Robot Alley
| Robot Alley | |
|---|---|
 Part of the alley, and its creator Plastorm | |
 | |
| Artist | Robert B. Fortney |
| Completion date | Ongoing |
| Medium | Mixed media |
| Movement | |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| 45°33′15″N 122°40′22″W / 45.55418°N 122.67282°W | |
Robot Alley is an art installation by Robert B. Fortney, located in an alley off Skidmore Street in Portland, Oregon, United States. The installation started as a security system and has become an attraction. It depicts Star Wars characters including Stormtroopers, droids, and Sith lords.
Description
The interactive installation Robot Alley is located in an alley off Skidmore Street, between Borthwick and Kerby Avenues,[1] in the north Portland part of the Boise neighborhood. It depicts Stormtroopers, droids, Sith lords,[2] and other Star Wars characters. The project started as a DIY security system and has become an attraction.[3][4][5] The installation has cameras, facial recognition technology, a fog machine, LED lights, microphones, motion sensors, and a plywood AT-ST Walker by local artist Mike Bennett. Robot Alley's creator Robert Fortney, who is also a film editor,[6] sometimes appears as "alter ego" character Plastorm, wearing armor and a helmet inspired by The Mandalorian.[7]
Reception
Robot Alley was included in the Los Angeles Times's 2023 list of twelve family-friendly activities in the Portland metropolitan area.[3] Neighbors to the alley have reacted positively, stating that it has cut-down on crime (as originally intended), and increased the sense of community.[7]
See also
- Cultural impact of Star Wars
- Keep Portland Weird
- List of artists and art institutions in Portland, Oregon
- PDX Sidewalk Joy
References
- ^ "Walk This Way toward Your Own Personal Portland Scavenger Hunt". Portland Monthly. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ Eastman, Janet (September 3, 2020). "Portland Weird Homes Tour to take place live over Zoom". The Bulletin. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "12 kid-friendly things to do around Portland, like meet robots and zip-line from trees". Los Angeles Times. August 16, 2023. Archived from the original on October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ Kryza, AP (July 11, 2017). "There's An Alley in North Portland Where Robots Will Call Out To You". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
- ^ "Portland man fights neighborhood crime with art, droids and stormtroopers". king5.com. August 23, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
- ^ "Top 5 Unexpected Places to Find Art". PDX Parent. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Swindler, Samantha (February 18, 2023). "At Portland's Robot Alley, droids and Stormtroopers speak to passersby". The Oregonian. Advance Local. Archived from the original on May 13, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
