The Cultured Pearl
On the corner of Northwest 12th avenue and Hoyt street is the true gem of the Pearl District. A refuge for the weary soul and a feast for the eyes, this art gallery/antique shop/sumptuous oasis is a not so hidden treasure that gives our neighborhood a touch of the genuine amidst the carefully calculated boutiques and overpriced restaurants. While I very much enjoy the gallery scene, too often I find that I leave our local galleries feeling depressed, discouraged and dissed - the three d’s. I suppose it is too much to expect warmth and friendliness from an art gallery, especially since I never buy anything, but one can hope.
Where one can find a warm greeting, not only from the lovely people behind the counter, but also from the paintings on the walls, is at The Cultured Pearl (532 NW 12th Avenue). Owned by Harvey and Steve, they have perfected the fortunate art of traveling to Europe to bring back an array of masterpieces that somehow slipped through the museums and collections of the old world.
How they can assemble such a range of work and have it come out anything but a jumble is a testament to their collective eye and aesthetic. Their shop is, in my mind, the greatest work of installation art that Portland has ever witnessed. If you like painting, or have ever wondered what it would have been like to walk into an art gallery in Paris in 1896, then I encourage you to spend an hour at the “salon”.
It is really an amazing selection of work, from the very traditional to antique/contemporary. And, surprisingly, most of the work is incredibly affordable. So before you decide to drop six figures on that pile of postmodern pulchritude, go by The Cultured Pearl and ask yourself if you really wouldn’t rather live with one of their warm old friends.