Take a road trip to experience the art of Portland’s favorite joymaker
Originally published April 30th, 2026.
It started during the pandemic — not the art, the attention. At a time when everyone was separated, art provided an outlet for the community to come together (at a safe distance). Then Mike Bennett’s zoo-based animal yard signs began to attract so many onlookers that his neighbors needed to control traffic. Bennett’s signature “Slow Down” signs then entered the landscape, featuring big-eyed sloths and whimsical snails, quickly becoming a local favorite. Cars started to slow down, but the demand for the art grew.
A community niche emerged where art, education and entertainment began to collide, or perhaps collage.
