Weekend Metro Life Update

Published 12:00 am Thursday, June 11, 2020

Following the news in the arts, entertainment and activity worlds as we navigate our health and economic crisis:

• Galleries opening — Art galleries are making plans to open with rules for social distancing, protocols and such.

Russo Lee Gallery, 805 N.W. 21st Ave., had planned to resume regular business hours 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays. It was planning to open Tuesday, June 16, with exhibitions of new work by Sherrie Wolf and Lucinda Parker.

“We are very happy to be open again!” said Martha Lee, owner/director. “The shutdown was so sudden — it felt like we had just fallen off a cliff — and then all the uncertainty around how and when we would be able to reopen was very challenging.”

Lee said that the gallery’s large space allows for health safety. As far as business, which included appointments and some sales, in the past couple months, “it’s been pretty rough.”

She said: “There were so many unknowns and no other similar experience to compare to or fall back on. We went from business as usual to having to do things we had not thought possible — canceling/postponing exhibitions and laying off the majority of our staff.”

Warm weather, First Thursday events and weekends bring out visitors, usually. Lee said it’s imperative for galleries to stay open.

“I know I may be a bit biased, but I can’t imagine a world without art galleries,” she said. “We rely on selling art to keep our doors open, but much of what we do goes beyond that.

“I’ve heard from a number of clients that they have really missed just being able to stop in the gallery. We have quite a few people who have made coming to the gallery a part of their monthly (or weekly) routine for many years. … I don’t think (online outreach) will ever be able to replace the experience of seeing an artwork in person.”

Artists have struggled because they rely on sales and exhibitions, Lee stated. Yet, “artists are thriving in the studio during this period, too, with less distractions and obligations taking them away from their work,” said Keaney Rathbun, director of Waterstone Gallery and an artist herself.

Waterstone, 124 N.W. Ninth Ave., will feature work by Rathbun starting June 29. It plans to be open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, starting June 20, and by appointment.

“It has been very difficult to figure out and maintain a business plan as the parameters of the response to the pandemic continue to change,” Rathbun said. “Luckily our landlord has been working with us to make it possible to meet our rent obligation during the closure. We also raised some capital through a GoFundMe campaign, which filled in some of the losses we incurred.” Artists, she added, have been “overwhelmed” with uncertainty about openings.

Rathbun said Waterstone is active on social media, “but it is just not the same as seeing artwork in person, and our patrons miss that experience.”

• Grotto opening — After almost three months of closure, The Grotto had planned to reopen its gates 9 a.m. Friday, June 12.

The 62-acre sanctuary will open following strict social distancing guidelines, increased sanitation practices, and reduced capacity in certain areas.

The landmark at Northeast 85th Avenue and Sandy Boulevard celebrates its 96th anniversary this year. Along with the beautiful gardens, The Grotto is a showcase of art and architecture, set among the forest and cliff of Rocky Butte.

For more: http://www.thegrotto.org.

• Struggling arts — The Oregon Cultural Trust surveyed the cultural community during the crisis, and the numbers have been staggering. It includes data and comments from 330 nonprofits representing 83 percent of Oregon counties, and participants project $40 million in collective losses through June 30 — average losses of $121,281.

The majority of organizations are facing suspension of operations or permanent closure, the survey revealed.

More than half (51%) or respondents had not applied for the federal Payroll Protection Program, likely due to the fact that 44% employ less than one full-time staff member and rely on volunteers. Of the PPP applicants, 73% had received funds, and 90% said it hasn’t been adequate funding to support financial losses.

Rural arts organizations are indicating that things appear grim. Likewise, Portland Art Museum said, “Without earned revenue, we are relying entirely on philanthropy and government support.”

Oregon Cultural Trust awaits Oregon Legislature consideration of its Emergency Cultural Relief Fund proposal, which would deploy up to $10 million of its $29 million permanent fund to create an emergency fund.

• Pickathon’s concerts — The musical festival Pickathon has found success with its online “A Concert A Day,” a fundraiser for th MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. It has raised more than $140,000 in 60 days.

Pickathon has decided to extend the series, which features footage and audio of past performances and more. Coming up will be exclusive sets by Wolf Parade, Langhorne Slim, Charley Crockett, Open Mike Eagle, Blind Pilot and Preservation Hall Band.

“We started ‘Concert A Day’ series because our cultural and artistic communities are suffering right now,” said Zale Schoenborn, founder and director. “Our goal was to help support the artists that were depending on Pickathon and other festivals in 2020, and that’s why we’re continuing (the series) as long as we possibly can.”

For more: http://www.pickathon.com.

• Big project — The Portland Street Art Alliance, which has led several beautifying projects around the city, as artists have painted on closed/boarded-up buildings, is set to begin its ambitious Viaduct Arts Mural Project.

It’s been a mural arts district project long in the planning, and it takes place June 15-21 as artists will paint under bridges of the Central Eastside Industrial District.

It’s supported by the Oregon Community Foundation’s Creative Heights grant.

There’ll be five large-scale murals made by diverse artists to the walls of the Hawthorne and Morrison bridges viaduct. Artists involved are: Oliver Casillas, Talent; Nia Musiba, Denver, Colorado; Francisco Morales, Portland; Maria Rodriguez, Portland; Cloe Ashton, Portland.

For more: http://www.pdxstreetart.org.

• Kid efforts — Without internships, sports, camps and large-gathering activities, it could be an interesting summer for students. So, some Portland-area students have jumped into action.

The Portland Student Pandemic Response offers summer activities for high school students, through an online website. It’s called Summer Action Team, and it provides a way for area students to work safely in service opportunities for organizations impacted by the pandemic and shutdown.

It was built by students at St. Mary’s Academy.

“All you need to join is computer and ambition!” said Rye Scholin, founder and chair of Summer Action Team.

It’ll help students grow leadership, organizational, community building and community service skills, and it focuses on healthcare workers, food insecurity and underserved communities.

Students can apply at http://www.pspandemicresponse.com/summer-offerings. Applications are due by June 17, and projects run from July 1-17, with students participating online 1 p.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.

• New leader — “Live Wire Radio,” which hosts stage-radio variety shows at Alberta Rose Theatre and elsewhere, has named Heather de Michele as its new executive director. She had previously served as managing director at Groundlings Theatre and School, and she’s also film director.

For more: http://www.livewireradio.org.

• Some relief — Providing some help to organizations, the National Endowment for the Arts has issued its regular awards, totaling $1,200,500 to 14 Oregon organizations.

Portland organizations benefitting are Chamber Music Northwest, The Circus Project, Imago Theatre, Literary Arts, My Voice Music, Network of Ensemble Theaters, Northwest Documentary Arts & Media, Portland Art Museum.

• Closing studio — Oregon Ballet Theatre has been forced to generate online content through the tough economic period. And, now it has closed its OBT School West Linn campus and consolidated its school at its South Waterfront headquarters.

For more: http://www.obt.org.