September 13, 5pm: Business Basics. For more info and to register click here. *VIRTUAL EVENT*

October 11, 5pm: Contracts for Creatives. For more info and to register click here.

November 8, 5pm: Copyright Considerations for Artists. For more info and to register click here.

Location: These events will take place in person at the RACC offices (411 NW Park Ave #101, Portland, OR) and streamed live on Zoom. The lectures in this series are free to attend, but registration is required.

About the series:
RACC and the Oregon Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (OVLA) are joining forces this fall to host a series of three workshops geared towards educating artists and art workers on legal matters pertaining to their creative practice. This series aims to empower artists with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed decisions in their creative endeavors, while also offering a chance for our local art community to come together and connect.

Each workshop will be taught by a legal expert from OVLA and will focus on a specific topic relevant to creative individuals at any stage of their careers. The workshops will aim to demystify the often complex and daunting legal aspects of starting your own art business or organization; contracting your labor and skills; and navigating the boundaries and protections of copyright law.

Accessibility: We are committed to making our programs and services accessible to everyone. Please contact us directly or at info@racc.org to request any accommodations, translation, interpretation, or other assistance you need in registering for, or attending this program. We will be offering ASL interpretation on the live Zoom broadcast of each lecture. If you plan to attend in person, please contact us by August 30, 2023 to request interpretation services. 

Date:  Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 5-7pm
Sliding scale pricing: $10, $15, $20, $25.  Space is limited. Click here to register.

RACC is committed to providing equitable and fair access to our workshops, and as such no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you wish to attend and are unable to cover the workshop fee, please email yamir@racc.org. 

Location: This event will take place in person at the RACC offices (411 NW Park Ave #101, Portland, OR) and streamed live on Zoom.  Registration is required.

About the Workshop:
RACC is pleased to host a two-hour workshop this fall on the ins and outs of managing your finances as a freelance creative. Offered by Jenna Goldin (Enrolled Agent, Licensed Tax Consultant, and co-owner of Shift Accounting LLC), this workshop will cover topics such as business structures, self-employment taxes, types of income and expenses, record keeping, quarterly taxes, and more. Jenna’s presentation will include ample time for an in-depth Q&A so that attendees will leave feeling more empowered to take control of their finances.

About Jenna:
Jenna Goldin has been preparing taxes for small businesses and individuals since 2010. Jenna’s work in tax preparation was born of the intention to bring a social justice lens to accounting. Her mission is to utilize tax prep and money knowledge to build empowered communities based on equity through the redistribution of wealth.

Accessibility: RACC is committed to making our programs and services accessible to everyone. Please contact us directly or at info@racc.org to request any accommodations, translation, interpretation, or other assistance you need in registering for or attending this program. We will be offering ASL interpretation on the live Zoom broadcast. If you plan to attend in person, please contact us by September 10, 2023 to request interpretation services. 

Speaker: Eleanor Sandys, Lotus Art Services LLC (https://www.instagram.com/lotusartservices/)

When: April 9, 2024, 5-8pm

Where: RACC offices (411 NW Park Ave, Portland OR)

& Virtual stream on zoom (this workshop will not be recorded). Participants are encouraged to attend in person, if possible.

Cost: Sliding scale  $15, $20, $25. This workshop has limited capacity.

CLICK HERE to register

RACC is committed to providing equitable and fair access to our workshops, and as such no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you wish to attend and are unable to cover the workshop fee, please email yamir@racc.org. 

In this participatory workshop, participants will learn how to apply the principles of project management to their own creative vision or project. We will cover the steps to defining, planning, organizing, and completing a project. Participants will get tips on creating a budget, developing a realistic timeline, and finding funding, plus will come away with a list of helpful resources. The workshop is designed to provide artists and creative professionals information and tools to support the successful planning and completion of creative projects.

Workshop leader:

Founder of Lotus Art Services LLC, Eleanor Sandys has over 15 years of experience in museum and arts administration. Prior to going independent, Eleanor managed Oregon’s public art program and multiple grant programs for individual artists at the Oregon Arts Commission. Eleanor’s areas of expertise include managing art and museum collections, artist grants, and project management. She loves working with artists to catalyze their vision, whether facilitating public art, coordinating an exhibition, or supporting artists in their professional growth.

Accessibility: RACC is committed to making our programs and services accessible to everyone. Please contact us at info@racc.org to request any accommodations,interpretation, or other assistance you need in registering for or attending this program.The RACC offices are wheelchair accessible.  We will be offering ASL interpretation on the live Zoom broadcast. If you plan to attend in person, please contact us by March 25 , 2024 to request interpretation services. 

Where: Zoom link provided upon registration

Experts:

Click here to register for an appointment with Benjamin Fainstein 

Click here to register for an appointment with Cristi Miles 

Do you have a script that is ready to be taken to the next level? Do you have questions on how to get a play off the page and into production? How to work with actors, dramaturgs, directors, producers etc? How to develop a career in any of these roles? Are you curious what possibilities are out there for aspiring actors, playwrights, and more? We have experts with deep knowledge of the national theatre ecosystem who are available to answer a broad range of questions and provide feedback about the  profession!

Bios:

Benjamin Fainstein (Theater & Performance) 

Before joining the team at RACC in 2023, Benjamin (he/him) worked for nearly 20 years in the professional theater industry. As his career progressed, he had the opportunity to wear many hats within the field and to develop numerous skill sets. He came to Portland in 2015 to re-inaugurate the role of Literary Manager and resident dramaturg for Portland Center Stage at The Armory, where for 5 years he commissioned and developed new works; contributed to season planning and artistic direction conversations; co-led artistic and production management for the JAW Festival of New Plays; evaluated script submissions and production proposals; networked nationally with emerging and established artists; provided writing and content for a range of institutional needs, from dramaturgical essays to marketing copy to fundraising and grant application materials; taught seminars and workshops for the public; and more. Prior to taking that position, he was the Artistic Coordinator and Literary Associate for Yale Repertory Theater, working in NYC and New Haven, CT as part of a producing team for one of the nation’s most robust and celebrated new work commissioning programs. He also supported the facilitation of the theater’s regular season programming in ways mentioned above, as well as collaborating on educational resource guides and support for casting and audition calls. He received his BA in Theatre and Music from Middlebury College and earned his MFA in Dramaturgy & Dramatic Criticism from Yale School of Drama. Benjamin served as the Associate Artistic Director of Yale Cabaret, an historic graduate student-led theater company specializing in obscure, experimental, and devised work. Early in his career, he was a Founding Co-Artistic Director of Boston’s Whistler in the Dark Theatre, where he managed and produced 3 seasons and 2 festivals of regional premieres. As a playwright, his work has been read and/or produced in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York, and New Haven; he was also a 2018 Playwriting Fellow for Lambda Literary’s Emerging LGBTQ+ Voices program. He has directed over a dozen productions, including both scripted and devised/ensemble-generated works, and has extensive acting experience. He has a wealth of experience as a theater/performance historian, production dramaturg, and artistic advisor to creative teams and organizations, as well as individual writers, directors, actors, designers, and scholars. While his professional focus has pivoted to pan-discipline public art administration in Portland, Benjamin continues to enhance his own artistic practices, serves on review panels for national playwriting awards, and offers consulting services for creatives across disciplines.

Cristi Miles is a native of El Paso, Texas and is a theatre artist rooted in Portland, OR. She enjoys making life awesome with her husband, daughter and their 3 pet friends. She wildly enjoys teaching, and making radical art with PETE (Portland Experimental Theatre Ensemble). Her work has taken her all across the Pacific Northwest and Northeastern parts of the US. She has been previously seen acting on stage with PETE;  Artist’s Rep; Third Rail; Portland Playhouse; Profile Theatre; Portland Shakespeare Project; and Teatro Milagro. Cristi teaches at Lewis and Clark College, University of Portland, and is a founding faculty member at the Institute for Contemporary Performance. She is a graduate of The Oregon Center for Alexander Technique (AmSAT certified teacher). Brandeis University, MFA.

When: April 15, 2024, 5-8pm (25 minute appointments)

Where: Zoom link provided upon registration

Experts:

Click here to register for an appointment with RaShaunda Brooks

Click here to register for an appointment with Ben Popp

Do you have a film project idea but don’t know where to start? Do you have a film made and want to get it out into the world? Do you have questions about the film festival application process? What materials you might need to prepare to begin promoting your project at any stage? How to distribute a film? How to produce one? What resources are available for film and media artists who are just starting out? Our experts can help demystify these processes and more.

Bios:

RaShaunda Brooks is a Libra sun, someone who loves to laugh and have a good time, filmmaker, artist, and community organizer. Brooks creates modern day narratives of Black and Brown people to accurately reflect the truths of their communities. She believes when people aren’t given room to express themselves, it breeds chaos and/or stagnation. When Black and Brown people are focused on survival, real creative expression cannot be prioritized, cannot thrive. She organizes under Y.G.B. (Young Gifted and Black / Brown) Portland, manages local duo Brown Calculus and works on her screenplays in between. These rich connections provide Brooks the room to hold stories of people who often don’t get represented in the white oppressive narratives. The heart of her contributions is to share the lives of those who look like her.

Ben Popp in his current role is the Head of Artist Services at PAM CUT, the Portland Art Museum's Center for an Untold Tomorrow. He oversees a labs program pairing mid-career media based storytelling artists with mentors, a life coach, and providing insight from industry leaders. Among other programs he oversees are fiscal sponsorship, an artist in residency program, and the Oregon Media Arts fellowship along with some programming at the Tomorrow Theater. Previously Ben oversaw the long-running NW Filmmakers's Festival and NW Tracking series for the NW Film Center while also sitting on panels for the NEA, RACC, Idaho Arts Council, Vancouver International Film Festival, Big Sky Film Festival and serving on the board of the OMPA. Ben has taught animation and other filmmaking techniques at Portland State University, Pacific University, Dartmouth, film festivals, and as a teaching artist at primary schools all around the greater Portland metro area. In 2009 Ben helped co-found the microcinema Grand Detour which eventually launched the Experimental Film Festival Portland hosting single channel, multi-channel, performance and installation based work for local, national, and international artists. Ben has shown his own work at festivals around the globe and was a 2012 winner of the prestigious Oregon Media Arts Fellowship.

When: April 15, 2024, 5-8pm

Where:  Zoom link provided upon registration

Experts:

Click here to register for an appointment with Dance Wire (Jessie Nowak & Emily Running)

Click here to register for an appointment with Kailee McMurran

Do you have an idea for a performance piece but don’t know how to get it off the ground? Who to work with? How to hire a choreographer, dancers, musicians, a venue? Are you curious about Dance Film and didn’t know who to ask? Are you in a transition period in your career and wondering where to go from here? Our experts can address all these matters and many more!

Bios:

Jessie Nowak & Emily Running of Dance Wire:

Jessie Nowak began formal dance training at the age of 7 and considers herself to be a lifelong dancer, singer, and writer. She continued her dance training, attending summer intensives and hours on end of training per week throughout her school years. In high school, she added voice lessons and choir to her training schedule. When it came time to go off to college, she had a split interest in Dance and Exercise Science. She was recruited to Western Oregon University's dance program and began training there in 2008. She studied modern, ballet, jazz, hip hop, composition, Cuban Casino, and hula as well as dance production, kinesiology, and history with Darryl Thomas, Sharon Oberst, Deborah Jones, and Amy McDonald.

After graduating from Western Oregon University with a BS in dance with an exercise science focus, Jessie worked as a personal trainer by day, while freelance choreographing by night. She spent a season dancing with Lyrik Contemporary Dance Company and was a regular contributor at Dance Mosaic by PDX Metro Arts. Recently, Jessie took time away from dance as she focused on family and starting a new career in the nonprofit arts sector. In 2017, Jessie came back to her dance training, taking classes at Bodyvox and Floor Center for Dance, and began to reconnect with the Portland dance community and her body.

In 2019, Jessie spent four weeks in Eugene, OR studying the DanceAbility improv method with Alito Alessi. This culminated in a co-choreographed street performance in downtown Eugene. Jessie applies the methods she learned and the ethos about inclusion that she learned there into all of her artmaking. During the pandemic, Jessie’s interest in film became more viable and urgent and she has spent the last several years honing her dance filmmaking skills. She is a two-time RACC grant recipient for this focus area. Jessie is the Operations Director and a 1:1 Sessions coach at Dance Wire where she coaches dance artists through challenges and towards their artistic goals.

Emily Running has been dancing since age five and the studio and stage are her happy places. She earned a BFA in Choreography and Performance in Dance from the University of Montana in 2001. Since a career in dance is anything but linear, hers has consisted of many roles and has taken her from Missoula to Los Angeles to Paris before arriving in Portland in 2008. On the creative side of her work, Emily has done everything from photoshoots, music videos, commercials, and flash mobs, to musicals, short films, galas and concert dance productions. On the administrative side, she has worked with multiple arts organizations in various stages of growth and in almost every capacity including education, membership, marketing, programs, fundraising, grant writing, financial management, strategic planning, and operations. In 2013 she founded Dance Wire - Portland's Dance Hub. Through Dance Wire's 1:1 Sessions she has helped dance makers build their business skills and confidence in their role as both economic and cultural drivers. She pushes back against the "starving artist" narrative and instead champions a new future where artists can thrive. While living in Paris in 2007, Emily explored everything from writing, poetry, photography, watercolor, and sculpture to language and dance. What she discovered is that many of the tools of creativity apply across all disciplines.

 

Kailee McMurran is a Portland-based multi-disciplinary artist with one foot in dance & dance film and the other in graphic design & stationery. Her current exploits include Portland Dance Film Fest, Women Choreographers of the Pacific Northwest, and Selkie Stationery.

Growing up on the coasts of Alaska, Kailee dedicated her early years to training in both ballet and competitive gymnastics. Her artistic journey continued at Western Oregon University, where she pursued an art degree focused on graphic design & printmaking. While earning her degree, Kailee became a principal dancer with Rainbow Dance Theatre under the co-direction of former Pilobolus dancer Darryl Thomas and former Merce Cunningham dancer Valerie Bergman. Noteworthy performances include the 2011 World Expo in Shanghai, China, and the Gala Performance of the American College Dance Festival.

After graduating, Kailee moved to Portland where she has danced for companies and artists such as SubRosa Dance Collective, Do Jump, Polaris Dance Theatre, POV Dance, and currently for choreographer Carlyn Hudson. Notably, she co-founded SubRosa Dance Collective, a women-run collective who produced five evening-length performances and three dance films (including Trussed, awarded Best Film at Richmond Dance Festival; and Unfolding, which received an honorable mention at Jacksonville Dance Festival, the Audience Award at Portland Dance Film Fest, and screened in over 20 festivals).

After 13 years, Kailee still performs with Do Jump, a renowned physical theatre company celebrated for its playful circus, comedy, and unique "actor-bats." Notably, she toured Broadway in New York City, featuring 36 shows at the New Victory Theater in Times Square.

In 2017, Kailee co-founded and became the festival director of Portland Dance Film Fest (PDFF), a multi-day festival that screens a curated selection of dance films and engages the community through hosting dance film workshops, artist talks, and other events. With her experience as a festival director, filmmaker, and adjudicator for over 1500 dance films, Kailee has collaborated with institutions such as the UC Santa Barbara, Lewis & Clark College, Western Oregon University, PDX Contemporary Ballet, The Ballet Alliance, and the Vancouver School District to share her knowledge through workshops and guest artist opportunities.

Her latest dance project, Women Choreographers of the Pacific Northwest, is a showcase highlighting and uplifting women choreographers aiming to make a more equitable dance culture.

On the design front, Kailee co-founded a boutique design firm, Design By Goats, specializing in company branding and print materials. After 8 years with Design By Goats, Kailee's design focus shifted to the creation of Selkie Stationery, an eco-conscious wedding and paper goods company specializing in creating bespoke invitation suites, watercolors, wedding branding, and event signage. Selkie Stationery was the 2022 Winner of Oregon Bride Editor’s Pick for Best Invitations and voted 2022 Best Invitations for PNW Weddings.

Speakers: STCK Design

When: April 24, 2024, 5-7pm

Where: RACC offices (411 NW Park Ave, Portland OR)

& Virtual stream on zoom (this workshop will not be recorded)

Cost: Sliding scale $10, $15, $20

Register here:  CLICK HERE

RACC is committed to providing equitable and fair access to our workshops, and as such no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you wish to attend and are unable to cover the workshop fee, please email yamir@racc.org. 

Join us for a conversation with marketing and strategy experts from local creative agency STCK Design, on what it means to build and maintain your brand identity. This two-hour workshop will be focused on strengthing artists and small arts organizations' identities as they amplify their practice to reach a wider audience. Learn some tips and tricks from those who have been immersed in the community-based initiative space for nearly a decade as they share thoughts on brand development, social media, website do's and don'ts, and how to connect with your target audience.

About the speakers: 

Sarah Medeiros, Strategy & Account Manager of STCK Design

Sarah has an extensive background in media; with an emphasis on non-profit development and branding. Supporting mission-driven clients is her passion. She enjoys working and volunteering with organizations that focus on intentional community building, equity and decolonization.

Estefania Rivera, Creative Director of STCK Design

Estefania contributes an unparalleled perspective, expert skill set, and over a decade of hands-on experience in the brand development and web design space. Having worked with dozens of community-based organizations, Estefania possesses a deep appreciation for the integration of community voice into her work. Originally from Mexico City, Estefania draws upon her background to bring unique and compelling designs to nonprofit brands/websites that are both modern and distinctive.

Accessibility: RACC is committed to making our programs and services accessible to everyone. Please contact us at info@racc.org to request any accommodations,interpretation, or other assistance you need in registering for or attending this program.The RACC offices are wheelchair accessible.  We will be offering ASL interpretation on the live Zoom broadcast. If you plan to attend in person, please contact us by April 10, 2024 to request interpretation services. 

Presenter: Erin Zollenkopf and Susan Matlack Jones & Associates

When: May 1, 8, 15, 22, 2024; 9-11am

Where: Virtual on zoom

Cost: $100 per organization

Capacity: 10 organizations

Registration required: https://regionalarts.wufoo.com/forms/z1ysn7fu1dxb91f/

RACC is hosting a series of four, two-hour workshops designed to provide the leaders of arts and culture nonprofits with the skills and knowledge necessary to prepare monthly cash-basis financial statements. This course is open to arts & culture organizations with budgets of $250K or less, and limited to 10 organizations per series. Those who commit to the series will also earn 4 hours of one-on-one training to focus on your specific questions!

The cost for four sessions and the private training is only $100 per organization. These workshops are presented in partnership with Erin Zollenkopf and Susan Matlack Jones & Associates.

Workshop Attendees Will Learn:

• How to set up an effective chart of accounts
• The basics of double-entry bookkeeping
• How to use QuickBooks to track revenue and expenses
• Cash flow management
• Systems for organizing financial documents
• How to read financial statements
• Methods for tracking and reporting on grants
• How to budget
• Basics of setting up fiscal controls and financial procedures
• Learn about reporting requirements for nonprofits
• And much, much more!

When: May 1, 2024, 5-8pm

Where:  Zoom link provided upon registration

Experts:

Click here to register for an appointment with Kate Ristau

Click here to register for an appointment with Laura Stanfill

Have you wondered how to get your manuscript published and distributed? How to work with an editor? What it means to self publish and how to go about doing this? How to pitch a piece to a publication? How to apply for writing residencies and programs and which opportunities are out there? How to find a literary agent? Our experts can demystify all these questions and many more!

Bios:

Kate Ristau is an author, folklorist, and the Executive Director of Willamette Writers. She is the author of three middle grade series, Clockbreakers, Mythwakers, and Wylde Wings, and the young adult series, Shadow Girl. You can read her essays in The New York Times and The Washington Post. Kate is the Producer of the Nebula Awards, the Chair of the Tigard Public Library Board of Directors, and the Vice-President of the Oregon Poetry Association. She taught at University of Oregon for four years and Western Oregon University for four years before working for Willamette Writers. She has published independently, is represented by a literary agent, and has also published with small presses. In her capacity with Willamette Writers, she supports critique groups, the Timberline Review Literary Journal, the FilmLab project, and much more.

Laura Stanfill is the author of Singing Lessons for the Stylish Canary (Lanternfish) and the publisher of Forest Avenue Press, which she founded in 2012. Her press has won two Oregon Literary Fellowships and numerous accolades, including regular appearances on the annual Reedsy "Best Small Presses" list. Laura earned a scholarship from the Independent Book Publishers Association to the Yale Publishing Course, which she attended in 2018. In addition to setting up and maintaining a small creative business, she works on acquisitions, developmental editing, hiring freelancers, author emotional support, InDesign layout, and creative management for all Forest Avenue titles. She regularly consults with authors and new publishers, hoping to demystify the industry and help them define success for themselves. Imagine a Door: A Writer's Guide to Unlocking Your Story, Choosing a Publishing Path, and Honoring the Creative Journey, Laura's first nonfiction title, is forthcoming from Forest Avenue in spring 2025 with financial support from a Regional Arts and Culture Council grant. She often teaches classes on finding an agent, understanding the small press landscape, and writing an effective query letter. Laura's short work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Rumpus, Catapult, Santa Fe Writers Project, Cagibi, Shondaland, and the Washington State Book Award-winning anthology Alone Together, edited by Jennifer Haupt.

When: May 1, 2024, 5-8pm (25 minute appointments)

Where:  Zoom link provided upon registration

Experts:

Click here to register for an appointment with Sam Coomes

Click here to register for an appointment with Jennifer Wright

Do you have questions about how the music industry works? How to set up a tour? How to start recording an album? How to get an album distributed? How to make a name for yourself? Our experts are here to answer these and many other questions.

Bios:

Sam Coomes is a Cascadia based musician/producer, half of the long-running underground pop band Quasi (along with Janet Weiss {Sleater-Kinney}), and synth player in Jon Spencer and the HITmakers.  Coomes has also toured and/or recorded with Built To Spill, Elliott Smith, Jandek, The Go-Betweens, Marissa Anderson, JD Pinkus (Butthole Surfers) and a long list of musicians of lesser media visibility, & is also a member of heavy prog/experimental ensemble Pink Mountain (not to be confused with The Pink Mountaintops {unfortunate happenstance}), Crock - a duo also featuring Spencer Seim (Hella), and Deep Fried Boogie Band.  He has collaborated with visual artist/musician Chris Johanson on soundtracks to art installations (Ensemble IS) & scored several films by Portland based underground filmmaker Vanessa Renwick.  Coomes has toured internationally as a solo artist, first under the name Blues Goblins, and later under his more mundane given name.  Oddly, Coomes is a two time member of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame (it exists), as a member of Quasi & also as a member of Heatmiser.

Jennifer Wright  M.M., B.M., is a pianist, composer, multi-faceted performer, educator, multidisciplinary artist, event producer, and culture-maker. She has been described as “a real force of nature” (FearNoMusic artistic director Kenji Bunch), “New music glam!” (Aligned Artistry), and “Brassy, nutty, classy…mad, quite mad.” (Oregon ArtsWatch). She teaches at Reed College, Portland State University College of the Arts, and in her award-winning private piano studio in Portland, Oregon.

Jennifer graduated summa cum laude from the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, CT with a Bachelor of Music in piano performance and studied for two years at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst and Universität Stuttgart in Germany.  She was awarded several Distinctions for her Masters Degree achievements in performance and musicological research at the Trinity College of Music in London, England in the Historically Informed Piano Performance degree program.

Jennifer specializes in creating boundary-warping, transformative, multi-sensory performative experiences. Her exuberantly experimental works meld diverse disciplines, narrative modes, and creative expressions into an adventurous and deeply intentional practice. Some of her favorite areas of endeavor include building experimental sound machines from industrial debris/consumer waste/deconstructed instruments, social commentary and satire, explorations of found sound, site-specific fieldwork creations, and deep collaboration with live movement and moving pictures.  Jennifer performs regularly as a solo and collaborative artist and has presented numerous large-scale productions, concerts, master classes, and workshops in the U.S.A., the U.K., Europe, and Cuba.

Primary fields of innovation include her one-of-a-kind “Skeleton Piano” (an upright piano that she stripped of its exterior and plays from the inside out), her ever-expanding fleet of “Post-Apocalyptic Instruments” (a wild range of large-scale sound sculptures and instruments made of trash that explore realities of climate change and unsustainable human wastefulness), and art instruments like the "Cloud Gamelan" (a combination vertical gamelan/Long Strings Instrument) and “The Glass Piano” (which was created from the remains of a Steinway grand that was incinerated in a hate crime act of arson).

Her compositions have been performed at the 29th and 31st Annual Festival de La Habana de Música Contemporánea in Cuba, the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, The 2020 and 2023 New Music Gathering Festivals, The Astoria Music Festival, Portland International Piano Festival, Portland’s March Music Moderne festivals, Crazy Jane Composers and Cascadia Composers concerts, the Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble (EDME) 2023 New Music Festival, on KBOO, XRAY and KTCB radio, on KGW TV and Cuban National TV, and in concerts and dance performances in the U.S., England, and Finland. In 2022-24, Jennifer has been an Artist in Residence at the Zidell Shipyards with ProLab Dance, co-producing and composing the music for the ground-breaking “Break to Build” shows featuring site-specific sound installations that she designed and built from over two tons of industrial metal debris.

Jennifer has collaborated with artists such as the Venerable Showers of Beauty Gamelan Orchestra, ProLab Dance, VR filmmakers Hungry Mantis, The Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education, media artist Nanda D’Agostino, Heidi Duckler Dance NW, Ensemble Interactivo de la Habana, filmmaker Takafumi Uehara, aerialist Jordie Campbell, Agnieszka Laska Dancers, sculptor Melita Westerlund, 20 Digitus Piano Duo, artists Bonnie Meltzer, Ree Nancarrow, and Susan Campbell, and the Delgani Quartet, among others.  Jennifer serves on the board of directors of ProLab Dance Works.

WHO: Adam Fah (Conservation Manager for the Washington State Arts Commission ), Keith Lachowicz (Public Art Collections Manager, RACC),  Todd Putnam (Founder, Framing Resource),  Ivan Salcido (Public Art Collections Specialist, RACC), Samantha Springer (Owner and principal conservator of Art Solutions Lab, LLC). Moderated by Yaelle S. Amir (RACC)

WHEN: May 7, 2024, 5-6:30pm

WHERE:  This event will take place in person at the RACC offices (411 NW Park Ave #101, Portland, OR) and streamed live on Zoom. This event will not be recorded.

HOW: free to attend, donations appreciated.

Registration required: https://regionalarts.wufoo.com/forms/lasting-impression-roundtable/

RACC is pleased to host a roundtable discussion geared towards individual artists who would like to create work with longevity in mind. The discussion will feature leading professionals in the field of artwork conservation and management, who will put forth key considerations artists should take into account while in the process of producing their work. The discussion will  provide insight into the importance of material selection at the time of creating artwork, fixing materials once the work is complete, documentation of the production process, and other such concerns that set one’s work up for others to be able to care for it into the future.

Accessibility: RACC is committed to making our programs and services accessible to everyone. Please contact us at info@racc.org to request any accommodations,interpretation, or other assistance you need in registering for or attending this program. The RACC offices are wheelchair accessible.  We will be offering ASL interpretation on the live Zoom broadcast. If you plan to attend in person, please contact us by April 23, 2024 to request interpretation services. 

Roundtable participants:

Adam Fah is the Conservation Manager for the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA), where he has worked since 2007. He designs and implements care for existing works, supervises a staff of four technicians, manages contracted conservation projects, and participates in the Conservation Review process for new artwork acquisition to the State Art Collection. Adam holds a Bachelor of Science in Art from Eastern Oregon University and has been a professional patineur for over 25 years. Since 2000, he has owned and operated studios specializing in fine art casting (silicon bronze); fabrication, repair, and restoration of metal sculpture; and conservation of exterior contemporary sculpture. When not working on artwork, he enjoys spending time with his spouse and two daughters, birdwatching, and expanding his collection of vinyl records.

Keith Lachowicz is the Public Art Collections Manager for RACC. He is responsible for the care and management of the public art collections owned by the City of Portland and Multnomah County, both of these collections are funded by separate 2%-for-art programs. Keith is part of the small “Collections Team”, which oversees a collection of over 2000 works—from small scale prints and drawings in the “Portable Works Collection” to 550+ large scale permanently sited works situated throughout the metropolitan area. The job requires daily juggling and problem-solving to reconcile “best practice” collection standards with team capacity and available resources. A member of the RACC staff since 2007, Keith has 30+ years of experience in arts management. He has a Bachelor’s of Environmental Design and a B.F.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder; and an M.F.A. from San Francisco State University.

Todd Putnam started Framing Resource in 1989.  He has over 40 years of experience with fine art and custom picture framing.  He majored in art and minored in business at Oregon State University.  He transferred to the Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland to study printmaking and photography.  While at PNCA he worked at the Portland Art Museum for Dr. Gorden Gilkey, curator of prints and drawings at that time.  Under the tutoring of the PAM conservators, he learned conservation techniques for matting and hinging fine art.  Additionally, he did curatorial work and new acquisitions for US Bank’s growing art collection and, worked at Photo Art Commercial Studios.

Ivan Salcido is a multidisciplinary artist whose latest series of artworks draws on personal experience, family history, Mesoamerican mythologies, and interests in collectibles for inspiration. By taking a look at history, his artworks touch on themes of nostalgia, connection, legacy, and remembrance. The artworks highlight the human experience and incorporate themes of cultural and family legacy as well as artistic heritage. In Salcido's art, thematic threads weave together explorations of family lore and his Mexican heritage. Acting as a cultural bridge, his artistic practice merges the formative memories of his El Paso, TX upbringing with the diverse influences of over a decade in the Pacific Northwest. His creations embody a deep dive into both personal and shared histories, crafting a vivid mosaic of memories that stand as a testament to the enduring strength of familial bonds. Beyond his role as an artist, Salcido serves as a Public Art Collections Specialist at RACC, where he curates, coordinates, and installs artworks from the Portable Works and Visual Chronicle Collections across Portland's City and County buildings. Additionally, he plays a pivotal role in the preservation and upkeep of the outdoor public art that is under RACC's stewardship.

The daughter of two architects, Samantha Springer developed an appreciation for art and preservation at an early age. Her pursuit of a career in art conservation started during a year abroad in Florence, Italy working on frescoes. After receiving a Bachelor’s degree from McGill University, she went on to get an MA in Art History at Hunter College and an MS in Art Conservation at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program. While Samantha remains a generalist in the specialty of the conservation of sculpture and 3D objects, she has a particular interest in preventive conservation, sustainability, and working with living artists as a means towards preserving less tangible aspects of cultural heritage objects, such as an artist’s intent. Samantha established Art Solutions Lab, a cultural heritage and fine art conservation practice, in 2020 after 12 years of working at the Cleveland Museum of Art and Portland Art Museum. She has presented and published articles on topics ranging from protective window films to collaborating with native weavers. Samantha is a Fellow and Professional Member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and currently serves on the AIC Board as Director of Committees and Networks and Arts Council of Lake Oswego board as President.

When: May 13, 2024, 5-8pm (25 minute appointments)

Where:  Zoom link provided upon registration

Experts:

Andrea Glaser (all appointments filled)

Click here to register for an appointment with Samantha Wall

Have you wondered how to get your work shown beyond the walls of your studio, or how to get your work shown beyond Portland? Are you curious about how artists get gallery representation? Or even what it means to work with a gallery? How to get a project started?  How to make a sale? Have you wondered about artist residencies? Do you want feedback on a new series of works?  Do you want more info on how to find opportunities and how to apply for them? Our experts have a wealth of experience on these matters and more.

Bios:

Andrea Glaser works with Adams and Ollman, a contemporary commercial gallery in Portland. In this position, she manages the roster of gallery artists, 8-10 annual exhibitions, art fair logistics and communication with patrons and collectors. Before that, she worked as the Community Engagement Manager at Yale Union, a nonprofit arts institution based in Portland, and as an Archivist at the Paige Powell Archive. Her experience working with leading local art institutions has provided her with an acute eye and understanding of artists’ goals and needs. This knowledge is further enriched by her prior professional practice as an illustrator and labor organizer. She earned her bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Reed College, and continues to maintain an active interest in linguistic anthropology, theories of value, tourism, and the anthropology of art. She is a member of the interdisciplinary music collective s.e.c.r.e.t.s, and is currently engaged in a project that explores post-Covid phenomenologies of public space and the environment.

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Samantha Wall immigrated to the United States as a child and comes from a multiracial background. Operating from within this framework, her drawings embody the experience of navigating transcultural identity. Wall’s art is characterized by her unique approach to traditional drawing techniques combined with a contemporary vernacular that reflects her understanding of the world around her. Wall graduated with a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Studies from Pacific Northwest College of Art, and she is the recipient of awards and grants from organizations including the Oregon Arts Commission, Seattle Art Museum, and the Joan Mitchell Foundation. Her work has been exhibited widely including the Cue Art Foundation, New York, New York; Portland Art Museum and Oregon Contemporary in Portland, Oregon; The Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem, Oregon; The Boise Art Museum, Boise, Idaho; New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, Louisiana; and the 6th International Fiber Art Fair, Hangaram Art Museum, Seoul Arts Center, Seoul, South Korea

When: May 13, 2024, 5-8pm (25 minute appointments)

Where:  Zoom link provided upon registration

Experts:

Click here to register for an appointment with Ursula Barton

Click here to register for an appointment with Kyra Watkins

Have you wondered how and where to apply for public art calls? What are the different steps of proposing and executing a public art project (from sketches, to insurance, permitting and more)? How to work with a team to create a mural? How to get a private commission and who your collaborators might be? Have you been interested in collaborating with youth to create a mural? Our experts have unique experience in the field of public art /murals and can answer these questions.

Bios:

Ursula Barton’s Oregon roots bear much responsibility for the conception of her art career. After graduating from Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2010, she gave up her car for her bike, and the rainy commutes, combined with a very large accidental ink spill in her studio, inspired her first collection of cityscape paintings that forever changed her way of working with ink and water. 2014 was the beginning of Barton’s mural career. Finding joy in the physicality of large-scale painting, Barton began to paint any walls and odd spaces she could find. Almost a decade later, Barton is now traveling around the country in her van, enjoying the ride, and creating artwork of all sizes inspired by new environments and opportunities. As Barton’s mural career started to grow, she wanted to figure out how to share the process of large-scale painting with the community; the excitement, sense of accomplishment, and increased self-esteem that comes with the mural making. She developed an interactive mural process that demystifies the creative process and helps people of all ages feel more comfortable with the process of creativity. Enter hundreds of water balloons– some filled with a permanent non-toxic paint mixture, some with water for blending and dispersing the paint mixture. Barton encourages her collaborators to throw the balloons against the blank wall, incorporating them into the creative process. From this communal canvas, Barton draws her inspiration for the final design directly from the environment and the stories of the people involved–what they love about their town or city, and finding what patterns and colors emerge naturally from the balloon throw.

Kyra Watkins is a Cincinnati Native,  Portland based artist. Kyra started her art practice as a mural apprentice at the age of 15. Witnessing first hand how access and opportunity levels the playing field for young people, Kyra has been inspired to  engage with the youth through art.  Youth empowerment has become such a large part of Kyra’s practice, it has seeped into the subject of her personal work. You will find that Kyra’s body of work is largely figurative and the main subject matter being of children.  Kyra likes to think of her work as a reminder that all children are our children, and to show up for them means we must show up for our inner child first. Since Kyra’s start as an apprentice, Kyra has been in the public art space for 16 years. Kyra now aspires to marry her love for public art and youth engagement by creating a youth public art program and helping  her fellow artist get started in their mural making career.