mortality of design: walking tour

eROI PRESENTS:

MONDAY, OCT 6, 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

ROBIN CLARK, eROI VISUAL DESIGNERDESIGN WEEK PORTLANDMORTALITYOFDESIGN.COM

HOSTED BY eROIMORTALITYOFDESIGN.COM

SMASHED TO BITS:


ROBIN CLARK, eROI VISUAL DESIGNER



THE HISTORY OF EMAIL

MONDAY, OCT 6, 4:00 PM –6:00 PM


TILL DEATH DO US ART:


TUESDAY, OCT 7, 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM


DEATH OF THE DESIGN COMP:


WEDNESDAY, OCT 8, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM


SELLING ICE CUBES TO ESKIMOS,


THURSDAY, OCT 9, 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM


FRIDAY, OCT 10, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM


THE WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT



00OLD TOWN WALKING DESIGN TOUR + TRIVIA

INTRODUCTION

OTCT & MeSo here I am. This tour is shaped by me and my experience of Old Town.I decided to turn in my food-service lifer status for a creative life where I could get paid to make things instead of doing them on the side for fun, which I never had energy for. I used to own and operate a bar! One of my employees, Brittney, and I rented a studio in that building right there where we would make stuff and listen to the ‘street color’ fighting and playing. I was just trying to figure out what I was good at, what I liked doing. Old Town……(felt like a place where things were possible). I frequently wandered around this area for inspiration, it’s everywhere you look. I didn’t even know what this cool door was, but I walked by it every day, and took the max home there, which is how I roll now that I work at eROI!




INTRODUCTION

OTCT & Me.I’m not a native or historian, but I’ve lived here for 25 years and am a fan of Portland, it’s humans, and especially this little ‘hood which has a soft spot in my crusty heart. I wanted to share with you the secret, or not-so-secret spots around here that make Old Town this diamond in the rough. It’s never going to be upscale, it’s always going to be rough, with some bits of decay mixed in with the bits of glitter.On this tour I will take you to some thriving spots, and some dead spaces.


eROI & GROUND KONTROLLogically, the tour starts at a place called Ground Kontrol. This is a not just a geeky gamer landmark, it’s beloved to everyone. GK is a classic barcade. They pipe that music out onto the street 24/7. It greets me every morning as I take the elevator up. (Blinky, Pinky, Inky, and Clyde) Let’s you know they are part of the community...we all share love of video games.They diligently preserve and maintain a well-curated stable of games that have inspired countless designers, artist and musicians alike (from Joust to Skeeball to DanceDanceRevolution). Hosts lots of events: pinball tournaments, gaming challenges, Video Game quiz contests, movies.

Cheap, easy hit of inspiration or distraction for anyone. This place is rad, and that is coming from someone whose maiden name is immortalized as a videogame villain in SuperMario Bros.



STOP 1: 505 NW COUCH


GROUND KONTROL TAKEAWAYSGK epitomizes the character of Old Town:

*finding and refurbishing old stuff,

*curating a mix of new stuff,

*celebrating and catering to eccentrics,

*promoting and embracing the neighborhood



STOP 1: 505 NW COUCH


OLD TOWN WALKING DESIGN TOUR + TRIVIA 00

STOP 1: GROUND CONTROL


PENSOLE: Baby Designer School 10 NW 5th AvenueBehind this blank wall, the future designers of all the coolest shoes are learning how to create fly sportswear. D’Wayne Edwards, Former Design Director at Brand Jordan created Pensole, a footwear design school for young talent interested in footwear design. He didn’t like what he was seeing...a lack of preparation in portfolios, so he created a pipeline in conjunction with Nike, Parsons, and MIT...now supported by tons of other Oregon companies that supply materials and design resources, so that the school is free!

Most designers in this city touch Nike, Adidas, Keen, Vans etc. Oregon had the most shoe patents of anywhere else between 1990 and 2010, now we’re known as a Footwear Industry Hub.

This is just one of many locations where workshops are held. Just an example of someone investing in the creative potential of Old Town.



STOP 2: 10 NW 5th AVENUE


PENSOLE: Baby Designer School TAKEAWAYSWhat’s cool:

*Dude saw a hole and decided to build something.

*We are right down the street from Just Be, where sneakerheads queue up to buy new release shoes and have them signed, a clear visceral inspiration for students here...they can just move right down the street to their end-goal.

*Behind unassuming facade, baby designers are born, shoes dreamed into reality.



STOP 2: 10 NW 5th AVENUE



STOP 2: PENSOLE


X-RAY CAFE All Ages IslandBen Munat and Tres Shannon put the X-Ray here from 1990-1994. It was a totally MacGuyvered all-ages freak magnet-community space where anyone could hang out and anyone could perform. Youth clubs didn’t exist on the west coast, it was a series of word-of-mouth punk rock basements you played in (until the X-ray). It was jank, build on community and creativity instead of cash, Failure and Triumph were both allowed to flourish, anything went, it was a giant collective happening not meant to last. It grew into a safe place for people to express themselves without ridicule. Tres said the kids that came here were so freaky, they scared all the drug dealers off the corner.

Tres ran for Portland Mayor, even tho he was already the mayor of the x-ray, and the fierce loyalty and love people had for this place couldn’t keep it open. But it launched the careers of countless musicians, artists, ideas.



STOP 3


X-RAY CAFE TAKEAWAYS*X-RAY was born out of a hole in the community, not built for money

*Stuff happened here before it was ever cool, it was patently NOT cool(like knitting circles, crafting, etc)

*eclectic bills: klezmer band would share the bill with death metal band

*Where big bands played some of their first shows: Green Day, Bikini Kill, Dead Moon, Elliott Smith, all those ska bands from the 90s, and future legends cut their teeth

*All-inclusive. Where you could be as freaky or friendly as you wanted.



STOP 3



STOP 3


VOODOO DOUGHNUTSThe Magic Is In The HoleOut of the ultimate death of the X-ray, arose Tres’ crazy idea of an all night Doughnut Shop. Tres is a remarkable personality who has always maintained his civic enthusiasm and support of the underdog, taking chances on people and ideas...and somehow transformed this doughnut idea into the Zeitgeist and is now a local landmark...which is why we are standing downstream from the masses of people who are getting Bacon Maple Bars and the Cock and Ball doughnuts.The Magic is in the Hole! I spent a great deal of my 20s on this block that is now like Portland’s French Quarter: Voodoo used to be Berbati’s club where my band and all my friends’ bands played. We would load in in that alley which is now so clogged with tourists, it’s now closed to cars. Dante’s, Ankeny’s, X-Ray, Berbati’s, Satyricon!



STOP 4


VOODOO DOUGHNUTSTAKEAWAYS*Voodoo seems built on the same principles as the X-ray, but has ended up in a dramatically different tax bracket

*Tres still hires punk rock dirtbags and inspires fierce loyalty/pride. The doughnuts are fine; the energy, enthusiasm, and experience is what you buy.

*Other large personalities from that era did not fare so well, but I’m so pleased that Tres exists, and I’ll never be annoyed by the pink boxes, no matter what.*Describe: anecdote of Tres and lighted jacket. up to the front, horns up!*Describe: The magic is in the hole Hazing Stunt. Psyched on the massive success.



STOP 4



NOGAHYDE! TRES SHANNON


CHINATOWN GATEGuards & InvitesLandmark that frames the neighborhood and shapes our experience of the hood. OTCT gate is guarded by traditional Chinese Foo Dogs that both protect and invite. Since I’m no historian, I can only allude to the preservation and promotion of Asian heritage of the area in obvious landmarks :

*bilingual street signs, red lamp posts, Classical Chinese gardens, import stores, the Hung Far Low sign, and a host of asian businesses here.



STOP 5: CORNER OF 4TH & BURNSIDE


CHINATOWN GATETAKEAWAYS*Old Town has always been a place where unwanted populations thrive: it supports a growing homeless population: right here is the Right to Dream camp. This area used to be known as just chinatown, and was a place where public intoxication and general crime was a problem, lots of SROs. Now there are just as many non-profits here trying to support and improve the lives of the ‘fringe’ population.

*’Right to Dream’ camp: Even when people have nothing, they need to express themselves…(it’s all decorated)

*Mayor Hales says ‘the future of Old Town is bright’ and is going to funnel millions into our ‘hood in the next 5 years...but no big box stores, no Uwajimaya.



STOP 5: CORNER OF 4TH & BURNSIDE


GOLDSMITH BLOCKSCreative BusinessThis warehouse is considered a ‘heritage building’. In the spirit of preservation, one of the reasons Old Town won’t be transformed into the Pearl District is the building-owners commitment to creatives, studios, galleries: the rent is not too damn high.

*Hand-Eye supply: beautifully designed objects and things that help you make those objects. Fetish-level.*Curiosity Club: hold events, have speakers, cultivate community of makers*Table of Contents: perfect things, perfectly curated.*Floating World Comics: (started by illustrators and designers) graphic novels, plastic monsters, Grass Hut gallery, Land-Fill Rescue Unit (used records), *Orox leather company: craftsmen that make the stuff on display are right there, so you can talk to and collaborate with them if you want.*Studio J where they make Pearl+ soaps for the Ace Hotel



STOP 6: CORNER OF 4TH & COUCH


GOLDSMITH BLOCKS24 Hour Church of Elvis24-Hour Church of Elvis. Art for Art’s sake. Virtually free pick-me-up.

*former landmark*Storefront, decorated with folk art, lots of plastic toys glued to old tvscreens etc *coin operated, would give you a fortune.*much like at Voodoo Doughnuts, you could get married by the lady that operated it. *It used to be in Ankeny alley, then it moved here, now it’s gone. *It was a free art thing for everyone, people would stop and gawk at it, it was home-made and not really for profit. It was only to make you smile.*something similar is happening right over there (point) called ‘Church of Robitron’ outside the ‘Diode Gallery for Electronic Art’ .



STOP 6: CORNER OF 4TH & COUCH


DARCELLE XVClubs & Creatives CoExistThere are tons of creative agencies in Old Town:

Leopold Ketel: 112 SW 1st: across from Sat market, branding agencyMagneto: 71 SW Oak, Brand AdvertisingStruck: 24 NW 1st: Advertising, Brand Strategy Phoogoo: in the goldsmith blocks: small interactive web agency, 4 peopleOwen Jones and Partners: 408 NW 5th, brandingUpswept Creative: 217 NW couchneedmore: website design:70 NW CouchTwo Penguins: video and film productionCoates KokesBonfire Marketing: 24 NW 2ndSERA Architects: 338 NW 5thCollective Agency: 322 NW 6th Ave. Suite 200: co-working contractor spot



STOP 7: CORNER OF 3RD & DAVIS


DARCELLE XV Clubs ...Along with them, there are Rock Clubs, Gentleman’s Clubs, Drag Clubs, Gay Clubs. Like, when 8 pm rolls around, this area is transformed/amplified into an entertainment playground where you roam at your own risk. It can be fun and energizing to some, but vomit and glitter live together on the sidewalk when you show up for work in the morning. Old Town is exciting, but still seedy….and not sterile.Darcelle XV has been operating a drag show for 37 years!

Queer Clubs: Darcelle XV, Embers, CC Slaughters

Gentlemen’s Clubs: Dirrty, Spyce, Magic Gardens

Rock Clubs: Star Theater, Roseland, Dante’s



STOP 7: CORNER OF 3rd and Davis


EVERETT STATIONLive/Work Artist SpacesThree blocks converted into live/work spaces in 1989. (according to Wikipedia) They reserve 16 storefront units for artists who agree to open their studios to the public during regular business hours and a minimum # of First Thursday events.

This was pretty revolutionary then; Old Town was def not a destination location. It was a high crime and drug impact area. But now, galleries are open for First Thursday every ‘good weather’ month, and people come here from the ‘burbs with the intention to see something cool and creative:

Attic Gallery, Froelick Gallery, Butters Gallery, Shaffer Fine Art Gallery, Hellion Gallery, Diode Gallery



STOP 8: 625 NW EVERETT


SATYRICONPunk Rock Disneyland (RIP 1983-2003)(Currently the MacDonald Center)Punk Rock Disneyland Smashed to bits! Former site of legendary club that never should have lasted as long as it did...birthed numerous ideas, friendships, movements. Before Satco, there was no reason for bands to stop on a west coast tour, they would just sail from Seattle to San Fran.

This is where Kurt met Courtney.

So it used to be a sort of proudly scuzzy haven for musicians and artists, and now it’s a haven for at-risk populations. We need both. As sad as it was for Satyricon to end, it’s mojo had expired, it was time for something else to sprout up in it’s place. We still have the other venues down the street...until they get smashed to bits too.

MacDonald Center:Nurtures the body, mind, and spirit of the forgotten poor and other marginalized populations, the chronically ill or formerly incarcerated. Provide clean and safe housing, build community.



STOP 9: 125 NW 6TH



PAGE TITLE? CAPS, OPEN SANS, 12, D. GRAY 2



STOP 9


UPPER PLAYGROUNDFIFTY/24pdx GalleryTo cap off the tour, I bring you to the New Kid Corner:

Former niche design trends that have blown up. This corner caters to collectors, sneakerheads, skaters, dorks, artists.

*Upper Playground /55 gallery*Case of Base (upcycled briefcases with speaker systems in them)*Hellion Gallery*Tender Loving Empire*more secret things I don’t know about



STOP 10: 23 NW 5TH


FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE


TILL DEATH DO US ART:eROI OPEN HOUSE & BENEFIT

ART SHOW FOR P:EAR

eROI PRESENTS