"One Fine Day" ...in the Heart of the Rose City
By Jennie Chin and Julie Gibson
The Spring Convention Co-chairs, Jennie Chen and Julie Gibson, and their Committees are ready to share the splendor of Portland, Oregon and welcome international watercolor artist and Juror Carla O’Connor from Gig Harbor, Washington.
Meet your old friends and make new ones as we share and learn about art, and prepare to be dazzled with all that Portland has to offer.
The site of the day’s lecture, demos and break-out sessions is the First Presbyterian Church at 1200 SW Alder St. in downtown Portland. The architecture of the church is breathtaking. Although we can’t hold art activities in the Sanctuary, you may want to take a moment in there for quiet reflection. Right outside the Sanctuary is the Narthex area where our vendors will be located. Members can also visit the Geneva Room between 9 am and 4 pm to admire works by our New Members.
The morning will begin with a Convention introduction and the welcoming of 59 New Members and their paintings, followed by a Lecture Demo from Carla O’Connor.
After the Lecture, if you have not ordered a box lunch, you can walk one block to 9th and Alder and find some of Portland’s finest food carts to select the cuisine of your choice.
Right after lunch we will begin the following Saturday Activities:
• Juror Carla O’Connor will offer a Slide Critique.
• Our own downtown art muse, Gene Gill, will offer a “Photo Safari.” He will begin with a short lecture and lead members on a walk to the photo sites.
• Acclaimed plein air painter Susan Spears will lead a Paint-Out. She has painted all over Oregon and will share her favorite spot for painting in downtown Portland.
• After years of experiencing painting on different surfaces, Rene Eisenbart will introduce you to her new find: painting watercolor on cradled wood panels.
• High desert artist Winnie Givot of Sisters will be presenting a session on Watercolor Journaling. She will show you how to capture the magic of what you see.
• “Paint it, Sell it” will be hosted by Janet Livesay from SCORE. She will provide information on how artists can start and maintain their small businesses.
At 3:45 pm, the first charter bus will transport us from the church to the Artists’ Reception and Awards, which starts at 4:30 pm just a few blocks away at the Oregon Society of Artists (OSA) at 2181 SW Park Avenue. OSA will roll out the red carpet to invite you to view the 80 juried paintings chosen by Juror Carla O’Connor. We will sample hors d'oeuvres and toast all the winners.
After we celebrate the successes of our fellow artists, you are on your own for dinner or can join others to experience some fine dining at one of Portland’s renowned restaurants. We have included a list of restaurants in this issue of the Watermark and have assigned several local WSO Members to the task of making dinner reservations ahead of time. Arlene Millering, Becky Meier, Diane Pinney and Susan Hook are the volunteers on the Dining Out Committee.
For lodging there are plenty of area hotels to choose from, or consider coming to town early and signing up for a home stay with one of our local WSO Members who are looking forward to having you as their guest. Many Members have already begun making home-stay arrangements—it’s a great way to get to know your fellow artists. Email Linda Nye for information about home-stays.
We hope you make the most of your time in Portland. Consider coming in early on Thursday or Friday and spend a few hours at Powell’s Book Store, or visit art galleries in the Pearl District. Then before going home on Sunday, check out some of Portland’s art supply stores: Blick (formerly Art Media), Muse Art and Design, or Utrecht.
There are plenty of activities for non-artists who come to visit Portland. Jesse Walker, husband of WSO Member Liz, has volunteered to lead a distillery tour/lunchtime excursion. For more information on this tour, see your Yellow Pull-Out section and be sure to sign up via the Early Registration form enclosed with this issue.
Other Portland attractions include Portland Art Museum, the Rose Garden and Japanese Garden, a boat ride on the Willamette River, shopping for handcrafted arts at the Saturday Market, visiting art galleries, or touring OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.) We look forward to seeing you in the Rose City at the Portland Convention on April 14.
If you live in the Portland area and would like to help the planning committees, please email Julie Gibson or Jennie Chen. We are especially in need of local volunteers to gallery sit at OSA from 1 - 4 pm Tuesday - Sunday throughout the exhibit dates (April 14 – April 29). Contact Gallery Sitting Chair Rene Eisenbart if you would like to help.
Consider arriving a few days before the Convention to get settled in and enjoy the sights. That will also allow you to hand deliver your accepted painting if yours is among the accepted works.
Remember that Early Registration ends March 20. After that date, registration will be available only at the Hospitality Table. Since several activities (such as having a painting in the Juror's Critique) are limited to 20 or 25 participants, please note that events are filled on a “first-received, first-registered” basis.
Shipped, accepted watercolor paintings must be received at OSA on April 9, 10 or 11 (Mon, Tue, Wed). Hand-delivered, accepted watercolor paintings must arrive on Wednesday, April 11 from 10 - 2. (Consider “pooling” your hand delivery with other artists in your area). OSA’s hanging crew, led by WSO Member Donna Jarvis, will receive your paintings. |
