Sometimes the only thing keeping me going riding up Saltzman on my bike (I am trying to get faster at climbing) is the ART. It is intriguing and joyful; it keeps my feet moving and my spirits lifted. Sometimes I climb Saltzman twice so I can catch all the fun— often I am breathing so hard I miss a pun or sign…. Doing it twice (or thrice!!) lets me get the full experience!!!

I live a street over from Ken and his exciting work. My son and I both love to walk up and look at what new has been completed with his art. My 3 year old cannot get enough of the bright colors and fun ideas that the work has brought to the street. He laughs and giggles at the sights that can be seen from the street, whether it be the amazing carrots, artistic pencils, or the typewriter in the door way it brings him joy. We hope to experience this for years to come!

Ken Zell’s creative landscapes are a destination for our friends and family. His juxtaposition of art and nature, comedic and serious, irreverence and appreciation, give birth to lively conversations and just plain kooky times. Public free art is just the thing we need in these often negative times. Life can be magical, too. Like when a hiker or a grandchild is surprised by art in the woods!

As I enter from Saint Helens Rd. On to Salzmen, the signs start. I think to myself what will I see know. Every time I make the journey up, a smile creeps on to my face. From everything old to the brand new displays I always leave with my mind wondering for more. Thanks for all the smiles throughout the years.

As I enter from Saint Helens Rd. On to Salzmen, the signs start. I think to myself what will I see know. Every time I make the journey up, a smile creeps on to my face. From everything old to the brand new displays I always leave with my mind wondering for more. Thanks for all the smiles throughout the years.

Ken Zell is an extremely creative and dedicated artist, along with being a skilled craftsperson. His large sculptures are inspiring and thought-provoking. He is also very community-minded and brings in many people to visit his property and experience these thrilling works of art. As I understand it, Ken's instillations are exceeding the space of his property in NW Portland. I highly recommend that the City of Portland approve a permit for him to expand his works onto the adjacent unused area. Thank you, Fred Cirillo, MD

The flea zorkus installations are a wonderful manifestation of what Portland is all about. Creative, fun, thought provoking and a huge, positive addition to the experience of entering Forest Park via Salzman. Losing these wonderful installations would be a loss for the entire City. The are nothing but positive - they do not negatively impact traffic, pedestrian or bicycle movement. They do not negatively impact the native plants and geology. They do not cause additional erosion. They are all together a net positive.

I happened upon the sculptures of the Fleazorkus while exploring Portland's edges with a friend. It gave me such joy to see fun and thought-provoking artwork that's just present out in the woods. THIS is what Portland is about. THIS is about expressing oneself with whimsy that can be shared with the community, that brings people together. I talked with Ken for quite a while, about time and physics and art. I found that he knew one of my good neighbors who, although we live 1/2 hour from Ken, had also made his way into Ken's world to share creativity and fun. I love how art brings people together across time and space, from different ideological perspectives. It unites us as humans. I'm sad that the United States gives a tiny fraction of the money to public art that is given in all other European and north American countries; thank God for people like Ken who are willing and able to step up and provide art and lighthearted fun when we need it most.

the flea zorkus is a treasure, a boon and a salve to a changing, often fractious portland. it reminds us of an older portland, where art happenings, installations, flights of fancy and engineering whismy used to be more common place. the flea zorkus is a tribute to this shared cultural and artistic legacy we all have a duty to steward as portlanders. the flea zorkus should remain, in perpetuity, for the enjoyment of current and future generations. it represents the best of portland's spirit and the best of us.

I came across Ken’s work while I was researching routes for a trail run and was pleasantly surprised to find his amazing art near a trailhead in Forrest park. This came at a particularly crucial time, as my partner and I are new to Portland and had a challenging introduction with some home damages from the ice storm in January 2023. We were living in a hotel and struggling to find a sense of home and our community. While we came to run a trail, we found peace and inspiration in Ken’s art. My partner is an artist and talking with Ken and experiencing his art was like a balm for our souls. Despite the hardships that we experienced with coming to Portland, this whimsical expression of art contributed to our belief that Portland is our home. While we were there experiencing the amazing treasures, we noticed the planned addition of Fellini’s Circus. We are very excited about this expansion and can’t wait to see what Ken creates next. His work is a rewarding find for those that journey out to the trails and we can’t recommend it enough, especially for anyone looking for inspiration and delight for the senses. It is unclear if Ken is aware of the influence that his art has the community, but we want to provide a testimony on the impact that his art has had on our lives.

I find myself riding up Saltzman road 4-6 times a year, and have done so for the last 15 years. The addition of the artwork has been a fantastic addition to the experience. Beyond the ingenuity and whimsy on display, as a cyclist, I also believe the artwork helps to serve as a traffic calming measure, which I appreciate. Keep it up!!!

I've known Ken Zell for over 15 years. He's the most motivated and determined person I know, and I've always aspired to be a part of his world. His unconventional vision may seem radical, but it's what makes great things possible. Ken has been my inspiration and my iron man since we first shook hands. I stand with him and hope one day we'll truly understand what it takes to be different.