The Loaded Trunk - Spring 2020 - Portland

THE

LOADED TRUNK A collection of inspiration for a life well lived.

PORTLAND

W H ATI N’ SS I D E ?

Mood Board In

BlooM thIs

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sprIng...

FlIght plan

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InspIred By nature

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I

take you to portland where I share soMe oF My FavorIte places to eat and shop

a

FavorIte hIke

playlIst songs

that InspIre wanderlust

the loaded trunk treasures I’M

currently sourcIng

what’s BrewIng In

My teacup thIs

15 16

sprIng

In the workshop wIth... nash MartInez

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oF

current collectIon

taste thIs

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dandelIon cake

Copyright © 2020 Jonna Robison LLC All rights reserved

I N B L O O M

POR TL AND flight

plan

M

y hometown where I was born and raised runs deep in my blood, as my ancestors traveled to its dense forests in the very early days via the Oregon trail.

I

love returning to visit and always go with an appetite so I can enjoy eating my way through the city, known for its fantastic food culture, abundance of locally grown and foraged delights and innovative chefs. Spring is a great time to visit Portland, as the entire city is IN BLOOM. Everywhere you look is a visual feast of lush green with a riot of flowers.

Bollyw"d Theatre 2039 NE Alberta St & 3010 SE Division St

Fresh & fabulous Indian fusion. The beet salad is divine. I like the Alberta St location, a thriving artsy community with a host of interesting shops and restaurants.

Andina Shalom Y’all

1314 NW Glisan St

A fixture on PDX’s favorite restaurant scene for years, and for good reason!

Fine Peruvian cuisine in a warm, sophisticated setting. So delicious!

1128 SW Alder & 117 SE Taylor #101

We packed into this hidden gem on a rainy morning to find a family style Israeli street food tastebud heaven.

Besaw’s

1545 NW 21 st Ave

Since 1903! One of my fave breakfast spots. I love the cozy, artsy décor, including wallpaper created by local artist Kate Blair Stone.

BEST BITES

photo credit: https://www.kateblairstone.com/besaws

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am a self-confessed ice cream addict. I can’t live without it. Salt & Straw is hands-down the best ice cream on the planet. Founded in Portland, now with locations up and down the west coast, shops in each city are inspired by chefs and ingredients sourced locally. Each city has their main flavors as well as seasonal flavors that change monthly.

I love the 838 NW 23rd Ave location It’s one of my favorite streets, lined with loads of great shops and restaurants.

Some of my all-time favorite flavors: Thanksgiving Turkey (yes! You read that correctly! Turkey skin fried, then made into a brittle and swirled into salted caramel ice cream…amazing!!), Wild Berry Foraged Pie, Strawberry Honey Balsamic Black Pepper, Pear & Blue Cheese and Cinnamon Snickerdoodle.

T

he art scene in Portland is vast & thriving and there are so many truly wonderful artisans and hidden gems.

I do much of my design sourcing in this city and often travel home with handmade pottery, antiques, unique lighting, jewelry, textiles and more.

Betsy & Iya

1777 NW 24 th Ave

Locally designed and handcrafted jewelry.

I love to visit this lively shop, where you can hear artisans hammering away at brass in the attached workshop. Last time I was there I found some earrings I admired, and when I went back to purchase them, I was told they were sold out, but crafting new ones in the workshop at that very moment. Their designs are very unique and interesting, and they also showcase other local jewelry designers.

Sch"lhouse Electric

2181 NW Nicolai St, Portland

This cozy flagship store, lamp factory and coffee shop are housed in a fabulous century-old brick building. I love perusing their charming collection of lighting fixtures, bedding & housewares and find myself consistently using their products in my design projects.

Notary Ceramics

8035 SE 13th Ave

Sarah VanRaden, owner of Notary Ceramics, creates the most lovely pieces with locally sourced clay. Her aesthetic is the perfect mix of organic and minimalist. A visit to her small and beautiful shop is visually soothing.

Photo credit: www.finexusa.com

Finex 2236 NW 21 st Ave, Portland

Finex crafts gorgeous cast iron cookware in their signature octagonal shape. The kind of items that you’ll pass down to your kids. Factory & small shop.

Photos of Notary Ceramics by: Kris LeBoeuf

Beam & Anchor 2710 N Interstate Ave

This earthy shop is full of curated, locally crafted items including furniture, jewelry, pottery, textiles, body products and so much more. I will forever regret not purchasing a pair of vintage leather Parisian club chairs from here. Dang!

INSPIRED B Y NAT U R E Fore# Park

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https://forestparkconservancy.org/

he city of Portland is blessed with an abundance of natural spaces to hike and spend time in nature. Beautiful Forest Park, with more than 80 miles of trails and 5,200 acres, is one of the country’s largest urban forests and truly a treasure. I hike there as often as possible.

I particularly enjoy the trails at the Hoyt Arboretum, including the Magnolia trail in spring and the Redwood Trail & Wildwood Trail all year round.

Trail of Ten Falls

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Silverton, Oregon

hen I have more time I head an hour south of the city to Silver Falls State Park to one of my favorite hikes: The Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.2 mile loop through dense, lush and mossy forest that passes ten waterfalls. Pure dreaminess.

japanese gardens

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h t t p s : // j a p a n e s e g a r d e n . o r g /

f you’re not up for a hike but want to enjoy a meander through lovely gardens, visit the Japanese Gardens in Washington Park, a visual delight in every season.

With magnificent views over the city to Mt Hood, several gardens and a tea house, it’s a wonderful place to spend a couple hours.

Just across the street are the International Rose Test Gardens, which is a must-see when the 550 varieties of roses are in bloom.

Playli# “Little French Song” Carla Bruni

“L’abitudine”

Andrea Bocelli (feat. Helèna Hellwig)

“J’ai Deux Amours” Madeleine Peyroux

“Nell’Azzurrita”

“La Vie Un Rose”

Cyrille Aimée & Diego Figueiredo

“Ghir Enta” Squad Maddi

“Tamally Maak” Amr Diab

“Ka Moun Kè”

Eros Ramazzotti

Rokia Traoré

“Moi et Toi”

“Meu Amor E Marinheiro”

Abdel Ali Slimani

“Luna de Fiesta”

Cristina Branco

“Mountain Sound”

.........

Jose Luis Encinas

Of Monsters and Men

I have always appreciated world music and enjoy hearing the distinct rhythms and voices from artists all over the globe. While planted in my home during COVID-1 quarantine, unable to travel, I have been listening to these songs on repeat, which transport me to various places around the world. Armchair traveling is about as good as it gets right now!

Listen on spotify!

The Loaded Trunk

A

s an avid collector, handmade pottery is what’s making its way into my trunk at the moment. I love the organic quality and imperfections in hand thrown clay, and how each piece is unique and unlike any other. I am always on the lookout for handmade pottery, whether road tripping through Scotland, Sweden, USA or Australia or visiting markets in Morocco, Thailand or Canada. Currently, I’ve been collecting pieces for clients from the above-mentioned Notary Ceramics in Portland, local Utah potter, Joshua Flicker. I’ve also been scouring the internet for vintage Robert Maxwell, a potter based in Venice, CA in the 1960’s whose mid-century modern vases looks fantastic in the mountain homes I’m designing in Utah.

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What’s Brewing

have always been an avid tea-drinker, almost never found without a warm cup resting in my hands or sitting next to my laptop as I spend the day working. Its a comfort and escape to me- almost like a ritual that has become so much more of who I am. Harney & Sons’ Thai Rooibos is most recently the tea of choice in my cup over the past few months. This earthy blend with notes of exotic coconut and cinnamon are grounding and delicious. https://www.harney.com

IN THE WORKSHOP WITH . . .

Photo credit: Dylan Harkavy

Nash Nash Martinez Martinez Nash Martinez is the founder and

owner of Current Collection, a contemporary lighting studio located in Portland, Oregon. I love his fresh, original work and recently incorporated some of his gorgeous pieces in a project in Park City, UT. Photo credit: Dylan Harkavy

Nash is a genuinely nice person and a gifted artist.

I’m so glad he agreed to be interviewed and share his insights and inspiration with me…

C O N TA C T I N F O R M AT I O N Instagram: @currentcollection Website: www.currentcollection.com

W h a t i n s p i r e d yo u t o p u r s u e lighting design?

Gr e at q u e s tio n... In 1998 I began to buy and sell vintage f u r n is h in gs , q u ickly learning how to restore the f u r n itu r e , o b je cts and lighting I discovered. Over time I b e gan exp er imen tin g w ith th e an tiq ue lamp parts I f ound, s o o n af te r I s tarted making custom pieces for homes and r e s tau ran ts . As the opportunities grew, so did my desire to p u r s u e ligh tin g. In 2016 I refined a few of my favorite c u sto m p iec es an d lau n ch ed my made to order brand, Curr e n t Co lle c tio n .

W h e r e d i d yo u g e t yo u r t ra i n i n g ?

D o yo u h ave a l i g h t i n g m e n t o r ?

I ’m n ot fo r mally train ed , b u t to s ay I’m self -taught isn’t c o mp le te ly ac c urate either. While I’ve learned good bit on my o w n , I ’ve le arned and grown the most through re latio n s hip s . Es p ecially w ith my first lighting mentor, Tom M in if ie . To m w as a retired minister turned light maker. We me t at h is an tiqu e s to re o n e d ay w h en I was out junkin’, an d af te r b u y ing a few parts from him I put together my f irs t light. Soo n after, I as ked To m to help me reproduc e a d o z e n o r s o lights for Will Wick Design. It was during this time To m tau ght me th e b as ics ab o ut lighting, emphasiz ing th e n e e d f o r p arts to transition gracefully. Tom believed th is tran s itio n was key to a successful design. To this day I spen d c o p iou s h o u rs th in k in g th rough how parts might grac e f u lly c o mmunicate with each other to bring unity w ith in th e des ign .

Photo credit: Ryan Garber

H o w a r e yo u i n s p i r e d by o t h e r a r t i sans?

I’m especially in s p ir e d by th e ir p e r s eve ran c e . Th e r e’s n o easy step in th e p r o ce s s o f de s ign in g, mak in g, marketing, s h ip p in g an d s tan d in g by yo u r w o r k . M ak in g is a long obedie n c e in th e s ame d ir e c tio n , an d I f in d th o s e who stay the co u r s e ve r y in s p ir in g

D o yo u h ave a s i g n a t u r e o r h a l l m a r k s t h a t yo u l i ke t o i n c l u d e i n yo u r d e s i g n ?

How would you describe your style?

I’m not sure it’s a h allmar k , b u t I tr y to make s u r e e ac h design employ s o n ly th e e s s e n tial e le me n ts to make th e design succe s s f u l, n o th in g mo r e . As f o r my s ty le , it’s inf ormed by my past expe rie nce s with vintage goods but with a c onte mp o rar y dir e ctio n . I t’s de fin ite ly mo de r n , bu t I hope there’s a h is to r ical n ar rative p e o p le s e e to o .

Photo credit: Nash Martinez

H o w h a s yo u r l i g h t i n g evo l ve d ove r t h e ye a r s a n d w hy ?

I f o u n d s e llin g vintage and custom lighting to have similar limitatio n s . After s ellin g o r making a piec e, I ’d move o n to the next piece or pro ject. The creative p r o ce s s w as extremely satisfying. However, while I was b u ild in g k no w led ge an d s kill I w as n’t building a c atalog o f w o r k . Co nversely, building a collection with r e o cc u r r in g s ales has proven to be a more sustainable b u sin es s model an d th e creative an d learning o p p o r tu n itie s associated with building a new business are s atis f y in g to o , ju s t in d ifferen t ways.

W h a t ’ s yo u r d e s i g n p r o c e s s ?

I usually star t w ith a f o u n d o b je c t o r s o me o th e r inspiration an d d o s eve ral n ap k in s ke tc h e s . I f th e id e a’s worth pursu in g I bu ild a qu ick cr u de p r o to typ e to ge t a sense of scale . I f I like th e c o n c e p t, I make a s amp le an d refine the de s ign u n til it’s r e ad y f o r a f in al d raf t an d photograph it fo r th e catalo g.

Te l l u s a b o u t yo u r m o s t r e c e n t f avo r i t e f i n d .

I love vintage ligh tin g an d r e c e n tly b o u gh t a c o lle c tio n o f late 6 0 ’s, early 70’s Italian lighting from a de ale r/colle c tor f riend in Se attle . It was a de parture for me be cause all the piec es we re made of plastic. Some of the most be auti f ul piec es w e r e by fame d I talian Ar ch ite ct Gae Au le n ti.

W h o a r e yo u r t o p 3 i n s t a g ra m m e r s t o f o l l o w f o r l i g h t i n g i n s p i ra t i o n ?

Fo r n e w /min imal v ib e s , @v ib ialigh t... Fo r v in tage @rewirela an d @d r ie s _ v an lan d s c h o o te an d b e c au s e I love neutrals... @ne utralinstinct

Photo credit: Dylan Harkavy

W h a t i s yo u r g r e a t e s t c h a l l e n g e i n d o i n g custom work? with clients?

Clie n ts s o me times want things that won’t work for their s p ac e . Th e c o n cept might be beautiful but not provide the ligh t th ey n e e d. Defining needs/wants and form/function an d th e n r e c o nciling those decision s within budget can be tric k y.

W h a t ’ s o n e t h i n g yo u w i s h yo u r c l i e n t s understood about lighting design?

Sc ale , e s p e c ially when considering what size sphere to o rd er. The dif feren ce b etw een a 6” and 8 ” or 1 0 ” and 1 2 ” s p h e r e is d y n amic. I recommend clients blow up a balloon an d h an g it th e ir s p ace to h elp in fo rm their dec ision.

Photo credit: Aaron Leitz Designed by: JHID

TASTE THIS Dandelion Cake

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y mom recently made this cake and raved about it, so off I went into the forest to forage dandelions to try it myself. I adapted the recipe to include her modifications.

It’s mildly sweet and delicious! The perfect cake with a cup of tea in the afternoon.

Recipe adapted from Mountain Rose Herbs https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/wild-foods-dandelion-tea-and-cake-recipe

Ingredients • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/2 cup pure maple syrup 2 large free-range eggs 1 tsp. organic or vanilla 1/2 cup applesauce 3/4 cup freshly picked dandelion flowers (sepals and bracts removed) 1 cup organic whole wheat pastry flour (or gluten-free all-purpose flour) 1 cup organic rolled oats 1 tsp. organic cinnamon powder 1/2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. sea salt 1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes 1/4 cup organic raisins, chopped 1/4 cup organic walnuts, chopped

Directions • Preheat the oven to 375° F and grease & flour a 9-inch springform pan.

• Combine the butter, maple syrup, eggs, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add the dandelion flowers and mix well.

Set aside • Combine the flour, oats, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.

• Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet mixture while stirring. If using raisins and/or walnuts, add them now.

• Press the batter into the greased pan. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (be careful not to overbake).

• Let cool.

Bu$ercream Fro#ing Ingredients • • • •

8 oz. organic cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened 1/4 cup pure maple syrup 1/4 cup freshly picked dandelion flowers (sepals and bracts removed)

D i r e c t i o n s • In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, and maple syrup.

• Using a hand mixer, blend well. Taste and add more maple syrup if desired.

• When cake is cooled, place onto serving plate. Frost the top and sides. Immediately before serving, sprinkle additional fresh dandelion flowers on top for garnish.

www.jonnarobison.com

Concept by Jonna Robison Produced by Sophie Robison Authored by Jonna Robison All photographs (except where noted)

by Jonna Robison