May 2017 Cultural Work Roundup

Spring has sprung, and we are excited to share our May Cultural Work Roundup. Read more about how to submit to the Roundup at the bottom of this post. Enjoy!

/// May 2017 ///

EVENTS

• Thursday, 5/4 - Sunday, 5/7: Direct Path to Detour – Grounded in the idea that a sense of who we are is rooted in our embodied experiences, this dance work by Takahiro Yamamoto evokes mental and physical states at the intersection of value systems, social pressures, expectations, and personal experiences of four dancers. 5/4 - 5/6, 8pm; 5/7, 3pm; free Field Guide workshop on 5/6; PICA @ Hancock.
• Thursday, 5/4: APANO Voices of Change 2017 – Join 300+ community leaders and supporters for an exciting evening of cultural performance, delectable dining, and a prestigious keynote by strategist, politico, and coalition builder Gregory Cendana. We will also be unveiling our first-ever series of commissioned artwork created in collaboration with 6 local API artists, based on APANO’s values of “We envision a just world where…”. 6pm, Oaks Park Dance Pavilion.
• Monday, 5/8: RACC & OVLA Workshop: Contract Basics for Artists - Oregon Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (OVLA), in partnership with RACC, will walk you through the most important clauses necessary to any contract, how to achieve a “meeting of the minds”, and how to protect yourself from contract litigation. Whether you’re an artist, a non-profit administrator, or an independent contractor, this workshop will teach you how to craft successful contracts and how to avoid common pitfalls. 7pm-8:30pm, Triangle Productions.
• Tuesday, 5/9: Free Introductory Acting Class with Theatre Diaspora – Spend an evening with Theatre Diaspora as we introduce you to our brand of theatre games and vocal/physical exercises as well as fun scene work from our next production of Washer/Dryer, a comedy about love and family. No acting experience required. 6:30pm-8:30pm, Jade/APANO Multicultural Space.
• Thursday, 5/11: Poetry and Politics - A Literary Arts Reading & Panel – Join Allison Joseph, Margaret Rhee, Sam Roxas-Chua, and Neil Aitken for a reading followed by moderated panel discussion and audience on the subject of literary activism, social justice, intersectionality, feminism, and allyship. 7pm, Literary Arts.
• Thursday, 5/11: The Strings Workshop – This project will invite physical interaction using handcrafted fiber sculptures and encourage reflection on the action of sharing and combining efforts in the act of creation. 6pm-9pm, N.E.W. Expressive Works.
• Sunday, 5/14 & Saturday, 5/20: Washer/Dryer - A Staged Reading – In this light-hearted romantic comedy and Theatre Diaspora’s first play of the 2017 season, interethnic newlyweds Sonya and Michael would love nothing more than to live happily ever after in Sonya's single occupant New York co-op apartment (with built-in washer and dryer). Washer/Dryer by Nandita Shenoy and directed by Samson Syharath. 5/14, 7pm; 5/20, 2pm, Portland Center Stage at the Armory.
• Wednesday, 5/17: Kenji C. Liu Reading & Reception – Kenji C. Liu is a 1.5-generation immigrant from New Jersey, now in Los Angeles. His writing and visual art arises from his work as an activist, educator, and cultural worker. Part of Portland Community College Southeast's Asian & Pacific American Writers Series. 2pm, PCC SE Library.
• Saturday, 5/27 & Sunday, 5/28: GAMBATTE BE STRONG – The immigrant journey of the Japanese in Oregon is paved with stories of perseverance and courage. Gambatte Be Strong is the rallying cry for an original reading of the little known stories of the return of Japanese Americans to Oregon after their incarceration during WW II. Two public performances as part of the Vanport Mosaic Festival. 5/27, 2pm; 5/28, 7pm, The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center, 5340 N Interstate Ave.
• Saturday, 5/27: Know Your City Tour: Hidden History of Albina – The Boise and Eliot neighborhoods in North Portland are rich in diverse history and culture, serving as the historic heart of Portland’s African American community. Over the past few decades, dramatic changes have altered the face of the region, something which can go easily unnoticed to those who don’t know the history. This tour provides a great opportunity for new residents and visitors to reconnect with the roots of this community, from the history of the City of Albina to Vanport and beyond. 12pm-2pm, Little Big Burger, 3747 North Mississippi Ave.

OPPORTUNITIES

• Discounted workshops for artists at the Regional Arts & Culture Council: APANO affiliates receive a $5 discount for professional development workshops using the code APANO2017. Link: RACC 2017 workshops.
• Submit your story to Oregon Humanities’ “This Land” project: Oregon Humanities is looking for proposals about land, belonging, and identity from artists of color for an online multimedia project, This Land. Proposals should show the connection between these stories of place, whether historical or contemporary, and federal, state, and local policies and legislation. Link: http://oregonhumanities.org/this-land/about/

/// 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 Friday 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 Friday 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 & Development Coordinator Candace Kita at candace@apano.org. Enjoy!