My original intention was to post a more thematic look at 2020, i.e. “The Year of Protests” or “The Year of Covid-19,” but it didn’t feel right to try and wrap things up into one or two topics. 2020, more than any other year, has felt like a legitimate journey, so it seemed more appropriate to go about it month-by-month (using my awful editing skills) to show a little of what I saw.
JANUARY
Tahni Holt imagines her troupe, the FLOCK dance group, in its new home, Building 5 in NW Portland. The idea, from sculptor Dana Lynn Louis and building owner Ken Unkeles, is to turn the empty warehouse into a dedicated movement arts-friendly space.
FEBRUARY
Westview High School cheerleader Samantha Kadera hugs a teammate while celebrating a first place victory in the COED Small division of the OSAA 2020 Cheerleading State Championships on February 15th. The event proved to be one of the last indoor mass gatherings in Oregon before the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
MARCH
Staring intently at his progress on a computer screen, Ironman Bob Jordan trains hours everyday on a bike in his small garage. After his daughter Emily passed away from leukemia in 1997, he along his wife Terry have intertwined Bob’s races with fundraising, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for the Leukemia Society and other charities.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown sighs after giving an update on the COVID-19 outbreak during a Mar. 12th press conference.
A family enjoys a rare March snow day at Council Crest Park.
From left, Adelynn Williams, Abigail Plopper, and Stephen Plopper of the Portland Metro Youth Bagpipe Band perform outside of Maryville Memory Care in Beaverton. Due to the Covid pandemic, residents of Maryville can’t have in-person visitation, so the young bagpipers played outside.
APRIL
Seen through their dining room window, the Williams family celebrates Passover with a Seder dinner amongst their virtual congregation from Temple Beit Haverim in Lake Oswego, via a live feed on a laptop computer. Families were forced to change the way they celebrated their faith in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard answers reporters’ questions during a press conference held over Zoom, as many previously in-person media events were moved online due to the pandemic.
As mask usage starts to increase, “The Face” at Providence Park is adorned with its own covering.
Normally a congested mess during rush hour, I-5 on the Terwilliger Curves shows little traffic at 5pm.
MAY
Portlanders flocked to photograph a rare flowering Agave Montana in SE Portland. The bloom can take at least a decade to occur, and only happens once in the succulent’s life.
Hundreds honked and yelled from their cars on the streets around the Justice Center and City Hall during a socially-distant protest demanding the State of Oregon release prisoners, due to the expanding coronavirus outbreak within the prison system.
Rosarian Doug Zimmerman waves to First Squire Stephen Bown during the pandemic-affected 2020 Rose Festival Porch Parade.
Black Lives Matter protesters kneel as smoke and tear gas fill SW 3rd Avenue in front of the Justice Center.
A cyclist watches as Portland Police deploy tear gas downtown during the second day of protests in response to the murder of George Floyd.
Black Lives Matters activists square off with Portland Police on the third night of protests at the Justice Center.
JUNE
It was a rough year for students whose school year was abruptly cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic. High school graduations, if they happened, were performed as outdoor “drive-through” processions.
Thousands march across the Morrison Bridge during an early June Black Lives Matter protest.
A streamer with a gas mask stands in front of deployed tear gas as Portland Police push protesters towards Pioneer Courthouse Square.
Thousands fill SW Naito Parkway as Black Lives Matter protesters cross the Morrison Bridge.
Children and young adults march down NE Sandy Blvd. during an afternoon BLM protest.
JULY
A protester waves an American flag as a large bonfire burns on the former spot of The Elk statue during a July protest.
A Black Lives Matter flees through a haze of tear gas in Lownsdale Square as federal law enforcement agents shoot less-lethal munitions into the crowd.
An independent journalist watches as a deployed flash bang explodes through a cloud of tear gas in front of the Mark O. Hatfield U.S. Courthouse, as protesters attempt to block the visibility of federal law enforcement by covering the fence and aiming handheld lasers.
The protest drums corp performs a hypnotic rhythm during one of the nightly protests in front of the federal courthouse and Justice Center.
Black Lives Matter activists form a shield line on SW Salmon St. as federal law enforcement deploy tear gas and less-lethal munitions near the Justice Center.
A journalist checks his phone in front another bonfire that broke out during protests at the federal courthouse.
A protester throws back a tear gas canister deployed by federal law enforcement in front of the federal courthouse.
AUGUST
Trump supporters and Black Lives Matter activists yell at each other during an August 29th right-wing rally that resulted in that evening’s shooting death of Aaron Danielson.
Proud Boys throw smoke canisters as right-wing protesters clash Black Lives Matter activists in front of the Justice Center in downtown Portland.
Right-wing protesters charge Black Lives Matter activists during a September face-off in front of the Justice Center.
A man meditates as federal law enforcement agents surround and push protesters out of Terry Schrunk Plaza in downtown Portland.
A mother raises her fist to a passing BLM rally while trying to corral her two children.
SEPTEMBER
Firefighting crews in Clackamas County worked to put out one of many local wildfires that began on Sept. 8th.
A boater slowly makes his way up the Willamette River near downtown Portland as wildfire smoke once again clogged the skies above the city.
Linda Rardin and James Wood take shelter on cots in the gymnasium of Clackamas Community College. The two were forced out of their Clackamas County home after wildfire evacuations were declared for multiple communities in the metro area.
Mitch Patterson, left, and David Waddell chat in the parking lot of Oregon City High School after a mandatory wildfire evacuation.
Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter protestors took to an intersection in Lake Oswego during a September demonstration.
OCTOBER
Warm October conditions brought outdoorsy types to late-season, high-elevation trails on Mount Baker.
Frustrated parents and their children rallied along 82nd Ave. at Clackamas Town Center for a “Clack to School” protest, asking the State of Oregon to reopen public schools.
A curious pooch perks up at the sight of wrapped candy as it’s handed out during Lake Oswego’s annual Monster Mash. Like most other celebrations, the Halloween event was turned into a drive-through because of the pandemic.
NOVEMBER
Media record a protestor as he burns an American Flag in downtown Portland the day after U.S. Elections.
A protester stares down a line of law enforcement from the Unified Command, a temporary unit comprised of Portland Police, Oregon State Police, and Multnomah County Sheriff officers during the elections.
A man in the Sunnyside neighborhood flashes a peace sign after getting in a verbal confrontation with Black Lives Matter protesters on Election Night.
Portlanders celebrate in downtown Portland on Nov. 7th after Joe Biden was declared the next President of the United States by all major news outlets.
Portland Timbers captain Diego Valeri celebrates a goal during the playoffs of a pandemic-disrupted MLS season. While the Timbers saw a first round playoff exit, they did take home the MLS is Back Trophy from the summer’s “Bubble Tournament.”
DECEMBER
A hint of sun provides an opening for two hikers to watch a passing storm as it moves through the Columbia River Gorge.