Today is PORT's second anniversary. It's still a labor of love but being the top ranked google site for "Portland Art" plus a large readership that doubles every 3 to 5 months is definitely rewarding. Our goal has been to provide an intelligent, internationally relevant and critical voice for the Portland Art Scene. Since the visual arts are one of the key forces transforming Portland, PORT's role makes it no ordinary blog. It's exciting how many international readers find the site worthwhile too and being influential at home doesn't hurt either. (Stay tuned, I'll have Rembrandt post later on today)

Actually, we don't get enough chances to thank you PORT readers and sponsors so its time for you too to take a bow.

Special thanks also goes out to our committed staff for bringing excellent arts writing to the site (some like Jenene and Katherine do a lot of behind the scenes work). Sure we pay them what our sponsors give us (which is tremendously helpful), but ultimately money isn't their primary motivation. They could certainly make more money other ways.

Overall, the existence of PORT speaks volumes about what is now going on in Portland. The city is host to a rapidly evolving visual arts ecosystem that even this daily site cannot fully keep up with. Also, I'd like to think we push other publications to be more active and critically relevant.

From the outset PORT has been a somewhat unique experiment…somewhere between a blog and a magazine the publication has been noted for blazing a few new trails. To ensure that PORT continues to evolve we are currently engaging in a site redesign (though the clean look will definitely continue). Till then, keep reading and drop me an email if you have any suggestions?

Happy birthday to the most important people in the Portland art scene right now. Well, besides the artists of course (which most of you are great artists as well). :)

Um, errr, aaaha, but I'm still at a loss trying to figure out what you hope to accomplish by all of the ass-kissing?

Ha! I wasn't really aware I was trying to accomplish something. I will think about it though, so I may focus my ass-kissing abilities in order to accomplish something much greater than just being nice and providing compliments to people I appreciate. :)