Name: Return of the Thompson Elk Fountain: the Restoration, the Film, the Comic
Start: 2026-04-08T17:30:00-07:00
End: 2026-05-26T20:00:00-07:00
Location: Jk Gill Building, 408 SW Fifth Ave

Return of the Thompson Elk Fountain: the Restoration, the Film, the Comic

In anticipation of its mid-April reinstallation, City of Possibility and the Portland Parks Foundation offer an evening of all things elk!
About this Event

Design Portland, JK Gill Building, 408 SW Fifth Ave

5:30 doors open with Elk Cove Vineyards (of course!)
6:00 Program
7:30 Reception
Admission $25 (students, free)

With the city’s beloved and restored David P. Thompson Elk Fountain set to be reinstalled mid-April, City of Possibility and the Portland Parks Foundation invite you to an evening of all things Elk!

The Restoration: Maya Foty, Principle with Architectural Resource Group, offers an inside look at the masterful restoration and renewal – and the complications, time, and expense -- of bringing back a 125-year-old work of art and infrastructure.

The Film: Erika Bolstad’s “The Elk” documents the fall and the rise of the first of the city’s damaged monuments to return, and the only sculpture without controversy. She will share clips and background on her 29-minute film exploring the divided perceptions over why the elk went away and what it means for the dinged but refurbished symbol to finally return.

The Comic: T Edward Bak, cartoonist, and Shawna Gore, editor, will talk about the creation of “The People’s Elk,” a 24-page comic on the history of David P. Thompson and many rich expressions of free speech and changing culture that unfolded around the Elk over its century-plus time at the city’s center. The first copies of the comic will be available.

PLEASE NOTE: No tickets available? Add your name to the waitlist. If we exceed capacity, we may move to a larger venue. Please only check "student" or "sponsor" if you are one.

City of Possibility is an ongoing series of talks and workshops offered by Design Portland focused on downtown Portland regeneration.

Portland Parks Foundation (PPF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, helps people help parks. PPF is dedicated to connecting Portlanders to nature and to each other through the city’s parks, public spaces, and natural areas. PPF leads, develops partnerships, and raises money to fund new facilities, enhance existing ones, and support programs to put our parks system within reach of all. To learn more about our mission and programs, visit www.portlandpf.org.

Elk Cove Vineyards is one of Oregon's pioneering wineries. Founded in 1974, it remains family-owned and has operated for over 50 years. Located in the foothills of the Coast Range within the Yamhill-Carlton American Viticultural Area, it was the first vineyard and winery established in that specific sub-region. The estate is currently led by second-generation winemaker Adam Campbell, who focuses on high-quality, estate-grown fruit across nearly 400 acres of vines.