Two Art Openings

The person on the left hung the show, Power Prayer for the Community; the person on the right, Adriene Cruz, created the work. The show opened tonight at The Black Gallery PDX. The gallery is a project of Don't Shoot PDX, the civil rights organization led by Teressa Raiford that I've been documenting since 2012. 

The first extra is Mika Martinez, presenting her photography show, Soy Yo! Portlandia. She wanted to represent the diversity within the Latinx community, and she wanted the people in the photographs to have control over how they are represented, where, and by whom. 

Extra #2 is a detail of some of the work of Cruz. Extra #3 Mika again, this time in front of one of her massive collages.

It was a privilege to be invited to photograph the openings. I left them walking on air--with joy for the artists having this moment of fulfillment; and with joy for myself, still able to stand, walk, and make a few more photographs of what I love. I regard mobility as privilege, never to be taken for granted.

In other good news today, the Multnomah County Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. It won't influence the people who have to make that happen, but at least Portland has officially made its statement supporting a ceasefire.