Where is Ai Wei Wei?
China’s most influential art figure is missing. Detained, likely, in a state facility, flipping off everyone who walks by him. His fame and accolades can now do little for him. Even a statement by Secretary Clinton is met with silence from the government that has detained Ai Wei Wei. His 100,000,000 porcelain seeds sit as silent as he does in Turbine hall at the Tate. As... Read More
Words from Kuujjuaq, Nunavik
It’s ok to feel intimidated by that first name of hers, Inuk language families are largely foreign to Western tongues. Taqralik (tuk-rul-ick) is from the extreme north of Quebec, Kuujjuaq to be exact, but she now lives in Montreal. She’s been writing and performing for over 6 years and 4 of her tracks can be heard on her myspace. Her performances are right up there... Read More
The Powell that giveth
We’re keeping it up in the Fort, thanks to a faithful reader! The truth is I’ve let the busy get in between my grubby little fingers and I myself haven’t been able to keep up with the universe. But, never to fear, we are alive and well, and have plenty to share and plenty behind the curtain. Just you wait. In the meantime, I have (humility be damned) been given... Read More
Music contributor – Ryan A. Schowen mixtape
It’s been an age since we’ve done anything with music in the fort. Thank goodness Mr. Schowen descended upon Portland from sunny Alaska recently, and brought in tow his excellent taste in music. Ryan isn’t a new transplant, he’s lived here before, but now he’s here for reals, for keeps, and is enriching our fair city with a nearly finished doctorate... Read More
That particular Flying Pigeon
Sometimes you get an object in your life that is just so on-brand that every time you interact with it, it feels like the first time. Perhaps that’s the way 1/2 billion Chinese citizens feel when they hop on their Flying Pigeons every day? This bike is 61 years old this July 5. If an alien came to Earth and made a single request for “bike,” this would be the specimen... Read More
Oral histories of North South Portland
There are three very talented designers sitting with their hands in their laps among piles of cookies and hot tea poured in real mugs in North South Portland for the next few weeks. North South Portland isn’t meant to confuse you, Field Work sits on the Northern border of South Portland, and you should go visit. Justin Flood, Sarah Baugh, and Nicole Lavelle are crafting a... Read More
The books in the Fort
I was asked recently what I was reading, but not in the sense of “currently.” I think I was being asked what books I turn to when I need to. I’ve got a few standards, a few golden pages that continually intrigue, pay off, and illicit. I don’t exactly read these, but I study them. Design reading is a different category, and probably a boring one. I’ll... Read More
Strategy Can Do Better, Mr. Haque
Umair Haque recently published an article for the Harvard Business Review that I’ve read now four times and it’s time to talk about it. The piece is called Strategy Can Do Better and quantifies what so many people have been feeling so deeply but couldn’t quite get out of their mouths. The piece is so brilliant, so verbally satisfying that I couldn’t regurgitate... Read More
Ultimate outdoor school
They call themselves 2 CRPG which means 2nd Group of the Canadian Ranger Patrol (the acronym makes better sense in the original French 2e Groupe de patrouilles des Rangers canadiens). In the sparsely populated area of extreme northern Quebec, something wonderful is happening among a group of rangers, and they have cameras! In this wide swath of land stretching from the Maritimes... Read More
Just a little candor
Seventeen years ago Jurassic Park was released to the world in video form (don’t worry, this is not a fan post about Jurassic Park). Easily the most made fun-of/irksome character was Dr. Ian Malcolm. No one wanted to talk about chaos theory, they just wanted to see some dinosaurs, twisted steel, and screaming tweens. I don’t want to talk about chaos theory either, but... Read More