Black Cultural Library Open House + Art Build and New Exhibit at The bLACK Gallery!
Arts and education non-profit Don't Shoot Portland is hosting an open house for their new Black Cultural Library located in the Black Memory Lab!
Saturday, October 4 from 11am to 2pm
Come join us in honoring Black literature, art and knowledge passed down by generations of storytellers, activists and intellectuals. Opening this location is a very special milestone for us, as we believe in access to arts and education to empower, inform and inspire. Our library collection is also home to a variety of books highlighting the resistance of oppressed peoples throughout the world, a constant reminder of our shared struggles and solidarity. The Black Memory Lab is also home to our digitizing workspace, where we store archival records and conduct public workshops.
The library is open to all and light refreshments will be provided - we hope to have you join us for this special occasion.
Saturday October 4 from 11am to 2pm
510 SW 3rd Ave Portland, OR
The BLACK Gallery presents a new exhibition, Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock featuring works by photographer Tonita Cervantes
This exhibit will honor the fight for indigenous sovereignty and uplift the anniversary of those who defended the land as water protectors at the Standing Rock reservation.
Please join us for an opening reception this Thursday, October 2 from 5 to 7pm. The exhibit will remain open by appointment on Thursdays through Sundays until December 4.
About Tonita Cervantes
Tonita’s work highlights the common threads that connect people from all walks of life. Their sorrows, joys, and dreams for a better future reflect the essence of humanity.
As a social documentary photojournalist, she takes an aggressive boots-on-the-ground approach. In her childhood, she was always drawn to the underdog and the invisible—perhaps because of her strong feeling of not belonging. Her artistic goal is to capture the unguarded moment by focusing on the window to the soul - their eyes.
She is intrigued by the resilience that emerges in the face of limited resources. Witnessing the human spirit and the indomitable will of communities striving to survive against all odds is both humbling and inspiring.
Today, the country is rapidly barreling at an accelerated pace toward a dangerous and uncertain future filled with unimaginable challenges. However, prophecies from ancient ancestors urge us not to give up, to have faith in the Creator, and to continue the fight for a sustainable future.
In 1877, Chief Crazy Horse of the Lakota people, a mystic and fierce warrior, had a vision: "I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again.”
Last March Out Of Standing Rock, 2017
Satin Baryta Archival Paper
Limited Edition
17x22
Lost Child Camp Stand Off, 2017
Satin Baryta Archival Paper
Limited Edition
17×22
