Symposium Participant - Bill Sharp

Hello everyone.
Gabi graciously introduced me on this blog, some time back, so I won't talk more about myself, but I just wanted to say hello to everyone and that I'm very much looking forward to meeting so many like minded people and spending 3 whole days immersed in sketching. I've been a member (not a corespondent) of Urban Sketchers since it's inception and I've thoroughly enjoyed the vicarious experience of visiting so many places around the world through the drawings of the corespondents and Gabi's brainchild.

Gabi mentioned that some of we locals might share some things about Portland for the out-of-towners coming to the symposium. The first thing I would mention is that we're having an unusually (even for Portland) wet year. We can usually count on sunny warm days and cool evenings and mornings in late July but all bets are off this year. I'm really hoping for dry weather but pack your rain slicker just in case.

Another thing I wanted to mention is that the Broadway Bridge, which is pretty close to PNCA, where we'll be meeting, will be closed to motorized traffic for two months starting on July 6. This is bad news for getting around by car, but the good news is that it will be open to bike and foot traffic. It's a great place to draw so this may be a sketching bonanza, if there's enough space to draw without impeding cyclists.

Speaking of cars, someone asked about the advantage of having a car downtown and I can't think of any. Portland has limited parking downtown purposely to encourage the use of public transportation. Having a car, if you don't need it, would be a hassle, it seems to me. There are a few places to rent bicycles if you want to look into that:
21st Avenue Bicycles
Fat Tire Farm
Waterfront Bicycles

One more thing that some may be interested in. The Portland Art Museum will be having two drawing related exhibits that coinincide with the symposium. Master Drawings from the Crocker Museum and The Bible Illuminated: R. Crumb's Book of Genesis. The area around the museum is also a great place to draw.

I hope some if this is useful information. See you all soon