35

Many of you, dear readers, may have attended one or more of the special events that marked Blue Sky's milestone birthday celebration in October 2010. If so, it's possible–if not probable–that you remember our inspired collaboration with the Impossible Project that was exhibited the entirety of that month. With the Impossible Project's generous donation of several vintage cameras and an arsenal of Silver Shade instant film, we equipped several Portland luminaries and longtime friends of the organization with strict instructions to have some photographic fun. Participants included three of Blue Sky's five founding photographers–Christopher Rauschenberg, Robert DiFranco, and Ann Hughes–in addition to fellow artists Vanessa Renwick and Shawn Records, Portland Art Museum curators Bruce Guenther and Julia Dolan, musicians Thomas Lauderdale and Rufus Wainright, Mayor Sam Adams, and many more. They did not disappoint! The resulting instant photos were each auctioned off to an eager collector at our birthday gala, venturing off to locales far beyond the gallery walls. To celebrate the organization and its history–-and to recognize its spirited traits of experimentation, warmth, humor, and exceptional taste in photography–we asked some of our supporters to help us publish a commemorative book in collaboration with Ampersand Gallery & Fine Books. 35 documents the complete set of instant photos created for the occasion of Blue Sky's special birthday and is available to Blue Sky Book Level Members and higher.

Furthermore, the volume is dedicated to the memory of Joan Shipley, a beloved member of Portland's art community and a dear friend of Blue Sky, who we lost to cancer in September 2011. Joan helped to plan Blue Sky's 35th birthday festivities, and the book includes a very special image of her viewing the collection of photographs during the auction.

We could not be happier to share 35 with you, and encourage you to become a member at $75 or higher to receive your very own copy while they last!