Category Archives: Arts & Culture

By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works

Tap dance is an indigenous American dance genre that evolved over 300 years. In the 1700s, the Irish jig fused with the West African gioube to become “jigging.”

When slave owners took away traditional African percussion instruments, slaves turned to percussive dancing to express themselves and retain their cultural identities. Jigging was later refined for public entertainment and called tap.

The form of entertainment is honored with “National Tap Dance Day” on May 25, signed into law in 1989 by George H.W. Bush.

Twenty-eight-year neighbor Michael Conley, known as MC Shoehorn, is our very own tap master. As an exchange student in Peru his Peruvian “brother” played banjo and guitar while he played harmonica.

“I always listened to my footsteps when I would practice.” That led him to purchase an old pair of shoes at a thrift store and add taps.

MC Shoehorn now plays 12 instruments, has recorded 10 CDs and invented an electronic instrument that allows him to play additional instruments with his feet while he plays his saxophone and taps.

Performing spontaneously with no set routine, he improvises through blues, jazz, rock, world music and his own compositions.

MC Shoehorn started out busking on the streets of New Orleans and performed at Alberta Street’s very first Last Thursday in 1997. He plays at festivals and fairs, with local bands, school assemblies and other events, and he has toured Russia and Austria to share his passion for rhythms.

MC Shoehorn teaches his craft and is planning outdoor lessons for all ages this summer. Find out more at ShoehornMusic.com.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette , holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org.

By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works

It’s time to recharge the community, and our artists and creatives are ready to jump. For the past year there has been a void in the arts which rely heavily on an audience. Luckily a street artist’s audience is the passerby.

With a do-acracy attitude, the multi-disciplined artist Campo, of Campographic Murals & Design, stuck his head in the door and met Aisha Keita building out a thrift store in the former Island Foods Market building at 1436 N.E. Killingsworth St.

“Understanding the importance of having an approachable facade, I offered her my services to hire a team of artists to paint her building and boost her visibility,” he reported. Faced with 2,500 square feet of surface to paint, Campo turned to GoFundMe.com to raise funds to buy supplies and pay expenses for participating artists.

Local businesses GreenHAUS Gallery and OpenHAUS, the Alberta Main Street organization and others helped promote the effort to reach the target goal. The team of artists include Calm, Flash, Cead, Case 12, Bose, Rong, Heysus, Eyedrawp, @Mungala_Nao and Campo. Each artist is working on a different space on the building.

Campo is painting the largest span, which faces the intersection. Following Aisha’s suggestion, the young poet Amanda Gorman – with lines from her poem read on Inauguration Day – was chosen as the subject for his section of the mural.

With all the changes happening to the landscape, this site too is in flux. But the artists take it in stride. “Nothing is forever. For me this is OK, as it allows me to enjoy something temporarily and then release it someday.” Campo said. Their work is for you to enjoy while it remains.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette , holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org

By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works

In 1997, the Alberta Streetscape plan was hatched as an attempt to rejuvenate Alberta Street. The main street had lost its luster and the city finally invested in the district via the Portland Bureau of Transportation.

Aligned with the community, the plan included a focus on the aesthetics of the strip. Curbs were extended, trees planted, the iconic kinetic street lighting added and eight bus benches installed.

The idea was to make the street more functional and aesthetically pleasing for both pedestrians and cars.

By 2016, those bus benches had been forgotten. They were covered in tags and were in utter disrepair. Alberta Art Works negotiated an Adopt a Landscape agreement to do something about the eyesores that ranged from 7th to 24th avenues.

By creating a sponsorship program, businesses or individuals pay local artists to paint benches. The benches are repainted every two years. The artists thank the sponsor(s) on the backs of the benches, and they sign the fronts.

This spring several benches will be repainted and – with all the changes in the landscape of Alberta Street – it will be a welcome splash of public art in our shared space in time for summer.

Want to sponsor a local artist and contribute to our Alberta arts legacy? See AlbertaArtWorks.org to find out more.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette , holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org.

CNA respects the views and beliefs of all Concordians, and their cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA.

By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works

Take the power of art and add community. Art in public spaces creates culture by building character and improves the quality of life.

Art doesn’t have to be a luxury or something in a gallery or museum. Art can happen in your yard. You have an opportunity to improve the quality of place while engaging your brain in something creative.

It is going to be a long winter, so why not use that extra indoor time creating something for everyone to enjoy? Think yard art, little libraries and other ways to enhance your lawn for the good of all.

Engage your neighbors with something that makes them smile, a little surprise along their evening stroll.

Not a painter? Stencils are a great way to enliven a garden wall or concrete steps. Make a stencil using thin cardboard or buy one from a craft store. Hire an artist, or paint a mural yourself on that tired wood fence.

How about a street mural? Start planning this winter by visiting PortlandOregon.gov/transportation/67083, then putting it into action come spring.

Interactive art could be a chalkboard, little libraries or shelves for free piles. Assemblages are works of art that use found objects. Look in your attic, garage and bike shed to find interesting parts to make a yard sculpture.

Those born with green thumbs could start a “kids cut-your-own flower bed” or how about inviting a fairy or gnome into your garden by building them a house or an entry at the base of a tree?

Do it for yourself and do it for your neighbors. Create a smile for everyone to enjoy. By simply participating in a creative way, you can help bring a little humanity to our everyday and improve our community’s well-being.

Editor’s note: After you’ve created and placed your community art, send a photo and its location to CNews for Concordia Curiosities. Or post it on Facebook.com/ groups/ConcordiaPDX.

CNA respects the views and beliefs of all Concordians, and their cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette, holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org

By Tamara Anne Fowler | CNA Media Team

The drive for peaches has been a long one. Even spanning oceans.

In 2017, Driving for Peaches (DFP) band members Pete Harrington, guitar, came from the UK and Alex Whitcher, guitar, arrived from New Zealand.

Ditte Kuipers, vocals, had hit the Portland soil a few years prior. Ian Kelley, drummer, is originally from California and works at Extracto. Chris Boitz, bass, grew up in Oregon and has spent most of his life in Portland.

“DFP’s music is inspired largely by escape, road trips and relationships and the freedom of driving wherever you want… the journey. The peach is the often unattainable thing you are striving to reach at the end, whether it is the perfect destination or something connected to a loved one or relationship,” Pete said.

DFP has written and rehearsed all of the group’s first songs during COVID-19 lockdown.

“The Pacific Northwest is relatively new to most of us in the band, so we are inspired a lot by the energy, landscape and people of this place. Our music is steeped in the vibes of this beautiful part of the world,” Alex revealed.

“Our first releases channel the energy of different parts of the state – salt: Oregon coast, head straight: Willamette National Forest, blisters: high desert,” he added.

Most of the writing has taken place at Pete’s home, where they also recorded their first three tracks. It’s the only option during lockdown.

“We now practice with the full band at Cerimon House, where they have been amazing. Based on the COVID-19 restrictions and the fact they aren’t able to hold formal events, they were willing to let us use the space for our practices,” Alex explained.

It’s anybody’s guess when playing regular shows will be a reality. As such, DFP members are focused on what they can control – writing and recording music and creating a steady cadence of releases that people can get behind.

Internet presence and building DFP’s following without being able to play live much is important to the band members.

They invite people to follow them on:

• Spotify at bit.ly/SP-DFP
• SoundCloud at bit.ly/SC-DFP 
• Instagram at bit.ly/IN-DFP 
• Facebook.com/drivingforpeaches

Tamara Anne Fowler is Edit Kitten, a writer with 20-plus years of experience offering a sof ter, gentler approach to editing and coaching. Her personal editors – Armani, Max Factor and Spicey’D – are also her cats. Visit her at EditKitten.com or contact her at Tamara@EditKitten.com.

By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works

“Portland has built its ‘brand’ on the backs of our arts community, a multi-million-dollar industry that provides thousands of jobs, is a major tourism attraction and drives business to hotels, restaurants and retailers across the city,” said Chloe Eudaly, Portland arts commissioner.

According to America for the Arts in 2015, the nonprofit arts and culture industry nationally reported $166.3 billion of economic activity, supported 4.6 million jobs and generated $27.5 billion in revenue.

When COVID-19 attacked, the arts were hit hard. Performers and venues depend on large groups to earn money. Most freelance artists have been left out of relief projects, and galleries can no longer invite the public to opening night events.

Needless to say, artists are creative and have found ways to reach their audiences. Converge 45 commissioned 12 artists, created posters of their work and have posted those on the streets of Portland. Posters are available for $25 and the proceeds go to the Nat Turner Biopic Artist Relief Program.

Alberta Street galleries are selling art pieces online via websites and social media, and they offer pick-up and drop-off services. Openings have given way to monthlong art shows that allow for staggered viewing. Galleries report sales haven’t waned too much, maybe because people became bored of tired walls while in lockdown.

Last Thursday, now in its 23rd year, went virtual this summer. Alberta Main Street and Alberta Art Works (AAW) used Portland Bureau of Transportation’s summer budget for the event to pay artists to create short promotional videos and classes that were aired on social media.

AAW hired artists of color to perform at various Alberta Street galleries and livestreamed to Facebook and YouTube. Visit LastThursdayPortland. org for free movement and art classes, to discover local artists and to find the street concerts by artists like Arietta Ward, Onry, Rejoice: Diaspora Dance Theater, and Ekone.

CNA respects the views and beliefs of all Concordians, and their cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette, holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org.

By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works

Born in Zongolica – meaning crafty hair – in Veracruz, Mexico, Pablo Gonzalez came to Portland in 2001 to pursue his art. He loved the beautiful trees and worked at Al Forno’s Pizza, where he did his first murals on Alberta Street.

Influenced by the Mexican tradition of murals, he carried a portfolio of his work to show store owners in his search of walls to paint. He now has quite a body of work on Alberta.

La Sirenita hosts his mermaid, her scales made of CDs reflecting the afternoon sun. On the alley wall, he collaborated with Consuela del Moral to paint Fertiledad del la Tierra – Fertile Earth – depicting various Mexican symbols, animals and designs.

On the once-vacant building on 23rd Avenue and Alberta, Pablo and friends painted a whale, elephant and large roses atop a stenciled background on the façade.

On Dar Salam’s front patio, find his trompe l’oeil. It’s an art technique that uses realistic imagery and perspective to create the optical illusion you are sitting on a Middle Eastern village street as you dine.

His latest mural at southeast 136th Avenue and Powell Street honors Black Lives Matter. Larger-than-life portraits of George Floyd and Quincey Hanes contrast a local incident with the more nationally known tragedy.

He received some negative feedback – being a Mexican artist – and pushback from the building owner, but he knew the importance of the message and continued his work.

Now Pablo’s portfolio is full of examples of interior and exterior murals, food carts and works on canvas. Visit PablosMurals.com to see his body of work.

Pablo invites fellow artists to an outdoor show in his yard for Last Thursdays. Find his sign on 19th Avenue and Alberta directing you to his house behind the Alberta Street Gallery. Listen for the DJ playing on the front porch.

“Times are tough,” Pablo said. “But I just keep going forward with positivity.”

CNA respects the views and beliefs of all Concordians, and their cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette , holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@AlbertaArtWorks.org.

By Maquette Reeverts | Alberta Art Works

So what can you do to help curb tagging? Plant thorny trees or bushes, remove ways to climb, light the area well, install a “living” mural or pay an artist to create a mural.

Portland’s Graffiti Task Force endorses murals as one of the best strategies available to reduce unwanted tagging. Murals demand attention and are far more respected than a glaring blank space.

They can educate, unify, beautify and create an experience that gets spread far and wide via social media. Murals can also be protected using an anti-graffiti coating making any future graffiti clean ups easier.

Interested in a mural? Use the $1,000 you might otherwise pay in fines, and pay an artist. A local one earns brownie points.

Alberta Art Works can help put you in contact with an artist and facilitate the somewhat complex mural permitting process. Or look into the Regional Art and Culture Council’s (RACC’s) Public Art Mural Program, which can provide matching funds up to $5,000 – or $2,500 if the artist is a college art student.

Under this program, RACC will own the completed artwork and have the artists waive their Visual Artist Rights Act (VARA) benefits. Those protect the artist’s image as the artist intended, regardless of the ownership of the final mural. This ensures the artist’s image remains as the artist intended, and it cannot be altered and nothing added to the creation.

Murals on private property are also a solution for those fences, garage doors or concrete walls that are unsightly or targets for tagging. Murals contrast the negative mental health effects of concrete and asphalt.

Through the visual aesthetic, murals promote a sense of identity, belonging, attachment, welcoming and openness, and they strengthens our community identification.

CNA respects the views and beliefs of all Concordians, and their cultures and faiths. The views expressed by this writer do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA.

Michel Reeverts, aka Maquette , holds a master of arts degree in art education, serves Alberta Art Works as director and Alberta Street Gallery as a board member. She is also a practicing artist. Contact her at Maquette@ AlbertaArtWorks.org.