Bus 75: Hidden Portland

The return of our photo/essay blog about Bus 75 and the many unsung places, people, and heroes along the line. Catch it sometime.

The bus is back! BUS 75: HIDDEN PORTLAND (www.bus75.org), the photo/essay blog by photojournalist Geoffrey Hiller and myself, has resurfaced. A selection of the blog photos and text are on exhibit now through July 19 at PLACE Landscape Architecture + Art + Urban Design (735 NW 18th Avenue, Portland). 

The Bus 75 project, funded by a grant from the Regional Arts and Culture Council, was launched in 2016 when Geoffrey called and said, “Vandel, you have to ride the 75 bus.” I said, “Who is this, and why?” He said, “I’m serious. The 75 is fascinating and worthy of writing about.” He was right. 

We spent the year riding the long, winding, endlessly interesting #75 line — uncovering a plethora of curious places, spaces, and people hidden along the route — flea markets, oddball specialty stores, sausage emporiums, old-school barbers, amateur wrestlers, typewriter repairmen, Vietnamese fashionistas, subterranean music outlets, and more. 

We got off the bus and ended the blog in December, 2016. But five months later, the blog was resurrected for one more post, which seemed called for. It was for a memorial service honoring two young men (along with a third man severely injured) who heroically stood up for two young black women being harassed by a rabid racist on the MAX at Hollywood Station (Bus 75 stop). In twelve seconds, two throats were slashed and two lives cut short.

Geoffrey captured the memorial service perfectly in his photos, one showing the father of a victim hugging a woman who held his son’s head in her lap as he died on the floor of the train. His last words, “Tell everyone on this train I love them.” 

Photos and text are at www.bus75.org.

EXHIBIT
Bus 75: Hidden Portland
PLACE Landscape Architecture + Art + Urban Design
June 20 - July 19, 2024 
10:00am - 6:00pm (ring the bell)
735 NW 18th Ave, Portland 
Reception July 8 5:30pm - 8:30pm