
A revolving cadre of Portland's finest wheat paste artists continually replenish a set of four boarded-up loading docks that run along the West wall of a nondescript building in the South East Waterfront district of Portland, Oregon. Each bay hosts unique content that changes, evolves and decays. It's become a ritual for me to visit the loading dock wall when biking through the area, like a pilgrimage to a holy shrine. I slowdown, rubber neck, and scan for new editions, taking mental notes on whether I recognize the artists and if it's time to document the latest iterations. Occasionally, I leave an offering.

I've captured this same spot several times over the last couple years, and on this day in particular something caught my eye, aside from the new paste-ups, something that looked a lot like a pile of human shit. The specimen was placed, seemingly with deliberate intent, directly in front of the southern most loading dock and the paste-up art covering it. I could only imagine it was meant to communicate critic, approval, or possibly an attempt at artistic collaboration. Whatever the case, I circled back on my bike and started photographing.

Maybe you're the kinda of person that gets a bit put-off when they see a human turd on the street, but personally I had been anticipating that moment for quite a while. I shit you not, I had literally imagined myself coming across a human turd on some corner, or maybe a foot or two inside of an cramped alley way, then documenting it for posterity. In the fantasy I of course have my camera equipment, it's a cool overcast day, and no one is around to ask any questions; questions which would require complicated answers. 

Luckily, the lord provides, the universe answers, or I got the good simulation, because the fantasy had manifested itself to me as if by design. The wall, the art, the turd, like some sort of absurd street trinity revealing itself for me to bare witness and chronicle. I suppose miracles are best left as mysteries though, since however strange or mundane the actual facts in this case, there is a spirit of infinite possibility that can only be found in the unknown and unknowable.

The digital capture was composed of 120 photos taken on March 28th, 2021, it was probably a cloudy day. 

For more info on how the project was created was created travel to the [FAQ](/faq) section.











Loading Zone Paste-ups IV

03-28-2021 Edition

Crafty Couches

Coming Soon