The Music That Makes Us: The MFA Art and Social Practice Program at Portland State University

March 13–April 24, 2016

With The MFA Art and Social Practice Program at Portland State University: Emma Colburn, Roz Crews, Amanda Leigh Evans, Emily Fitzgerald, Harrell Fletcher, Lauren Moran, Anke Schuettler, Renee Sills, and Kimberly Sutherland.

Exhibition design in collaboration with Neil Doshi.

The Music That Makes Us is an exhibition presented by the Art and Social Practice MFA Program in collaboration with musically-inclined partners from Kenton, the neighborhood surrounding Disjecta. A cross-section of community members have been invited to expand their musical practice and collaborate on an installation of ephemera that explores the broad range of musical experiences in the neighborhood. Throughout the exhibition there will be programmed events, including temporary rehearsal space, music lessons, and a guided audio tour exploring public space through personal histories. The project culminates with a closing reception/festival of performances by the musicians featured in the exhibition, ranging from local church and school choirs to bands and individual artists. The Music That Makes Us investigates a neighborhood through its music, and emphasizes the value of diverse musical expression within a community.

With Zahra Ahmed, De La Salle North Catholic High School Choir, Dorian Neira and Daniel “D.J. Max” Lasuncet, Austin Green, Robin Gordon and the Celebration Tabernacle Ministry of Music, Kenton Brass, Kenton Church Choir, Shirley Meador, The Obo Addy Legacy Project, Peninsula School in collaboration with Caldera, Heather Perkins, André Roberson, Lisa Schonberg, Norman Sylvester, and The World Famous Kenton Club.

“Without music, life would be a mistake.” – Friedrich Nietzsche.

“One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain.” – Bob Marley.

“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” – Maya Angelou.

“Music is … a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy.” – Ludwig van Beethoven.

“Play it fuckin’ loud!” – Bob Dylan.

Public Program
Saturday, April 23, 2016, 4 pm
The Music That Makes Us Festival/
A day of songs by collaborating musicians from Kenton.

The MFA Art and Social Practice Program at Portland State University combines individual research, group work, and experiential learning to explore critical practice, collaborative social engagement, and trans-disciplinary immersive educational environments. The program has presented projects and presentations at institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego; Portland Institute of Contemporary Art and Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR; and SOMA, Mexico City. Ongoing partnerships include an annual artist exchange program with the British Council, London; the founding of and presentation of exhibitions at the King School Museum of Art, Portland, OR; ongoing projects with Mildred’s Lane, Beach Lake, PA; and from 2010 to 2014 an evening of socially engaged art called Shine-A-Light at the Portland Art Museum, Portland, OR.