The City Seal of Portland, Oregon

Part of Assembly 2018 organised by the Portland State University art and social practice graduate program
City Hall, Portland OR, USA

"In 1878, a committee picked a Mr. C. A. Bjourkman’s design to be that of the Portland city seal. In today’s City Hall atrium lies a podium emblazoned with our seal. In this session we will each design a new city seal based on what we think represents Portland today. From all the designs, including those by incarcerated individuals at the Columbia River Correctional Institution and kids at Martin Luther King, Jr. School, a vote and ceremony (featuring the figure of Portlandia performed by Emma Colburn) will take place to pick today’s updated Portland City Seal, and the result will be officially proposed to City Hall."

The winning design by Daniel Bluestein referenced an 1879 late submission design with the words HIYU CHUCK, HIYU SALMON. According to my research, that means PLENTY WATER, PLENTY SALMON in Chinook language. The winning design was later presented to Mary Hull, City Auditor and Keeper of the City Seal.

Research

1863: Resolution to create a City Seal

1878: Seal design ordinated

1879: design submitted a year after seal design had been decided. The 2018 winning design was inspired by this.

Various city departments made their own versions

Current City Seal, standardised and digitised

1964 letter requesting transfer of $125 to buy new engraved die and cast for the City Seal, declaring a state of emergency and the need for the immediate preservation of peace, health and safety

Internet

Event at City Hall

Images by Anke Schüttler, Tia Kramer, Salty

Portlandia performance by Emma Colburn and acceptance speech by winning designer Daniel Bluestein