#wemakecelebrates

[wemakepdx]

Asa Bree Sieracki Nail Workshop

Portland native Asa Bree Sieracki has always had a call for the wild creative. She started making jewelry and selling it online at the age of 14, and later worked as a make-up artist for MAC. Now her medium is of a smaller scale.

Asa is a nail art connoisseur at Fingerbang and she is in such high demand that many of her reservation books are closed. Elle Magazine named her a global influencer, and her work has been featured on MTV Australia, Nylon, Refinery29, and PopSugar. Her client list goes beyond her daily customers to include: Nike, Adidas, and Weiden + Kennedy. She is also a frequent contributor to industry standard magazines such as NailPro Magazine and Nails Magazine. When she is not painting small scale, she hand-paints leather jackets under the name Aces High Trading Company.

Asa took part in the WeMake Celebrates conference in October. She along with four other local entrepreneurs shared their story in a 5x5 format, five slides and five minutes. Of course she was amazing! As part of the conference Asa also had a workshop that brought attendees from all over the globe in to attend—from British Columbia, to New Orleans, Los Angeles, Florida and more. It was her first workshop, but she killed it!

Photos by Megan Gex. See more here!

[jgspdx]

CONTEST! Win a ticket to @wemakepdx #wemakecelebrates conference on October 13th at @portlandcenterstage. @adamjk is one of the speakers and is sure to entertain. Comment below with who you're most excited to see speak to enter and I'll pick a winner at random. #inktober (at Happy Rock)

[jonmacnair]

My birdhouse for the WeMakePDX event “Put a Bird In It”. Artists were asked to create a birdhouse to auction off for funding the arts in public schools.

My birdhouse was made out of ink on paper (my main tools of the trade).

[wemakepdx]

Process is Golden Tote

Metallic Gold Silkscreened Tote, big enough to carry all your things, and lite enough to not weigh you down. The type was designed by letterer and typographer Mark Caneso for our WeMake Celebrates 2016 conference. Grab them while they last and look good and old school when your about town!

Process is Golden...like a good leisure suit.

[jgspdx]

Made this guy for the upcoming WCP Solutions paper show happening during the #wemakecelebrates conference. See you there! #sturgillustration @wemakepdx (at Wcp Solutions)

[wemakepdx]

Make Believing with WeMake Celebrates and Put A Bird In It

Portland’s Creative Community Raises $13K for Arts and Music Education.

As we helped wrap up the festivities of Design Week Portland last Friday night, Portland’s creative community came together to celebrate with us for the third year in a row. We filled a packed house at LeftBank Annex with well over 800 people, and showcased 78 birdhouses with an eclectic mix of style. What I love about this event is that it brings together communities to support each other. The design community, the art community, and the maker community intersect for one night to make it all happen. Building a birdhouse might be the catalyst, but giving back and raising money for Portland’s aspiring designers, artists, makers, and creative thinkers was our main goal.

Every year this event keeps getting better. We started early in the evening with our final sketchXchange of the year featuring Lisa Congdon as our guest artist. Lisa was the perfect speaker to wrap up the year, particularly because she encompasses so many things we love. She’s an illustrator, she’s an artist, and she’s a maker. She spoke to a sold out crowd of 200+ people and inspired and delighted us all. After sXc, we switched gears and the party really got started.

The night’s success goes out foremost to our WeMake team: Scott Baker, Tiffany Jennings,  Emily Oliva, Jessica Caldwell, Celestia Grace, Susie Morris, Rachel Coddington, Robert Woodward, Megan Gex, Daniel Cole, Lea Loo, Chloe Miller, and Spencer Groshing for the many, many hours of work needed to pull the day off. Also, a big high five to Nathan Emerson, Jeremy Pair and Alise Munson for their contributions. Plus, a big thanks to the handful of volunteers who worked the night.

The night could not have been possible without the generous support of our main sponsors. THANK YOU! Vitamin T, Big Cartel, LAIKA, Campaign Monitor, and The Study. A special thank you to in-kind donations from Rose Bean Events, Scout Books, Jill Dryer, PrintGraphics, and Jeremy Pair. Lastly, thank you Adam Porterfield of Golden Rule Design,  School of Rock, Tanner Goods, DJ Coast2c, The Wine Nomad, LoveBomb Go-Go, the PSU graphic design student volunteers, the awesome Put A Bird In It judges and Design Week Portland.

For me, this year was especially close to my heart because of the organizations we are giving back to. As a kid growing up without much, I coveted my sketchbooks and guitar. It took me a while to discover that if I wasn’t making art, I was sad. I was classified as at-risk of not succeeding all through school because of race and economic status—much like the kids benefiting from Friendtership. I remember the day when I understood the path I should be on and I remembered the people that helped me to discover it within myself—people like you who care and believe in dreams.

For everyone who made a house and attended the event, thank you for coming out and celebrating with us. You’re super awesome!

Thank you to Daniel Cole, Susie Morris, and Jeremy Pair taking some great photos! Check out more photos here, here, and here. 

[wemakepdx]

Put A Bird In It for Arts & Music Education—The Line up

For the last three years we have been holding a celebration for design and making with the spirit of community in mind. We call it WeMake Celebrates. Each year we have closed off the festivities of Design Week Portland with a big-o-party, inviting the community, our friends, and families to come play, learn and make. During the event we host live maker activities and music, as well as our design in action fundraiser—Put A Bird In It. We've raised close to $20,000 for arts & music education, and last year we raised $11,000 in just three hours, Boom!

This year we hope to out do ourselves, and need your help!  80+ makers have been invited to create a unique one-of-a-kind birdhouse that will help us with this goal. These makers are illustrators, designers, furniture makers, ceramists, industrial designers, painters, and general creative geniuses. 

For this week only we offer these houses up for a BUY NOW option in a pre-sale. Check out the store here. 

The silent and live auction happens on Friday night, Oct. 10th, at the Leftbank Annex. Starting time is 7pm—we hope to close the auction by 9-ish, so be sure to come on time to get the house you want! We are happy to have Andrew Dickson as our MC and auctioneer, he will definitely add some fun to the show! 

It’s because of the community and generous sponsors that we are able to hold such gala event. Friday night will be one DWPDX event you won’t want to miss, and it’s FREE!

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NIGHT:

• Big Cartel is planning a collaborative maker activity with Jolby & Friends called “RAD LIBS”—a make your own poster station using custom stamps illustrated for the event. • Tanner Goods is pulling in their truck and setting up shop!  You can make some nice leather swag for free and get to know some of their guys behind the scenes. • A special edition print made by Jessica Hische (when she had her sketchXchange with us back in May) is the art we are using to silkscreen whatever you like! Golden Rule Design is once again operating the press, so bring a t-shirt or buy one on site and you can pull the screen for free. This is a one-of-a-kind print made especially for WeMake and we are thrilled that Jessica is letting us share it with you! • School of Rock is performing two sets and these kids can rock! There will also be great food by Bunk Sandwiches, Home Plate Sliders, Fifty Licks and CHOP. Plus we have an assortment of libations for any pallet.

Proceeds from this event will help fund arts & music education. Come out buy a house, buy a beer, and make with us. It will be a night to remember!

A NOTE ABOUT PARKING: There is parking in the Rose Quarters West Garage for $5 a car. The street car and The Max also runs right in front of the building. The Leftbank Annex is the very large building on the corner of Weidler & N Vancouver.

Directly before the party is a private sketchXchange with celebrated artist Lisa Congdon. She'll be talking about process, pattern making and sharing her sketchbooks. Plus we'll have a few of her books on site for you to get signed. All attendees of sXc will also receive a free special edition 5x7 Scout Book designed by Lisa.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to our AWESOME SPONSORS

We couldn't put on this amazing event without the help of our sponsors and in-kind donations.

In-kind donations from: Rose Bean Events, Scout Books, Jill Dryer, PrintGraphics, Jeremy Pair

[wemakepdx]

Put A Bird In It – Featured Maker, Justin "Scrappers" Morrison

Earlier this year, Justin "Scrappers" Morrison launched the magazine Stay Wild, a publication centered around the unconstrained adventurous spirit and journeying into nature. We're excited to have this Creative Director/Art Director/Art Producer/Illustrator/Maker take part in Put A Bird In It, and we appreciated him taking the time to answer our questions.

CM: What inspired you to launch Stay Wild?

JSM: I wanted to work for a magazine that brought travel, action sports, sexy-nature-loving, art, and all the other stuff that totally inspires people to stay wild. I looked everywhere for that magazine, but only found it once we made it.

CM: Describe a typical day.

JSM: Here we go: fart really loud, wife (Amy) pushes me out of bed, announce "I'm Up!", son (Camper) walks in on me peeing and punches me in the butt, boil water for coffee, stretch, push ups, stretch more, sprinkle brown sugar & honey & maple syrup on healthy boring cereal for Camper, check email titles to see if there is anything that can't wait till I get to work, Instagram, drink coffee with Amy, talk about dreams (both asleep and awake kinds), Camper jumps on me spilling coffee on my swim trunk peejays, pack lunches for me and Camper, put on pants from yesterday, put on fresh t-shirt with awesome friends art on it, walk Camper to school early to play on the jungle gym, drop him off at kindergarten, try not to cry, hop on bike, go to work, surf an endless wave of emails and try to make fun stuff happen all day long until I wash up exhausted in bed with a belly full of ice cream. That ice cream will make me fart really loud the next morning and start the whole ride over again.

CM: Tell me about your birdhouse.

JSM: My first idea was a giant hand flipping the bird. Get it, "birdhouse". Then I decided that was too obverse and the world doesn't need another middle finger. I really like big goofy, yet graceful seagulls, so I wanted to make one of those instead. Somehow I'm turning the bird into a house. Should look pretty stupid/genius since I'm paper mâche-ing it out of back issues of Stay Wild. I don't have a process. I don't want a process. Get your laws off my body!

CM: Beverage and music of choice for birdhouse building?

JSM: Pineapple soda pop & old exotica records.

CM: What do you make in your “free” time?

JSM: Driftwood forts, sand castles, Lego space ships, retarded doodles of human animals, bathroom graffiti, camp fires, and Stay Wild magazine.

[wemakepdx]

WeMake 2014 Put A Bird In It Makers + WeMake Celebrates

We are excited to contribute to this year's Design Week Portland with two of our events that will be closing off the week's festivities at Leftbank Annex— a special sketchXchange and WeMake Celebrates.

SAVE THE DATE! Friday Night, October 10th, 2014

Festivities will include:

• sXc with the talented illustrator, pattern designer, author, and painter Lisa Congdon  • Put A Bird In It— Auction and fundraiser to raise money for arts and music education, with special guest auctioneer Mr. Andrew Dickson • Live silkcreening, brought to you by Golden Rule Design • Performances by School of Rock • Maker activities • Cornhole. (What?!)

Please join us in our efforts to support arts and music education and to celebrate the design and art community of Portland.

And now, A BIG THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS to these folks for being selected to this year’s Put A Bird In It. YAY!

Aaron Zurcher  & Joe Carolino

Adidas, William Smith

Alex DeSpain

Antler Gallery, Neil Perry

Anton Kimball Design

Amy Ruppel

Blaine Fontana

Bowen Ames

Brian Madden & Kelso Davis

Brooke Weeber

BT Livermore

Case of Bass

Chris Haberman

Cinco Design

Copious, Kyle Hinze

Design Vessel - Mark Soasey + Eric Delph

Dan Christofferson - Beeteeth

Dave Selden, 33 Books

Dominic DeVenuta

Dorey Design Group, Paul Fasel

Emily Katz & Adam Porterfield

Eric Gardner- Grey Built

Eric Reigert

Erik Johnson-Hankbuilt

Evolve Collaborative

FIX Studio

Grovemade

HERENOW Creative

Halle Cisco

Henry Gibson

Hub Collective

HUGE/KingCoyle

INDUSTRY

Jennifer Parks

Jerry Blazek

Jesse Beam

Jessica Swift

Jill Dryer

Jody Dunphy & Heather Bromer

Jon James Staton & Alexandria Cummings 

Keith Carter

Kevin Murphey

Kinoko

LAIKA

Leo Zarosinski

Lightlite

Lisa Congdon

Lisa Hildebrant

Lizzie Falkenstein & Ryan Everson

McAfee 

Magneto, Craig Opfer

Mairwen Eslinger

Martin French

Maryanna Hoggatt

Matt Houlemard

Matthew Peterson

Matthew Ross

MC LaserLabs

Michael Welch & Paul Oppliger

Mitchell Snyder & vitrifiedstudio 

Monumental

Morgaine Faye

Nate Fasser

Nike, Damion Triplett 

Nell & Mary 

NEMO Design

Nina Berry 

OMFG Co.

Paul Anders

ProtoPlant makers of Proto-pasta

Rally Group

Revive Upholstery Design

Revolution Design House

Rory Phillips

Santiago Uceda

Scott Erwert

Scout Books

Scrappers - Stay Wild

Sean Garrison

Sockeye

Terrazign

Thomas Adcock

[wemakepdx]

Designing Dreams: Portland's Creative Community Helps Donate $11K

WeMake and All Hands Raised CEO, Dan Ryan.

The power of community was evident earlier this month during WeMake Celebrates, and its impact will be felt long after the party has ended. We officially donated $10,000 to All Hands Raised to fund the First Octave Grant. This grant will directly support art and music education programs in Portland's public schools. 

Rock On! $1000 to PROWUS

Because of your generous donations, we were also able to make an additional donation of $1000 to PROWUS in honor of the amazing kids from School of Rock who performed at our event.

PROWUS – Portland Rock on With Us – is a non-profit organization that provides grants for music students ages 8 to 18 and supports the childrens’ rock and roll performance community. They provide grants and tuition help for students in music programs like School of Rock Portland, The Portland Cello Project, and Rock and Roll Camp for Girls.

Thank you, Portland! Together we've given our young people a chance to explore new creative possibilities and be part of this amazing community for years to come.

[wemakepdx]

Design in Action Inspires

Someone told me the other day that WeMake was in the business of holding events. I was surprised, I guess because I never really look at it that way. Yes, we do put on events, but it goes much deeper. Whether you attend a sketchXchange, a discovery workshop, or participate in our design in action initiative we are in the business of inspiring. Inspiring creative, inspiring community and inspiring design in action.

Last Saturday, we celebrated our two-year anniversary with a big ol’ party and which may become an annual event, WeMake Celebrates. We were celebrating Portland’s design, art, and maker community and creating a platform for us as a team and as a design community to give back to something we hold dear to us—arts and music education. Portland, you did not let us down!

One of our mottos is “Make Believing” because we need to think that way. We need to believe in possibilities. It’s possible for a community to come together and collectively make a difference—even on a shoestring budget and without all the fancy bells and whistles. I’m thrilled to say we (and by ‘we’ I mean all of you, the makers, the artists, the attendees, and our awesome sponsors) raised $11,0000 to support arts and music education. Hi-five, hot damn, and f*ck yeah! Thank you so much for supporting our efforts to collectively make it happen. You’re awesome!

Overall, our small team of WeMake volunteers did an amazing job planning and executing this event and I couldn’t be more happy with the outcome. We almost doubled our efforts from last year and filled Sandbox Studio with over 1,200 happy people.

Our biggest thanks go to our Gold Sponsors: Vitamin T, Sandbox Studio, MC Laser Labs, and OrangePDX. Without their major support we could not have made it happen. I also want to thank Tiffany Jennings, Scott Baker, Emily Oliva, Jessica Caldwell, Ethan Allen Smith, Robert Woodward, and Annie Wilkins for their tireless work as WeMake team members who busted ass to make sure things ran smoothly (and who put up with me throughout the process)! A super shout out to LAIKA and Nelson Lowry for being our most excellent sketchXchange guests and supporters (Nelson was so inspiring)! Much LOVE to all the birdhouse makers and the awesome artists that donated a poster design.

Lastly, thank you Woodcrafters, Muse, The Study, School of Rock, Tanner Goods, Adam Porterfield of Golden Rule Design, Wacom,  Print Graphics, Nick Stokes Design, Eric Trine & Team, Tiny Creative, Con Cor Design, Transport, DJ Coast2c, Ninkasi Brewing, The Wine Nomad, the PSU graphic design student volunteers, the awesome Put A Bird In It judges, Nancy Levenson, and Design Week Portland.

To everyone who attended, bought a house or a poster, or just showed up to support and cap off the festivities of Design Week, thank you. You inspire me.

Most photos courtesy of Ethan Allen Smith. Some were nabbed from our #tagboard feed. See more here, here, here, and here!

We still have limited-edition posters available from the event. Find out more here!

[wemakepdx]

Celebrate Making Posters Available Now!

We have some posters left over from our event and would love for you to have them! These are all limited-edition prints based on the theme "Celebrate Making." Each 18"x 24" print was silkscreened by Seizure Palace and uses only three colors. They look fabulous next to each other and you should totally buy two (or more)! 

Cost: $20 plus shipping and handling. If you're in Portland send us an email and you can pick them up at our headquarters!

All funds go towards our efforts in supporting arts and music education.

Get them here!

BeeTeeth

Dan Christofferson is an illustrator, painter, and designer from Salt Lake City, Utah. His art illustrates stories of exile, industry, and the parched, sunburnt west. Printed on thick white stock.

Get it here!

Alberto Cerriteño

Alberto Cerriteño is an illustrator & designer who has developed his own very personal technique and style, having always present a delicate hints of traditional Mexican artistic influences. Printed on thick white stock.

Get it here!

Blaine Fontana

Blaine Fontana currently lives and works in Portland, Oregon. Imbuing his vision with the divine symbolism of religious myths, worldly folklore and current social dynamics, his works contain a kind of shamanic exploration of meaning that recognizes the totemic quality and power of the image. Printed on thick natural stock.

Get it here!

Adam Garcia

Creative director, designer, and illustrator Adam R. Garcia’s work spans aesthetic in the fields of design, identities, direction, illustration, event coordination, gallery exhibits and packaging design. Printed on thick natural stock.

Get it here!

Maryanna Hoggatt

Maryanna Hoggatt was born in the Philippines in 1981, raised in the dusty deserts of Arizona, and moved to the lush forests of Portland, Oregon in 2007. She created her own self-published comic mini-series, and regularly shows new work in galleries. Clients include Willamette Week, Nike, Skullcandy, Microsoft, & Redbull.  Printed on thick natural stock.

Get it here!

Meg Hunt

Meg Hunt is an illustrator, educator and maker of things. She lives and work in the wooded city of Portland, OR. Her goal is to fill the world with her creations, and make people happy in the process by creating charming and colorful character-based illustrations, lettering, and patterns for visual development and the editorial/publishing markets.  Printed on thick natural stock.

Get it here!

Jolby

Jolby & Friends is a collaborative creative studio based in Portland, Oregon. Founders Josh Kenyon & Colby Nichols combine their talents as Art Directors, Designers and Illustrators, utilizing their experience from working within agencies over the course of their careers. They try to achieve two goals within the work they create: “Tell a memorable story” and “make people smile”.  Printed on thick natural stock.

Get it here!

Mary Kate McDevitt

Mary Kate McDevitt is a letterer and illustrator living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Mary Kate graduated from Tyler School of Art in 2007 with a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration. Her clients include Sesame Street, Fast Company, and Nintendo.  Printed on thick natural stock.

 Get it here!

Dan Stiles

Based in Portland, Oregon Dan Stiles creates work for everyone from indie bands to major corporations. His work has won numerous awards and has been reproduced in a wide variety of books and magazines. He draws from a broad swath of influences from comics, skateboard graphics and punk album covers to modern art, japanese design, and vintage packaging. Printed on thick natural stock.

Get it here!

Keegan Wenkman

Keeganmeegan & Co. is an artistic design, illustration and printing company that provides creative in house solutions to local and national businesses and individuals.  Printed on thick natural stock.

Get it here!

Cost: $20 plus shipping and handling. If you're in Portland send us an email and you can pick them up at our headquarters!

All funds go towards our efforts in supporting arts and music education.

Get them all here!

[wemakepdx]

Little Dwellings: 2013 Put a Bird In It Maker Spotlight

Portland, Oregon never ceases to amaze me. It’s a great place to live, work, and play, and a great place to be a creative. Last year when we asked people to help us celebrate the process of making and the spirit of community they did not let us down. This year is no exception, in fact I think the makers outdid themselves.

So why a birdhouse? To me, it’s the perfect medium to explore. No matter what genre of the creative field you might be in, there’s just something about the sweet structure of a bird dwelling that allows for so many forms of interpretation. The name of this gallery show, Put a Bird In It also allows the makers to be playful and clever—we like that.

I want to personally thank all of the participants this year. They really rocked it and put a lot of time, passion, and thoughtful thinking into creating these awesome works of art. Below is just a sampling of the photos we’ve taken, but for some up-close shots with more details be sure to visit Ethan’s flickr set. You will be amazed!

We hope you will join us this Saturday night as all of these houses will be auctioned off to help support arts & music education. Up close, they will delight and inspire you, and you’ll want to take one home! Be sure to get in early as the auction will close at 9pm.

Thank you again for everyone who has supported our efforts!

Yvonne & The WeMake Team

———————————————————————————————-

The Details

- When: Saturday, October 12, 2013. We’re closing down Design Week Portland. - Where: Sandbox Studio, 420 NE 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97232 - Time: 7:30-11:30pm - Cost: FREE

NOTE: Starting bids will be $40-$50 with $10 bid increments. The value listed is what the makers place on time, material and worth. - Official event page

———————————————————————————————-

2013 Put a Bird In It Makers

Adidas

Team: Dan Garland & Todd Rolak

Dan Garland is a graphic designer at adidas and enjoys getting his hands dirty doing creative projects of all sorts. Todd Rolak is the head of footwear design for adidas football category.

Birdhouse #1: “You Know It’s Strictly for the Birds” by Dan Garland

For myself as a city dweller, the National Forest sign represents all these great times of getting out and ‘enjoying nature’, but that’s nothing special to a bird. Value: $225

Birdhouse #2: “Confess” by Todd Rolak

Flaming blue and yellow sparkles with gothic influences. Value: $150

Amy Ruppel

Amy Ruppel is an artist & illustrator who is always and forever painting, building things from wood, carving things in wood, smothering things in wax and putting a bird ON it.

Birdhouse: “Bird Yurt” Value: $150

Artslandia

Artslandia magazine is Portland’s Performing Arts Annual. Art lovers now have a single resource to find their art.

Birdhouse: Our birdhouse is contemporary, modern and retro. Just like Portland’s vast performance art scene. Value: $75

Bethany Ng

I’m an Art Director and Illustrator that typically works in digital mediums. I love building, exploring, learning and adventures.

Birdhouse: My house is inspired by one of my favorite things; snowboarding. I drew inspiration from Mt. Hood and old A-Frame mountain cabins. Value: $450

Big-Giant

Big-Giant is for the birds. …And every now and then we’re a studio in the business of connecting people with brands through artful moments.

Birdhouse: This is a classy joint for birds of distinction.

Team: Whitney Owen + Heather Noddings Value: $300

Blaine Fontana

It’s really simple, we’re complicated. Fontana Studios are a husband-wife duo and creative obstacle assassins who work in the fine art, design, installation, print making, environment, furniture and consulting genre’s.

Birdhouse: This alber block was from an eighty year(ish) old tree on Blaine’s family property on Bainbridge Island, WA. Using a chainsaw, hand planer, power sanders and acrylic, this commonly titled “Bucky Blossom” harmonizes our love of design, sculpture, painting and wood sculpture. Value: $800

BT Livermore

BT Livermore loves to make things, anything, really. He currently works as an illustrator, sign painter, printmaker, designer, wood worker, and co-owner of Man’s Face Stuff moustache wax.

Birdhouse: Inspired by ancient Egypt, (perhaps after watching too much Ancient Aliens recently), I used hieroglyphics and other iconography to represent this period in history. Value: $150

Cameron Sandage + Ryan Swedenborg

Cameron Sandage is a left-handed, one-hand clapping, Gemini, multi-disciplined creative currently working as a designer for Nike SPARQ. In his free-time he enjoys working on side projects, art shows and pushing himself to try new things, aka building a birdhouse.

Ryan Swedenborg is a graphic artist hailing from the Golden State. A graduate of Portland State’s Graphic design program, Ryan currently works at Mayer/Reed architecture in their small but strong visual communications department.

Birdhouse: Simple complexity is the thought behind our birdhouse. Birdhouses don’t generally come equipped with remote controls, but ours does, allowing this multi-media birdhouse to come alive with color with the touch of a button. Value: $200

Casey Ohngren

Casey Ohngren is a designer + illustrator who works on things like websites, logos, and patterns. She also likes to draw, does screenprinting and get her fingernails dirty whenever she can.

Birdhouse: ”Palace Mosque Cathedral House”. This house is made of a Chinese Palace, Moroccan Mosque, Italian Cathedral, and a San Francisco Victorian for the bird who can’t make up his mind.

Value: $175

Celia Beauchamp + Nikolas Wise—Grange and Company

Celia Beauchamp and Nikolas Wise for Grange and Company - a design-make-build collective rooted in cultural sustainability, holistic design practices, and a critical notation of the world around us.

Birdhouse: ”The Bodega Bay Petrol Station” is inspired by a recent visit to Jean Prouvé’s 1953 Petrol Station in Basel. In revisiting the design for this birdhouse, we reverse-engineered (with chickadees in mind. Value: $100

CINCO Design

Cinco Design is a branding agency that likes helping frame the first idea, and execute the final expression. They also believe that those two things should inform each other.

Two teams worked on the houses.

The Product Team: Matt Capozzi, Nic Ramirez, Beverly Moon, and Scott Layton.

The Brand Team: Sean Barrett, Ezra Hardman, Nate Garvison, and Sonja Niess

Birdhouse #1: “Ceramic House” Slip cast and glazed with a dip-dyed rope. Value: $350

Birdhouse #2: “Dice” The dice were constructed out of wood and painted with gold accents on the “5”s. Value: $100

Citizen

Citizen is a global mobile innovation firm based in Portland, Oregon. We’re pushing mobile forward by shaping the evolution of the connected user experience.

Birdhouse #1: Peep Show uses a microphone to detect sounds that trigger light shows on LED panels covering the birdhouse. Warning: birds may either be frightened or enamored. Value: $400

Birdhouse #2: 24-Hour Party Peeps uses an Arduino-run motion sensor to trigger bird calls from around the world. Made from a nest of old cords, this birdhouse is the merger of the technological and natural. Value: $300

Clutched Key Collective

We’re a small collective of women designers, writers, and marketing strategists that help brands communicate authentically with their female customer. We all love the outdoors and our access to them in Portland. We’re definitely known to play hookie for a powder day or a sunny break in the rain.

Birdhouse: Our goal was to make something out of the parts provided. We started by creating functional spaces for day and night use. The third more abstract space sits above the house within the negative space of the hanging harness. Value: $100

Dave Selden

Dave Selden is a Portland, Oregon-based designer and creator of the “33” series of pocket-sized tasting notebooks. He’s an avid runner, woodworker and beer geek in his spare time, which is fleeting these days, thanks to the recent arrival of his second child. He hails from the great state of Iowa and smokes his own bacon, two facts which may or may not be related.

Birdhouse: When the (turned, hand-carved and gouache-painted) pie is opened, the birds begin to sing (a sultry, smoky hit from the turn of the century, recreated in 18 notes by the Sankyo corporation). What a dainty (Basswood and Alaskan Yellow Cedar) dish to set before a king. Value: $200

Design Vessel—Mark Soasey + Eric Delph

Design Vessel Construction LLC is a small Design/Build operation specializing in custom remodels, yard transformations and furniture design—constantly in pursuit of opportunities that test their skills and inspire their work.

Birdhouse #1: ”Synthesis House”. The combination of ideas to form a theory or system. This house comprised of a metal lattice house structure with attached planter box, utilizes the combination of a man-made feature with an element of nature, a vine plant, that merge together to create the final functioning home. Value $ 450

Birdhouse #2: The enclosing boundary of a curved geometric figure. This house, a triptych design, explores not only a system of attachment that responds to the natural shape of a tree trunk, but also through a non-invasive series of springs to affix the structure, allows for a continuing adoption of shape as the tree grows and expands. Value: $ 650

Dominic DeVenuta

Dominic De Venuta is the foremost expert in the field of mixed ideology. He has dedicate about one eighth of his time to contextualizing the inner sanctity of the studio practice known as pencil sharpening. For best results let sit in sun for 1 to 2 days then shake vigorously.

Birdhouse: Upcycling old skateboards, Dominic kept things simple and timeless with his approach to the tradition of birdhouse crafting. While constructing this house, a conscious decision was made to not incorporate any parts or features that are not found on a skateboard. Value: $200

Emily Katz + Adam Porterfield

Adam: “Emily Katz is a singer songwriter, Quarter Horse whisperer, moondancer, and maker of magic.”

Emily: “hahahah, Adam has a really good sense of humor and is good with his hands.”

Birdhouse: An exercise in ENFP. Made from the reclaimed lathe of the couple’s 1906 home, a re-envisioned birdhouse with an open floor plan, perfect for entertaining your field guides, Audubon pamphlets, and binoculars. Value: $250

Em-Space

Rory Sparks and Emily Squires print and work out of EmSpace Book Arts Center, an open-access letterpress and bookbinding studio in Portland, where artists have access to space & equipment on a membership basis.

Birdhouse: “Typeflock:. Letterpress printed wood type from the Hamilton Wood Type Museum collection. Value: $150

Eric Reigert

Eric Reigert is a designer and illustrator with strong passion for innovation and technology. He also claims he can eat a whole pie in one sitting.

Birdhouse: Inspired by all the warm summer days filled with frozen treats. This chilled delicacy is sure to keep any birdie warm during the cold Portland winters. Vegan and Gluten-free. Value$150

Factory North

Factory North is a full experience branding studio here in the industrial SE neighborhood of Portland, Ore. From helping small business concepts to organizing our annual charity event, Art Takeover; at the end of the day we are just great problem solvers that truly love what we do.

Team: Tyler Segel - Creative, Nicole Sakai - Operations

Birdhouse: Our one-of-a-kind “Owl Totem” birdhouse is digital printed plywood with a polyurethane coating and was made to hang. It was designed, assembled + finished by Tyler. He really hopes that it will provide a home for actual birds. Value: $200

Gravitate Design

We are a design and digital marketing agency in Vancouver, WA.

Birdhouse: We wanted to incorporate humor into our birdhouse. The idea of luring the bird into a ridiculous situation was something was explored. Playing on the nostalgia of the 80s we came up with the Duck Hunt, and to trick the bird into entering and become part of the game. And so was born… The NESt! Value: $200

Greater Than Four

Hannah Amis, Sam Amis, Maria Lalli and Amin Zahiry are Greater Than Four, a collective of designers exploring a range of media free of constraints. Our studio consists of rock, paper, scissors, wood, fabric and cookies. We hail from the West and the Midwest, with backgrounds in industrial design from the University of Cincinnati and graphic design from Art Center in Pasadena. We believe in learning through making and that making makes one Greater Than.

Birdhouse: ”Cloud” (white marble, nylon cord, copper) Strata of water-jet cut marble create a structure that is simultaneously permanent and ethereal. Value: $300

Joe Mansfield / Grove

Joe is a native Oregonian with a curious obsession with lasers, magnets, and natural materials. He co-founded Grove, maker of bamboo apple accessories, with the goal of humanizing technology and putting art into pockets.

Birdhouse: “Aerie”. Made from 19 layers of acrylic, this house is perfect for the exhibitionist bird. The translucent mass takes on the colors of its surroundings and blends into the branches. Value: $250

Halle Cisco

Illustrator, designer and educator. I prefer working with pen and ink, letterpress and screen printing but also use the computer to add color and words to my drawings. I like drawing animals, objects and random people.

Birdhouse: ”Fishing Shack” For some reason I am drawn to the sea. Many of my projects include boats, sea creatures and underwater adventures. I love how worn and colorful buoys are and wanted to create a home for them to hang on. I thought some birds might enjoy them too. Value: $125

Henry Gibson

Henry Gibson is a Creator / Destroyer based in skateboarding, camping, bands, vans, repurposing and flying by the seat of his pants. He is unable to attend the event because he’s out on tour with his band, The We Shared Milk, but wishes he was there.

Birdhouse: This “Bird Camp” can be used inside or outside, or as something completely different. It is built for the bird that wants to get out of town for a couple weeks and reflect. Value: $200

HERENOW

HERENOW Creative Network is a dynamic team of artists, designers and project managers. We’ve been helping our clients create and execute meaningful brand experiences for over a decade.

Birdhouse#1 Eight-sided elongated wood diamond with black drawings on each panel. Value: $150

Team: Robert Hribernick, Jessica Jones, Trevor Karnofski, Zach Minard, Bryan Morgan, Peter Stevens, Corey Thompson

Birdhouse #2: Laser-etched gold cube rotated 45º, with blue acrylic front and back and a red dowel perch. Value: $150

Team: Natalie Bohm, Sean Stackhouse, Keith Warner, Mike Welch

Evan Wilcox-Birdhouse #3: Eight-sided fat diamond with a mottled texture. Value: $150

Derek Salemme-Birdhouse #4 Eight-sided latticework diamond with gold wire. Value: $150

Keith Warner-Birdhouse #5: ”Seed & Beak” Value: $150

HUB Collective

HUB Collective is a small design studio that specializes in brand cohesion. We are an agile team of experts skilled in the application of brand design language.

Team members: Zack Custer, Ashley Pieren, Verelle Stuck, Colleen Fulford, and Brittany Albertson

Birdhouse #1: ”Rockin’ Robin”—Sleek, minimal and modern. On the outside, our birdhouse appears to be simple and beautiful. But you will be pleasantly surprised to find that our birdhouse is equipped with Bluetooth speakers to play all of your favorite music. Value: $200

Birdhouse #2: ”Rosenplantz + Guildenfern”— Made from African Wenge, This house will instantly liven up your living space while providing one to a little birdie. Bringing the environment inside, this house features a succulent garden, and hooks to hang your keys/coats or dog leash. Value: $200

Brian Madden + Kelso Davis

Brian Madden is an industrial designer at IDL Worldwide and Kelso Davis is a Brand Designer at Cinco. They like to design stuff together.

Birdhouse: “That’s All Folks!” This birdhouse is a throwback to the cartoons we watched growing up. All it’s missing is a tweety bird! Value: 400 buckaroos

Industry

Industry is a multi-disciplinary team of experts based in Portland, Oregon. Drawing from our many years of experience working with companies large and small, we have developed a unique set of skills that allows us to quickly translate abstract strategy into tangible design. We are a collective of creators, designers, thinkers, and makers.

Birdhouse: ”SORU”, meaning to change and evolve, is meant to be a modernist statement as well as a distinctly contemporary object. Our challenge with this effort was to push the boundaries in technology and craft and integrate the birdhouse kit into a cohesive design. Value: $800

Jennifer Reynolds

I am a freelance Graphic Designer/Illustrator. When I am not at one of Portland’s parks, you can find me in my studio creating custom maps and fun kid’s illustrations.

Birdhouse: This birdhouse was inspired by Swedish Stugas and Swiss Chalets, European folk art and my love of pattern design. I hope some bird makes this house it’s happy home. Value: $150

Jessica Swift

Jessica Swift is a full-time artist, surface pattern designer, and author in Portland, OR. Her magically uplifting and colorful artwork is licensed by companies and manufacturers for iPhone cases, fabric, stationery, and much more.

Birdhouse: The birds in my paintings often wear crowns—Since my birdhouse is painted much like one of my paintings, I thought it would be fun to somehow include my little crown signature, but with a real-life bird! The birds will wear a crown each time they poke their tiny heads through the little round door. Adorable! Value: $175

Jon James Staton + Alexandria Cummings

Alexandria M. Cummings: Clay slinger, horse jumper, pro rabble rouser and Studio Assistant for The Official Manufacturing Company.

Jon James Staton: Gentleman, sportsman, craftsman and Fabrication Lead and Shop Manager for Orange Design + Construct.

Birdhouse: A simple contemporary aviary development adorned with fun brightly colored cord, oh snap. Materials: earthenware; black walnut and alder; fun brightly colored cord. Value: $250

Jon MacNair Jon MacNair is freelance illustrator and gallery artist known mainly for his monochromatic ink drawings. He resides in Portland, Oregon, dividing his time between client work and gallery exhibitions.

Birdhouse: My birdhouse is an attempt to transform my illustrative drawings into a three-dimensional object. I wanted to create a sense of dark mystery within the house, using paper and ink—my main tools of the trade. Value: $350

Keith Carter

Keith was born in 1978 in Tacoma, WA. He went to Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. He received his BA in Fine Art. He later went to Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR. He currently lives in Portland, OR. He is a co-owner of the Pony Club Gallery. He spends most of his time painting pictures of animals and people.

Birdhouse: I wanted to create a hidden fortress for the birds, camouflaged within the leaves. My Birdhouse is titled “Long Live The Queen”, and it’s painted with Acrylic. Value: $200

Kimi Kaplowitz

Kimi is a multidisciplinary artist based in Portland. She currently works as a puppet lead at Bent Image Lab.

Birdhouse: ”Rubber Chicken”.This birdhouse is fabricated out of silicone, plastic and found natural materials. I thought it would be humorous to make a house for a bird out of a bird. Value: $100

LAIKA

LAIKA is an animation studio that produces features and shorts. From scratch. We handcraft and transform everyday materials into living creatures infused with dimension and soul.

Birdhouse #1: “A little bird told me”. “Coming from the depths of my closet I heard a chirp… Materials: real buffalo fur and pig skin.” By: Heather AndersonValue: $100

Birdhouse #2: ”Olde CrowsNest”. “What if Jack Sparrow was actually a small bird? Maybe he would have lived in a house like this. By: Kyle Bell, veteran stop-motion animator, professional pirate. Value: $100

Birdhouse #3: ”Birdlejuice”. The colors in the movie Beetlejuice are so striking and fun that I thought it would be fun to use as inspiration for my birdhouse. My favorite part was designing the bird to look like Beetlejuice. And now I have to say Beetlejuice one more time since I already said it twice! By: Cammi Upton Value: $100

Birdhouse #4: ”Under the Dome”. This birdhouse represents everybody’s first home and the courage it takes to move on into the world. By: Tony Travis Value: $300

Birdhouse #5: ”Burnt House”. By: Niles Snyder Value $100

Birdhouse #6: ”A.T. - B.T.” (Jabbs Yaga’s Hut) Made from materials in the LAIKA wood recycling bin. By: George Willis Value: $100

Birdhouse #7: ”Cherry Street Inn”. Bill Murray inspires my whole life and my heart. By: Maria Andreotti Value: $100

Birdhouse #8: ”Frank Lloyd Wrong”. Falling house meets textile block head. Materials: MDF board, poly-urethane castings, cyanoacrylate glue and acrylic paints on exotic hardwood base.

Note on fabrication: Main square textile block pattern printed with rapid-prototype plastic from computer file. Original file then altered in Rhino 4 and also printed. All were then molded and cast for the final design. By: Michael Possert Jr. Value: $300

Birdhouse #9:"Don’t Feed The Birds".By:Danny Samuels Value $150

Birdhouse #10: ”Final Roosting Place”.By: Katie Mello + Margaret Meyer Value: $200

Leo Zarosinski

Leo Zarosinski likes nice people, things that are awesome and high-fives. He is a native Portlander.

Birdhouse: Birds are resourceful, and sometimes make homes in very unexpected places. Value: $300

Lisa Hildebrant

At the age of 15, Lisa studied Fine Art, with an emphasis on painting, at the New School for the Arts in Scottsdale, Arizona. After receiving her BFA from Tufts University in 2004, Lisa focused on glass and interior lighting design in Los Angeles. Lisa has since come full circle, and is once again a prolific painter. Her Little Animals© series has gained international attention as well as her commercial paintings and illustrations.

Birdhouse: “Canary in a Goldmine”—The title was inspired by The Police. I heard the song and thought viola! Like miner’s canaries which would warn workers of coming danger- I believe that this is what Put A Bird In It and it’s participants are symbolically. We are sensitive to the notion that schools with out art education can be/will be an unfulfilling life for our youth, and it is paramount to make changes as a community. Value: $600

Matt Graff

Matt Graff is an art director currently working at adidas. He has previously worked at Sasquatch, W+K, and Leopold Ketel. He also keeps bees.

Birdhouse: Cold-Blooded Birdhouse: I haven’t carved into a piece of solid wood since my 4th grade Pinewood Derby. What better time than now? I got a chunk of an evergreen branch and went to town. The chisel, sander, and dremel helped bring out the reptile within. Pop open the lid to see the nest. Value: $250

MC Laser Labs

MC Laser Labs is comprised of Marshall Tipton and Chester Lindgren and a handful of other skilled creatives specializing in laser cutting and engraving as well as custom fabrication with acute attention to detail. MC Laser Labs is located in the Immaculate Order of Makers at 521 NE Davis St. Stop by and say hi.

Birdhouse: “Wood Drop”. How much wood could a wood drop drop if a wood drop could drop wood? We have no clue. Value: approximately Eleventy Hundred Dollars.

Molly Kennedy-Darling

Molly Kennedy-Darling is a graphic designer currently working at Figure 8 Creative. She has previously worked at W+K, Big-Giant, and Liquid. Her dog’s name is Onion.

Birdhouse: B is for Birdhouse. This lovely duplex is a testament to modern urban living. Brightly colored exterior. Spacious interior. Would look as great on a mantle or hung from a tree. Value $250

Morgaine Faye

Morgaine Faye is a Bay Area transplant who graduated from PNCA in 2011. She has shown both locally and internationally. With a penchant for the bizarre and creepy, she works as a freelance illustrator, puppet-maker, and jewelry designer in South East, Portland.

Birdhouse: The inspiration for this house was equal parts “satanic bird cult,” “haunted out-house,” and Baba Yaga’s legendary walking shack. Materials: Wood, paper, brass, epoxy-resin, pheasant skin, rabbit fur, aluminum wire, arches hot-press paper,ink, gouache, polyurethane, quartz crystal, glue. Value: $500

NEMO– Eugene Good

Eugene is Portland based creative, by the way of Denver and Chicago. Working as a lead designer at Nemo by trade, artist by choice and wood shaper by night using a multitude of mediums and found canvases.

Birdhouse: I want to keep it this design sunny side up and in relation to Portland. This city is obviously full of big bushy beards, so I started with a sketch, a skateboard deck, and a beard— this is where it landed. Value $400

Nicole Bittner + Zach Yarrington

Zach Yarrington is an artist and member of Band, a local design duo. Nicole Bittner is a printmaker and an independent Portland designer. Their shared love of classic signage and custom typography brought them together as birdhouse building partners.

Birdhouse: Inspired by The Mint, a classic hotel and casino from Las Vegas long past. Value: $500

Paul Anders

I have worked as a professional designer in Portland for over 19 years. I have spent the last 5 years as a freelance motion graphics designer. I have been drawing and painting and creating for as long as I can remember. I am honored to be in the company of such amazing artists.

Birdhouse: For my birdhouse I did a style that I have wanted to do for awhile—Creating sculptural paintings that play with a viewer’s perception of depth through use of color and layers. Thankfully this opportunity has motivated me to get off my ass and to grow in this new direction. Value: $550 doll hairs

Phillip Stewart & Robb Off

Rob Off and Phillip Stewart are friends that love each others work and love working together whenever they can. Rob’s work explores the realms of interactive installations that defy simple explanations with the honesty of a saint. Phillip’s work takes a knuckleball’s approach to problem solving that is executed in mediums from print and object making to digitally interactive experiences in the mobile realm. Realizing that they’re duo wasn’t enough, they brought in the outrageously talented Anna Petry of Tanner Goods to pinch hit in some areas of the birdhouse construction and overall aesthetic.

Birdhouse: Inspired by Tom Cruise post-apocalyptic movies, 19th century socialist prison architecture, terrariums, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1970’s soap operas, happy hours, and really bad jokes. Value: $300

Pinnacle Exhibits

Pinnacle Exhibits is a 3D brand agency. We design, build, and manage environments for marketing, sales, education, and interaction.

Birdhouse #1: Triangular Birdhouse— Inspired by a pup tent, but made of metal so squirrels and raccoons can’t break in. Materials - white powder coated steel and walnut hardwood, with top air vents, drainage slats, and a removable base for seasonal cleaning between bird families. Value: $222

Team: Sarah Tisdale – senior industrial designer - “I like turtles”, Joe Rosch (lead builder) and Mike Butto (project manager).

Birdhouse #2: Casa Shovela. I have always enjoyed repurposing things and developing the unexpected from the expected. That’s what brought me to the “Casa Shovela” concept. Go out back pick your favorite raised garden bed and dig into some earth right next to your kale. Value: $300

Haller McCrory was trained in industrial design at the Pratt Institute of Art in Brooklyn. His work experience spans positions in interiors/casework, product development and design, POP, tradeshow and brand design. Haller recently relocated from LA to Portland. He’s a surfer currently, but we’re pretty sure the arctic currents of the Oregon coast will cure him of that. Oh well, at least he can still ride a bike if he buys fenders.

Print Graphics

PrintGraphics, a commercial printer located in Beaverton at the same location for 30 years. Charlie McDonald, owner of PrintGraphics, built the birdhouse and Patsy Turner, sales rep, added the decorative touches.

Birdhouse: Our theme was a bird get-away, so it is a beach retreat complete with wading pool (can also be used as a water dish as paint is on the outside of container) , life preserver and tropical palm tree. Value: $100

Rory Phillips

Rory Phillips is a freelance graphic designer, illustrator and printmaker. In his spare time he is the seer of the bird song and protector of its secret.

Birdhouse: The birds remember, their songs call His name. Knowledge? Justice? Only the initiated may truly understand. Value: $250

Ryan Bubnis

Ryan Bubnis is a multidisciplinary illustrator, artist and educator. Bubnis’ work has been described as “urban folk.”

Birdhouse: ”GOOD TIMES / GOOD VIBES”. The theme of my birdhouse is good times and good vibes. I wanted to create a “chill” space or environment that birds would wanna hang out in. I also wanted to make sure it didn’t look like a sex toy. Materials: Acrylic & Ink on Handmade Papier Mâché sculpture Value: $300

Santiago Uceda

Santiago Uceda is an interactive art director, illustrator and motion graphics artist. He has worked with many talented folks and institutions from global brands to non-profits, magazines, bands, and private commissions. His work has been recognized by American Illustration, Latin American Illustración & International Motion Arts Awards.

Birdhouse: I really like what I did for the WeMake poster (the Viking mask) so I thought it would be fun to create a birdhouse using a similar design. Value: $400

Sean Garrison

Sean is a designer and illustrator who likes bright colors, vectors, retro stuff, new stuff, minimalism, Pinterest and house plants.

Birdhouse: The “Missing Bird” birdhouse is hand-painted and constructed out of birch plywood. Inspired by Andy Warhol’s Brillo boxes, this birdhouse is the ideal dwelling for urban birds and is within walking distance to coffee shops, restaurants, and parks! Value: $150

Second Story

Second Story is an innovation center pioneering new interactive experiences. We push the boundaries of storytelling for brands and institutions across digital channels—web, mobile, and installations—empowering audiences to connect and share.

Birdhouse: Second Story’s “Vogelkammer”, literally “bird room” in German, was inspired by the form and function of a cabinet of curiosities, a precursor to museums that contained an assortment of objects and specimens intended to inspire wonder.

Team: Laura Allcorn, Nora Bauman, Heather Daniel, Joe Carolino, Sam Jeibmann, Norman Lau, Sorob Louie, Swanny Mouton, Dimitrii Pokrovskii, Donald Richardson, Kirsten Southwell, Filippo Spiezia. Value: $200

Sockeye

We are creatives, filmmakers, editors, project managers and happy client-makers. A family of tinkerers and dreamers, united in creating work that makes everyone look good.

Birdhouse: The Dirty Bird—A tribute birdhouse to the seedy underbelly of Portland. The Dirty Bird is your local dive bar and strip club in one, nestled in the marsh and occupying an abandoned duck butt you’ll find everything here; air conditinin’, mid-day specialz, .69 cent SirLoin and Wifi at just 1.99/min. Enjoy your stay!

The Makers: Maria Janosko, Julian Gese, Cary Watts & the Sockeye Family. Value: $200

Spoke

Spoke is a full-service branding & design studio that’s small in size and big in impact. Senior designer/design educator Aaron Zurcher created this years entry pulling from his background in design engineering.

Birdhouse: As a studio that spends a great deal of time branding multi-family housing, we wanted to create a home that was modeled after a birds natural home — their nest. Exploration of the similarity between the spoke, our conceptual background, and a birds nest led us to our final result. Using almost entirely parts from bicycle wheels, we created a nesting space space that a bird can build in, and truly call their own. Value: $200

Tanner Goods

At Tanner Goods, process is the soul of our work. Our passion lies in the design and creation of modern products that respect the past. Since 2006, we’ve been dedicated to the craft of producing products here in Portland that are “Worth Holding Onto.” Break them in. Wear them well. Pass them on.

Mazama is group of friends with a knack for getting our hands dirty and making things that get used. We share an affinity for thoughtful design and well crafted objects. And we love to drink. So earlier this year we rallied our crew to start a new venture here in this liquid city that we call home, focused on designing and manufacturing ceramic vessels worthy of our favorite drinks. We’re only weeks away from launching our first collection, so keep shopmazama.com bookmarked and stay tuned for more to come.

Birdhouse: "The Sanctuary". Designed and constructed by Sam Huff and Paige Wright. Value: $400

Terrazign

Terrazign Inc. a design studio that specializes in technical soft-goods and astronaut running gear.

Birdhouse: We have been to the moon and we are going to mars, this little bird house is a home for avian astronauts. Likely, they will face harsh conditions on planets without trees. No matter, anti micrometeoroid fabric* will provide shelter from star dust storms. A collapsible easy pack exoskeleton allows them to set up shop quickly, kick back on their perch, look fondly towards earth and give us a thumbs up.

*Ortho fabric. Yes you are right the real stuff, on orbit, up there now. Godspeed.

Crew members: Commander: Bill Dieter„ Command Module Pilot: Simon Quay, Lunar Module Engineer: Spencer T Birdhouser, Command Module Seam Engineer 1: Adrienne Lacavaro, Lunar Cruise Director: Susanna Hohmann Value: $1,200

The Good Mod

The good mod buys, sells and restores midcentury modern furniture. We also have a custom fabrication studio in which we work with architecture firms, artists, and creators in the community. Come say hi and let us give you the tour!

Birdhouse: This birdhouse was a collaborative effort by TGM design dept. Matt Ryan, Ashton ford, Ana Mikolavich , Simon yuen, Robert Johnson and Spencer Staley. Made of brass and acrylic rods. Held together by gravity and opposing forces. Value: $150

Thomas Adock

Thomas Adcock is a Visual Designer based in the Portland area. Thomas believes every project has a soul and a story to tell.

Birdhouse: "A sanctuary. Light in the darkness, shadows in the forest—life is fostered." Value: $350

VizWerks

Adrienne Allaert and Chad Mangers are designers at Vizwerks. Both enjoy pushing the limits of the design realm and share a passion for rock climbing.

Birdhouse: Mixing Stephen King with Alfred Hitchcock to create “Red Rum Ranch House”. A prototypical track house for a murder of crows. Value: 25 to life

Watson Creative

Watson Creative is a design-led marketing firm with considerable work in Professional Sports.

Birdhouse: The Locker— It’s only fitting that our birdhouse is an Athletic Locker for the birds to play ball. It is constructed from Alder with Cherry wood legs and trim, and a Walnut door accent. Crack it open and you’ll find a grassy field, a goal post “perch” and some tasty refreshments. Complete with paper footballs.

Team: Matt Watson, Jeremy Backer, Mykal Murphree, Nick & Alan Benson, KD McNally, Marta Mila, Beth Karper, Dave Sjolin & Anthony Armendariz. Value $465

WK12

WK 12 is a experimental advertising agency masquerading as an experimental advertising school deep within the walls of Wieden+Kennedy. Founded in 2004, the program brings together about a dozen individuals from all walks of life for 12 months of creative thinking, making and, of course, failing harder.

Team 2.9: Anna Zusman (Portland, OR), Nick Stokes (Portland, OR), Nick Finney (Los Angeles, CA), Delia Reyes (Santiago, Chile), Kate Digilio (New York, NY), Wayne Kasserman (New York, NY), Todd Saucier (Portland, OR), Ansel Wallenfang (Minneapolis, MN), Eric Swanson (Los Alamitos, CA), Brad Holdgrafer (San Luis Obispo, CA), Francesca Chabrier (Northampton, MA), Michael Nesmith (Chicago, IL), Vince Largoza (San Diego, CA).

Secret Reveal! See this bad boy at the show!

Birdhouse: There are more strip clubs per capita in Portland than any city in America. A dubious distinction? Perhaps. But its newest club, the DIRTY BIRD, touts itself as the world’s first TIT (Paridae Family) bar. Described as the “one most conservative avian families in terms of general morphology”, this club is anything but modest . If you’ve got wings, you get in free. All others, pay the $3 cover charge.

Value: $250 one dollar bills

Yellena & Andrew James

Yellena James is an artist/illustrator who lives and works in Portland. Preferring pens and inks she combines complex abstract forms into dazzling images which take on lives of their own. Her colorful arrangements of organic shapes and tangled lines are at once floral and alien, organic and sci-fi. Each intimate world she creates seems to posses its own ethos and its own special ability to radiate emotion.

Birdhouse: A collaboration between Yellena and her husband Andrew, a musician/’maker of many things’. Made from birch, then utilizing a wood-burning tool for the first time, Yellena added her illustrations. This project inspired them to start making more wood objects in the future. Value: $400

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Hope to see you there!

- When: Saturday, October 12, 2013 we’re closing off Design Week Portland - Where: Sandbox Studio, 420 NE 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97232 - Time: 7:30-11:30pm - Cost: FREE

NOTE: Starting bids will be $40-$50 with $10 bid increments. The value listed is what the makers place on time, material and worth. - Official event page

[wemakepdx]

Put A Bird In It - Last Year's Designers are Back for More

It is almost time! The 2013 Put a Bird In It auction is happening this Saturday at Sandbox Studio. Join us at 7:30pm to bid on your favorite houses (which won't be an easy task once you see this year's incredible houses).

We decided to check in with some of our birdhouse designers from last year's auction to see what they have in store for us this time around. Find out what they learned from their past experience and how they're putting it into action for their new designs. Also, be sure to check out the collection of Instagram photos that all our makers have been posting to our Tagboard! 

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Sockeye's 2012 Birdhouse

Sockeye

Give us a little refresher about your background as an artist/designer/maker.

Sockeye is full of a bunch of creative weirdos... I mean, we are a talented pool of artists and creative thinkers. We love to make stuff by hand and we have some pretty talented DIY-ers in house.

What did you learn from your experience designing and building your birdhouse last year?

As veterans of last year's "Put A Bird In It" we knew what we were getting ourselves into and just how long we could procrastinate. We learned that sometimes you have to just go with your instincts and throw all the planning out the window.

Last year we attempted to produce a birdhouse based on one of the template designs... it didn't turn out exactly to spec but we made it work. You just have to see your vision through to the best of your ability. Also, get off the computer and get your hands dirty.

What is the inspiration for your design this year? Can you give us a sneak peek of what you're working on?

The inspiration behind this years design was to really break the mold. We are not basing any of the design on pre-existing specs. Without giving away our concept or design here are some of the supplies we are using: a football, paper mâché, wire, model shingles, paint and love.

Did you have art and music programs in school when you were a child? Why do you think it is important to expose young people to these creative fields?

Personally, I was exposed to both art and music programs when I was going through school. I remember being in a music class in middle school and having bins of different instruments to pick from, we were encouraged to experiment and learn. I think art and music are such an important part of learning and growing. It's ultimately providing youth with different avenues to express themselves and nurturing imagination is such a great investment.

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Eugene Good's 2012 Birdhouse

Eugene Good & NEMO

Give us a little refresher about your background as an artist/designer/maker.

I am a Portland based creative, by the way of Denver and Chicago. I currently work as a lead designer at Nemo by trade, artist by choice and wood shaper by night using a multitude of mediums and found canvases. While design has taught me a sense of structure, balance & communication, my art comes through depicting images of a messy mind.

Recent work has been seen at Art Basel Miami (We-Are-Familia), The G40 Art Summit showing at Art Whino in DC, Wooster on paper #2: Graphite in NY as well as Electric Windows summer event in Beacon, NY.

What did you learn from your experience designing and building your birdhouse last year?

Mental note…get back to work. Seriously though, it helped me realize for this year not to plan too much, keep it simple and just let itself workout naturally.

What is the inspiration for your design this year? Can you give us a sneak peek of what you're working on?

After running through a few ideas, not doing a recreational vehicle was first on the list. I want to keep it sunny side up but still keep it in relation to Portland like last years birdhouse. This city is obviously is full of big bushy beards. I have some skateboards lying around from previous projects so this year I decided to start with the idea of a sketch, a deck and a beard to see where it takes me.

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BT Livermore's 2012 Birdhouse

BT Livermore

Give us a little refresher about your background as an artist/designer/maker.

I'm a sort of jack-of-all-trades creator, working on anything from illustration and design, to various forms of printmaking, to hand-painted lettering and sign work. I also co-run the moustache wax company, Man's Face Stuff. I've never liked not having something to keep my mind and hands busy, and I've found over the years that trying to keep a variety of skillsets fresh at any given time is really the only way for me to work because I'm never at a loss for a project, and if I get bored or in some type of artist block in one medium, I can switch it up and refresh myself.

What did you learn from your experience designing and building your birdhouse last year?

I don't think I pushed myself hard enough last year to create something really spectacular, to be honest, but I didn't really realize that until I saw the other finished pieces. There were so many mind-blowingly cool houses last year, and while I was satisfied with mine in the end, I was very inspired by the amount of over-the-top thought and effort put in by many of my fellow artists last year.

What is the inspiration for your design this year? Can you give us a sneak peek of what you're working on?

Last year, I used my focus as a sign painter to paint up a fairly simple bird house like a run-down, roadside shack, with tiny, bird-related signage on all sides. This year, I want to make the whole house a more elaborate piece unto itself, instead of simply a vehicle on which to display my work. This year's house will be inspired by three things I adore: furniture, hugs, and tattoos. That's about all I can say at the moment.

Did you have art and music programs in school when you were a child? Why do you think it is important to expose young people to these creative fields?

I did, but I don't feel like I took as much advantage of the opportunities that were offered while I was younger. Even then, I think I was very independently minded and preferred to just work on what I felt like instead of doing so inside of someone else's structure.

Even with that, I was definitely exposed to visual art and music all throughout my childhood, so even knowing those opportunities were out there was inspirational. If art and music programs are limited or removed, however, the chances become greater and greater that some kid who may find true happiness in a lifetime of creating something, anything, never even finds out it's an option. That would be a shame.

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Alexandria Cummings & Jon Staton's 2012 Birdhouse

Alexandria Cummings & Jon Staton

Give us a little refresher about your background as an artist/designer/maker.

Jon: My name is Jon Staton and I am the Fabrication Lead for Orange Design + Construct, a design build firm based in Portland. Previously, I was the Project and Facilities Manger for ADX.

Alex: I really liked designing and constructing (and sometimes eating) sand castles and mud pies when I was a kid. I moved from the sandbox into my great grandparents studios and spent most of my free time there making pinch pots and wooden dinosaurs. I graduated in 2007 with both a BFA in Ceramics and a degree in Visual Arts Education (K-12). Over the last few years, I've taught in different school settings - 8th grade, homeschool, preschool - these experiences have definitely influenced my work today. I recently co-opened a studio in NE Portland called Green on Grey Studios. When I am not elbow deep in mud, I am working for the Official Manufacturing Company. I continue to learn new things everyday.

What did you learn from your experience designing and building your birdhouse last year?

Jon: The biggest thing I took away from participating in last year's show was that there is no limit to the amount of creativity in this town. Every person involved took the idea of a "birdhouse" in so many different directions. Personally, I try to work from a purest point of view and make the birdhouses as functional as possible, but I can totally appreciate the varied approaches.

Alex: On a more literal note, we didn't really think too much about how different sizes of birdhouses suit different species of birds. We definitely didn't think about the Western Meadowlark (Oregon's state bird) when building our birdhouse but a cute lil' Wren would have been happy in our tiny double decker home. Oh and time. Time always seems to get away from us.

What is the inspiration for your design this year? Can you give us a sneak peek of what you're working on?

Jon: We are trying to think a little bit more outside of the box this year. After seeing what we ere up against last year, I think Alex and I both want to step up our game. We want to make sure that we bring something to the show that pushes our creative boundaries a little further and maybe step out of our comfort zone.

Alex: Think silos. Tower silos, concrete stave silos, and low-oxygen tower silos. Their ability to tower 90ft above us and 275ft around us is bonkers.

Did you have art and music programs in school when you were a child? Why do you think it is important to expose young people to these creative fields?

Jon: I spent a good part of my younger life involved in the performing arts including choir, jazz band and theater. As a matter of fact, theater is where I first worked in the wood shop building set components and props. After high school, I worked in a small community theater scene shop and thats when the maker bug truly sunk its teeth in. I often wonder if I would even be on my current path had it not been for that exposure at such a crucial point in my life.

Alex: I did have both art and music programs when I was a kid in school. I think it's important to expose young people to these creative fields because whether these fields become hobbies or careers in the future for kids, it gives them a different way to express themselves, learn and communicate.

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Join us for WeMake Celebrates this Saturday at Sandbox Studio. The Put a Bird In It auction will be open from 7:30 to 9pm and you won't want to miss these amazing works of art. It is the perfect opportunity to have some fun, get inspired, and support a good cause. See you there!

- When: Saturday, October 12, 2013 at the close of Design Week Portland - Where: Sandbox Studio, 420 NE 9th Ave, Portland, OR 97232 - Cost: FREE - Official event page

[wemakepdx]

Put A Bird In It - Featured Maker, Design Vessel

Design Vessel is a full-service design-and-build company, specializing in exterior landscapes, interior installations, one-of-a-kind furniture, and much more. Their concept-driven designs are utilitarian works of art, and this year’s Put A Bird In It birdhouses are no exception.

We recently sat down with co-owners/designers/builders Eric Delph and Mark Soasey to hear about their creations for the upcoming WeMake Celebrates event, and find out how the magic gets made.

How did Design Vessel get started?

Eric Delph: We met in architecture school at Portland State—we both have degrees from there—and came out of school with the realization that architecture was very disconnected from the build world. We liked the hands-on aspect of that, so we developed a design/build company where we could incorporate design aspects into a built world, and not have a disconnect between the two. Not have it lost in translation.

Mark Soasey: A lot of times there’s this bad communication between the builders and the designers. I thought the only way to breach that was maybe to be a part of both. Everybody in theory wants the same product built, but they seem to argue as far as the practicality versus the theory and that sort of thing. So being able to control both is an amazing thing.

What first got your interested in architecture?

MS: I had been working in a very technical field, and I had some experience in construction, but I’d always been interested in art. I decided to go to school at PSU and do graphic design—my mother is a graphic designer—but at orientation I learned a little bit about architecture, and thought you know what? I’m gonna go check that out today. It felt like it was a better mix of the technical side that I was used to and still provided some artistic accommodation to it.

ED: My grandpa was a woodworker and my dad was in construction, and having some experience there, I felt there were a lot of things done in those fields that could be more functional. And so to me, architecture was one way to do that.

What about your background in art and design?

MS: I went to the San Fransisco Art Institute for a year—I went to school for film—and it just exposed me to other genres of art that I could express myself in. I pursued other levels of art but was into construction too, and I thought architecture was amazing because it’s this great combination of the two. You can do design and you can get hands on, and it was just the perfect sort of scenario for me.

Kind of bringing the practical to the artistic?

MS: Yes. Exactly.

ED: And I think that’s kinda where we met in school. We both wanted to get back into the artistic nature of architecture. To make really functional and beautiful things at the same time.

Tell us about your birdhouse designs.

MS: The approach we always take is sort of coming up with a theme, and working off of that to help inform the design. So this year our theme was evolve. How can things evolve and be this combination of man-made and nature working together?

ED: You always see birdhouses in a house shape, but with this evolve theme, we’re thinking habitats evolve in seasons. So our concept here was to plant a vining plant that will encompass the house, and make it a livable space.

MS: Right now it’s not a house that a bird would want to inhabit, because a bird wants to inhabit something that has to do with nature. If we build something man-made but add the nature to it—like the vine—it will grow around it and lose the shape that we’ve provided for it. Nature will kind of take over.

ED: Yeah, so it evolves from nature.

MS: A bird can always put a nest in any tree, so if were gonna intervene and make our own things, we wanna work with nature. I think that’s the way we were approaching it.

What about this second birdhouse?

MS: So the concept on this one was to build something that can grow as the tree grows. It’s sort of adaptable to the size of the tree.

Oh wow! So these springs would stretch as the tree grows?

MS: Yeah, absolutely. It’s not affecting the tree. It’s a different way of hanging it. It’s, again, working with the nature of the habitat for the bird.

How did this process relate to the process you go through with your clients?

MS: Attention to detail. Longevity also. It’s creating something that’s gonna last. I think that’s where the evolved idea came from, is something that could continue to work and be added to.

ED: I think with every project, not only for the client’s needs but for our needs as designers, we always try to push it a little, so it’s not as tedious. We try to do something a little bit different each time.

MS: The challenge is fun that way. That’s what keeps it interesting.

[wemakepdx]

Put a Bird in It - Featured Maker, Second Story

Second Story is an innovation center pioneering new interactive experiences. They push the boundaries of storytelling for brands and institutions across digital channels—web, mobile, and installations—empowering audiences to connect and share.

The agency has been a pillar of the Portland creative community for almost twenty years, and we are thrilled to see their vision take form as one of our Put a Bird In It birdhouses for WeMake Celebrates.

We recently caught up with experience designer, Joe Carolino and the Second Story team to find out what they've been working on.

What attracted you to this project? 

We were excited to collaborate on something with so few constraints that enabled us to both connect with Portland's creative community at large and benefit a cause we all believe in.

What are your sources of inspiration for this project? 

We found inspiration in a wide variety of things, from puppetry to contemporary birding books, anatomical charts to mythology, past projects to current ones.

How is your birdhouse coming along? 

We've had a great time with this project. Members of our studio's technology, content, and design teams all took part, each contributing something unique to the process. We had a lot of fun concepting and prototyping together, and we're excited about the final product! 

If there is a theme, please tell us about it. 

Our final concept was influenced by the form and function of a cabinet of curiosities, a precursor to museums that contained an assortment of objects and specimens intended to inspire wonder. As creators of interactive media, we live for moments of discovery, surprise, awe, and amazement, so the concept of the cabinet really resonates with us.

The collections the cabinets displayed were sometimes found in nature but sometimes completely fabricated, toeing the line between fact and fiction, truth and storytelling. We play with this idea quite a bit in our work (see our Vault of the Secret Formula project, for example), and we wanted to bring that playful spirit into the birdhouse.

The end result is a fun and whimsical showcase of imaginary avian creatures, each with their own tale to tell. An accompanying microsite will offer additional information about the weird and wonderful creatures we dreamed up.  

What has it been like working with a 3D object vs. a more traditional digital design or illustration?

It was pretty comfortable for us, actually, since our digital work often has a physical component. 

Put a Bird In It is raising funds to support art and music in Portland's public schools. What was your art + music experience like when you were a kid? 

We're a studio full of visual artists, tinkerers, musicians, builders, filmmakers, and writers– suffice it to say, we were all heavily influenced by arts education when we were kids

Why do you think are art and music important for children?

Pragmatism is such an important part of adulthood that it's easy to lose sight of what our brains are really capable of. Arts education teaches us early on how to think imaginatively, how to see beauty in everything, how to hear music everywhere. Those lessons are the ones we can benefit most from carrying into our professional lives. 

Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is intelligence having fun.” We think that's exactly right.