m ry 2 . 20Q3 ' » i t
sales,” according to Stapleton). Stone Buddha
dragon painted by the couple on the back wall,
stays open late and features an artist from the
neither will they miss the amazing antique furni
wall of locals highlighted in the store. All peo
ture. Dowries from China arc the anchoring com
ple who have any sort of connection to Asia—
ponent of the store, which also carries “a lot of
whether an ancestral link or the type of art they
things other people don’t have,” adds Stapleton.
create— are allowed space in their shop.
“So there is really something for everyone.”
“Silverton is very supportive
Worth noting: the gummy sushi and
of the artists in town,” a reflec
Botan Rice Candy with edible rice
Stone Buddha is a
paper wrapping.
tion of the high concentration
artists living in the area,
It’s not only adults who
super "dyke/gav boy of says
Stapleton. “The local
relish Stone Buddha; kids
flock to the store as well, the magnet,
S
" tapleton merchant group is really
thriving and energetic.”
couple say. Some come in
laughs. "They come out
Because of the collective
every day after school for the
sweets and the Japanese card
or the woodwork; it's town enthusiasm for First Fri
day, the couple have ordered a
game “YU-G I-O H ,” which they
really cool."
rickshaw— an Asian pull cart—
are “totally obsessed with,” smiles
to give tourists and locals rides
Stapleton. YU-GI-OH mania is so
around town. The kids will not only be
out of control, “we’re working with the
introduced
to this traditional form of trans
Y M C A .. .so they can have a place to have
port, but it will also give them a way to earn
YU-GI-OH battles.”
extra money.
Bianchi and Stapleton, who happen to be
utside Stone Buddha, Silverton is a town
the mothers of Portland TechnoDyke.com diva
sprinkled with artists. About seven years
Stacy Bias, say Silverton is a quiet place where
ago a group of them— including Bianchi
everyone knows each other. Despite its rash of
and Stapleton— got together and opened a
conservative churches, being gay in the small
cooperative gallery called Lunaria to display
town is a nonissue for the couple.
and sell works created by the townspeople.
Stone Buddha is also a super “dyke/gay boy
Stone Buddha’s space is the old Lunaria, which
magnet,” Stapleton laughs. “They come out of
has since moved down the street.
the woodwork; it’s really cool.”
Also serving the community, Silverton has
When not at Stone Buddha, the couple live
jumped on the Oregon artsy bandwagon with
in an old broom factory on the Silver River, less
“First Friday” every month (“our biggest time for
than a mile from the shop. With a stray dog
named Zogi and cats circling the perimeter of
their house frantic to get inside, both women
find their muse here.
In her impressive bead shop, Bianchi
creates Urban Relics Designs, eclectic ethnic
jewelry that mixes nature, found items and
the arts. As an X-ray technician, she also ren
ders some amazing art from X-ray machines,
enhancing shells and bird nests on the com
puter. And Stapleton works on a Japanese fish
painting while creating collages and wall
treatments.
As the continual stream o f customers
reveals, the ladies of Stone Buddha have most
certainly hit a vein in Silverton, bringing a
cut of the Orient to Oregon. “W hen cus
tomers ask, ‘Why an Asian shop in Silver-
ton?’ my response is simple,” says Stapleton.
“Because we’re here.’
LESS HEART
Next time you’re in Silvertcm, check out STONE
B u d d h a at 216 E. Main St. Call the ladies at
503-873-0682.
G
in a
DAGGETT is not only a free-lance writer in
Portland, she also hums nag champa religiously
Take a peek inside the Stone Buddha tearoom 1 and eats an obscene amount o f pickled ginger.
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