Adam Garcia

Designer

Adam Garcia has worked in the record industry, as well as Nike designing footwear before launching The Pressure, a creative studio based in Portland. Garcia is also adjunct faculty at Portland State University.   

What is The Pressure?

The Pressure is a small creative studio here in Portland. We work across mediums, doing conceptual development, branding, illustration, video, experimentation, art shows and events. I started the studio as a freelance, side-job outside of full-time gigs since 2006, and 2 years ago made it an official business. We try to inject a sense of energy, thoughtfulness and quality into our work, no matter the project.

What do you think are the issues facing Portland and how would you like to engage the city in making it a better place to live for all of its citizens? 

I'm interested in the perceptions around Portland and playing with those boundaries, creatively. I was recently having a discussion with my friend Matt Hayes, and he was discussing a project that he's doing about the African-American experience in Portland. I think that diversity (or the lack thereof), the voice of people of color and perceptions around diversity in Portland need to be addressed.

And what inspires you? 

That's the big question isn't it. I'm always consuming information, reading and trying to synthesize that into projects, so although it's a bit trite I do believe that inspiration is everywhere. But I've found that I'm most inspired and fulfilled of late by great, deep, real conversations.

Photo Credit: Margaret Jacobsen for AVD

Alisha Moreland-Capuia

 As a native Oregonian, Alisha Moreland-Capuia, M.D., is as dedicated to the Pacific Northwest as she is to improving public health. Dr. Moreland-Capuia is paving roads, figuratively, boasting a proven track record for implementing health initiatives here in Portland, including her new role as the newly appointed Chief Medical Director for Volunteers of America (VOA) Oregon. Moreland-Capuia holds the honor as the first African American native Oregonian to become a board certified psychiatrist.

Daniel H. Wilson

Robotics Engineer/Author

Robotics engineer Daniel Wilson is a New York Times bestselling author of “Robopocalypse,” as well as a contributing editor of Popular Mechanics magazine. Wilson hosted  a History Channel series ‘The Works’ that debuted in 2008 and has put out Robogenesis, a sequel to Robopocalypse , that hit the LA Times bestseller list and Booklist called “astonishing.”

Can you tell me about what is going on in your life? 

At the moment I am writing a film for Lionsgate, a weekly series of comic books for DC Comics, and working with a local Portland company called Mountain Machine on an interactive fiction iPhone app called Mayday. Of course, that’s during working hours — the rest of the time my wife and I are wrangling a 4 and 2-year-old.

Is Spielberg still on board to make a movie of Robopocalypse?

Yes! The film is still on the slate at DreamWorks with Spielberg attached to direct. A couple of other films are in line before Robopocalypse (one of which has been waiting for ten years, so I can’t complain). In the meantime, I have an even bigger project cooking (if you can believe it). I’ll be able to talk about that in another month or so.

What do you think are the issues facing Portland and how would like to engage the city in making it a better place to live for all of its citizens? 

Portland is a great place — a sticky place in the sense that once you show up, you never want to leave. The influx of new people (like myself, ten years ago!) will continue to be a challenge to everyone who lives here already. I think the real underlying solution to a growing city is something Portlanders are great at — keeping an open mind, not panicking, and responding in a thoughtful way.

Photo Credit: via Wikepedia Creative Commons (image cropped)

Jo Lundberg

Artist

Jo Lundberg started drawing portraits during Catholic mass as a child. The up and coming Oregon artist received honors from Linfield College for studio art and visual culture. Lundberg’s work often incorporates large pieces of wood, and re-used items. She finds inspiration from Frida Kahlo, human anatomy, the natural world. She has shown along the west coast and currently has a collection at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon. 

What kind of Portlander are you?

I am the Authentic kind of Portlander - born and raised in the Division/Clinton area, I remember when it wasn't a "hip" 'hood. There used to be a lot of available parking back then... But worth the trade off for delicious digs in the neighborhood. Whenever I cross paths with an "Authentic P-Towner" we shake hands-  we come to regard ourselves as "the last of the Mohicans" and usually have friends circles that resemble a venn-diagram.

As someone who could do your work almost anywhere in the world, why did you choose Oregon and what do you get out of living here?

I've traveled around the world to find a place as much as I like Portland, found some neat places in between, but Portland feels most like home to me. It's proximity to the coast and the mountain make for an easy escape - with smaller crowds for surf elsewhere. The city is big enough to enjoy amenities of a larger city, (I.e. Foodie heaven, & contemporary art such as PICA's Time Based Art Festival), but the sense of community and approachability (or, said another way, lack of pretense) in a small city. Long answer short, Ptown offers a quality of life that is hard to beat.

And what inspires you?

Good coffee, and Powell's books, and Tula's gluten free raspberry scones  

Brian Wannamaker

Developer/Arts Patron

A real estate developer and arts lover Brian Wannamaker transformed North Mississippi Avenue into a hip strip of boutiques, restaurants and bars. In 2006 he also transformed a dingy apartment building into the Falcon Art Community which basement is home to 24 artists studio that houses everyone from painters and musicians to writers and sketch comedy troupes. 

Photo Credit: Byron Beck (image cropped)