Portland is an introspective city, no question about it. The people who come here come here for the space and time this city and landscape and region allows. It doesn't mean the city doesn't care about community. It does. Cities like New York and Los Angeles, people go there with the express intent to place their work in the public realm. "I want my work to be seen," they would say.

I know architects there spent their energy going to events, fundraisers, openings -- time spent just getting things out into the public realm.

In Oregon, you have the opportunity but you can take things in and sit with them. That act of introspection, then, allows you to reflect the world back in a different way. It's a different process.