Celebrating George Woodcock, Holiday Gala and Golden Tickets!

Village Frame and Gallery is pleased to present the paintings of our friend, neighbor and local artist, George Woodcock. George was scheduled to show his work in the Gallery in August of 2016, but fate had other plans and we celebrated his life instead.

Long overdue, this month we have the honor of presenting George’s oil paintings. George and his wife Marie were fixtures in Multnomah Village, their studios located just above Fat City Cafe. You can read more about George here.

Paintings by George Woodcock
Opening Reception
5:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Friday, December 2nd

Holiday Gala – Friday, December 2nd, 5 pm to 8 pm

Village businesses are going all out and the Holiday Gala is sure to be magical!

It’s Golden Ticket Time!

Don’t forget to shop the Village and bring your Golden Tickets! At Village Frame and Gallery you can save 10% off new custom framing orders with a Golden Ticket, just in time for the holidays! Speaking of which, we are still framing for the holidays, but bring your projects in soon!

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

Featured Artist Scott Cordner on our Walls, Dianne Jean Erickson in our Windows – Oh My!

Conservation photographer, Scott Cordner, joins Village Frame and Gallery again with select images from his travels in Oregon and the world. And local artist Diane Jean Erickson displays artwork from her collection in our windows. See the work of the great local artists in the Gallery through November 2nd.

Autumn Along the Metolius by Scott Cordner

Featured Artist – Scott Cordner

Village Frame and Gallery is pleased to again feature Scott’s captivating glimpses of our world, this turn with select images from his collection. The pure, unaltered and uncomplicated scenes are captured in the finest light. Exacting prints are made with the best materials that last lifetimes.

Mt Hood in Spring by Scott Cordner

Frames made with hand-picked hardwoods from renewable and managed forests are enhanced and finished with environmentally friendly oils and a water-based polyurethane (made from whey, a byproduct of cheese). No detail is overlooked, and it is apparent.

Scott believes if someone notices an image of his, it becomes an opportunity to start a dialog about nature in general and the importance of preservation specifically. His ultimate goal is to create more stewardship of these important, though lesser-known, places throughout the world. Read more about Scott here.

In the Windows – Dianne Jean Erickson

“Each day working in my studio I start not knowing what image will emerge. I allow myself the freedom of indecisions, improvisations, and impulsiveness in my work, and that leads to exciting discoveries. Subjects of my paintings and prints vary depending on ideas that arise. I use multiple mediums including, but not limited to, encaustic, acrylic, oil and cold wax, and collage. I’m impatient by nature, my process is intuitive, I most enjoy the journey of creating, figuring out what works; what to keep, and what to abandon, until the piece works for me. I have no compulsion to save every work I do. Many become the layered history for a new piece. Creating art energizes me, it’s a place where time is altered, where all my feelings and emotions appear at some time or another; pleased, tired, upbeat, excited, harried, surprised, and hopefully at some point, satisfied.” — Dianne Jean Erickson

Read more about Dianne here.

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

Seven Women, One Umbrella Opens First Friday, with Trunk Show and Music by Doug Hunt

As a part of Village Frame and Gallery’s First Friday series, Bridge City Artists open their new show “Seven Women, One Umbrella” with contemporary art paintings at Village Frame and Gallery. The opening reception is on Friday, September 2nd, from 5-7 p.m. Bridge City Artists are a seven-woman art focus group that has been meeting since 2012. They provide feedback and explore contemporary artistic concepts. The First Friday reception will feature art from Bridge City Artists who will be on hand to talk with patrons.

“Bridge City Artists is a critique group, but we love having conversations about art,” member Dianne Jean Erickson explained. “Every once in a while we are lucky to find a gallery to show our work. Village Frame and Gallery will display our group’s art from Friday, September 2nd to Saturday, October 1st.”

During the “Seven Women, One Umbrella” reception, wine and lemonade will be served and a there will be a trunk show featuring paintings by artist Doug Hunt who will also provide live guitar music.

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

Outside In – A Lifetime of Work by Pat Leach, Opening Reception and First Friday in the Village!

The weather is warm, a long weekend promises fun and relaxing times with family and friends, and it’s First Friday in the Village! Stopping in at Village Frame and Gallery is a must while you browse the shops in the Village. We’re honored to host Outside In – A Lifetime of Work by Pat Leach, opening today at 5 pm!

“I am an outsider in the art world, meaning I have never taken lessons or classes in how to paint and draw — at least not since the one class taught by Mr. Beck when I was a boy. I have always enjoyed looking at art displayed in museums and am a frequent visitor to libraries where I study art books and magazines.” – – Pat Leach, 2022

Fun and thought provoking, surprising and charismatic, Outside In – A Lifetime of Work by Pat Leach, delights the senses at every turn. With a story of recovery, acceptance and friendship, Pat Leach’s life shares the same indelible qualities. Every picture tells a story, literally – Pat has written his thoughts and prose on the back of many of his paintings. His imagery, untrained and loose, flows from still life to the sea, from the female form to animals. Many pieces were reworked over time to please the artist.

Artist’s Statement

Pat Leach’s paintings are a living testament to the healing and restorative power of art. Created as part of his personal recovery since 1995, his paintings were private possessions in his home until his April 2022 diagnosis of glioblastom — an aggressive and incurable form of brain cancer. Each painting is a tangible moment from his decades of recovery and sobriety. Now he has decided that sharing his healing with the world is a part of his larger purpose — in the hope that each painting comes alive as it finds a new home where it can continue its job. See more about Pat’s art and writings here.

About Pat Leach

Born and raised in the Buffalo area near Niagara Falls on a large island surrounded by the Niagara River, Pat is the son of a bricklayer. His mother was a secretary. After graduating from Cornell University in 1972, he earned his Master’s Degrees from Washington State University in Sociology and Education. Pat has lived a stone’s throw away from Multnomah Village for much of his adult life.

“The problem for me,” he says, “has been that I could never decide what I wanted to do to earn a living using my degrees.” After pursuing careers in teaching, technical writing, and as executive director of a small university agricultural institute, Pat found his purpose in his early fifties. “It took me years to know I was best off working with my hands and skills outdoors doing gardening, caring for clients’ yards, and painting and writing whatever I want without trying to support myself through my art.”

Village frame and Gallery is pleased to feature Pat’s large body of work in the Gallery through the month of July. We are located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

Artist Reception Saturday, April 30th with Donna Stevens – 60º North Latitude and Beyond

Voyagers by Donna Stevens

Donna Stevens show 60º North Latitude and Beyond closes with an Artist’s Reception on Saturday, April 30th from 1 pm to 3 pm. Donna will be on hand to speak with you about her art, her love for the country she paints and her processes. Read more about Donna and her show 60º North Latitude and Beyond here.

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

Donna Stevens Don’t Miss Events – Virtual Reception and In-Person Gallery Demonstration!

It’s always exciting when Donna Stevens walks through our door. Her particular view of the world is matched only by her enthusiasm to share what she sees through her paintings. The color, the softness, and the sharpness of detail she creates with pastel surprises and pleases the senses. Village Frame and Gallery welcomes Donna’s new collection, 60º North Latitude and Beyond, as well as more recent work in the Gallery through the month of April.

Mackey’s Bench by Donna Stevens (sold)

Read more about Donna and her show 60º North Latitude and Beyond here.

Special Events

Virtual Reception via Zoom – Friday, April 8th, 4:30p–6:00p
Please RSVP to Donna@DonnaStevensFineArt.com, and Donna will send you a link to the Zoom event. Bring your own beverage and snack, and ask lots of questions!

In-person Gallery Demonstration – Friday, April 15th, 1:00p–3:00p
Donna will have her “field” gear set up to show you the pastels and other tools and methods used when painting.

Voyagers by Donna Stevens

Support for Ukraine

Donna Stevens Fine Art will donate 10% of net proceeds from the sale of her artworks featured at Village Frame and Gallery during the month of April 2022 to Direct Relief to support the provision of medical supplies to Ukraine.  For more information on Direct Relief, visit https://www.directrelief.org/.

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

60º North Latitude and Beyond, Donna Stevens returns to the Gallery with a new collection and recent work!

It’s always exciting when Donna Stevens walks through our door. Her particular view of the world is matched only by her enthusiasm to share what she sees through her paintings. The color, the softness, and the sharpness of detail she creates with pastel surprises and pleases the senses. Village Frame and Gallery welcomes Donna’s new collection,
60º North Latitude and Beyond, as well as more recent work into the Gallery beginning April 1, 2022.

An opening reception will be held First Friday, April 1st from 5 to 7 pm.

Aglow in August I by Donna Stevens

Artist Statement

Spend time in nature, sit still for a while, observe the light, and listen to the water, the air, trees, grasses, and animals. Even still water has its own sounds. Dried grasses add their voices to the breeze. A dead tree can have expressive gestures and a sense of character. While making my artworks, I am remembering the times spent within these scenes, the sounds of the wind moving among the trees, and the many moods of the water and sky. I use soft pastels on sanded or other sturdy papers. My works are souvenirs of that soothing internal connection with nature’s special places.

As a child, I drew all the time, usually with graphite or ink. When I returned to art from a long hiatus, during which I enjoyed a rewarding science career and raised my son, I began with charcoal. The tactile nature of using soft pastels on sanded papers seemed a natural transition from charcoal to color.


60º North Latitude and Beyond is a collection of pastel works inspired by a 6-week driving and camping vacation through British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and Alaska.

In August and September in these northern latitudes, fall is already peaking. The “golden hour” lingers for several hours at both ends of the day. The rivers are wide and deep, and they emanate a quiet sense of incredible power. The permafrost shapes the land and the lives of the people in unique ways. The sky is vast; one indeed feels as if they are standing on the top of the world. On the rare sunny and golden days, the sunlight lifts the spirit and draws everyone out-of-doors.

The paintings in this collection represent some of my favorite memories of this trip, and I hope you will enjoy them, too.
– – Donna Stevens

Last Light by Donna Stevens

Support for Ukraine

Donna Stevens Fine Art will donate 10% of net proceeds from the sale of her artworks featured at Village Frame and Gallery during the month of April 2022 to Direct Relief to support the provision of medical supplies to Ukraine.  For more information on Direct Relief, visit https://www.directrelief.org/

It’s First Friday!

Village Frame and Gallery is pleased to host an opening reception for 60º Latitude and Beyond on First Friday, April 1st from 5 pm to 7 pm. Join us in the Village for art, food, drink and specials at many of your Village shops and restaurants!

ZINC Bistro & Bar is Open!

ZINC Bistro & Bar is open next door! Previous Casa Vacca proprietors, Sara and Nick, are bringing their own special vibe to delicious small plates and drink specials. Their hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 4 pm to 9 pm. Village Frame and Gallery is thrilled to welcome them (back) to the neighborhood and look forward to dining al fresco in front of the Gallery this summer!

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

Spring Starts Early with First Friday in the Village!

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs the month of March was my least favorite month. Anticipation for the first lovely snow long passed, the grass was soggy brown, humps of dirty, salty snow slowly melted next to driveways and streets, and the weather! Temps ranging from the teens to the forties; rain, wind, snow or “gasp” the elusive sunny day! March seemed to come in, and out, like a lion. Here in Portland my crocuses are blooming, the buds on the dogwoods down the street are starting to swell and my husband just cut our lovely, green, grass for the third time this year!

Maui Charmer by Eileen Downs

And Spring has sprung in the gallery, too. Village Frame and Gallery is pleased to present collage paintings by Eileen Downes for the month of March. Her images of foliage and flowers have created a bright and friendly riot of a garden on our featured artist wall. A most cheerful start to spring!

Artist Statement – Eileen Downes

What does it mean to be a “layerist” painter? My collage artwork is composed of many layers, each significant in the process of my art making. I use bits of torn magazine papers as my “palette of paint” working the image by adding and subtracting tonal values of this paper until I create the effect that I desire. Words, phrases, and imagery from the materials that make up the collage become visible upon close observation of the work adding to the meaning of the piece.

I am continually amazed by specific words that appear almost magically between the torn edges as if they are themselves part of the creator of the artwork. Often I use unusual collage materials such as band-aids, gum and candy wrapers, hierloom family photos, and sentimental letters from which to create my layered images. I add a small amount of oil pastel to each piece to increase the textural appeal, and I leave the rough collage edges visible to add to the layered effect. I hope you enjoy looking at my artwork as much as I enjoy making it.

Artist Reception and First Friday

Village Frame and Gallery will be open late for First Friday with an Artist’s Reception for Eileen Downes from 4pm to 7pm. Your Multnomah Village businesses work hard to bring you fun and unique events and items to browse and buy. It’s time to visit the Village!

Artist Update

Donna Stevens, featured artist and friend of the Gallery, is a Signature Member of the Northwest Pastel Society. Her painting “The Watchers” has recently been selected for the NPS Signature Members Show announcement card. The show runs March 4-26, 2022 at the Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes, WA. Signature status in this society is awarded after an artist has had works selected by Jurors into the NPS Annual International exhibition in three different years.

Donna will premier her new work,
60° North Latitude and Beyond,” at Village Frame and Gallery in April!

What’s Going on Next Door?

There’s been a lot of banging and drilling and painting going on! And two days ago there were delectable scents of cooking wafting down the sidewalk. We’re told that ZINC Bistro & Bar will open its doors on March 16th in the space previously occupied by Casa Vaca. Village Frame and Gallery is looking foward to welcoming our newest neighbors!

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

In the Gallery – Emergence: Intuitive Paintings on Paper by Mary LaCasse and First Friday in the Village!

“Red Pumps” by Mary LaCasse

Village Frame and Gallery is pleased to present Emergence: Intuitive Paintings on Paper by Mary Lacasse. The colorful images wrought by Mary have movement and purpose. The subjects fluid and playful, familiar, and yet unfamiliar all the same.

About Emergence: Intuitive Paintings on Paper

These paintings were inspired by “finger painting” with my grandkids several years ago. I saw how much fun they were having and feeling liberated, began to scoop up paint in my hands and smear or smack it onto wall-mounted paper. The painting “emerged” as I worked with the shapes that appeared—figures, snakes, chickens, or monks and those characters guided the narrative and composition.  I never knew who or what would show up on the paper. 

For a while, some characters appeared to be standing in water, often playful but in other narratives, the figures were presenting more serious or political ideas. Eventually, some paintings felt complete and the ideas compelling enough to share. Pushpin holes, tape and the informal nature of the process all became part of the artworks. I hope you enjoy the exhibit and remember, we are never too old to “finger paint.”

Mary LaCasse, November, 2021

It’s First Friday in the Village!

Get an early start on your Holiday shopping – come to the Village for First Friday! Start at one end – Switch and JP General, PeachTree and Mad Sass Soap, where you’re sure to find great gifts for those on your list. Cheers will undoubtedly put you in a celebratory mood. Then on to Yalla and Level Beer and grab a bite and a pint. Stop in at Root and Arranged for something green, and Indigo Traders for everything else you need for your home!

Finally, stop in at Village Frame and Gallery where we are hosting an artist’s reception from 4 to 7 pm for Mary LaCasse’s show Emergence: Intuitive Paintings on Paper.

It’s Holiday Framing Time!

It’s never too early to bring in your holiday framing projects! Whether you’re framing a photo for a gift or getting your home ready for Holiday entertaining, now is the time to bring your projects to Village Frame and Gallery!

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday 10 am to 2 pm.

The Cows of Multnomah

View of Tualatin Valley North of Multnomah (courtesy of Multnomah Historical Association)

Dairyland

Multnomah Dairy was established at what is now SW 40th and SW Vermont; Fruitiger and Silver Hill Dairy were established at the present-day Mittleman Jewish Community Center; Elco Dairy on SW Shattuck, purchased by Alpenrose Dairy after a fire destroyed their original operations; Fulton Park Dairy, Hillsdale Dairy, the list goes on…the area that Multnomah Village and Hillsdale call home was once vast dairyland. The photo above pictures Multnomah Dairy (at the right) and the house in the foreground still exists at 3522 SW Texas. The area, once known as pasture for dairy cows, is present day Gabriel Park.

Cows and dairy farms played a major role in Multnomah until the late nineteen forties. The dairies consolidated, land was sold for schools, residential homes pressed into the area and business districts flourished creating what we now know as Multnomah Village and Hillsdale.

Cow House, or Casa Vacca

Casa Vacca, our neighbor to the east, sought to celebrate the rich dairy history of the Multnomah area. For almost six years Casa Vacca served first Mexican tapas dishes, later transitioning to their Italian specialties and wood fired pizzas. Sara, Nick and Pete provided an inviting gathering place with delectable bites and fine spirits.

Succumbing to the vagaries of COVID restrictions, supply chain issues, unsteady employment situations and health issues, Casa Vacca sadly closed their doors for good last week. The note on the door says, “We did our best. Thank you for your incredible Loyalty and Support.” Village Frame & Gallery will miss Casa Vacca and Sara, Nick and Pete and wish them good luck in their next adventures.

Cow by Sara Star Medici

Cow

Cows graced the walls of Casa Vacca – old photos, artwork and a very big, very special painting. Cow, shown above, was quite popular. It hung over the windows, high on the wall. At 48 inches high by 60 inches wide, Cow is an imposing figure and a fitting tribute to the history of Multnomah Village. Painted by Casa Vacca co-owner Sara, it adds its own flavor to the history.

Cow is now for sale at Village Frame & Gallery. Call us at 503-245-8001 or stop in to see it before it’s gone to grace another home in Multnomah Village.

Village Frame and Gallery is located at 7808 SW Capitol Highway, Portland 97219 in the heart of Multnomah Village. Our regular hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm and Saturday, 10 am to 2 pm.

Village Frame & Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219 ● (503) 245-8001
Open Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 4pm, or by appointment.