THE C L A C K A M A S P R IN T
I
NOV. 5, 2014
|
V O L . 48 ISSUE 4
First Thursday
Story and photo by Jose Velazquez
rtists, photographers and many other patrons of the
A
arts have attended the First Thursday event in Port
land. First Thursday is a monthly event that takes place
primarily in the Pearl District and Downtown. For 30
years, Portland has celebrated the talents and creativity
of many artists.
Each and every participant had his or her own views on art and a unique
way of defining it. Among these artists is Derrick Villalpando. He illus
trates characters he comes up with in his head and adds certain elements
that change the emotions and tone of the picture. It’s not only the picture
that has key factors, but each drawing has its own significant story behind
it. “I like taking things out of context and putting them in a new environ
ment,” said Villalpando.
work, there are subliminal messages in almost every piece she works on.
Whether it is anger or happiness, she finds a way to send that message in a
subtle manner.
First Thursday featured many great artists and a vast variety of original
works. Each artist was open, friendly and even playful, but they all have
one thing in common - a serious desire to continue pursuing their passions.
The next First Thursday will be held on Thursday, Nov. 6, from 6 to 9 p.m.
Tom Poirier has a unique but almost archaic style of art that is very differ
ent from painting or photography. He creates pieces of cloth using a loom
machine, a manual way of making cloth sheets that takes a great amount of
patience and a steady hand to master. Poirier started as a young kid making
these sheets of cloth with convoluted shapes and patterns stitched in them.
He was introduced to this art form first by his mom and as he grew older,
he started to make his own pieces.
“Some of them are traditional; some of them are my own creation,” said
Poirier.
Going old school was Amy McDermott. She is an artist with more than 40
years of experience who likes to include messages in her paintings. Her
messages mainly included current events and sometimes her emotions di
rected towards those events.
On the other hand, Catherine Odell only has three years of school experi
ence.
“I like to leave the person wondering,” Odell said. If you look closely at her
Dogs at the First Thursday event on Oct. 2 model masquerade masks.