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October 12, 2005
Loving the Lovejoy Columns
Portland Architecture has three new entries on the Lovejoy Columns, including direct comments from one of the conservators, James Harrison:
- Saving the Lovejoy Columns -- From Their Rescue?
- More on the Lovejoy Columns
- RACC's Eloise Damrosch on theLovejoy Columns
The latest bit of news is that the artwork will be removed from the columns and "recreated" elsewhere, due to the fragile state of the columns. The only reason the work apparently survived untouched for 40-odd years was because it was covered by the Lovejoy onramp (which was demolished to expand the Pearl in 1999). Without such a protective cover, the artwork would only last a few weeks in the drizzly, windy Portland autumn. The decisionmakers are still trying to reach an agreement on where and how the columns can be protected and remain accessible to public view.
Posted by mara at 2:12 PM | TrackBack
October 6, 2005
Historic Art Returned to Pearl District
A small blurb in today's Oregonian announced that a couple of the historic Lovejoy Columns have been placed in the courtyard of a building at 10th and Flanders in the Pearl District. Ironically, the Lovejoy Columns were removed from their original location (holding up an onramp to the Broadway Bridge) in 1999 to make way for the construction of the New Improved Pearl District(tm). So brilliant, the irony of these artworks being removed and very nearly demolished to make way for high-end gallery spaces. Thanks to the efforts of a few devoted fans, the columns were preserved and stored until two of them could be placed on display at the Elizabeth Lofts yesterday. Dieselboii has a picture! I hope they unveil the murals soon.