— This story is by Jacob Loeb. It was first revealed by Montavilla Information on October twenty fifth.
James Brian Fenimore was killed by a rushing Minivan this week whereas strolling on a SE 82nd Avenue sidewalk close to E Burnside Road. He was an artist who had lived in Montavilla’s Milepost 5 Studios for years and created artwork beneath the title Jimi Rockola. Portland Police cited the suspected driver for manslaughter within the first diploma, Driving Beneath the Affect (DUI), and reckless driving. Members of the non-profit Milepost 5 Studios Artists’ Collective and residents of his former condo constructing are mourning the lack of their fellow creator and good friend, who had left them for a fast errand that he by no means returned from.
Fenimore moved into the neighborhood inexpensive housing advanced after his boss, who was additionally the supervisor on the time, really useful it. As a musician, he slot in with the predominantly artist residents at Milepost 5 and shortly shaped a band. Fenimore beloved his second-floor condo overlooking Montavilla Park and his new neighborhood. As COVID locked everybody indoors, he continued to make music together with his newfound mates. Later, after a band member died and others wanted a break, Fenimore started concentrating on his art work created from discarded gadgets. “I’ve all the time been appalled at how a lot waste there’s on this planet and the way straightforward it’s to repurpose on a regular basis gadgets,” wrote Fenimore in a September nineteenth open letter to the Milepost 5 neighborhood.
James Fenimore taught artwork lessons and hosted open-mic occasions at Milepost 5, becoming a member of the Milepost 5 Studios Artists’ Collective when it was shaped. Regardless of his dedication to the artwork neighborhood within the constructing, he misplaced his condo. Fenimore had difficulties establishing his rental help eligibility paperwork with the constructing administration, in line with his good friend and Milepost 5 Studios Artists’ Collective founder, Sarah Gerhardt. Regardless of shedding his housing, he saved concerned with artwork and his neighborhood, holding onto the help he obtained from his fellow artists.
“Despite the fact that I misplaced my Apt. I nonetheless had one thing I by no means had in 65 years. I felt love and compassion and hope in a violent, indignant world,” wrote Fenimore.
The evening of his demise, James Fenimore left his mates on his method to alternate collected cans for his or her deposit cash. He was dwelling on the road, ready to get into different inexpensive housing. Though his demise will add to the disproportionately excessive proportion of homeless folks killed in site visitors crashes, this tragedy had nothing to do together with his present dwelling scenario. Safety footage of the wreck reveals Fenimore strolling north on the sidewalk in the direction of the E Burnside crosswalk. One other pedestrian strolling south passes Fenimore earlier than leaping out of the way in which of the rushing minivan because it careens off the road. The opposite particular person barely reaches security earlier than the automobile collides with Fenimore and the sign gear. Each folks on the sidewalk had been well-lit and strolling in what ought to have been a secure space; solely likelihood spared one in all them. Police attribute the crash to hurry and alcohol.
The motive force of the automobile is within the hospital with important accidents. Police have accused them of being criminally reckless with their actions, costing the neighborhood an artist and depriving many individuals of a good friend.
