This Village Building Convergence will be busy! The flyer with more detailed event information was just released! Each night will be different programing run with allied programs and organizations as well as City Repair. For more information, click here : https://villagebuildingconvergence.com/evening-events
During the day, placemaking sites will be doing street painting, plantings, natural building projects etc… for participants to help with. More information on the sites can be found here: https://villagebuildingconvergence.com/vbc-projects-map
I will be participating in so many different sites. My focus for the majority of the sites is to lead art projects that everyone can participate with and will help ground people in the space and the act of the place-making.
On June 1st, I will be at the Learning Gardens Laboratory and create an entry way more fitting for the gardens than what they currently have which is a chain-link fence. We are envisioning a sort of portal woven with sticks and twine.
The Learning Gardens Laboratory is a collaboration between many public schools in Portland and the PSU education graduation program. The garden also serves the neighborhood as well and rests on 12 acres of land. It includes community garden space, an orchard, native plant gardens, demonstration gardens, middle school plots, various greenhouses for seedlings, reduced water planting.
On June 2nd, I will participate in the building of community gardens, installing infrastructure made by PSU architecture students, and planting planter boxes with the women at Kenton Women’s Village. Kenton Women’s Village is a community recently relocated with the help of Catholic Charities. The women have expressed desire for benches and community space as well as more privacy and reduced noise from the busy street they live by. They are also excited about growing edible plants!
https://villagebuildingconvergence.com/vbc19community-stories#/kenton
https://www.catholiccharitiesoregon.org/services/housing-services/kenton-womens-village/
I will assist in the Alley Activation project happening in the alley directly behind City Repair HQ.
On June 4th, I will assist Marty on the Greeley Land Forest. We hope to attract more people to the space through art elements and color. I will decorate the chainlink fence to add color so people will notice as they drive through the space.
I am looking for paint donations from metro to get so we can paint some old doors on the property, as well as food donations from local businesses for the work party.
Pitch a Tent Event June 8th -9th
Since 2009, Right2Survive has hosted Pitch a Tent, a direct action in response to the city of Portland’s allowance of Rose Parade campers and simultaneous, ongoing sweeps of houseless camps and shelters. This event invites anyone to bring a tent, listen to houseless people speak, and enjoy food and music during the 24-hour event. Volunteers and donations are vital and needed, bring food, tents, flashlights, etc… City Repair is helping this event with aesthetics and a warm feel. We will bring plants, our tea crab, decorations, art projects, and staff.
Curiosity Corner
I will also be helping out with the Wayfinder Academy Site while they do an intersection painting. I will be offering an eco art installation for participants in which the intersection painting is challenging (kids, elders, etc…) This intersection in St Johns is between a college, elementary school and a church. This church happens to be the new potential site for Hazelnut Grove, the houseless village that needs a new home. The church is offering their backyard! Unfortunately, many neighbors in St Johns are reacting negatively to the potential of Hazelnut Grove as a new neighbor, and are taking the “not in my backyard approach”. This intersection painting is particularly important and has the potential of a great impact to change perceptions of neighbors and the houseless. The houseless folks will have the opportunity during this project to begin helping out in their new neighborhood and hopefully change some fear based stereotypes.
https://villagebuildingconvergence.com/vbc19community-stories#/curiosity-corner
The last day will convergence on June 9th with a skill share at Jean’s Farm.
https://villagebuildingconvergence.com/evening-events#/69-family-skillshare-storytelling
For the majority of the evening events I will help with decorate, give information, run ticketing, food service, organization, and general support.
I am so excited about these events. The VBC feels like a true final project, with all my efforts and energy during this internship leading up to this event!
ART & BEA 