Places, Everyone: Life in the Pearl Arts District

Join us as we delve into the artistic landscape of the Pearl during this panel, spotlighting Blackfish in the Otis Building and other notable historic structures housing vibrant arts organizations including PNCA, the Desoto Building, and Portland Center Stage. The discussion will be followed by a mini-walking tour led by the Architectural Heritage Center to view the featured sites.

You may sign up for the panel discussion, the walking tour, or both. 

Space is very limited and RSVP is highly encouraged.

PANELISTS: 

Norm Gholston, moderator & tour guide (Architectural Heritage Center)

Isa Ramos (Pacific Northwest College of Art, 511 Federal Building)

Chris Rauschenberg (Blue Sky Gallery, Desoto Building)

Julie Vigeland (Portland Center Stage champion, the Armory)

Alice Christine Walker (Blackfish Gallery, Otis Elevator Building)

Panelist Bios:

Norm Gholston is currently the Preservation Programs Manager for The Architectural Heritage Center. A Portland native, he has worked in the preservation field for over 20 yrs. Norm has contributed content and images for dozens of books, publications, lectures and public art projects, as well as co-authored "History of Portland's Slabtown Neighborhood '' and resides in NW Portland.

Isa Ramos serves as the Public Programming & Events Coordinator at the Pacific Northwest College of Art. Isa works both strategically and creatively to help organize and promote events that foster conversations which engage students, artists and our Portland community. Her professional and personal passions include demystifying the creative process and improving access to the arts. She is a Texas-born illustrator and photographer focused on the absurd, queerness, and her heritage as a sixth-generation Mexican-American.

Christopher Rauschenberg has practiced photography for 66 years (starting art age 6). He has had 128 solo exhibitions in eight counties on three continents. His work is in the collections of 13 major museums. Christopher is the co-founded and Board Chair of Blue Sky Gallery, where he co-curated over a thousand exhibitions over the last 48 years. He co-founded Nine Gallery and has been a member for 37 years. Additionally he founded the Portland Grid Project and participated in it for the first 19 of its 29 years, as well as co-founded the Photolucida photography Festival, and was its president for the first ten of its 24 years. He is the 2003 Bonnie Bronson Fellow and current President of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation.

A former high school English teacher, Julie Vigeland has spent the last 50 plus years as a civic volunteer in the Portland Community. Currently she serves on the Willamette Falls Trust board as campaign co-chair. Julie is board member emeritus of the Portland Center Stage Board after serving as chair for five years. She also served as the Capital Campaign chair for Portland Center Stage at the Armory. She has served as a Trustee for the Jackson Foundation for over 30 years and chaired, for three years, Grantmakers of Oregon and SW Washington. Julie is past President of the Multnomah Athletic Foundation where she continues to serve as an emeritus member. She served under two governors on the Oregon Arts Commission, serving as chair for three. Julie recently completed her six-year term, serving as second vice president, on the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies board, the national organization for state arts agencies/commissions. She is currently serving as the national nominating chair. Julie also chaired the mayor -appointed Portland Parks Board as well as the Portland Parks Foundation where she continues as an emeritus member. Additionally, she is a Senior Fellow of the American Leadership Forum. Julie is a past recipient of the Marylhurst University Women of Distinction Award; Sustainer of the Year – Junior League of Portland; March of Dimes White Rose – Oregon’s Women of Achievement Award; Oregon College of Art and Craft – Jo Groves Award for Service to the College; Model of Success Award by the non-profit, Dress for Success; Named the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser for the Association of Fundraising Professionals; Angel Award by White Bird Dance Company; Ageless Award from Age Plus.Julie attended the University of Puget Sound and received a bachelor's degree in English from Portland State University. As a synchronized swimmer, Julie is a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club’s national champion synchro -masters team, recently receiving a first-place medal for her duet. Julie married her high school sweetheart 58 years ago, Ted Vigeland, who recently passed away. They have two adult children and six grandchildren.

Alice Christine Walker is a visual artist and photographer who can regularly be found behind a 1950’s Rolleiflex or in a vintage Fotoautomat. Based in Portland, Oregon since 2008, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from the Metropolitan State University of Denver before settling in the Pacific Northwest. Alice is known for her candid street photography, a collection of B&W and Color images shot on medium format film. Her compelling work has won several awards and been exhibited in museums and galleries worldwide and online with magazines such as She Shoots Film and Analog Forever. Images from her series “Nostalgia” have also been published in All About Photos, The Analog Club, and received 1st Place Street Photography Series Julia Margaret Cameron Awards as well as an Honorable Mention in Life Framer’s Series Award. You can see more of her work at:www.alicechristinewalker.com & www.instagram.com/roamingwithmyrollei