A discussion around Ethics and Power
Join Don't Shoot Portland and M.Martinez Photo at the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art on Saturday, March 23rd for "Artist: Power and Practices." This stimulating community conversation brings together photographers, videographers, curators, visual storytellers, and filmmakers from across the West-Coast to discuss the power that creators hold and the ethics around their process. Participants are invited to engage in two intimate group conversations that explore various ethical practices, challenges, and resources, led by the featured artists. Take your professional practice to the next level and gain valuable resources to more ethical practices and perspectives while establishing meaningful connections with other creatives in the field.
Taking place amidst PICA’s, Policing Justice Exhibit, each ticket includes a complimentary resource bag with materials for attendees to participate in the conversation and build community, and use beyond the event. In addition to tasty refreshments and vegan snacks provided by local artisans free and for purchase for participants to enjoy throughout the four-hour event.
Saturday
March 23rd
Privilege
Makayla Caldwell's artistic journey is a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery. With a focus on documentary film and photography, Makayla captures the essence of human experience, preserving stories that might otherwise fade into obscurity. Through her art, she reestablishes connections and delves into the deeper dimensions of our shared reality, creating spaces for introspection and freedom. Her work serves as a bridge between the familiar and the unfamiliar, inviting observers to explore new perspectives and redefine their relationship with "otherness." Through deconstruction and reconstruction of figures, objects, and events, she illuminates the natural pathways of storytelling.
Brandt Maina | RIOA wa ROE is a Portland-based queer artist, writer, director and performer from Nairobi, Kenya who documents and abstracts his autobiography into pastel drawings, surreal poetry, absurdist plays, particular photography, genre-fluid music, and soulful performances which shape sacred spaces that reify to audiences this sense of the Present Future as it passes -- right here, the slowing down, right now -- the deep breath that joyously exhales the grief in our collective traumas.
Join Makayla and Brandt for a dynamic group discussion centered on the nuanced exploration of privilege within the realms of accessibility, legitimacy, and intentions within the art community. In this interactive session, participants will delve into the complex intersections of privilege as it relates to accessibility to resources, the legitimacy of artistic voices and narratives, and the intentions behind creative endeavors, sparking reflection and action towards a more inclusive artistic landscape.
Integrity
Intisar Abioto (b. Memphis, TN. 1986) is an artist working across photography, dance, and
writing. Moving from the visionary and embodied root of Blackgirl Southern cross-temporal
cross-modal storytelling ways, her works refer to the living breath and breadth of people of
African descent against the expanse of their storied, imaginative, and geographic landscapes.
Working in long-form projects encompassing the visual, folkloric, documentary, and performing
arts, she has produced The People Could Fly Project, The Black Portlanders, and The Black.
She is the guest curator of Black Artists of Oregon, exploring the history of Black artists in
Oregon, currently open at the Portland Art Museum. With the five women artists in her family,
she is the co-founder of Studio Abioto, a multivalent creative arts studio.
AnAkA is a holistic world builder, story doula, film director, photographer and creator of Angel Music. As a gender fluid Afro-Indigenous person, AnAkA is focused on reclaiming ancestral memory and holistically empowering those preserving their own cultural wisdoms. AnAkA is the founder of AKTIV8 Creative Research Center, a sacred wisdom movement focused on strengthening the heartbeat of the global Indigenous movements and rituals of our current time. For more than ten years, AnAkA has been documenting liberation movements, healers, artists and revolutionaries across North America, South & Central America, Africa and the Caribbean. She has also cultivated worlds, films and creative productions for clients such as Nike, Janelle Monáe, Chief Adjuah (FKA Christian Scott), FKA twigs, Vogue, WeTransfer and Levi’s. AnAkA has shown works at The Shed NY, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, Chale Wote Festival, Lagos Photo Festival, the Portland Art Museum, and has curated solo shows in Cape Town, New York, Paris and Los Angeles. As a co-founder of Black Oregon Land Trust, AnAkA is focused on land and natural healing justice as a certified herbal physician and full circle doula. Through this work, AnAkA advocates for the rights of artists and healers desiring the freedom to exchange wisdom in sovereign modalities.
Perspective
Join Michael Hull and creator Kolby Ross as they explore perspective and the role it plays when approaching and telling stories that are not your own.
Michael has been a journalist for two decades, including long stints at the CBS News global hub in New York City, as a producer and director with Fusion Media Group, and as a documentary filmmaker. His documentary feature Betrayal at Attica is available on HBOMax, and he is a producer of the groundbreaking short documentary When I Close My Eyes, debuting on the Independent Lens label in 2024. Hull is co-founder and producer of the Black Diplomats media non-profit organization with Terrell J. Starr, and producer/co-host of the podcast A Very Good Year with Jason Bailey. He currently runs the independent production company Fifth Column Films with his wife Morgan and spends most of his time feeding two kids, two cats, a dog, and several parents.
Kolby Ross is a youth mentor from Portland. He spent most of his youth in the foster care system and was a victim of racially-motivated gun violence. Kolby has dedicated himself to exploring the root causes of the problems that plague his generation so he can help today’s kids find a better path.
Connection
Amelia works to advance equity and accessibility through art, zine-making, and community-building. A special education teacher with Portland Public Schools, Amelia is also a self-taught analog photographer and a skateboarder.
Amelia uses her zines as a medium for addressing issues that impact her communities. In 2016, she began creating skate zines with the aim of increased representation of nontraditional skateboarders and the dismantling of patriarchal structures in skate culture. Her stand-alone zine, “The Closing of a Corner Store,” examines the harms of late-stage capitalism through the voices and stories of her neighbors as they grapple with closure of a neighborhood pharmacy. Amelia’s zines are published by Microcosm Publishing and distributed world-wide. Her photographs have been displayed in the Blue Sky Gallery drawers exhibit, at LightBox Photographic Gallery, and on the cover of the summer 2019 issue of Oregon Humanities magazine. She co-created a workshop series for men in the skate scene about dismantling the patriarchy. In 2020, she had the particular honor of collaborating with Team Indigenous Roller Derby and Mika Martinez for a special issue of her zine, “Smash the Skatriarchy.” The project was featured in an OPB Art Beat episode.
Hassan is a native Angeleno from the Eastside. He grew up street skating everything from backyard pools in Glendale to the jump ramps and ledges of Venice. After working for SLAP Magazine in San Francisco for four years, Hassan returned to LA to follow his passion for film-making. He started out working in the late 90s hip hop music video and commercial era. Hassan progressed forward in the commercial world for many years then found agency in the horror film genre with director Rob Zombie. Hassan's talents were next called upon by the television network establishment to operate on primetime shows “Super Store” and “The Unicorn.” Hassan’s passion for skateboarding and photography has never waned. If he's not shooting a music video or commercial you can probably find him at his local skatepark.
Resilience
Miss Lopez Media is a self-taught photographer currently residing in Oakland, California. She's passionate about capturing the Cali Lowrider scene, Bay Area culture and topics important to her, including activism, Black Brown and Indigenous small owned businesses. Her work is aimed at pushing the culture forward and documenting moments in time. Currently, Renee is working on a series called Alters 444 Mommas, a project close to her heart as a single mom, that highlights and honors the Matriarchs of families. Her photography focuses on capturing her life through her lens, and she inspires other woman and girls to take out their camera and capture whatever they may love or whatever is going on in their city. She says, "Don’t worry about it being perfect if it tells a story and it’s meaningful to you that’s what matters most."
Mika Martinez (they/she) is a visual storyteller, educator, and recorder of history with a passion for trauma-aware informed storytelling. A Queer Chingona and second-generation Mexican American, Mika is the owner of M.Martinez Photo and has created multiple photographic essays connecting to gender, identity, social justice movements, and historical documentation. Mika is a member of Photographers Without Borders, an Up and Coming Member of Diversify Photo, as well as Arts Administrators of Color, and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures member.
Their work challenges conventional ideas by centering bold perspectives that defy ideas around gender, identity, beauty, and social expectations. She presents broad narratives around people, ideas, and concepts. Her passion for trauma-aware storytelling and authentic representation has led Mika to create works that incorporate photography, and videography, including published pieces that have been nationally recognized and archived. Sharing their knowledge and experience with creators of all backgrounds, Mika is teaching artist with Arts for Learning NW, and the Center For Community Arts in Walnut Grove, California.
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Event Resources and ActivITIES
Resource Bag
Ticket Info: The event invites creators of all levels to participate in this important conversation about establishing a more ethical community of storytellers in Portland. Tickets are structured to ensure accessibility for creators of all backgrounds to attend with those with the most access at the top tier. Every ticket is tax deductible and guarantees entry to the conversation, a unique resource guide created for the event, 2 tacos from Chilango, and a raffle ticket (valued at $10).
Two third of the tickets are FREE or discounted for creators who have the least amount of access and representation in the industry. With the remaining third reserved for creators who are most dominant within the film and photography industry.
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Event Resources and ActivITIES
Resource Bag
Chilango is a proud woman-owned vegan restaurant that merges the rich flavors of Mexico City, with the vibrant community of Portland. They fuse tradition and innovation in every dish. Their meticulous preparation, ingredient selection, and innovative cooking methods, ensuring that each bite captures the essence of its non-vegan counterpart.
A curated menu for the evening will be available throughout the event for folks to enjoy at any time. Every ticket includes 2 FREE Tacos. Additional items will be for available for purchase throughout the evening.
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Event Resources and ActivITIES
The Raffle
Win Some Free Stuff: Everyone has a chance to win a raffle prize. Included in each ticket, is one raffle ticket. Additional tickets can be obtained during the event for a $10 each. All ticket sales are tax deductible and will support the work Don't Shoot Portland does for the community.
Raffle Sponsors:
- Pro Photo Supply
- Shutterbug
- Gonzales Wine
- Be Abundant Bodywork
- The Pharmacy Bar & Grill
- And MORE!!
Event schedule
4-8pm
Check-In
4 pm-4:15 PM
Grab your bag, select which two artist conversations you'll take part in, and check out the community boards before the main conversation begins.
Main COnversation
4:15 -5:15 pm
Welcome! Meet the featured artists and let the discussion begin.
Breakout Group 1
5:30 -6 pm
Led by a featured artist, groups will discuss ideas, challenges, practices, and ethics around the featured artist's creative process and the ethics and practice around it.
Breakout Group 2
6:15-6:45 PM
Build on the discussion that the first group generated and add/expand on the ideas/ practices/ challenges expressed.
Main ConverSATION cont.
7 PM-7:45 PM
Join all the featured artists as they discuss what was generated during their group discussions. Ask questions and contribute to the conversation.