Be sure to check out Joseph Gallivan's article in Tuesday's Portland Tribune profiling collector Sylvia Engelman. Despite its title (an unfortunate editorial decision), the article provides a rare look into the motivations and activities of one of Portland's more important collectors, whose collection reveals an astute eye that is anything but accidental. Portland's collectors are notoriously shy, many accruing their collection with relative anonymity, most reticent to reveal their collection or ambitions in a public fashion. Engelman, who has proved her reputation as a collector by seeking out rising talent early on (Jacqueline Ehlis, Michael Oman-Reagan, Jesse Durost) as well as for collecting work by key international artists (Sol LeWitt, Damien Hirst) shares with refreshing candor the finer points of how and why she collects.

Sylvia isnt the only collector out there but she is the best talent hunter in the city. Sylvia is very special because unlike most collectors, she hunts for new art outside of the established galleries.

She collected Joe Macca before he was with PDX and with her fast eye collected other artists like Hildur Bjarnadottir and Bruce Conkle too. Rumor has it she even collected a little known nordic artist-curator-critic before she knew who he was.

There are those that have the talent to create original work and there are those that receive a great deal of pleasure from the work they create. It's important for those that aren't creative to do their part by collecting work (at any price level). It's the least they can do and the rewards they receive from it far surpass any cost. MOR and jenn have the right idea when they comment under Blood or Art! Almost anyone can (and SHOULD) collect! Find work you like and purchase it today!