THE NEW OREGON INTERVIEW SERIES:
ARTISTS AND OTHER INSTIGATORS LOOK AT OREGON'S EVOLVING CREATIVE CULTURE WITH HOST NORA ROBERTSON
"Portland is on everybody's mind these days. Portland's a drawing card."
Sound familiar? Over the last decade, Portland has bloomed into a top destination for creative culture. Media from the New York Times to MTV tout our city's creativity, sustainability, and livability. Yet the Beats thought Portland was about to "blow up" in the 1960s and Raymond Carver wrote the above words back in 1984. Where are we heading now?
The New Oregon Interview Series investigates with the help of Michael Brophy, Naomi Pomeroy, Diana Abu-Jaber, Randy Gragg, and forty others. Online interviews are published regularly at www.2GQ.org. Nora Robertson and friends conduct candid, intimate conversations with natives and newcomers alike for their unique perspectives on the creative process and Oregon's ongoing transformation. “A lot has changed in the past decade,” Robertson says. “The best perspective comes from the artists themselves—and the designers, writers, chefs, and venues who make things happen here.” The Oregonian's Barry Johnson remarked in Portland Art Watch "at this point, we don't know whether we're headed back where we left off 18 months ago or whether we're going somewhere completely new. That question is at the center of the New Oregon Interview Series." Presented by 2GQ/New Oregon Arts & Letters.
MAILING LIST
Receive occasional updates from the New Oregon Arts & Letters mailing list by sending the word "subscribe" to neworegonarts+subscribe@googlegroups.com . We will not share or sell your email address.
SELECTED INTERVIEWEES:
Diana Abu-Jaber • Sam Adams • Penny Allen • DJ Anjali • Adam Arnold • Linda Austin • Matt Bors • Arthur Bradford • Michael Brophy • Brad Cloepfil • Larry Crane • Alissa Nicole Creamer • Mic Crenshaw • Nan Curtis • Walt Curtis • Sarah Dougher • Monica Drake • Elizabeth Dye • Chloe Eudaly • Adrienne Flagg • Nicole Georges • Leanne Grabel • Randy Gragg • Doc and Connie Hatfield • Courtney Hameister • Greg Higgins • Linda K. Johnson • Brian Libby • Matt Love • Paul Middendorf • Sid Miller • Slim Moon • Ben Moorad • Cool Nutz • Paulann Petersen • Naomi Pomeroy • Scott Poole • Jon Raymond • Patrick Reuter • Vanessa Renwick • Alicia Rose • Kevin Sampsell • Mark Scott • Floyd Skloot • Stephanie Snyder • Tom Spanbauer • Holly Stalder • Matthew Stadler • Storm Tharp • Kathryn Towers • Shannon Wheeler
CURRENT WEB INTERVIEWS
INDEPENDENT FASHION: The Seaplane Interview
Seaplane played a seminal role in developing Portland's independent fashion scene from its launch in 2000 by house designers Kate Towers and Holly Stalder. In addition to showcasing their own lines, Stalder and Towers provided a regular platform for more than 60 designers. By 2005, the Portland Mercury reported that “Portland has been building momentum towards national and international recognition, the attention being mainly focused on Seaplane," a sentiment echoed by magazines like W, Women’s Wear Daily, Elle, and Bust. Nora Robertson corrals two fashion dynamos and asks them how it all began.
AN EVENING OF CONVERSATION WITH THREE PORTLAND MUSIC-MAKERS: Alicia Rose, Slim Moon and Mic Crenshaw
The New Oregon Interview Series brought three influential Portland music-makers together for an evening of intimate conversation. Said interviewee DJ Anjali, “It’s still like the Wild West here. People are coming from other parts of the country to live here because they might be able to do what they want to do.”
Kill Rock Stars founder Slim Moon, Mississippi Studios co-owner Alicia Rose, and rap artist Mic Crenshaw sat down to discuss their work and how our music culture is evolving. Check back to read the Q&A—or get a sneak peek with audio podcasts of the goings-on.
MTV's How's Your News? director Arthur Bradford, cultural/human interest documentary maker Alissa Nicole Creamer and experimental filmmaker Andy Blubaugh discussed film culture locally, nationally and abroad as well as directions in their own work. Get a sneak peek of the Q&A with audio podcasts of the goings-on.
AN EVENING OF CONVERSATION WITH THREE PORTLAND WRITERS: Jon Raymond, Ben Moorad, and Monica Drake
Fiction and screen writer Jon Raymond, Write Around Portland co-founder Ben Moorad and novelist Monica Drake sat down to discuss their work and how our book culture is evolving. Get a peek at the Q&A.
IFCC creative director and actor/director Adrienne Flagg, Performance Works Northwest founder/director and dancer Linda Austin, and Portland Actors Conservatory founder/artistic director and actor Beth Harper sat down to discuss their work and how our performance culture is evolving on September 30th at Urban Grind East. Get a peek at the Q&A.
AN EVENING OF CONVERSATION WITH THREE PORTLAND FOOD ARTISANS: Greg Higgins, Naomi Pomeroy and Stumptown's Matt Lounsbury
Higgin’s Restaurant chef/owner Greg Higgins, Stumptown director Matt Lounsbury and Beast chef/owner Naomi Pomeroy sat down to discuss their work and how our food culture is evolving on October 26th. Get a peek at the Q&A.
Painter Michael Brophy, Cooley Gallery director Stephanie Snyder and Dark Horse Comics editor Shawna Gore sat down to discuss their work and how our visual art culture is evolving on November 11th. Listen to the Q&A.
AN EVENING OF CONVERSATION WITH THREE PORTLAND FASHION DESIGNERS: Elizabeth Dye, Ryan Christensen and Adam Arnold English Dept. owner/designer Elizabeth Dye, Same Underneath's Ryan Christensen and designer Adam Arnold sat down to discuss their work and how our fashion culture is evolving on January 27th. Listen to the Q & A.
AN EVENING OF CONVERSATION WITH MAYOR SAM ADAMS, RANDY GRAGG AND BRAD CLOEPFIL ON PORTLAND'S BUILT ENVIRONMENT Mayor Sam Adams, Portland Monthly editor Randy Gragg and prominent architect Brad Cloepfil discussed their role in shaping urban space and Portland's evolving built environment on February 22nd. Listen to the Q & A.
PORTLAND ON PORTLAND: IMAGE + WORD The New Oregon Interview Series joined the University of Oregon's White Stag Block Talk in exploring Portland's evolving creative culture and how it is in conversation with other regions. Artist/curator Nan Curtis, filmmaker/architecture critic Brian Libby and writer Floyd Skloot with host Nora Robertson dig into how Portland's identity is reflected in art locally and to the outside world.
GET INVOLVED
Help make it all happen. Volunteer with our organization or donate products, services, and financial contributions. New Oregon Arts & Letters (formerly 2GQ) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization and donations of all kinds may be tax deductible.
