For the Love of Trees

Check out our new TREE GALLERY at mesmanimages.com , where we show off some of the  spectacular colors of Japanese Maples in different seasons, as well as some shots of trees along the Canal du Midi, in France.

Did you know that this popular canal was built all the way back in the 1600's by Pierre-Paul Riquet?  His waterway runs from the town of Sete on the Mediterannean to the town of Toulouse, where the Garonne River takes over and links to the Atlantic Ocean.  Sadly, Riquet never had the chance to see his massive work finished; he died eight months prior to its completion. 

Grotesque Halloween

 Last night, Halloween, was the year's last Last Thursday on Alberta, here in Portland.  And. . . it was grotesque!  While on all other Last Thursdays the street was closed to traffic, yesterday it was re-opened and it seemed like the public said, "Let's go elsewhere" . . . Those of us who very much needed to add some sales to our bottom line were there only to watch kids trick-or-treat in the early evening and contemplate the empty streets once it was dark.

What's so terrible is that, we, the artists, who have for years helped to get people interested in Alberta's Art Walk every Last Thursday, have been forgotten as the event has been transformed into  a "Drink Fest".

Hello Portland, . . . how about reinstating an Art Walk on Alberta or elsewhere in the city, to thank Portland's art community for its efforts to put Alberta's Last Thursday on the map.

This weekend, come visit the Mesman Images booth #208 at Portland Saturday Market, beneath the Burnside Bridge.  By the way, the Market is also open on Sundays!

2009 Japanese Garden Calendar

©Portland Japanese Garden / David M. Cobb

If anyone on your gift list enjoys scenic calendars and you'd like to support a good cause, the Portland Japanese Garden is currently selling their 2009 calender as part of their fund-raising efforts. Featuring images of the garden taken throughout the year, the full-color pages measure 12" x 12".

The calendars can be purchased at the garden's gift shop or online along with other unique gifts here: 2009 Japanese Garden Calendar

What is the Portland Japanese Garden?

In 1958, when Portland became a sister city of Sapporo, Japan,
a broad interest in Japanese culture was created.

On June 4, 1962, the City Council created a commission to
establish a Japanese garden on the site of the former
Washington Park Zoo.

In 1963, professor Takuma Tono was commissioned to design
and supervise the developement of the garden. In the summer
of 1967, the Portland Japanese Garden formally opened to the
public.

The 5.5-acre Japanese Garden is composed of five separate
garden styles:
a Strolling Pond Garden
a Tea Garden
a Natural Garden
a Flat Garden
a Sand and Stone Garden

In 1988, His Excellency Nobuo Matsunaga, Ambassador from
Japan to the United States, proclaimed it to be “the most
beautiful and authentic Japanese garden in the world outsite
of Japan.”

Source: Japanese Garden Society of Oregon

Some of our own images of the garden appear on our website:

Japanese Garden Triptychs
Another Japanese Garden Triptych
Alternate Frame
One More Japanese Garden Triptych
Alternate Frame

Portland Japanese Garden
611 SW Kingston Ave.
Portland, Oregon 97205
(503) 223-1321

Our Journals at Portland Japanese Garden

The gift shop at the Portland Japanese Garden is now carrying our journals and sketch books! The garden is on its Winter time schedule now, so its hours are

• 10am-4pm Tuesday–Sunday
• Noon-4pm Monday

The garden just announced that its next FREE admission day will be Tuesday, November 11th.
On this free admission day, the garden hopes that you'll bring some non-perishable food items to donate to the Oregon Food Bank.

If you're in the Portland area, the Japanese Garden is not to be missed. And, while you're there, please drop by the quaint little gift shop and have a look at our latest work!

Etsy Artist of the Day:

Today we'd like to draw your attention to Treasurefield, an Etsy artist who practices her craft from an undisclosed location between the mountains and the coast in the Carolinas. We love her heart pendants and, well, everything else in her shop, too! Admire her creations in her Etsy shop Treasurefield or her sister shop Yesterdazey.

Our website is back online with a new and improved shopping cart. We'll be adding new images and products each day. Check it out here: Mesman Images