Whether or not you're sick of the bumper sticker campaign, this is a great opportunity to bring the quirky side of Portland art to the politicos. Keep Portland Weird is looking for work for a March exhibition in City Hall. There is no submission fee, and the deadline is Friday, February 15. Visit their website for more info.




If you're more interested in talking about how to keep Portland weird (or just artistic), come to the annual Art on Alberta meeting, featuring keynote speaker Commissioner Sam Adams. Buffet is $5.

Meeting • 6:30-8pm • February 13
Zaytoon in the Alberta Arts District • 2236 NE Alberta St. • info@artonalberta.org

For those of you who can't read that teeny tiny type, here is more information about the event this Wednesday:

Also on the agenda at this meeting:
*presentation of the survey Art on Alberta commissioned from PSU students to assess the affects on the community of art-related events on Alberta Street
*review the success of 2007 Art Hop and Street Fair, as well as goals for future projects by Art on Alberta

Zaytoons will provide a $5 mini appetizer buffet for $5 per person, which will include hummus, mananeesh, olives, pickled vegetables, and salad.

rsvp is appreciated but not required for this event: please email info@artonalberta.org

Art on Alberta is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote the Alberta Arts District's distinct cultural identity through art and educational activities.

Ive never liked the prophylactic nature of the phrase "Keep Portland Wierd"... frankly I think it should be getting wierder, not just paying homage to some reactionary and imagined status quo.

I'm just say'n...

I've lived in at least two cities(Santa Cruz and Berkeley) that had "keep weird" campaigns.

A google search on "keep weird" comes up with Austin, Louisville, Portland, Boulder, and Erie (and that's just the first page of results). It makes a "keep weird" campaign seem almost conformist.

Interesting, I was aware of Austin and Erie... Ive seen it in Madison Wisconsin too. Hilarious!

We need to be a little more serious about how we fly our freak flag.

For the record: The "Keep [City] Weird" Campaign was started in Austin by the Austin Independent Business Alliance to promote small business. I *believe* one of the record shop owners moved to Portland and brought the campaign to Music Millennium, which spread it throughout Portland. It has spread in similar ways throughout the U.S.

I, personally, find it as absurdly tiresome and conformist as any other business-motivated "quirk" campaign - especially one so focused on BUMPER STICKERS. But I still happen to think that the show is a good idea, even if they picked a silly name. It should prove fun and interesting.

Keep Portland weird? I think about making a question mark stencil every time I see one.