Akamai Brah means very smart pal in Hawaiian. I have one of those, although this Hawaiian has long since been transplanted to the US mainland.  Not only is he smart, but he is also one of the most adaptable and generous guys on the planet. Steve Tilden and I have been friends for over a decade and he has been a role model for me when it comes to working collaboratively on art and figuring out ways to manage when the ability to make art crawls into temporary hiding places for whatever reasons.

As a metal sculptor Steve has made a name for himself for his beautiful creations of both abstract work and, close to his heart, works representing Greek mythology.

A longstanding member of Blackfish Gallery, a cooperative art gallery here in town, he has not just drawn crowds to his shows. He has also been an integral part of the team that make all exhibitions possible, lending his technical skills and innovative fix-it talent to everything needed to bring complicated shows and installations to the walls.http://www.blackfish.com

His house and studio in North Portland, built by himself according to his specified needs, is like Ali Baba’s cave – a treasure trove where ever your eyes wander. Except no Open Sesame password needed: all you have to do is stand in the door, and he welcomes you in.

That has been true for many artists in Portland who were instructed by him, lent space by him or offered collaboration by him, so many that I have lost count. I do count myself among them, though. Not only have we done work together, I also have a place there where I can put a brush to canvas, without being ridiculed for my feeble attempts at painting. Below is a series of montages that he made possible by allowing me access to a commercial kitchen of his son’s who runs some terrific restaurants in town, including Olympic Provisions.

 

Steve is a renaissance man when it comes to the number of skills, passions and interests he exhibits; you’d never know, given his modesty. Having an abundance of interests, though, has helped him adapt when some recent eye problems started to interfere with the most important craft for his art: welding is no longer an option. Wait until you see what his artistic brain produces next….in the meantime, he is mentoring young artists and shares his studio space that is sometimes like a hive, with coming and going, and you can all but hear the combined creativity buzzing in the air.

 

His closest collaborator and friend has been poet and translator Paul Merchant. They have delved deep into ancient culture and foreign worlds and translated each other’s work, from word to sculpture and back; the most recent exhibit is described here:https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/life/2015/04/11/paul-merchant-crosses-eras-languages/25597835/

Tilden has also extensively worked with Jen Fuller, a glass artist, depicting mythological figures, see my photographs below.

On average days he teaches you something new, on good days he lends a shoulder to cry on and on really good days you can hear him playing the guitar and sing old Hawaiian songs, or plain folk music. Most importantly, though, every day he models how to approach aging when this or that capacity is deserting you: with courage, with flexibility, with a certain wistfulness that refuses to morph into self pity.  Mo bettah!