PDCA Forum Slideshow: Brew, Buses, and Mad Business!

It all kicked off with The Hollywood Theater, a Portland landmark, was built in 1926. It was the last venue built in Portland as both a vaudeville house and movie theater. It was built to house 1,500 guests and an 8-piece orchestra and organist. See those colors? The colorist behind that color scheme will be telling  you all about color choice in the Jan/Feb issue of APC. 

In 1997 the Hollywood Theater was purchased by Film Action Oregon, which began work to restore the theater. Today, the theater’s ongoing restoration efforts include work performed by Joel Hamburg of Hamburg Painting and colorist/contractor Mary McMurry from Art First for Architecture. Paint for the project was donated by Sherwin-Williams. Those wooden tabletops were finished by Joel and his team, and now give a perfect place to set movie munchies and beer. They currently sell pints of craft beer for only $4!

Have you ever seen an elementary school turned brewery? I have! McMenamins Kennedy School is one of many McMenamins intriguing and mind-freeing locations. Imagine Nicole Curtis meets Mark Ryden. The school was built in 1915, abandoned in the 1990s and purchased by McMenamins and fully renovated into a brewery and hotel. This place is funky. This bar area, called “the boiler room,” is filled with newly finished old plumbing.

While the beer was solid and the atmosphere curiosity-provoking, probably the best part was meeting APC editorial advisory board member Dave Siegner. He led the charge on many projects inside this building, and he had great stories about a career working for a couple of deadhead brothers turned entrepreneurs (McMenamins grosses something like $70 million now, so good career choice for them). We’ll start a new column called tales from the paintbrush, and he can kick us off. This wall was papered with old homework. Kids write some crazy stuff…

Ever wonder where all that paint you recycle goes? I didn’t think so, but I’m going to tell you anyway. This is a pretty cool recycling spot (#1 in the country), that handles about 270,000 gallons of paint each year. They inspect, sort and recycle into 20 basic colors. You are looking at the sorters who could probably create some viral YouTube videos if they wanted because these guys can move. You can buy paint here for $3 to $13 depending on what is on sale.

Here we are on the paint bus … just kidding it was a beer bus called Brewvana. If you are EVER in Portland, book a spot. Ashley (the owner) is awesome and was sure that everyone knew the golden rule for beer tasting, which is swallow it. Don’t spit ladies and gentlemen, it’s rude. And the smiley guy in the front and center is PDCA Executive Director, Steve Skodak. Everyone wave to Steve.

When we weren’t touring on the brew bus, we were in the classroom. The Forum’s classes on color selection, stain mixing, and apprenticeship were all fantastic. Also, open discussions on topics like jobsite and craft problems led to some very interesting discussions like “why are there still blisters” and “how much can I charge to paint oak cabinets?” A lot of good stuff here, but I’ll stop because I can’t do it justice. If you want to hear about it, you’ll have to come to the event next year.

This Purdy plant tour was very cool … but I signed an NDA, soo no pictures for you. All I will say is this, yes, those names on your brushes are real people.

Versatile Wood Products builds custom and historically accurate wood sashes, cabinetry, doors and millwork. They had bevarages and snacks set up for us when we walked in … super nice company. But I could not write many notes because my hands were full.  Suffice it to say that it was a pretty cool tour and this is a boxcar that they made AND race in the Portland Adult Soapbox Derby.

The Old Church, otherwise known as TOC, is a spectacular structure and brilliant depiction of how the work painters do can save a building … and a neighborhood. It was built in 1882 in the heart of Portland and in 1967 it was facing demolition. A group of concerned citizens banded together and bought the old gal. Its example of Carpenter Gothic architecture landed it on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.

The TOC now serves as a concert, wedding and event hall. Joel Hamburg from Hamburg Painting was responsible for the interior and exterior paint job it received this year. Joel, Richard DeWolf from Archiform and Amanda Stark, Executive Director of TOC, shared tales from the renovation and even let us tour the steeple! It no longer has a cross but a weather vane.