Tiny spirit houses

Note: Timm freelanced the following article for Mount Angel Publishing sometime in early 2007, taking the accompanying photos as well. Nothing personally revealing about Timm here except to show that Timm was figuring out a way to pay his way with his love of the word and the image.

I look at these photos and see tiny spirit houses, the big life in macro focus, close-ups of human creation in equal vigor and vibrancy as Timm's flower photographs. Timm would have eventually become a successful photographer because he was learning to translate his own love and need of beauty into salable images.

In our last conversations via email on the phone, Timm spoke of his latest job search - the gig in Rep. Hooley's office would come to end with the end of her term later this year - he spoke of a photographer gig with an advertising agency he had heard of and I thought it was perfect for him. Beauty heals, and it can pay for one's meals as well: the craft lies in bringing the art to the market in a way that preserves the integrity of the heart, and these pictures I think show that Timm was clearly headed that way.

Home renovation goes to the birds
By Timm O'Cobhthaigh

Just down the hill from the Oregon's Governor's mansion a village emerges amidst the cluster of early twentieth century homes. While not grand in scale, the new residences of the Fairmont neighborhood are hard to miss.

"We just refer to it as the Birdhouse Village," explains Beverly McKeel whose unique collection of structures now fills the side yard of her corner home.

True to their moniker, each brightly painted and intricately decorated structure is fashioned not only as businesses common to a smaller town, but also reflective of something else.

"It is relative to our interests, neighborhoods and friends," said McKeel.

There's a multicolor Aurora Antique Store named after her favorite antiquing town, the purple and orange Joni's Gems And Jewelry that is based on Beverly's roommate's love of fine jewelry. There's a Commercial Travel, complete with a list of the places she has visited and capped off with a toy plane from the same airline she spent so many years working for. Saginaw Shoes, sports a pair of plastic red pumps affixed to the peak, Bogart's Bar And Grill named after her Shih Tzu, Fir Street Flowers and the copper topped Wilson Wines that comes complete with a collection of their favorite varieties painted on the side.

"We like getting together with friends and sharing a bottle of wine," explains McKeel as she wanders between the houses pointing out the finer details that she included in each birdhouse.

There are pieces of stained glass used as windows, corks from various wine bottles, and a collection of screws, nails and saw blades for the Mission Hardware.

While the building of the tiny village began last fall as a way to give new life to a collection of decrepit birdhouses, many have become mementos to the significant events and people in McKeel's life.

Bush Park Books, not only reflects her love of reading but also their connection to the literary world.

"A friend of mine's mother was stuck in the Middle East for nine months and wrote the book 'Everyday Life In The Harem'," said McKeel as she stood next to Bush Park Books, pointing to the book title on the side.

The genesis of Beverly's vision began shortly after she moved into the house two years ago.

"When we first moved to this location the previous owner had several birdhouses screwed to the rail of the deck. We initially removed them and stored them in the garage, but we couldn't seem to get rid of them," said McKeel.

Then last autumn she began considering if there was anything she could with them. With many of the homes in her neighborhood having undergone major renovations themselves, she decided to do the same for the birdhouses. She re-glued roofs, repainted, and began decorating, at first without the clear vision that eventually emerged.

Only one of the original ten couldn't be saved. Since then, she's bought a couple more generic offerings from a local crafts store and the twelfth edition was a gift from a neighbor, suggesting that it find a new life in her village.

The overall cost of the project remains minimal; with many of the items used for decorating coming from objects she had lying around the house.

"The only thing that I've ever had to buy besides the two generic houses was paint and caulking," said McKeel.

Nearly every day people wander by and take a few minutes and admire her work.
Often lingering at the kitchen window that overlooks the village, she catches herself eavesdropping on the conversations as she sips her coffee.

"The children ooh and ah, as adults state 'look that one's a book store and there are planes on that one,'" relates McKeel.

For those how ask her advice on how they could do something similar, she recommends it reflect something about themselves.

"That's what so fun. It's about who I am, our friends and the neighborhood. It's not just birdhouses."