See the work of Portland artist Cole Reed in the American Me: The Reclamation of Three Black Artists exhibit in the Antoinette Hatfield Hall rotunda through February 2018.
American Me features the work of three local African American artists: Cole Reed, Brenna King, and Marquis Johnson-Bey. The artwork is as unique, diverse, and powerful as the individuals themselves, including photography, metalwork, wood, paint, and even textural pieces intended for human contact.
Cole Reed is a local artist and owner of greenHAUS gallery + boutique, and along with her wife Dayna, runs the local NXT: The Lab, a co-working space in Southeast Portland dedicated to giving people a community space where they can bring the best out of each other. She is committed to making high-end art that people can afford, enjoy, and to showcasing other artists who do the same.
-from The Hollywood Star:
"This past summer, Dayna and Cole Reed opened greenHAUS Gallery and Boutique at 18 N.E. Killingsworth Street in the Humboldt neighborhood. The space features rotating artists in photography, painting, sculpture, jewelry and furniture design.
“We opened in July with a maker’s market during the day and an artist’s reception and celebration in the evening” said Dayna Reed. “It was a beautiful day with wonderful turnout and support by local businesses and neighbors. Before we moved in, the space had been leased to a BBQ cart and before that it was offices for the Albina Women’s League. We gutted it from the rafters to the floor to make it the perfect vibe for our greenHAUS. We are first and foremost an art gallery. Additionally, we are a boutique with artisan-crafted goods and gifts, alongside industrial salvage and vintage goods. We create a tapestry of ideas and hope to inspire people to find the beauty in every day objects and celebrate the value of artistry in life.”
The couple moved to Portland in February of 2015 from Arizona, where they owned another gallery – also dubbed greenHAUS. They were eight months pregnant at the time and made the decision to leave Arizona for Oregon because they wanted their son Phoenix to be born here, where our adoption process is more inclusive.
“When we left Arizona we issued a press release to encourage people to participate in their community and to vote,” said Dayna Reed. “Arizona was not a place where our family was protected and we wanted to go some place where same-sex parenting rights aren’t questioned. Portland has welcomed us with open arms – but it isn’t perfect. We have an opportunity to fight for the Portland we want. We are a part of the Soul Districtand we couldn’t be more impressed with the work that they do in our community. We have to stand up for each other, participate in our communities, buy local and be the change we want to see. We see ourselves as cheerleaders, advocates and proud members of the breadth and range of life that Portland offers. We can’t ever forget that it’s not the buildings or the businesses or the bridges that make us special. It’s the people.”
An artist, Cole Reed has been involved with galleries and live-work artisan spaces for more than 20 years. The couple owns another business called NXT Industries – which provides co-working and event space for creatives – and they divide their time between the two enterprises.
“Years ago, I was telecommuting and traveled here for work,” said Dayna Reed. “Cole came with me and spent the day wandering around Alberta, Mississippi and Peninsula Park. Those neighborhoods gave Cole an inspired, comfortable, happy experience that she only felt before in Florence, Italy. We found a duplex on Killingsworth and 11th when we moved here and just fell deeper in love with the community, the neighborhoods, the shops, the history, the diversity and the possibility. We knew the gallery would find a home in this area and it was only a matter of time until the space found us.”"
- KBOO