Representing the four galleries on the top floor of Pioneer Place, Mark Woolley, Chris Haberman, Jason Brown, and Fred Swan yesterday announced in a press release that they'd be closing their arts spaces at the end of this month. An unusual dose of culture in an otherwise bland mall, Mark Woolley Gallery, People's Art of Portland, AIR (Artist in Residence) Gallery, and One Der Gallery/PoBoy Framing filled retail spaces at Pioneer Place originally left vacant during the economic downturn of 2009.

Now they're moving out, and the space they occupied will be taken over by a corporate tenant. The mall's management have not yet publicly disclosed the name of the new tenant.

The press release goes into the galleries' history with a bit more depth:

The severe economic downturn of 2009 resulted in mall vacancies and Mall GM Bob Buchanan invited People’s Art of Portland to occupy a space which was formerly a toy store. Three other vacant retail spaces were then converted to gallery spaces as well. The economic recovery and influx of new residents into the Portland area has changed the ability of the mall to continue to offer the spaces to the galleries at below market rates. The four galleries given a 5 week notice to vacate have been collectively referred to as the SETTLEMENT galleries and have attracted hundreds of art lovers to the monthly “Third Saturday” artist receptions and literally thousands for the annual holiday “BIG 500” shows featuring small works by over 500 artists.

“We all knew this day would come, but things have been rolling along so nicely for so long and we have such a good time as a collective of galleries that we kept hoping it would be ‘off in the future’ sometime," Woolley commented in the press release. "It was emotional for the mall management to give us this news and emotional for us to have to tell gallery staffers and gallery artists with upcoming shows.”

The galleries will host a "final countdown" reception open to the public on Saturday, April 16.