Featuring Special Guest: Dorie Vollum, Trustee at Portland Japanese Garden
Join us for a fireside chat with Steve Bloom for his final public event as CEO, as he reflects on more than 30 years of service to his community.
Fireside chat session information (identical sessions):
- Session 1: 1:00-2:15pm
- Session 2: 3:00-4:15pm
Since his hiring in 2005, Bloom has dramatically transformed the organization from a humble, local garden that hosted infrequent programming into an internationally renowned garden and preeminent cultural institution. His efforts include the Cultural Crossing Expansion Project (which expanded the Garden from 5.5 to 12.5 acres) and the establishment of a curatorial department to improve and strengthen the Garden’s physical landscape as well as host world-class programming and events. In 2022, he led the creation of Japan Institute, a global cultural initiative and sibling organization that has connected Portland with visionaries across every continent in the fields of gardening, art, design, and diplomacy. In recognition for his work, Bloom has been the recipient of several honors, including the Foreign Minister’s Commendations from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Related: Read more about Steve Bloom’s 20 years of leadership at Portland Japanese Garden
Alongside Bloom will be special guest Dorie Vollum, his dear friend and a member of the Garden’s Board of Trustees. As Bloom prepares to retire in January, don’t miss this rare opportunity to journey through the stories, wisdom, and legacy of a leader who has left an indelible mark on Portland Japanese Garden and beyond.
About Steve Bloom
Steve Bloom has led Portland Japanese Garden as CEO since 2005 and has transformed not only the landscape of Portland but the international field of Japanese gardens and the global conversation around the art and importance of cultural diplomacy. Bloom’s visionary approach promotes the belief that at the intersection of the built, natural, intellectual, and creative environments, humanity can achieve better mutual understanding. Through the creation of Portland Japanese Garden’s curatorial department –which oversees more than 200 events annually and has kept its grounds in world-class condition – Bloom has proven that cultural landscapes can be a platform that use art, design, nature, dialogue, diplomacy, and knowledge to evolve societal attitudes and tolerances towards a more peaceful world.
To read his full bio, click here.
About Dorie Vollum
Dorie Vollum has served on the Board of Trustees of Portland Japanese Garden since 2010, serving as both Board President (2017-18) and Co-Chair along with her husband, Larry, for the $37m Cultural Crossing Capital Campaign. Vollum returned to the organization’s Board of Trustees in May of 2021 and currently serves as the Co-Chair of its Fundraising Committee.
Vollum is a dedicated advocate and supporter of artists and the arts. She was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art (PICA) for 12 years. Additionally, Vollum served as a member of the Regional Art and Culture Council’s Public Art Advisory Committee, overseeing the acquisition and installation of both permanent and temporary artworks for the City of Portland’s collection. She has served as an advisor on numerous projects for the Portland Department of Transportation (PDOT). Vollum is currently a member of the advisory committee that is commissioning art for the Port of Portland’s renovation and expansion of the Portland International Airport.