December 2019 Cultural Work Roundup

/// December 2019 ///

December is full of BIPOC arts and culture! Some of our community event highlights are below. Get cozy and support artists and cultural workers of color around town this month!

EVENTS

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• Wednesday, 12/4: Rupi Kaur - Rupi Kaur is a poet, artist, and performer. At the age of five, her mother handed her a paintbrush and said, “draw your heart out.” At seventeen, she happened upon a local open mic night where she performed her first spoken word poem. While studying at the University of Waterloo, Rupi wrote, illustrated, and self-published her first collection, milk and honey. In the years since, milk and honey has become an international phenomenon. It’s sold over 3 million copies, been translated into more than 35 languages, and landed as a #1 New York Times bestseller—where it has spent more than 100 consecutive weeks. 8 pm, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, 1037 SW Broadway.
• Saturday, 12/7: First Saturday December: Arvie Smith: 2 Up and 2 Back - 2 Up and 2 Back is new body of work, specifically focusing on systemic racial oppression. “Every time we as a society push forward on issues of racial inequality, the status quo pushes back allowing those who have most to lose from such progress to keep their standing,” says Smith. “My paintings present historical inequities in ambiguous ways, preparing the viewer to examine their own frame of reference and ideologies.” 6 - 9 pm, Disjecta, 8371 N. Interstate Ave.
• Saturday, 12/7: NAYA Winter Marketplace - Mark your calendars for NAYA's fabulous Winter Marketplace—a great time to make sure you get the best handcrafted gifts for your loved ones (...and maybe a present or two for yourself too!) You’ll find beautiful jewelry, clothing, crafts, prints, and much more! Support your community. Buy Indigenous! 11 am - 4 pm, Native American Youth and Family Center, 5135 NE Columbia Blvd.
• Saturday and Sunday, 12/7 - 12/8: 5th Annual QUEER CRAFT PDX - Join us! We'll have folks offering artwork, accessories, home goods, apparel, zines, bags! Health/beauty/healing makers offering tinctures, elixirs, teas, ritual arts candles, salves/balms, bath & beauty! The goal is to center both the work of queer, trans/GNC/NB, qtpoc, and working class makers/artists/crafters and in the culture of the event space. Sat and Sun 11 am - 6 pm, St. John’s Community Center, 8427 N Central St.
• Monday 12/9: Rosten Woo – As part of the exhibition, Organize Your Own: The Politics and Poetics of Self-Determination Movements. Woo is a designer, writer, and educator living in Los Angeles. He produces civic-scale artworks and works as a collaborator and consultant to a variety of grassroots and non-profit organizations. including the Advancement Project, the American Human Development Project, the Black Workers Center, Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, and Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, as well as the city of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County. 12 - 7 pm, Self Enhancement, Inc., 3920 N Kerby Ave.
• Thursday, 12/12: Monthly Keaton Otis Vigil – Keaton's father Fred Bryant started the monthly vigil on the 12 of the month after his son's murder on the spot where Keaton's life was taken. Fred Bryant did this for over three years, fighting for justice for his son, every single month in the rain, the dark, the heat, the snow. Fred Bryant passed away October 29, 2013. His family and community have committed to continuing the vigils every month on the 12th, until justice is achieved for Keaton, for Fred, for our whole community. 6 - 7 pm, NE 6th and NE Halsey.
• Saturday and Sunday, 12/14 - 12/15: Intersect Fest V – A 2-day festival for and by BIPOC, in its 5th year. We are providing free workshops for BIPOC about radical work and care otherwise appropriated! Sat 10 am -6 pm, Dismantle, Change, Build Center, 14 Northeast Killingsworth St. Sun 11 am - 6 pm, Marrow PDX, 7025 North Lombard St.
• Saturday, 12/14: 9th Quarterly PDX Trans & Queer Clothing Swap – This event is 1) completely free, 2) 100% volunteer run, and 3) powered by love. 12 - 2 pm, Queer Resource Center at PCC Cascade Student Union, 5575 N Albina Ave.
• Saturday, 12/14: Posada and Holiday Celebration – ¡Felices Fiestas! To celebrate the season, we will be hosting a Posada & Holiday celebration. Come and enjoy culture, food, drinks, music, and live performances. All are welcome to join us to celebrate the holiday season! 5 - 7 pm, Portland Mercado, 7238 SE Foster Rd.
• Saturday, 12/14: Lit AF: A Holiday Bazaar – Crafted by womxn. Made for all. 40% of profits will go to Rose Haven Women's Shelter. 12 - 6 pm. Formation Studios, 5514 SE Foster Rd.
• Sunday, 12/15: American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs - American Revolutionary poignantly charts the life and legacy of Asian-American activist and writer Grace Lee Boggs, noted for her barrier-breaking academic career and longstanding engagement with gender and class struggle. As part of the Hank Williams Thomas exhibition. 2 pm, Whitsell Auditorium, 1219 SW Park Ave.
• Sunday, 12/15: PDXBall Soiree - Join us as PDXBall highlights Portland’s Kiki ballroom (Voguing, etc.) scene. We are celebrating the growth and annual accomplishments with a tropical themed Soirée for the ballroom community. An LGBTQ and POC focused celebration hosted by Lady Tournament Olivier and Father Flora. Come and enjoy DJ sets by Chanti Darling and SIME.N., a photo booth installation by Father Flora, drink specials, a dance floor and event photography by JABNMAR. 7 - 11 pm, Portland Center Stage at The Armory, 128 NW 11th Ave.
• Monday, 12/16: Oh Brother, Mother! – A play about bromance & strong women. Through the hidden stories of their respective Nepali and Vietnamese mothers, two Asian-American best friends will take you on a journey to discover heritage, identity, and the immigration experience. "Oh Brother, Mother!" is written and produced by the Asian Immigrant & Refugee Youth Council (AIR-YC). The play will feature famous Asian musical numbers and original artwork by Portland's Asian Youth. Get ready to eat dried squid, dodge wooden spoons, and enjoy the show! 7 pm, Milagro, 525 SE Stark St.
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OPPORTUNITIES

• AFFINITY: QTPOC Leadership Development Cohort Retreats - AFFINITY is a free, multigenerational QTBIPOC Leadership Development and Community Building Cohort in Portland. More information can be found here.
• Viaduct Arts Call for Artists - The Viaduct Arts Initiative brings vibrant community art to the streets of the Central Eastside Industrial District. Applications due December 20. More information here.
• Immigrant Art Exhibition – First Presbyterian Church in Portland will be hosting an exhibition September and October 2020 focussed on the Immigrant experience for area artists born outside the U.S. Prize awards will be given to several participants and many artists will have their work on display during those two months. More information can be found here.
• Low cost creative work spaces available at Broad Space, a co-working collective for artists who identify as female or non-binary. Spaces start at $95/month for a hot desk! Email: JeanettePDX@gmail.com for more details.

/// More on the Cultural Work Roundup ///

The Cultural Work Roundup is a monthly spotlight on arts and cultural events and opportunities that:

• Directly relate to APANO's cultural work strategies to impact beliefs, actions and policies through centering the voices of those most impacted and silenced, resisting and shifting harmful narratives and ideas, and moving beyond defensive strategies to envisioning alternatives.
• Centralize the voices of Oregon-based Asian and Pacific Islander artists and/or artists of color.

Events may include readings, exhibitions, festivals, openings, and performances. Opportunities may include calls for artistic submissions, grant and funding opportunities, and volunteer opportunities. The deadline for submissions is the third Monday of each month for events and opportunities that fall into the following month. For example, events and opportunities that take place in June are due to APANO by the third Monday in May.

The Cultural Work Roundup will be posted on APANO's website and shared via APANO's digital communications platforms. Events and opportunities will be posted at APANO's discretion based on alignment with our cultural work values. You may submit to the Cultural Work Roundup by filling out our Google Form at bit.ly/culturalworkroundup.

If you have any questions, please contact Cultural Work Coordinator Roshani Thakore at roshani@apano.org. Enjoy!