Your best shot at a perfectly sculpted figure

By Michaela Bancud

The Portland Tribune, May 27, 2003, Updated Oct 30, 2009

The bronze “Portlandia” sculpture downtown is a symbol of our city. But sometimes Portlanders can have a hard time getting close to the aloof, 36-foot goddess.

No “Portlandia” T-shirts, key chains, refrigerator magnets or coffee mugs are available for citizens or tourists to purchase at local shops. That’s because Raymond Kaskey, the sculptor who created “Portlandia,” owns the rights to her image and guards it closely.

Artist Amos Latteier, previously known for his collaborative aerial photography project using carrier pigeons, decided to raise the sculpture’s profile and have some fun at the same time.

For the landmark-challenged, “Portlandia” leans down from a perch on the west side of the splashy Portland Building, overlooking the transit mall on Southwest Fifth Avenue. It is the second-largest hammered copper statue in the United States; the biggest is the Statue of Liberty.

Latteier’s latest photo venture is inside the lobby of the Portland Building, which has a designated nook for temporary works of public art sponsored by the Regional Arts & Culture Council, a publicly funded arts organization.

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit