Portland tree guy represented by city councilor, pleads not guilty

Portland artist Asher Woodworth, 30, poses in his downtown studio on Tuesday, Oct. 25 with evergreen boughs — similar to the ones he wore while standing in traffic in a busy city intersection the day before. Portland police arrested him for blocking traffic. He says he was doing it in the name of art.  (Jake Bleiberg)

Portland artist Asher Woodworth, 30, poses in his downtown studio on Tuesday, Oct. 25 with evergreen boughs — similar to the ones he wore while standing in traffic in a busy city intersection the day before. Portland police arrested him for blocking traffic. He says he was doing it in the name of art. (Jake Bleiberg)

The Portland man who dressed up as tree and plodded through a busy city intersection is being represented by city councilor and environmental lawyer Jon Hinck, who on Thursday filed a not-guilty plea on his client’s behalf.

Asher Woodworth, 30, was arrested in October while dressed from head to toe in evergreen bows and charged with one count of obstructing a public way, a misdemeanor.

The whimsical performance art piece aimed to “bring attention to the everyday dances and social choreography that we execute without thinking,” Woodworth told BDN Portland after his release on bail. But it quickly drew the attention of law enforcement and went viral with national and international media coverage.

Portland councilor-at-large Jon Hinck greets voters at the Grace Baptist Church on Summit Street on Election Day. (Troy R. Bennett | BDN)

Portland councilor-at-large Jon Hinck greets voters at the Grace Baptist Church on Summit Street on Election Day. (Troy R. Bennett | BDN)

 

Hinck, who lost his bid for reelection to the City Council in November, is defending Woodworth free of charge, he said. The city councilor is a co-founder of Greenpeace USA but said the decision to defend the so-called tree-guy is simple and not environmentally motivated.

“He’s a good guy and deserves representation,” said Hinck. “I think my client hopes to be exonerated.”

Woodworth could not be immediately reached for comment.