February 27, 2007

Artwork moving off the Mall

Sculptures will be placed in temporary storage throughout construction

As part of light rail construction, crews under the direction of the Regional Arts & Culture Council are removing sculptures off the Portland Mall for their protection. The area is home to12 sculptures by NW artists and nearly all of them date back to 1977. All but two of the sculptures are being removed and placed in temporary storage. The sculptures are expected to return to the Mall in new locations before it reopens in September 2009.

Removal schedule

To date six sculptures have been removed off the Mall. This week more will be removed and placed in storage. For a schedule, please call Mary Fetsch at 503-962-6403.

When the sculptures return to the Mall they will be joined by approximately 10 new sculptures as part of a more comprehensive collection of NW sculptures in the heart of downtown Portland. The new sculptures will come from artists chosen by the Downtown Mall Art Advisory Committee.

What stays

Don Merkt's Drivers Seat will be moved directly across the street from its current location on the east side of NW 5th and Irving to the west side of that same corner.

Don Wilson's Interlocking Forms will stay in place but be boxed for its protection. It will be moved after the completion of construction to its new, to-be-determined location.

About the project

• The Portland Mall project is part of the 8.3-mile I-205/Portland Mall MAX Light Rail Project.
• TriMet's fifth MAX extension will add light rail to 5th and 6th avenues between Union Station and Portland State University, and between Gateway Transit Center and Clackamas Town Center.
• It is the first light rail extension into Clackamas County, it will serve the heart of downtown and the busiest transit destination in the TriMet system - Portland State University.
• When it opens in September 2009, it will help revitalize the Mall and poise the region for future rail extensions, such as to Milwaukie and Vancouver, Washington.