Sunday, April 19, 2015

Oregon Convention Center: Bell Circles

I originally posted the PORTLAND PLACES: Oregon Convention Center page on my old website on October 10, 2008.

…Continued from Light Rail Trains & Station.

IMG_3209 Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood on August 31, 2008

Various art installations are located both inside and outside the Oregon Convention Center. One of the more prominent outdoor installations is Bell Circles II by Robert Coburn, installed in 1990.

IMG_3212 Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood on August 31, 2008

It is a "sound garden" consisting of a pair of bronze Asian temple bells suspended inside bell houses of fir, steel and glass.

IMG_3211 Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood on August 31, 2008

The bells are rung electronically in a sequence designed by Coburn, "orienting the listener to time and space while expressing the link between Oregon and the Pacific Rim."

IMG_3214 Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood on August 31, 2008

Near the Holladay Street Entrance is the Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood, which was donated by Portland's sister city of Ulsan in the Republic of Korea.

IMG_3213 Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Ulsan Bell of Sisterhood on August 31, 2008

The inscription on the bell reads as follows:

The sister city relationship between Ulsan, R.O.K., and Portland, U.S.A., was established on November 20, 1987. In order to commemorate the erection of the new convention center in Portland, and assure the lasting friendship and affection and cooperation between our two sister cities, we hereby donate a 'Bell of Sisterhood.'

November 20, 1988
Ulsan City,
Republic of Korea

IMG_3187 Sapporo Friendship Bell at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Sapporo Friendship Bell on August 31, 2008

The Sapporo Friendship Bell is located at the corner of the Convention Center near the intersection of NE Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and NE Holladay Street.

IMG_3186 Sapporo Friendship Bell at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Sapporo Friendship Bell on August 31, 2008

It was donated by Sapporo, Japan, another of Portland's sister cities, in February 1990 to commemorate 30 years of sisterhood with Portland.

IMG_3189 Sapporo Friendship Bell at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Sapporo Friendship Bell on August 31, 2008

This bell's inscription reads:

IN COMMEMORATION OF
30 YEARS
OF
SISTERHOOD

PRESENTED
BY
THE CITY OF SAPPORO
JAPAN
FEBRUARY 1990

IMG_3185 Sapporo Friendship Bell at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon on August 31, 2008
Sapporo Friendship Bell on August 31, 2008

Continue to “The Dream” Statue

1 comment:

  1. What a mind blowing center hall! Excited to attend a jewelry exhibition organized at one of the well known convention center next week. Mommy will accompany me to the event. Ads and banners regarding the same are published. Also heard a lot about beautiful interior of the venue. Hope the place is as per our expectations.

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