Heaven Under Feet

By BeautifulLife

Funky Portland

"The 24 Hour Church of Elvis is an exhibit at a museum and gallery called "Where's The Art?" in Portland run by artist Stephanie "Stevie" G. Pierce.
The original location had a single coin-operated fortune-telling machine accessible from the street, with elaborate window displays, and art available for purchase inside.
At the second location the entire store front was itself a work of art, and included several custom-built coin-operated automated art exhibits that moved and made sounds in response to pressing buttons, and would dispense (or not) various trinkets, pamphlets, fortunes, etc. for prices ranging from 25 cents to a dollar. Every prize was accompanied by a one-inch "original work of art" by Ms. Pierce. Some machines were run by Commodore 64 computers, and included crude graphics and speech synthesis. These machines were always accessible, hence the first part of the name. Other items by the artist were available inside the store when it was open. Also inside, one would often find the street performer called "Elvis" who would play a few songs on a cardboard guitar, in his sequined jumpsuit and thick, dark-rimmed glasses. This performer is still a regular fixture at Portland Saturday Market.
The third location was devoted primarily towards 1970s popular culture memorabilia. It was on the second floor and lacked any of the coin-operated machines of the older locations, although several cut-out holes in the first floor of the building hinted that they were intended to be installed at this location, but never were. The museum offered legal weddings for $25 and "cheap, not legal" weddings for $5. The fake weddings could be same sex. Despite the name, The third incarnation of the 24 Hour Church was not open 24 hours, as indicated by a sign on the door which read "24 Hour Church of Elvis: Usually open Noon to 5, 8 - 11 a lot. Call (503) 226-3671 for reassurance". Although this location is now occupied by an architecture firm, the last remnant of the 24 Hour Church of Elvis is still visible in their entrance.
In 2008, the 24 Hour Church of Elvis reopened at a new location. As of mid-September 2009, there are coin-operated displays functioning at this location, including offering temporary marriage as an option."

Comments
Sign in or get an account to comment.