Since the COVID-19 lockdown, downtown Portland has faced hardships regaining tourist traction similar to the pre-pandemic times. Between the damage done during the Proud Boys Riots and the overwhelming displacement of Oregon residents, the streets of downtown Portland have not yet bounced back. In hopes of regaining their city back, Oregonians have come together as a community in hopes to get Portland back on the map. A campaign put together by local Oregon residents called Visit Downtown was designed by bringing communities together to make downtown Portland more appealing to tourists after the pandemic shut-down. This organization has worked with tons of local businesses and volunteers to make an inviting space for people to explore, one of the larger companies involved being the Oregon located film studio, LAIKA.
LAIKA has produced many critically-acclaimed films including Coraline, Kubo and the 2 Strings, Boxtrolls and Wildwood. In celebration of their most popular film, the Hillsboro-based business has begun work towards a Coraline themed art installation that is scheduled to come to Portland in August of this year. Working alongside the Visit Campaign, 30 of Coraline’s ‘Cat’ statues measuring around 6 feet in height will be installed throughout the streets of Portland in time for the film’s 15th release anniversary. This art installation will be titled, “The Curious Cat Trail” and will not only celebrate the film, but also help increase traction to the Portland area.
Andrew Hoan, Portland’s Metro Chamber CEO, raves about this new exhibit. When doing an interview with local news station KGW8, Hoan said, “These are internationally acclaimed movies that are being produced right here in our backyard. It is a global expression of our cultural imprint, so we should be celebrating the fact that we have a vibrant film scene here and doing whatever we can to support it.”
Since the COVID pandemic, Portlanders have made progress in rejuvenating the city by highlighting local artists and businesses across the state. Right in theme with past progress, each statue in the “Curious Cat Trail” installation will be hand painted by various local artists. This will not only help showcase the skills of the Oregon locals, but also add a personal Portland touch to each piece.
However it does not stop there. The “Curious Cat Trail” extends its impact in Portland past highlighting local artists and filmmakers and increasing traction to downtown Portland and into the roots of the community. After an undetermined amount of time, each sculpture will be auctioned off and the proceeds will go to the OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.
When this installation opens to the public, viewers can visit the LAIKA Studio’s website to access a map which takes them on a walkable route across the city. At each stop, photos are encouraged as the team has set up various social media accounts to allow for tagged posts. From murals to sculptures, downtown Portland is slowly coming back to life through Oregon-based art.
The Coraline inspired art exhibit titled “The Curious Cat Trail” is hitting the streets of Portland in August of 2024. With 30 different sculptures in the making, this is a great opportunity to showcase the talents of local artists and help create a new appeal to the downtown area. Onlookers will have the chance to follow a curated map following a path around the city snapping photos with that art and creating a Portland-positive environment. After the fun has been had, each sculpture will get auctioned off, the proceeds going towards OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Getting the chance to experience this will be truly magical for Oregon locals and tourists alike.
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