Bits 'n' Pieces: Vancouver artist leaves colorful, jazzy legacy

Philemon Reid

“Bass Solo,” oil on canvas, by Philemon Reid

Philemon Reid

Rob Cowles

Local Realtor Rob Cowles has a Camas listing featured on The New York Times' Web site.

Vancouver's Philemon Reid mixed cubism with street art, Picasso with jazz.

When contemplating a new composition, the local painter often would just open up one of his many art books — Georges Braque was another favorite — turn on a Miles Davis or John Coltrane album and let the music guide his vibrant colors and distinct imagery.

Reid, who died of pancreatic cancer last week, recently had garnered a Lifetime Achievement Award from Portland's Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, where his work is prominently displayed.

The center's dance studio features Reid's art exclusively, and the organization's creative director, Adrienne Flagg, said Reid was part of an artistic movement in the 1970s "that laid the foundation for Portland's creative identity today."

His most recent exhibition was in downtown Vancouver's Aurora Gallery, in October, just before the 63-year-old's battle with cancer began.

Owner Elizabeth Steinbaugh said, "There's nobody in this area that paints quite like Phil. He has a very casual style, very down-to-earth. It looks self taught, but it has that Picasso influence. And he's certainly not afraid to use color, which made him a very desirable artist, who is well collected."

Camas home for sale lands on New York Times' Web site

When east Vancouver Realtor Rob Cowles got a call from someone claiming to be a reporter from The New York Times, he thought it had to be a hoax. Turns out, it wasn't.

The reporter wanted to feature one of Cowles' listings in a story about how much house you can get for $190,000 in various cities across the country. The story was published on the Times' Web site last week.

"I thought it was kind of funny. What are the chances?" said Cowles, 40, leader of the Cowles & Company Real Estate Team, which works for Keller Williams Realty.

The listing is a 1925 craftsman bungalow in Camas owned by Heidi Maxwell. Maxwell, 47, thinks its curb appeal likely caught the reporter's eye when he was combing online listings.

"It sure is a cute house," Cowles agreed. "It has a lot of character."

There was already an offer in on the house before the Times article appeared online, and the house is now listed as sale pending. Though the extra publicity didn't make a difference for this particular listing, it has brought more traffic to Cowles' Web site.

Within 24 hours of the Times article appearing, Cowles' site received nearly 900 hits.

"That's what we get in six months," he said. "It was a huge spike."

It's a welcome boom, considering real estate sales lagged in the fall and winter with the economy.

"It was a blessing," Cowles said. "Very exciting."

Bits 'n' Pieces appears Mondays and Fridays. If you have a story you'd like to share, call Features Editor Elisa Williams, 360-735-4561, or e-mail elisa.williams@columbian.com.