Notes for a People's Atlas

Portland, OR
Pop. 583,776Portland sits at the joining of the Willamette and Columbia rivers. At its incorporation in 1851, it had over 800 inhabitants and a few notable accomplishments like a steam sawmill, a log cabin hotel, and a newspaper. By 2010, with over half a million residents, it has added far more accomplishments to its repertoire, such as attribute of being one of the world’s most environmentally friendly cities. As Portland’s metropolitan area grew, civic attention was given to coordinated land-use planning and transportation, as evidenced by its adoption of the light rail metro. Projects like the 40 Mile Loop (one of the countries most successful greenways), conservation policies, and an urban growth boundary were put into place.

• Project Dates: May, 2009
• Exhibition: Grassroots Cartography at SEA Change Gallery
• Collaborating Partners: SEA Change Gallery, Katherine Ball, Alec Neal, Marc Moscato
• Notes: Friend of AREA Marc Moscato was asked to contribute to an exhibition about the overlap between cartography and art and adapted NPA to his local context. The installation was simple and allowed people to hang their maps after they completed them.