 Art is what allows us to reflect on our lives and what we value, and to put those values into practice. By calling what I do "art" my projects can occupy the space in-between the sometimes rigid lines that define other disciplines. In these spaces there is room for wonder, imagination, and play, but also questioning and criticality, all of which can lead to more meaningful, shared experiences and further understanding of ourselves and
each other. I have a heavily research-based practice, within which I create space for conversations, form community, and promote empowered place making/keeping, and relationships. Often working as an embedded artist in a context or place leads to conversations about what is most meaningful to people, and therefore sometimes most difficult to talk about. The resulting projects are usually collaborative, rooted in a place, often take the form of an intervention in public space, public conversations, publications, or designed experiences. Sometimes these projects are designed for an audience of one and other times hundreds or more. I approach my lifework through a feminist lens and am continuing to learn what that means every day. https://www.ericamerylthomas.com/  Artist, Healer, Mama, Student of planetary shifts and the mystic, my passion lies in speaking through images on paper and facilitating others as they connect with their creative fire and unexpressed power.
I work with watercolor, acrylic, a variety of chalks, pencils, pens and image transfers of photographs I have taken. Through these mediums I play with the idea of Spirit, energy and the unseen pieces that make us who we are. I enjoy exploring each medium's range of applications and limits which, in turn inspires the subject and feel of what I do. Love of the human form, a practice in energetic healing and a fascination with the unseen morphing shapes of nature inspire my work. www.WeedsAndWonder.com  Julia Calabrese is a visual and performing artist based in Portland, OR. She received a degree in fine arts from Alfred University where she studied mixed media, ceramic sculpture, and performance. In 2014, Calabrese, alongside collaborator Emily Bernstein received a Precipice Fund Grant to create The Cosmic Serpent, a teleplay filmed and produced at Portland Community Media studios, and aired on their public access channels. As well as creating and performing her own movement pieces, Julia creates short movement sketches on Instagram. Calabrese is currently working on a short comedic piece with Emily Bernstein (through PCM) to be shown as part of the 2016 Portland Biennale.
https://juliacalabrese.net/  The idea of chaos and calm–balance–is an overarching theme of much of my work.
In addition to the general theme mentioned above, growth and time have very much inspired my paintings and ceramics work, especially in the last year. My work is abstract in style and often incorporate organic patterns, water references, and plant-like imagery. I'm not tied to a formula though and pursue more defined imagery when certain ideas surface for me. The series of heads and skulls paintings are examples of that. As an artist, I find myself constantly striving for an image or object that feels "right." It needs to have complexity, but elegance at the same time. I have moments when I love graphic imagery and moments when I just crave a giant scraped or smeared surface. I love painting. I love color. I love a good mash up of it all.  My name is Christian and I am a Portland-based artist looking to bring a much needed message of peace and love to the world. I love creating my flower people because they tell a story of growth and new beginnings. Art has not only saved my life, but it has helped me evolve as a person. There are so many issues today concerning race, I don't understand treating someone differently because of their color. All of my flowers take on human form. Whether dancing or simply meditating, these people convey a sense of movement.
 I'm an artist, printmaker and writer living in Portland, Oregon. My work tends to focus on civilized bad ideas, predator-prey relationships, and the contemporary crisis of biodiversity and what can and can't be done about it. I'm a member of the Justseeds Artists' Cooperative (justseeds.org), a group of North American artists producing socially and environmentally engaged artwork.
 Benjamin is an imaginative artist who, according to the Portland Tribune, uses "sheets of plywood, discarded road signs and, yes, doors, [which] are all potential canvases for the boyishly enthusiastic 34-year-old, whose work is capturing the attention of local art collectors and aficionados.” Benjamin Alexander Clark gives his time and paintings to worthy causes, such as homeless youth.
 Jodi Darby is a media artist, activist and educator specializing in experimental video and photography. Darby is the Education Director of POWGirls, a program that teaches a curriculum of video production and media literacy to girls ages 15-19 as well as a professor at Portland State University's School of Art + Design.
http://www.jodidarby.com/  Larry Yes is an artist, songwriter, and musician who focuses on positivity, humor, and heartfelt emotion.
He loves using art to turn strangers into friends. His social engagement projects include Art in the Park, a public party/art therapy session, and Positive Words, a community-sourced installation of uplifting language. His visual art has been shown at PDX Contemporary Art Window Project and the Portland Building, and he has collaborated with Portland Museum of Modern Art. In his nearly 30-year musical career, he has toured Europe, performed with Michael Hurley, Sonny and the Sunsets and Elliot Smith, He describes his current musical style as “positive cosmic folk.” A native Oregonian, he lives in Portland. |
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