Robot Alley is an art installation by Robert B. Fortney, located in an alley off Skidmore Street in Portland, Oregon.
| Robot Alley | |
|---|---|
 Part of the alley, and its creator Plastorm | |
 | |
| Artist | Robert B. Fortney |
| Year | 2010[citation needed] |
| Medium | Mixed media |
| Movement | |
| Location | Portland, Oregon |
| 45°33′15″N 122°40′22″W / 45.55418°N 122.67282°W | |
Description
editThe interactive installation depicts Stormtroopers, droids, and other Star Wars characters. It was created as a DIY security system and has become an attraction.[1][2][3] The installation has cameras, facial recognition technology, a fog machine, LED lights, microphones, and motion sensors. It also has a plywood AT-ST Walker by local artist Mike Bennett. The project's artist Robert Fortney sometimes appears as "alter ego" character Plastorm, wearing armor and a helmet inspired by The Mandalorian.[4]
Reception
editRobot Alley was included in the Los Angeles Times's 2023 list of twelve family-friendly activities in the Portland metropolitan area.[1] Neighbors to the alley have reacted positively, stating that it has cut-down on crime (as originally intended), and increased the sense of community.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "12 kid-friendly things to do around Portland, like meet robots and zip-line from trees". Los Angeles Times. 2023-08-16. Archived from the original on 2024-10-09. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ Kryza, AP (2017-07-11). "There's An Alley in North Portland Where Robots Will Call Out To You". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
- ^ "Portland man fights neighborhood crime with art, droids and stormtroopers". king5.com. 2024-08-23. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
- ^ a b Swindler, Samantha (2023-02-18). "At Portland's Robot Alley, droids and Stormtroopers speak to passersby". The Oregonian. Advance Local. Archived from the original on 2023-05-13. Retrieved 2024-10-13.
