Does your dreamy vision of Portland include bikes (I know mine does)?
If so, check out My Pretty Portland, the Portland Mercury and the Art Institute of Portland’s short film contest.
They’re looking for a few shorts that showcase, “what you love, what you cherish, what makes Portland special for you.”
I know there are many talented artists and filmmakers that read this site and it’d be great to get some bikey content into this contest. The deadline is August 27th and the best 10 films will be shown at an event on August 30th.
Thanks for reading.
BikePortland has served this community with independent community journalism since 2005. We rely on subscriptions from readers like you to survive. Your financial support is vital in keeping this valuable resource alive and well.
Please subscribe today to strengthen and expand our work.
Your link at the bottom of the article seems to be broken, I think it should be to here:
http://www.portlandmercury.com/prettyportland
I find it fascinating that the \”My Pretty Portland\” logo features a backdrop picture/image of Mt. Hood from a lake (Lost Lake?), a location that appears to NOT be in Portland at all.
Mt. Hood is a stunning feature of our natural landscape and sense of place, but it is certainly not a place that you could get to with with a couple hours free and your bike. The image is similar to so much (too much) Portland-iconography that features the natural landscape as out-there beyond the City.
That\’s too bad because what makes Portland really great- IMO- are the numerous wild or scenic places right here in the City that are so very accessible by bike or foot.
So my dreamy vision of Portland would be more inward looking and absolutely more bike accessible!
Some examples:
1. The view of downtown and South Waterfront over Ross Island and Oaks Bottom.
2. A vista of Smith & Bybee Lakes with a gritty Port Terminal in the background,
3. A perspective on the magnificent St. Johns Bridge backdropped by verdant Forest Park, or
4. The vantage from Mt. Scott to the NW taking in the Willamette, River, Tualatin Mountains, and Portland\’s downtown and inner neighborhoods.
I want to see
-random groups of people in parks break out into choreographed dance routines.
-everyone should wear flowers in their hair.
-more sparkles, everywhere. Like lampposts and busstops should glitter.
-meter maids should carry fairy wands and wear tutus.
-Bike messengers should dress like Prince Valiant and their bikes should all be white.
-max trains and busses should be painted pink.
I think that\’s a good start. Pretty enough?
Along with Jim Labbe\’s scenery, I\’m for the \”magic\” of some places at certain times of day and in different weather. Spring rain in Forest Park in the AM (or in the Japanese Gardens, for an esthetic overload), early morning at the foot of Mt Tabor, when the Tai Chi people are seen on a meadow in the distance. A runner in midwinter, crossing on the Steel Br., seen from the water, leaving puffs of steam. A scull appearing out of the fog, which is a very frequent scene when one bikes across the Hawthorne early mornings.
I would like to see a bunch of bicyclists in pink tu-tu\’s getting chased by a big monster truck