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!

Happy New Year

© Mesman Images

The New Year brought a close to our busiest holiday season ever. On top of the usual December rush and exhibiting at Studio 101, the shows we had going on at the Japanese Garden and at Coopers Coffee really kept us occupied.

The "Through the Lens" show at the Japanese Garden was a great venue that gave us an opportunity to sell our framed and matted prints, note cards, and magnets. The garden did a great job of converting their pavillion into an art gallery. It was a very classy place to shop for gifts or to simply enjoy the work of the 13 participating photographers.

Coopers Coffee provided us with a large space on which to hang a number of our framed images. After enjoying multiple sales there, we closed out that show by selling a small version of our popular Portland neon sign collage shown above.

Now that those two shows are over, we'll take a little time to improve our presence online.

It was great to have family visiting over the holidays! When you work long hours, seven days a week as we do, it means a lot to be able to spend a little time with loved ones and escape the daily grind. As always, it went by way too fast . . .

Through the Lens Photography Show

We're proud to announce that Yvonne's images from the Portland Japanese Garden are part of the photography show and sale taking place at the garden through Christmas. Titled "Through the Lens", the show features the work of thirteen of the garden's photographer members and is being held in the garden's beautiful pavillion. The participating works were selected by a jury. All of the featured images and related products are for sale. In addition to framed, matted, and un-mounted images, we are also selling note cards and magnets that Michael makes by hand.


The Portland Japanese Garden is widely considered to be the most beautiful and authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan. One Japanese dignitary even went so far as to proclaim it the most beautiful Japanese garden in the world, period.

Entry to the show is free with your garden admission. If you are going to be in the Portland area this month, why not drop by the garden and do a little unique Christmas shopping? Here are a few useful links:

Portland Japanese Garden
Map/Directions
Through the Lens