Our first event for the year in Portland was amazing! They're always special, but the air was alive with excitement and energy this year.
With a brand new theme, we started off our event with a glamorous opening night party – On the Red Carpet – which featured a live band and we tripped the light fantastic, as if we were the stars.
We had some exceptional dancers spinning around the floor.
A celebrity selfie station!
Lots of glitz and glam including feather boas, feather eyelashes, and sparkly hair extensions were all part of the fun.
Many of us sported sparkles throughout the week. Attendees even arranged to have our glitz girl Sarah return to add more glam to their locks! It was so much fun. Mine are still in place and I love the comments I get as I venture out into the non-arty world.
And speaking of arty worlds... Wow! We had close to 500 happy, smiling, adventurous attendees at this year's Art & Soul Portland. A big thanks to those who came from NZ, Australia, the Netherlands, England & Canada. What an amazing tribute to A&S!
And as always, the gorgeous mixed-media creations that were made just blew me away. Like these metallic mini journals made by students in Jen Crossley's workshops.
Lots of gorgeous fabric classes with interesting techniques for making one-of-a-kind garments, or...
Something to tell a personal tale with, like these beautiful Storyscapes made in Roxanne Evans Stout's workshop.
How about these gorgeous metal bangles! There are always plenty of jewelry classes at Art & Soul, in all categories of mixed media.
Like these uniquely colorful Alcohol Ink pendants from Jennifer Jackson MacLean's students!
And speaking of colorful, check out these gorgeous papers and journal pages made in Nicole Austin's She Three workshop.
And this mixed-media portrait from Kate Thompson's experimental painting class. There was definitely something for everyone and every level of artist here in Portland. It warmed my heart to watch our tremendously talented teachers guide our students, while gently pushing them outside their comfort zone to create magnificent works of art.
Our vendor night was packed! The most vendors we had in years. Teachers selling their own creations. Antiques and mixed-media objects galore. Fabrics and fibers and found objects and all kinds of stuff to make more stuff with. It was a creative's paradise. Our special thanks to One Love Vineyards for coming with wine tastings and sale of their new products.
And it was so great to see a renewed excitement over trades again! Just like the old days, we've gone back to simple gestures, exercising our individual artistic flair, and appreciation for one another's creativity and kindness. Makes my heart go pitter-pat.
And lets not forget all the other amazing extras at Portland... Massages again were popular! Our necks and backs needed relief from all that intense creative focus. We also cannot say enough about the hotel staff, always rising above and beyond to take care of our special needs and crazy requirements. And if you've ever been to one of our events, you know our requests are pretty crazy! And of course,
our on-site store, Collage. Holy cow! A selection to rival any big
chain. We're pretty lucky. Thanks to Maria Raleigh and her great team
for an amazing job. And of course my Marie and Karen. So for my outstanding support system and all the wonderful teachers and attendees... this award goes to you! Thanks for making Art & Soul a winner year after year after year!!Until next time. See you in Colorado!
Glenny
xo
