Artist Brooke Willow Releases Portland Hands Photo Book
The new photography book captures the hands of 100 residents to explore themes of community belonging.
Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Photographer Brooke Willow has released a new book titled The Hands of Portland: Holding On. The publication serves as the debut project for the new publishing house Weathering Press.
Why it matters
The project aims to document authentic human gestures to better understand how community members gather and build a sense of collective belonging following the pandemic. Willow captured the images on 35mm film during candid conversations to highlight natural movements.
The 60-page book features photography of 100 different subjects and is currently available for a retail price of $35. Nun Studios managed the printing process for the debut title.
The players
Brooke Willow
Brooke Willow is a photographer and co-founder of the new publishing company Weathering Press.
Weathering Press
Weathering Press is a new publishing company founded by Brooke Willow and JP Painter to produce community-focused works.
JP Painter
JP Painter is a co-founder of Weathering Press who collaborated on the launch of the new publishing venture.
Nun Studios
Nun Studios is the printing firm responsible for the production of The Hands of Portland: Holding On.
The details
Willow operated pop-up photography studios at The Historic Overlook House and the Portland Art Museum to collect the images. During these sessions, participants were asked questions to elicit natural hand gestures while being documented on 35mm film.
Timeline
November 1, 2026: A book launch event takes place at Up Up Books.
Market Landscape
The launch of Weathering Press highlights a growing trend of independent creators bypassing traditional publishing to control local narrative projects. This shift positions boutique presses as key players in curating community-specific art during the post-pandemic social resurgence.
Local readers can purchase the book for $35 at the upcoming launch event or through participating retailers. The project provides a tangible look at the diverse gestures of fellow Portland community members.
The takeaway
The Hands of Portland: Holding On illustrates the power of intimate, community-focused art to bridge social divides. Residents can implement similar practices of active listening and observation to better understand their own neighbors.
Further reading
Find more local business debuts in Portland Openings & Closings.
More information
For details on the upcoming celebration, visit the book launch event information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Willamette Week.
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Do community art projects help build a stronger sense of connection in your local area?
