The streets of Downtown Gresham were taken over by artists and their wowed patrons over the weekend during the return of a revitalized signature festival.
Saturday, July 20, there were enough pieces to leave one’s head spinning. There was ceramics and cottage crafts, glass and jewelry, paintings and photography, sculptures and woodwork, 2D and 3D mixed media, metals and fibers, beads and quilts, wallets and bookmarks, and so much more.
But what makes the event truly special is how it offers art to all — sometimes literally.
“The most rewarding part of today is seeing kids eyes light up,” said Len Otto, a Troutdale resident who was with the Cascade Woodturners Association passing out hand-carved tops.
The Festival of the Arts, nee Gresham Arts Festival, was held 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Downtown Gresham. Hosted by the Center for the Arts Foundation, the festival shut down Main Avenue, between Powell Boulevard and Fifth Street, as well as the blocks up Second and Third Streets, to allow for nearly 150 booths to be erected.
“Today is about community, all sorts of people coming together,” said Gresham City Councilor Janine Gladfelter, who set aside her governmental duties to volunteer alongside dozens of others to keep the event running smoothly.
It was a mix of veteran artists and newcomers.
Two first-time artists at the festival had beaming smiles after a visit from a Gresham Outdoor Public Art contingent.
Judy Han and Julie Frediani, members of GOPA and two of the founders of the original Gresham Arts Walk, which later morphed into Saturday’s event, presented a sponsorship to a pair of artists, covering their booth fee and allowing them to focus on showcasing their work.
“We want to encourage as many new artists as we can,” Han said.
Ben Anderson and Asia Martinez, both painters who were set up next to each other near the corner of Third and Main, were the recipients.
“I’ve been the to festival a few times as a patron, so I thought it would be great to come with my own booth this year,” Anderson said. “This whole experience has been brand new, and the best part has been all the people and their smiling faces.”
Martinez loves art, and her family pushed her to take the “scary” plunge and put her work out there on a stage like the Arts Fest.
“I decided to bite the bullet and try it out,” she said.
Around the Arts Plaza, 401 N.E. Second St., were interactive arts, where pieces were actively being created. There was sand sculpting, special effects makeup, metal smithing, wood lathing, product photography, a symphonic band, sewing and quilting, chainsaw art, painting and raku sculpting.
Rick Rich was one of the woodworkers turning a lathe in the plaza. The Cascade Woodturners Association was a popular spot for folks to watch wood chips fly into the air.
“It is a hobby you stumble into later in life,” Rich said of a hobby he picked up from his father.
One of the most striking pieces was a towering 12 foot tall “La Catrina” statue with a Day of the Dead skull and brilliant red garb, made from over 30 cubic feet of material. That piece was done by Esther Velazquez, who was also at the Arts Fest for the first time alongside The Rockwood Center.
This year’s festival felt renewed with a breath of fresh air and ideas. In its first year at the helm, the Center for the Arts Foundation brought more than just a name change. The Arts Fest was brought back to the streets of downtown, creating a block party vibe that kept it more connected to the many businesses and restaurants in downtown.
The location also allowed the Gresham Farmers Market to remain closer to its weekly Arts Plaza home — it was held along the connector streets between the Arts Fest and plaza, rather than the unpopular idea of shunting it to East Hill’s parking lot on the distant edge of downtown. By being reconnected with the festival, visitors could buy the usual market fare: fruit, produce cheese, honey, booze, baked goods and more, as well as grab a bite to eat at the Arts Fest’s “Food Court.”
“I love having the Farmers Market back part of this festival,” Gladfelter said.
And with all the artists on Main Avenue, the plaza was completely dedicated to kids, games and activities. The Kids Village had games, obstacles courses and crafts, as well as its own stage that hosted a reptile show, live music and a circus.
The Arts Fest had the World Music Stage, at Third and Main, presented by Orchestra Nova Northwest, which included performances by: Chicamarimba, Oregon Koto Kai, Orchestra Nova Northwest Bass, Melao De Cuba, and Jan Michael Looking Wolf and Native Rose.
To alleviate parking concerns, organizers had three shuttle pickup locations. They were at the former Kmart parking lot, Gresham Central Transit, and Gresham City Hall. The shuttles dropped off and picked up at the corner of Second and Kelly.
There was also more of a build-up to the main event. The Arts Foundation coordinated with the Historic Downtown Gresham Business Association to bolster Third Thursday, and Friday brought more fun with Music Under the Stars, featuring a pair of stages and the continued closure of Main Avenue to cars.
With the success of Arts Fest weekend, now the foundation will set its sights on the winter. They are also taking over the Christmas Tree Lighting from the city of Gresham, falling under the new “Spirit of Gresham” umbrella. The plan is for a “Spirit of the Holidays” series of events, including the Christmas lighting as well as gatherings for Chanukah, Kwanza, Three Kings Day and Lunar New Year.
The Gresham Center for the Arts Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded more than two decades ago. It is focused on enriching the community with diverse artistic experiences.
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