Radius aka “Belmont Clay House”

The acquisition and transformation of a 8,000 square foot historic building and vacant lot into an immersive mosaics building, housing artist-designed mosaics, sculpture, and tile work, a state of the art clay working and firing center, an outdoor lounge, and a ceramics gift shop. All open to the public 7 days a week.

Location: Portland, OR
Role: Program Director, Project Manager, Event Director
Year: 2021

EVENT DIRECTION

Grand Opening of Radius Art Studio!

Goals

Celebrate Radius’s brand new ceramic facility and honor the funders of this capital grant
Highlight new equipment, interior and exterior improvements, exterior artwork by Alex Proba
Support the local Portland community businesses in hiring DJs, caterer, & bar service
Create scenic tableaus for a mini documentary film

Event Details

Community artwork station, guests could create a ceramic tile to add to

Radius’s every growing exterior mosaic

Live ceramic throwing demos

Printed photo wall with large scale prints of the building and community in process

Lighting design in aesthetic harmony with Radius’s fun color palette and new mural

Welcome, thank you speeches

Branded cocktails and artist gifts

Acrylic plaque with all participating community members’ names

Didactic signage to explain facility upgrades and newly named “labs”

Catering: Lepage Food & Drinks, bar: Merit Badge Bar, DJ: Casual Aztec

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Creative curation and implementation of a large capital grant.

Designated interviews with all potential project candidates: 5 cities, 25 interviewees.

Presentation and selection interviews with funders.

Collaboration, Architects, Engineers and Lenders. Presenting renderings, engineering demo and reconstruction for permits.

Permitting with City Offices. Employed local consultants to expedite permitting for change of occupancy, interior and exterior build-out, and commercial inspections.

Budgeting, scheduling, and implementation

A curating, budgeting and implementing a landmark artwork designed and implemented facade mural + sculptures along building and fences, by artist Alex Proba and Matchless Studio. Both local Portland fabricators and artists.

BEFORE & AFTER

Renovation of an historic property that includes:

Complete interior overhaul

Demo and rebuild of the mezzanine, reflooring, rebuilding stairs, refinishing ceilings, new electrical + lighting fixtures, white boxing, new plumbing and fixtures, creation of an ADA compliant restroom, carving-out exit door, kitchen build-out, garage door replacement, window rehab, new shelving, throwing wheels, slab roller, signage, gallery and shop design + furniture

Complete exterior overhaul

Creation of the 30 foot concrete side yard, quality-custom built wooden fencing, gas kiln design + build + additional gas line, build of three pergolas, lighting, fire pit backyard lounge area, landscaping.