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Visual Arts

First Thursday Street Fair Canceled Due to Poor Air Quality

The indoor gallery portion will continue as planned.

By Rachel Saslow
First Thursday (Edward Nunez)

The outdoor street fair portion of First Thursday has been canceled Aug. 6 due to poor air quality, according to Urban Art Network.

Many Pearl District galleries will still open their doors for their usual monthly art walk event, a hallmark of Portland’s art community since 1986.

Urban Art Network made the announcement on social media.

“This wasn’t a decision we made lightly,” the group wrote Aug. 5. “Our mission has always been to create opportunities for artists and show up for our community in all kinds of weather whenever it is safe to do so. However, with the current air quality forecast and the health concerns surrounding prolonged outdoor exposure, we believe canceling is the most responsible choice for our artists, volunteers, patrons, neighborhood businesses, and partners.”

The group hopes to add a makeup date later this season for My People’s Market, the big art fair along Northwest 13th Avenue.

Portland had the worst air quality in the world at one point on the morning of Aug. 5 out of the 125 global cities listed on international air quality ranking site IQAir. As of publication, Portland had dropped to No. 22. The National Weather Service forecasts that winds will start clearing the smoke from Portland on Thursday evening, Aug. 6.

Rachel Saslow

Rachel Saslow

Rachel Saslow is an arts and culture reporter. Before joining WW, she wrote the Arts Beat column for The Washington Post. She is always down for karaoke night.