Portlandia – 1985
Portland Building at 420 SW Main Street
Portlandia is a famous statue in downtown Portland, Oregon. It was commissioned by the city and created by a New York artist named Raymond Kaskey and put in place in 1985. The statue sits above the west entrance of the Portland Building, which is a city government building built in art deco style and designed by Michael Graves.
The statue is very special because it is made of hammered copper using a technique called repoussé, and it’s the second-largest copper repoussé statue in the United States — only the Statue of Liberty is bigger. Portlandia is about 34 feet, 10 inches tall when she kneels where she is mounted on the building. If she were to stand up, she would be about 50 feet tall.
What Does Portlandia Represent?
The design of Portlandia comes from the city seal of Portland, which shows a woman known as “Lady Commerce.” In Portlandia’s left hand, she holds a trident, and her right hand is stretched out as if she is reaching down to greet people walking by. She wears clothing that looks like what people wore in ancient times, which makes her look both strong and graceful. Portlandia is more than just a piece of art: she is a symbol of the spirit of Portland. She stands for commerce, trade, and the history of the city.
How Was Portlandia Built and Installed?
Kaskey and his team actually built the statue in parts in Maryland and then shipped the eight pieces by train to Portland. To bring her into the city, the statue was floated up the Willamette River on a barge and then brought by truck to the Portland Building. The day she arrived the river front and streets were full of people celebrating her arrival.
Overall, Portlandia is an important piece of Portland’s public art. She reminds people of the city’s spirit and its identity, and she brings history and beauty to the heart of downtown.
Discussion Questions:
Why are symbols of a city (i.e. flag, seal, etc.) important to its residents?
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State Education Standards:
Social Studies 3.11. Describe how individuals, groups, events, and developments have shaped the communities and regions. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.12. Compare and contrast the history of the local community to other communities in the region. Historical Knowledge
Social Studies 3.17. Use a variety of historical sources (artifacts, pictures, documents) to identify factual evidence. Historical Thinking
VA:Re7.1.3a. Speculate about processes an artist used to create a work of art.