The Shoe Poles
The signature shoe poles at the Gresham Art Walk are a creative nod at the celebration’s “We’ve Got Sole” theme and a sure sign to shoppers in historic downtown that the annual Art Walk is approaching.
Julz Spackman is the shoe pole designer
The history of the shoe poles dates back to 2002, when Judy Han and Julz Spackman tied shoes to trees, sign posts and hung them over fences throughout historic downtown Gresham.
“Julz would write notes and attach them to the shoes with quirky messages like, ‘If you like me, take me, but come back to the Gresham Art Walk’” Judy says.
It seems the public liked the shoes a lot because they just kept disappearing. Rob Meeker owner of the Central Café, suggested Julz nail them to poles. Julz took that thought and ran with it. She was on a mission!
She asked everyone she saw to bring her shoes. Judy contacted Nike, who donated over 800 sample shoes. I felt a bit like “Lucy” Judy said. “I had shoes fill every nook and cranny of my car.”
Julz’s husband, Jack, has drilled holes in more than 1,000 shoes. The Art Walk Committee has replaced his drill bits more than a few times. They are a real “TEAM,” Jack and Julz.
Julz designs poles in themes. Some are all flip flops, or beauty-shop themed with hair curlers and hot irons and blow dryers, others are covered with pink boas and feathers and some are with children’s shoes and baby bottles and other kid gear. One pole has been designed specifically for Curves with tennis shoes and water bottles. Persimmon Realty’s shoe pole features a golf bag and all the gear and stands in front of the business (look for it starting July 5).
As the Gresham Art Walk has grown so have the shoe poles. Businesses in downtown Gresham adopt a pole and add their own personal touches. Some add jewelry and watch parts, a restaurant may add coffee pots and others add garden gloves and flowers.
According to Julz, the Art Walk has about 50 poles decorating historic downtown Gresham each July.
