FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 1, 2009
The PDX Bridge Festival, an all-city cultural arts celebration of the Willamette River Bridges is being planned for 2010 in observance of the 100th anniversary of the Hawthorne Bridge–the oldest vertical lift bridge in the U.S.
On September 10th, an event is being held to launch the festival. Mayor Sam Adams has recently come out in support of the festival, and will be on hand to discuss the merits of the PDX Bridge Festival, what this event means for Portland’s stature as a haven for creativity, and the movement underway to secure dedicated funding for the public’s access to the arts and arts education.
The launch event is scheduled for Thursday, September 10, 2009, 4-7pm in the historic trolley barn under the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge. The trolley barn, at 1403 S.E. Water Avenue, is now the County’s Bridge Maintenance headquarters. The launch, sponsored by the Friends of Willamette River Bridges, in cooperation with Multnomah County, is open to the public.
ABOUT THE PDX BRIDGE FESTIVAL
Radiating like spokes from downtown Portland, the ten bridges that span the Willamette River are central to the regional identity, tying the geography and cultures of Portland into a vibrant whole. Using the bridges as a staging ground for large-scale works of art, music, and performance, the PDX Bridge Festival will bring people together in a spirit of civic pride, aesthetic wonder, and community engagement.
The annual festival celebrates the bridges on a historical level, while at the same time drawing on wide creative talents to produce an awe-inspiring public arts celebration with the longevity and magnetism to exceed the historical reasons behind it. Beginning with the Hawthorne Bridge Centennial in 2010—followed closely by the Steel Bridge (2012), and the Broadway Bridge (2013)—the festival will draw large numbers of visitors and residents to the event. While showcasing the convergence of industrial design and artistic endeavor, this event will create a valuable cultural tourist destination in the heart of Portland. More info can be found at www.pdxbridgefestival.org.
THE LAUNCH EVENT
In addition to the festival announcement, the September 10th event will host the release of The Hawthorne Bridge 2010 Centennial Calendar (a 12-month, 26-page, full-color booklet produced by the Friends of the Willamette River Bridges), as well as an exhibition of the 49 original works of art used in the calendar. Created by Sharon Wood Wortman, the Calendar retails for $10. It is being sold at Powell’s, Made In Oregon, the Oregon Historical Society store and a number of other outlets around the city (as well as the www.pdxbridgefestival.org website). The 2010 calendar and the 2009 Portland-Vancouver Bridges and Rivers Calendar were conceived by Sharon Wood Wortman and Bill Dickey of Witham and Dickey Printing, with the blessings of Multnomah County. In addition to the calendar, the Friends of the Bridges will be unveiling the new Jaciva Hawthorne Bridge chocolate bars, Mt. Hood Roaster’s Hawthorne Bridge Vertical Lift Blend coffee (12-oz packages), T-shirts (featuring the calendar centerfold image), and Shedrain’s Hawthorne Bridge umbrella. Proceeds from all merchandise will be used to raise money for a public celebration to recognize the iconic Hawthorne Bridge during its 100th birthday year in 2010.
The gallery exhibit of select works from the calendar is curated by PCC Art History Professor, JulieAnne Poncet. The show features the work of 34 artists, ranging from elementary students to adults, who have paid homage to one of Portland’s most treasured and traveled icons in a variety of mediums including traditional photography and digital art, oil and watercolor paintings, woodblock prints, textiles, metalwork, sculpture, and silk screen. This exhibition is a fitting tribute to our special group of artists, and their generous contributions to Friends of the Willamette River Bridges and the beautiful Hawthorne Bridge Centennial Calendar. The centerfold is by long-time Portland artist, Craig Conahan (see accompanying image). Additional exhibitions including these and other works are currently being planned to run during the PDX Bridge Festival celebration, July 24 through August 7, 2010.
