Sean LaFreniere

Wholesome Blends III

admin — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 04:24:02 +0000

Big New Show: Photos from Eastern Europe on the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain. At Wholesome Blends coffee house on NE Sandy Blvd and 46th Ave in the Hollywood District in Portland, OR.

Traveling with my journalist friend Michael Totten, trying to get him off the Mid East desk and on to Eastern Europe. We busted a wheel in Poland, ordered chicken by clucking in Ukraine, and got severely lost in Moldova. Romania offered us vampire masks for Halloween. Raced out of Odessa as swine flu shut down the borders. Good times had by all. The most impressive images are of faded Western architecture and infrastructure, of Lada’s hauling turnips to market, of humans harnessed to plough shares… the East has a lot of catching up to do to make up for Communism and its fall. I wish them well.

Coopers Coffee Show - May

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 07:59:02 +0000

During the month of may several of my large format prints from Eastern Europe will be on display at Coopers Coffee. This is my old haunt when I worked in the Industrial Sanctuary. It is in the old/new BoatHouse Building under the Morrison Bridge next to OMSI and the fireboat station. They specialize in great sandwiches and salads during lunch, but I always went for a bagel and creamcheese and a coffee. Enjoy!

Archipeople Show - April

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 02:06:30 +0000

On April 1st, First Thursday, at Shaken Lounge on 46th and Fremont from 6-9pm friends, guests, and the public are invited to a new display of digital art/photos of architectural sculpture and detail from Eastern Europe circa 1890-1920.

The Singer (Sewing) Building in Saint Petersburg, Russia was built between 1902-1904.

This is a detail of the plaster ornamentation from the interior of Catherine’s Palace outside Saint Petersburg built in the mid 19th century.

A random corner building in Old Belgrade where many buildings are decorated with the heads and faces of men and women.

A balcony bracket at the start of the promenade street in Old Belgrade… the promenade leads to the old citadel at the top of the hill.

An old balcony in Lviv, Ukraine near the Polish border (the city was once part of the Austrian Empire) probably turn of the century… the entire downtown is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The entrance to an old apartment building along the waterfront boardwalk at Yalta, Ukraine probably 1920’s, recently refurbished and turned into a hotel.

Wholesome Show II - March

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:47:30 +0000

A second showing of my travel and architecture photos will be up at the Wholesome Blends coffee house on NE Sandy Blvd and 46th Ave in the Hollywood District in Portland, OR.

Utopia Cafe Show - August

admin — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:06:09 +0000

From mid-August to about mid September a collection of my travel photos will be the art on the wall of the Utopia Cafe off Belmont Street across from the local Zupan’s Market at about 30th Ave. Utopia is a popular local breakfast and lunch spot that is closed on Mondays, but otherwise is open from 9-2pm daily. Great food, down-home atmosphere… try Papa’s Plate.

Wholesome Blends Show - June

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:26:56 +0000

Throughout June some of my travel photos will also be on display at the Wholesome Blends coffee house on NE Sandy Blvd and 46th Ave in the Hollywood District in Portland, OR. This is a neat espresso and juice bar in a converted gas station with a comfy armchair corner perfect for discussing politics or the weather. Come on down!

Starbucks Show - May

admin — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:59:39 +0000

Starting on First Thursday, May 7th and running until the end of the month-ish, several of my travel photos will be on display at the Starbucks on Freemont St. at 46th Ave in Portland, OR. Please stop by if you are in the area. Cheers!

Cyprus

admin — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:54:35 +0000

The island of Cyprus includes the Karpas Peninsula that points like a finger at the Middle East. The lonely Dipkarpaz road angles out over the peninsula and ends at the ruins of a Greek Orthodox monastery. Along the road sits a small tourist trap… very small.

The Florya Restaurant is run by a pair of British retirees. In front of their cafe sits a 15th century church - Ayios Thyrsos. Below the cafe, under the sea cliff, there is also a small cave chapel dating from the 12th century. And up on the bluff are more ruins from unknown dates and uses.

The church and chapel are empty and unused as they are in the Turkish, predominantly Muslim, controlled portion of the island. However, they are also protected and somewhat maintained for the future. The diplomatically isolated position of Northern Cyprus also keeps down the tourists and allows the few visitors to wander ancient sites alone and to mentally time travel as desired. It is a sad bargain.

Ayios Thyrsos Church c. 15th century

Ayios Thyrsos Ruins c. unknown

Ayios Thyrsos Chapel c. 12th Century

Kosovo

admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 21:14:27 +0000

There is a Sufi meeting house or “tekke” in Prizren, Kosovo. It is an unassuming place with out a minaret or anyone standing guard over protocol. One simply passes in through an open gateway and into a small courtyard with a fountain. There are a few buildings or rooms around the courtyard and a raised platform under a covered porch. There is a small room with windows and inside sit several coffins draped in white shrouds. It is very quiet and peaceful. I walked over to the sound of running water and saw this fountain. Two snakes wrapped around two staffs, two crossed swords, and a twelve sided top stone with a wrought iron Arabic script detail on top. I enjoyed my moment of peace and passed out to the street again. All religious places should be so low key and beautiful.

The Sey Osman Halveti Tekkesi

The ablution fountain. Both are circa 1691.

The Halveti order are also known as Whirling Dervishes and originated in Afghanistan and spread to the Balkans with the Ottoman Empire.

Russia

admin — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:43:56 +0000

Kremlin’s Assumption Cathederal, c. 1475 ad, is the oldest of the Kremlin’s four churches. Built by Italian architect Alberti Fioravanti who was invited to Moscow by Zsar Ivan the Terrible. The Zsar liked it so much that he refused to let the architect return home and he would later die still in captivity in Moscow.

Assumption Cathederal