Colored Pencils Art and Culture Night

Last Fridays are for Portland's Multicultural Family Room

Friday, August 28, 2009
Art reception 5:30pm
Open mic 6:30pm
United Way of the Columbia-Willamette
619 SW 11th, downtown Portland
www.coloredpencilsart.com
August means so many things to so many communities – end of summer family trips, the beginning of U.S. Labor Day and of Muslim Ramadan; Indonesian Independence and Hiroshima Remembrance; the birthdays of Hawaiian surfing legend "Duke" Kahanamoku and American President Barack Hussein Obama. August has as many meanings as Portland has social and cultural capital banked in our collective account.

Colored Pencils Night is Portland's lively response to a city packed with fine artists, energetic performers, and aspiring kids, from all six continents and many islands between. Participants on impulse, as much as event organizers make an evening of laughter and tears.

This month's Last Friday celebration honors local Persian peace poet Dr. Ali Khajavi, features UK-born singer Sharon Martini and New America Media award-winner Ronault LS ("Polo") Catalani talking story in traditional Indonesian-style. Open mic warms up at 6:30pm. Exhibiting fine artists include: African American painter Bobby Fouther; contemporary Thai mixed-media artist Nim Xuto; and Mexican magical realist Jesse Vásquez.

Dinner this month is vendored in variety of bites and plates by Portuguese/Angolan/Brazilian chef Julieta Capuia.

New Portland Colored Pencils, an all-volunteer event open to all ages, ethnicities, and skill levels. Fine artists submit for juried entry every month. Performers sign up first come-first reserved for open mic.

Partners include: United Way of the Columbia-Willamette; The Asian Reporter; Center for Intercultural Organizing (CIO); Vision Into Action (VIA) Coalition; Micro-Enterprise Support Services of Oregon (MESO); One World for All of Us; and the City of Portland, Office of Human Relations.
www.coloredpencilsart.com