May Newsletter: Where Do We Grow From Here?
Reaching Beyond "Normal"
News and Updates from the Desk of the Executive Director
Dear PHAME community,
I couldn’t be prouder of our community as we’ve figured out how to operate in this half-in, half-out phase of the pandemic. The amazing staff we have here at PHAME is exploring new ways to do all sorts of new things in this new world we inhabit, from classes on campus (what a joy it has been to see some familiar faces in person again!), to hybrid classes, and community partnerships entirely over Zoom.
As we enter the summer, I’m finding myself realizing that getting "back to normal" was never the goal—because we can do so much more. The pandemic taught us that our students are flexible and eager to learn new things, and that we had many people interested in engaging with us who needed different ways to connect. We’re stronger because we keep learning, and now we’re taking what we’ve learned into the future in a exciting ways.
I’m looking forward to seeing our students and staff participate in this new, even better PHAME as it unfolds this year. We’re getting started this summer with a robust set of class and workshop offerings all over the city, as well as online classes and events. We’ll be at the recently-opened and beautiful Reser Center for the Arts in Beaverton for a few workshops (and—hat tip—this fall we’ll be offering PHAME classes there all day Wednesdays). We’ll offer a printmaking workshop at the fantastic new facilities of North Pole Studio, and workshops at 21ten Theatre. We’ll keep working with partners like Portland Art Museum, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Artists Repertory Theatre (don’t miss the premiere of two student films this week at their Mercury Festival).
I’m so proud of our community for their resilience over the last two years, and also proud of the beautiful art our students have made. I want you to see it too. Come join us this August 28 for our first ever PHAME Film Festival, at Alberta Rose Theatre. We’ll be showing many of the amazing films our students have made over the last two and a half years. And we’ll be celebrating reaching further, growing into a flexible, ambitious, committed community that strives every day to ensure that art is for everyone.
—Jenny R. Stadler, Ph.D.
PHAME Executive Director
In this Newsletter
Spotlight on Partnerships:
ART's Mercury Company
Summer Film Festival
Join Us for Summer Term!
Mixed Ensemble Video
Partnership Spotlight: Artists Repertory Theatre's Mercury Company
For the first year and a half of the pandemic, while their stages were dark, Artists Repertory Theatre commissioned the works for new artists as part of a new transformative company called the Mercury Company. The Mercury Company has produced over 90 new works, and we’re excited that PHAME students are part of their latest cohort of creators. Two PHAME students, Crystal Kralian and Brian Peccia, are working with artist and educator Sue Mach at Artists Rep to create two original short films. These films will be featured at the Mercury Festival, in the Ellen Bye Studio at Portland Center Stage in June of 2022. More information about the festival can be found on Artist Rep's website.
Image on right shows animation elements from Crystal's video
When I was young, being able to communicate verbally was hard, and I needed to express myself through drawings. Over the years, that grew. Being an artist, I feel like you can express more that’s not just words.
—Crystal
These two videos will show people that their preconceived notions [about living with a disability] might need to have some readjusting.
—Sue
Announcing PHAME’s Summer Film Festival
Come celebrate some of the amazing work our students have made over the last two years. This event will feature multiple videos by PHAME artists, as well as a few live performances by our Mixed Ensemble.
Ticketing information coming soon!
PHAME’s Summer Film Festival at Alberta Rose Theatre
Sunday, August 28, 3 PM
3000 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
This event will also be available online.
Join us for Summer Term
Summer Term will run July 19 - August 25, and we have a fantastic line-up classes and workshops. If you or someone you know are curious about becoming a PHAME student, now is the perfect time to complete a prospective student interview.
Contact our Director of Community Engagement, Rob Smith, at (503) 764-9718 ext. 2 to learn more!
Thank you for reading to the end!
Check out this great video of our Mixed Ensemble jamming together last week. We can't wait for you to see them perform live at our Summer Film Festival!