about the opening and other public events can be found at the top of this post, so get out there and take advantage of this wonderful cultural opportunity. 

(Special thanks to Tommy Meanea & Evelyn J. Liu of PhoenixLotus Productions for the fantastic images.)

Now, let us begin with an arts joke or two.

Q: How many surrealists does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Fish.

Okay, another.

Q: How many folk singers does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Two.  One to change it, and one to write a song about how good the old light bulb was.

Hmm. One more.

Q: How many artists, organizers, administrators and advocates does it take to fill the lobby of the Gerding Theater at the Armory this past week to discuss the role of local arts and culture and help plan the next 25 years of related policy in Portland?

A: Oh, about 140!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a joke, you say? Okay, that's fair.  But it is a very inspiring figure, what with that many people representing nearly as many different communities and corners of the local arts ecology having come out to provide their input and perspective at the Portland Plan Arts Town Hall.

 

Join Mayor Adams, urban planners, artists, and community leaders for a Portland Plan discussion about the role the arts and culture should play in our city over the next 25 years.

WHAT: Portland Plan Arts Town Hall
WHEN: Tuesday, July 27 from 6-8 PM
WHERE: Gerding Theater at the Armory
(128 NW Eleventh Avenue, Portland, OR)
FREE/ All Ages

The City of Portland is going through a comprehensive planning process to address many of the challenges and opportunities facing our region–-not only in arts and culture, but also issues from health and safety to affordable housing, mobility to education to the environment. Mayor Sam Adams will be on hand to help us set our priorities and weave arts-related issues in the City of Portland's roadmap for the next 25 years. You'll also hear the latest news from the Creative Advocacy Network regarding our goal of securing $15-20 million in dedicated funding for the arts. 

Also featuring the work of local artist Adam Kuby of the Portland Acupuncture Project, and a musical performance by Gauri Rajbaidya.

Light refreshments provided, including generously donated wines. All are welcome to attend, but if you can, please RSVP on Facebook or by email to mark.walhood@portlandoregon.gov.

Co-sponsored by:
Bureau of Planning & Sustainability
Regional Arts & Culture Council
Creative Advocacy Network (CAN)
New Portland Colored Pencils
Portland Center Stage