Music❯World Music

Step into autumn’s splendor as the garden transforms with the colors and textures of chrysanthemums, a flower of nobility and longevity in Chinese culture. Stroll among 81 mum varieties, cascading displays along the waterfall, and sweeping floral sculptures that transform the garden into a living gallery.

From dazzling floral artistry to hands-on learning opportunities, Chrysanthemum Festival is one of the garden's most anticipated annual celebrations—and an unforgettable way to experience Lan Su in fall. Explore this beautiful flower and time of year.

Nov. 5-8 — Nights of the Golden Flower: Immerse yourself in the illuminated works of 18 talented local floral artists and featured designer Toni Tibbits as they interpret this year’s theme, Golden Blooms Upon Autumn Waters. Plus, enjoy gentle music by Lulu Guzheng Studio, dance performances by YZ Dance Academy, floral jewelry-making, and all-ages fun as you wander among glowing lanterns and vote for your favorite designs of the showcase. Sensory Night November 14.

Norman Huynh, Conductor
Steiger Butte Drum and Singers, Native American ensemble
Members of Portland State University Chamber Choir, Ethan Sperry, Conductor
Oregon Symphony

STRAVINSKY Symphonies of Wind Instruments
Michael GORDON Natural History
Grace MIEDZIAK New work (Fear No Music Emerging Composers Fellow, Oregon Symphony commission)
BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21

Inspired by Crater Lake National Park, Michael Gordon’s Natural History weaves Native and symphonic music in this paean to the natural landscape. Plus, hear works by two of classical music’s most intrepid pioneers: Stravinsky’s experimental musical essay on wind and brass sounds, Symphonies of Wind Instruments, and Beethoven’s vivacious and dramatic Symphony No. 1. Native Oregonian Grace Miedziak enhances the program with a new work that celebrates the Pacific Northwest.

One Last Gathering of the Crows. Join Darcelle XV Plaza for the Wildwood: Follow the Crows Farewell Weekend. After soaring across Portland all season, all 30 spectacular crow sculptures are coming together for one final celebration. This free, family-friendly event is your last chance to see the crows in Portland—and the only opportunity to experience the entire flock in one place.

Meet some of the talented artists behind the crows, collect autographs, take plenty of photos and support OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital through optional donations.

Costumes are highly encouraged. At 2 p.m. on Halloween Day, costumed guests can strut, flap or swoop through the plaza in a festive Costume Parade. Prizes will be awarded in both Adult and Under-18 divisions for:

• People’s Choice
• Best Themed Costume
• Best Crow Costume

Admission is free, and all ages are welcome. Bring your family, gather your flock and help give Portland’s beloved crows a send-off to remember.

On Sunday, November 1st, Oregon Koto-Kai, the Japanese Koto Music Society of Oregon, will present its 15th Annual Fall Concert. This year’s concert will feature traditional and modern koto ensemble pieces selected to honor the koto mastery and memory of the late Kazue Sawai. The music will be complemented by beautiful art on stage created by local artist Satoko Motouji.

Kazue Sawai cofounded the Sawai Koto Institute based in Tokyo, Japan with her husband, koto master and composer Tadao Sawai. Not only was she the instructor and mentor to our Artistic Director, Mitsuki Dazai, but her passion and innovative playing style was an inspiration to our entire group and koto players worldwide. Our program honors that legacy with traditional pieces signature to her repertoire and boundary-pushing compositions from the Sawai catalog.

There is an invisible web holding all that surrounds. Everyone has the opportunity and choice to perceive it or not. Call it universe, Spirit, love… It connects one to every person, creature, plant, mushroom, moment, breath, and cloud. The work in Zenyatta’s first solo exhibition, Inner Planes, features decades of visionary collages and sculptures created in tandem with the unseen. Most of the artwork in this exhibition has never been shown. Synchronicity and happenstance inform the work, and if you ask Zenyatta, it’s as if the pieces created themselves.

Zenyatta is a lifelong artist. Beginning in her teenage years, she was drawn to collage. She begins by hand-cutting and meticulously organizing her collage materials through a complex system. Compositions are not planned, but completely intuitive; each collage piece informs the next to be pasted down. In March 2026, Zenyatta exhibited her art for the first time in a group show titled New Buds at the GMS Gallery.

Opening Reception: Thursday, November 5, 2026, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

The Curio | Exhibition & Sale, a collaboration between The Reser and City of Beaverton celebrates the creativity and diversity of regional Northwest artists and craftspeople. Whether looking for a gift or a unique work of art to adorn your home or office, The Curio features dozens of artists in this exhibition and sale. Forging connections between artists and the broader community, The Curio provides the perfect setting to discover creativity during the giving season.

Join us as we celebrate the fourth year of our tradition at our Artist Reception Friday, November 6th from 6 – 9 pm. Spotlighting the creative works of nearly 40 local and regional artists, guests will have an opportunity to browse a collection of unique works of art, functional and decorative wares, and numerous wearable pieces.

IMAGE: Justine Vanderpool

In Smith Claudel's third solo exhibition with Carnation Contemporary, the yard is both a symbol and a physical source material, juxtaposing the enclosure of nature and its display with the control of the body. In this exhibition, temporary sculptures of raw clay, harvested from the artist’s yard, will soon return to the earth. A series of botanical drawings was made with the artist's menstrual blood. And a site-specific installation displays a collection of yard work specimens: a small patch of grass unnaturally maintained, nail enamel coating unfired pinch pots, and plant clippings caught in resin.

Yard Work examines the absurdity and care of maintaining one's landscape, and the tension between being kept and being desired.

Kim Smith Claudel is an artist and visual designer based in Portland, Oregon. Working across painting, sculpture, and installation, Smith Claudel creates work that exists in deliberate flux. Her process-driven approach embraces the ephemeral, the decaying, and the mundane, building visual systems that resist completion. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including a recent solo exhibition (End Cycle) at The Vestibule in Seattle. Other recent solo exhibitions include The Arts Center (Corvallis, OR), The Painting Center (NYC), Mt. Hood Community College (OR), and KyotoBA (Japan). Recent residencies include Building 5 in Portland and the Boston Center for the Arts. She holds an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. She received an MS in Media Arts and Sciences from the MIT Media Lab, where she was a Learning Innovation Fellow. She is a member of Carnation Contemporary Gallery and the WAVE artist collective.

Opening Saturday, October 03, 5–8 p.m.

Internationally renowned artist Pipilotti Rist presents her major installation 4th Floor to Mildness in a West Coast premiere and only second exhibition in the U.S.

Pipilotti Rist dissolves exhibition spaces through luminous color, moving imagery, and melodic sound. 4th Floor to Mildness immerses the viewer in a soft, aquatically inspired environment, where a film shot underwater plays across two biomorphic-shaped screens hanging from the ceiling. A soundtrack by experimental musician Soap&Skin/Anja Plaschg adds to the ambience with lyrics about dreams, love, and memories as the camera catches glimpses of floating bodies. Two projected light circles move across the room, enlightening it with visceral hues. For Rist, this light represents a “desire to turn yourself inside out.”

Rist creates conditions for visitors to come together in unconventional ways so that they might better understand their relationships to one another, their own bodies, and nature. In the gallery, raft-like beds provide a place or visitors to rest and share social space as they watch the projection overhead. She asks: “What happens to our perceptions when we don’t have to stand or fight gravity?” The sensation of floating may evoke a sense of returning to an elemental state. For the artist, the work “describes the fantasy of [ourselves] being an organic plant . . . and simulates our dissolution into water, mud, slime, molecules and atoms.”

Originally created for the fourth floor of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York, PAM adapted the work to the Crumpacker Center with the assistance of the artist’s team at Atelier Rist; production partner Portland Garment Factory, a woman-owned B-corp and zero-waste creative factory, created the curtains, beds, and bed coverings, and Figure Plant engineered and fabricated the hanging screens.

Church of Art's collaborative neurographics is a mindfulness-based creative activity that provides therapeutic relaxation through intuitive mark-making on a grand scale. For this mindfulness-based collaborative art activity, Church of Art will cover a long row of tables with a roll of paper and acrylic paint pens in a variety of sizes and colors. Participants will move freely around the table, filling the paper with sweeping, colorful doodles to the sounds of calming music. The giant scale allows for whole-arm movements, which signal brains to move out of fight-or-flight mode and into a state of mental relaxation and improved focus. The collaborative aspect of this workshop teaches one to let go of perfection and expectation through shared creative exploration, while working large encourages greater freedom of expression.

Neurographic art is a relatively new form of focused, intentional mark-making that uses curved, bold lines, vibrant colors and calming patterns. Physician and neurographics practitioner Ruben Halperin, M.D., will be the guide, co-facilitating this workshop with artist and Church of Art founder, Erika Halperin.

Immerse yourself in this beneficial form of meditative doodling and experience the mood-boosting effect of creativity coupled with community gathering.

Using paper and acrylic markers. All materials and supplies are provided by the studio.

Tickets Include:

• 2 hours of guided creative exploration in a supportive, friendly environment with all supplies included.
• Light snacks and non-alcoholic beverages are included.
• That wonderful feeling of joy and connectedness that comes from a few hours of in-person artistic play with other adults.

Celebrating 20 years of cinema, culture, and community—a very special milestone celebrating two decades of building bridges between Latin America and Portland through film.

Over these 20 years, the stories have made audiences laugh, reflect, and feel deeply, while offering new perspectives on identity, collective memory, and cultural diversity. What began as a dream has grown into a vibrant community of filmmakers, artists, volunteers, sponsors, and audience members who believe in the power of cinema to bring the community closer together.

This year features the generous collaboration of musician and composer José Manuel Aguilera, who has authorized the use of his song "Confabulario"—from the album *Tinta negra y roja*—as the official theme for this anniversary edition. The official poster for the twentieth edition was designed by Gilberto Martínez and inspired by the work of renowned graphic artist Joel Rendón. Its visual power and rich symbolism reflect the creative spirit and cultural diversity that have defined the festival over the past two decades.

Jake Shimabukuro is a world-renowned ukulele virtuoso whose groundbreaking artistry has redefined the instrument for the 21st century. Hailed as the “Jimi Hendrix of the ukulele,” Shimabukuro has captivated audiences across the globe with his masterful technique, innovative spirit, and deeply expressive performances that seamlessly blend elements of jazz, rock, classical, blues, folk, and traditional Hawaiian music.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, Jake began playing the ukulele at age four, quickly developing a unique style that pushed the instrument far beyond its traditional boundaries. He first gained international recognition after his jaw-dropping rendition of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral, introducing millions to the ukulele’s untapped potential.

Over the course of his career, Shimabukuro has released numerous acclaimed albums, collaborated with an array of legendary artists—including Bette Midler, Yo-Yo Ma, Jimmy Buffett, Ziggy Marley, and Mick Fleetwood—and performed everywhere from the Sydney Opera House to the Hollywood Bowl and the Kennedy Center. His most recent projects showcase both his dazzling technical command and his growing focus on emotional storytelling through music.

Beyond the stage, Jake is a passionate advocate for music education and community outreach, frequently performing at schools and benefit concerts to inspire the next generation of musicians. Whether playing an intimate solo show or headlining with a full band, Shimabukuro continues to prove that the ukulele is an instrument of infinite possibilities—one that speaks a universal language of joy, connection, and hope.

Each year, Milagro observes Día de Muertos with the premiere of a new production, altar displays, and community events with the Día de Muertos Festival.

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a long-honored tradition with roots in Indigenous Mexican culture. Día de Muertos is observed annually in Mexican and other Latin American cultures on November 1st and 2nd as a remembrance of those who have passed. Individuals and families who honor this day set up ofrendas (altars) with offerings to their departed loved ones. Typical offerings include marigolds, calaveras, photos of the dead, and traditional food like “pan de muerto.”

Allison Russell is a compelling singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist with strong ties to the folk community. She first made her name in the 2000s as a member of the eclectic Canadian roots group Po' Girl before forming the duo Birds of Chicago in 2012 with her husband and creative partner JT Nero. Taking inspiration from a wide array of sources, Russell's songs have threaded through jazz, country, folk, Celtic, klezmer, and blues to become a distinctive amalgam of her own making. Not unlike fellow Renaissance woman and Our Native Daughters bandmate Rhiannon Giddens, her musical versatility has made her difficult to pigeonhole while also helping to establish her as a linchpin of roots music in general. In 2021, after two decades of musical exploration, Russell made her solo debut with the Juno Award-winning Outside Child. Her solo follow-up, the joyful, Grammy-winning The Returner, arrived two years later. She also made her Broadway debut in 2024, returning a year later with the protest-fueled Annie Lennox collaboration "Superlover" and "Comes a Time" with the Doobie Brothers. Russell's guest-heavy third album, In the Hour of Chaos, arrived in 2026, featuring appearances from artists like Norah Jones and Ruby Amanfu.

Inspired by Katherine Ace’s 9 Portraits, which serve as the exhibition's foundational starting point, Nine Women Artists will feature the work of the artists depicted in Ace’s portrait paintings. All mature artists in their careers and with a significant presence in the Northwest, their work reveals diverse artistic styles, from representation to abstraction.

The painting has rich detail. Most notably on the left hangs Henri Fantin-Latour’s A Studio at Les Batignolles, 1870 (Musée d’Orsay). In this painting, a formal gathering of male artists is depicted. In response to this painting, Katherine asked her subjects to dress in their studio/work clothes as a counterpoint, all of them marked by their characteristic poses. Other Portland women artists are recognized here through their paintings—a small Sally Haley still life hangs in the background, and an Amanda Snyder painting hangs behind Phyllis Yes. And to the far right, we have a glimpse of Lucinda Parker’s very large work. Postcards and newspapers scattered on the floor are the exhibition announcements and reviews highlighting the artists’ works.

An epic portrait featuring nine women artists of the Northwest, Ace responded to the lack of self-portraits by women artists in history. From left, the artists are: Laura Ross-Paul, Katherine’s self-portrait seated with phone, Mary Josephson, Judy Cooke, Phyllis Yes, Sharon Bronzan, Shu-Ju Wang, Lucinda Parker, and Sherrie Wolf. All are women artists who have made long careers in Portland. As Ace notes about these women, “They have tenacity, have lived through sexist decades, told they couldn’t really be artists—only fit for sleeping with the professor, expected to subvert themselves to male artist machismo.”

Doomsday is an MF Doom-themed group art exhibition celebrating the life, legacy, music, and unmistakable visual identity of one of hip-hop’s most influential and mysterious artists. Presented in partnership with Unspoken and More Than February Art Gallery, the exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists working across painting, illustration, sculpture, design, fashion, and mixed media to reinterpret the world of MF Doom through their own creative lens.

Timed around the anniversary of Doom's passing, Doomsday is both a tribute and a celebration—honoring an artist whose impact extended far beyond music. From the iconic metal mask and comic-book-inspired mythology to his intricate lyricism, production, and independent spirit, MF Doom created a universe that continues to inspire artists, musicians, designers, and fans around the world.

The exhibition will feature original artwork and special installations inspired by Doom, including sculpture, collectible objects, apparel, prints, collaborative pieces, and one-of-a-kind interpretations of the mask and character. Guests will also be able to experience interactive elements including an MF Doom-inspired photo booth, music, merchandise, raffles, and special collaborations created specifically for the exhibition. At its core, Doomsday is about bringing together art, hip-hop, community, and independent creativity while giving artists a space to celebrate a cultural figure whose influence remains deeply present.

Opening Reception: Thursday 6 p.m.–9 p.m.

A Tuareg singer/songwriter and guitarist who is known for his innovative and intense playing style, Mdou Moctar rose from a small village in Niger to earn viral success among West Africa's cell phone-trading network. An appearance on an American compilation in 2010 led to international recognition and further exploratory releases on the Sahel Sounds label. After starring in a Tuareg-language homage to Purple Rain, Moctar's sound continued to evolve as he pushed his musical boundaries as a multi-instrumentalist on 2017's Sousoume Tamachek. Subsequent albums like Ilana: The Creator (2019) and Afrique Victime (2021) found him infusing his African influences with wild electric psychedelia and full-blast rock and roll to widespread acclaim. 2024's scintillating Funeral for Justice saw Moctar take a stronger political stance on the injustices faced by Niger and the Tuareg people. A reimagined, all-acoustic version of the album was released in early 2025 as Tears of Injustice.

Choreographer Lai Hung-Chung makes dances of striking beauty and intention. “Birdy,” his captivating signature work for Hung Dance, moves between suspense and explosive energy, between the weight of tradition and the pull toward something new. Hung Dance blends traditional Chinese arts, including tai chi, Peking Opera, and classical Chinese music, with contemporary dance technique and driving electronic music, creating work that is poetic and rhythmic at once. What audiences see on stage is a world in constant transformation, where bodies bend and resist, images linger, and the tension between holding on and letting go becomes the dance itself.

TAIPEI CITY, TAIWAN

Birdy

“…a dreamy sensibility with astonishing athleticism in culturally sensitive modern dance performance.” —Charlie Smith, Pancouver

Sponsored by George & Nancy Thorn. White Bird’s Uncaged Series Sponsor: Ronni Lacroute

The Friday and Saturday performances will have pre-show talks. Come early to hear from the dancers from 6:15–6:45 PM. No ticket needed.

Join us November 3rd for the Hung Dance Lecture Demonstration, FREE with RSVP here .

Mantra, music, and storytelling to awaken the heart. Sacred Dharma is a Pacific Northwest kirtan-fusion jam band. At its core, they facilitate the devotional practice of chanting Sanskrit mantra. The music is colored by world influences ranging from Indian classical to jazz and psychedelic rock, enhancing the mood so that each repetition of the Name can awaken the heart.

Led by Sitaram Dass with Jeanette Kangas on tabla, Clark Stacer on bass, Lance Jordan on guitar, and a rotating selection of some of the PNW's finest musicians.

Sitaram Dass (he/him) spent several years serving his beloved teacher Ram Dass on Maui, where he was shown the path of Bhakti, the yoga of service and devotion to God. He is an author, teacher, kirtan singer, and spiritual counselor. As the director of the Sacred Community Project, he works to provide affordable, free, and donation-based offerings as a praxis of Sacred Community.

$25 Advance / $30 Door

(No one turned away for lack of funds)

Sharon Gan, founder of Heart Strings Mandarin, will lead children and their parents as they sing, move, play instruments, and tell stories in Mandarin, English and American Sign Language. All levels of Mandarin fluency from absolute beginners to native Mandarin speakers are welcome.

Program presented in partnership with Friends of the Tigard Library.

Enjoy a free koto performance by Oregon Koto-Kai at the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center.

The standard Koto is a thirteen-string plucked zither introduced to Japan in the 7th century. It has been part of the Gagaku court ensemble for over a thousand years, becoming popular among the merchant classes in the Edo period (1600-1868). An important member of the traditional Sankyoku ensemble, along with the three-string Shamisen and Shakuhachi (bamboo flute), the Koto developed further in a solo capacity, eventually becoming one of Japan’s most prominent musical instruments. Today, its varied repertoire and wide range of playing techniques provide a rich palette of sound textures, making the Koto appealing to audiences worldwide. Learn more about Koto.

Oregon Koto-Kai is a group passionate about the Japanese koto, a 13-stringed zither with over 1000 years of history. Founded by Mitsuki Dazai in February 2012, the ensemble performed its first concert in Portland, Oregon. Since then, they have performed throughout the state at venues like the Portland Japanese Garden, Portland Rose Festival, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. Their mission is to introduce Japanese koto music to the broader community by providing concerts and lessons. They collaborate with local musicians, improve players’ skills, and contribute to the cultural

Nuwave Runway is a celebration of the Pacific Northwest fashion community and the many designers, models, creatives, businesses, nonprofits, and organizations that make it unique. This year’s theme is “Awareness,” focusing on increasing visibility of the fashion industry in the PNW and highlighting communities and talent that deserve more recognition.

The evening will begin with a pre-show dinner social at 6:00 p.m., followed by the fashion show at 7:00 p.m., featuring over nine designers from across the Pacific Northwest, showcasing their unique designs and perspectives on the runway.
Throughout the show, designers will have an opportunity to introduce themselves, share the stories and inspiration behind their designs, and talk about who they are. Select sponsors will also have the opportunity to speak about their fashion-related business or nonprofit, helping connect the audience with organizations contributing to the growth of the PNW fashion community. The dress code is to wear anything fun and fashionable in your own way.

Join the Farewell Weekend at Darcelle XV Plaza. See the entire flock gathered together for the first—and final—time before the sculptures head to auction in support of OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital.

Adornment is often reserved for the aristocracy. The common person is expected to wear plain colors and utilitarian shapes meant for labor; clothes that blend in. In Loose Threads and Raw Edges, the GMS Collective explores adornment as a form of identity. The exhibition celebrates our artists’ love of color, texture, and responsiveness to material. These creations are meant to be seen and felt. They are the antithesis of the erasure that many artists experience in this capitalist society.

First and foremost, the GMS artists create for themselves. In a world obsessed with production, efficiency, and exploitation, it is a solace to experience art made to fulfill individual creative impulses rather than be commodified. This exhibition asks, “How can I make the most creative impact with the least amount of environmental impact?” In the hands of the GMS artists, simple threads, notions, and trims are alchemized through countless hours of experimentation. Gold spun from rubbish. Discarded textiles are treated like jewels, meticulously assembled into garments and tapestries fit for royalty — creating a kingdom of one’s own.

Funded in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Arts Access Fund.

Show Opening: Thursday, September 3, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m.
Gather:Make:Shelter Group Exhibition

Each year, Milagro observes Día de Muertos with the premiere of a new production, altar displays, and community events with the Día de Muertos Festival. The Centerpiece event of the 31st Annual Día de los Muertos Celebration is Marigolds y Memorias, an original devised production inspired by the traveling carpa tradition, in which humor, music, and storytelling come together in a vibrant theatrical journey. Guided by an elder, a younger generation learns o build an altart, the heart of Día de Muertos, discovering the meaning behind each of its elements, from candles and marigolds to photographs, ofrendas, and cherished recuerdos. Through song, dance, and short theatrical vignettes, the altar gradually takes shape as an act of remembrance and cultural inheritance, inviting audiences to consider how traditions are taught, how memory is kept alive, and what is carried forward when we share rituals across generations.

Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a long-honored tradition with roots in Indigenous Mexican culture. Día de Muertos is observed annually in Mexican and other Latin American cultures on November 1st and 2nd as a remembrance of those who have passed. Individuals and families who honor this day set up ofrendas (altars) with offerings to their departed loved ones. Typical offerings include marigolds, calaveras, photos of the dead, and traditional food like “pan de muerto.”

This immersive tasting experience celebrates the creativity, craftsmanship, and intersection between artists and winemakers. Enjoy wines from 50 Willamette Valley wineries alongside engaging artistic experiences, seasonal culinary offerings, and opportunities for discovery throughout the evening.

• Tastings from more than 50 premier Willamette Valley wineries
• Pinot-friendly grazing boards and seasonal bites
• Five featured artists and winery pairings
• Live art demonstrations
• Hands-on interactive experiences throughout the event
• Opportunities to connect with featured artists and winemakers
• Access to artwork from the Portland Art Museum’s Rental Sales Gallery, with opportunities to purchase or rent pieces for your home

Dallahan Returns for a special Community Celtic Concert

Thursday, November 12, 2026 – 7:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Artist: Dallahan https://www.dallahanmusic.com/
Tickets and additional information at https://www.tickettomato.com/event/10185/

Forged in Scotland and Ireland’s traditional music scene, but drawing on the music of the Balkans and North America, Dallahan takes their listeners on a journey. Traversing styles and countries of the world in a dazzling live show, they create their unique brand of World-folk delivered with stunning virtuosity. Having performed in over 20 countries, they have become a veteran touring outfit, and with each album, they continue to evolve their sound, as is evident on their upcoming fourth studio album, ‘Speak of the Devil’, which is set for release in early 2023.

A one-clown kaleidoscope of beauty, tradition, and tyranny — where a pansori diva, a K-beauty fanatic, and a self-proclaimed dictator collide in a hilarious search for identity and power.
In Take Me to Your Leader: The Seoul of a Clown, beauty, ritual, and absurdity collide in a one-clown fever dream. From the haunting rhythms of pansori to the fluorescent glow of a K-beauty altar, Monel Chang (aka Moldy Melon) shape shifts through characters both divine and deranged: a folk diva, a skincare-obsessed disciple, and a dictator throwing themself a birthday party.

Part satire, part spiritual exorcism, and entirely clown, this genre-defying solo performance unpacks the obsessions that bind — from perfection and purity to power and control. With live sound, ritual gesture, and a face full of toner, The Seoul of a Clown invites audiences into a surreal search for identity, laughter, and liberation.

As the trailblazers of progressive Irish dance, Trinity Irish Dance Company has spent 35 years redefining the art form through the vision of Founding Artistic Director Mark Howard. This family-friendly program, featuring live music from the company’s own folk-rock band, draws from new and classic Trinity repertoire. Highlights will include the Portland/Northwest premieres of “Pasture Bedtime, Bleating Hearts,” a whimsical work by Portland’s own Ashley Roland and Jamey Hampton of BodyVox; “Séseacht,” choreographed by renowned tap dancer Michelle Dorrance in collaboration with the company; and “The Sash,” choreographed by Mark Howard, Chelsea Hoy, and Stephanie Martinez. Trinity has sold out stages across Europe, Asia, and North America—a tradition kept restlessly alive through their distinct artistry.

In Buddhist thought, the Tree of Life is a symbol of awakening, wisdom, and the interconnectedness of all life. Its roots reach deep into the earth while its branches extend toward the sky, reminding us that each generation grows from those that came before and that our lives are shaped by the communities and traditions that sustain us.

Opening the PSU Choirs' concert season, "Tree of Life" explores these themes through music that spans continents and centuries. Performed by the PSU Chamber Choir, Rose Choir and Thorn Choir, the program pairs cherished works from the Classical choral tradition with music by a new generation of Southeast Asian composers. At its center is Indonesian composer Bagus Utomo's Gayatri, inspired by the legendary queen whose wisdom and spiritual devotion remain an enduring part of Indonesian cultural heritage. The concert also features works by Budi Susanto Yohanes, Ily Matthew Maniano and Matthew Lyon Hazzard. Several of these pieces will be recorded later this year by the internationally acclaimed PSU Chamber Choir at Skywalker Sound, offering audiences an opportunity to hear this music before it is released.

Your eyes, your ideas, one artwork at a time. Slow your pace in the galleries and join a Look With Me conversation. These 20-minute, drop-in sessions focus on one artwork, just enough time to notice things you might normally breeze past. Volunteer guides invite your perspective, spark questions, and help the whole group see something new.

Sessions take place every 30 minutes from Noon to 3 p.m. Look for signs in the galleries to join a session.

Come for one session or stay for a few. You’ll be surprised by what you start to notice.

Once a month, on third Sundays, some sessions are led in American Sign Language (ASL) and others in English. Every session includes ASL/English interpretation.

Included with general admission

Join Portland Japanese Garden and experience the awe-inspiring artistry of NUNO, the iconic Japanese textile design studio. Featuring vibrant and compelling fabrics produced across eight specific regions of Japan, NUNO’s championing of small-community makers illuminates the breadth and depth of contemporary Japanese textile design. This unforgettable exhibition includes site-specific installations and a hands-on touch wall that will make you rethink your relationship to cloth.

In this Talk, Portland-based mixed media artist Diane Archer will discuss her work, process, inspirations and motivations. Diane Archer was born and spent her early life in Ohio, where she received a BFA from The University of Akron and an MFA from Kent State University. In 1999, a residency at the Sitka Center brought her west. She fell in love with the Pacific Northwest and decided to make Oregon her home. In 2007, Diane was interviewed for Oregon Art Beat and in 2023 her work was included in the Harvard Map Library Collections.

Anish Kapoor: Dissolving Margins, from the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation, is a bold and expansive exploration of nearly four decades of Kapoor’s printmaking practice and marks the artist’s first retrospective survey dedicated to this collaborative and technical practice. This exhibition presents an immense catalog of the artist’s printmaking–over 150 prints spanning from his earliest experiments to his most recent work.

Visit the exhibition, meet the curator, and enjoy light refreshments on the evening of October 22, 5 p.m.

Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Portland. Get your tickets now to discover the music of Joe Hisaishi at The Old Church Concert Hall under the gentle glow of candlelight.

Tentative Program

• Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind - Kaze no Tani
• Laputa: Castle in the Sky - Kimi wo Nosete
• My Neighbour Totoro - Kaze no Toori Michi
• My Neighbour Totoro - Main Theme
• Kiki's Delivery Service - Umi no Mieru Machi
• Princess Mononoke - Main Theme
• Spirited Away - Inochi no Namae
• Spirited Away - Chihiro's Waltz
• Ponyo - Gake no Ue no Ponyo
• The Wind Rises - A Journey (A Dream of Flight)
• The Tale of Princess Kaguya - When I Remember This Life
• Howl's Moving Castle - Merry Go Round of Life

Performed by the Listeso String Quartet

2-hour blocks of unstructured art studio time on Thursday evenings for you to paint, draw, collage, enjoy our collection of art books with a cup of hot tea or coffee (provided), or just hang out and chat in a warm, inviting space.

Friend date? Romantic date? Date with yourself? Church of Art studio is that (alcohol-free) third space to hang out, either on your own or with others. No previous art experience is necessary. If you would like some guidance, Erika Halperin (the studio founder) will be in the studio and available to suggest activities based on your interests and skill level.

If you’re coming on your own and would like some company, Erika will happily spend time drawing, painting, or collaging with you. If you already know what you want to do or want to be left alone to read, write or make art in peace (or with a headset on), that’s ok, too.

All materials and supplies are included to make a collage, sketch with charcoal or graphite sticks, or play around with gouache or watercolor paints.

Come and go as you like during the two-hour block.

Non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are included.

Chai and Roses is going Disco for this edition. From Bollywood to the Classics and everything in between. Feeling free on the dance floor is where we want you to be. Dress up or come as you are. See you on the liberation dance floor.

Doors and DJs at 7 p.m. Drag and performances at 9 p.m., Dancing til 11 p.m.Honoring the QTBIPOC folks who came before — radical ancestors who fought to be seen, heard and free to love. Honor the rich diversity of people within the QTBIPOC community. QTBIPOC folks of all backgrounds and identities, as well as allies, are invited. Come together and contribute to a fun and respectful party. Any form of prejudice or discrimination, such as biphobia, fatphobia, or transphobia, will not be tolerated.

DJs:

• Anjali
• b.d.s.m.

Drag Artists and Performers

• Anna Karenema
• Chiffon Chérie
• D-Day
• Hibiscus Lust
• Willy Wankme

Pop Ups

• ChaiWallahPdx
• Flowers for Palestine
• Jungle Candy Henna

Pop Ups

• ChaiWallahPdx
• Jungle Candy Henna

Co-hosted with Pdx Queer Lotus

For lovers of the strange, unusual and bizarre, the Oddities and Curiosities Expo showcases hand-selected vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses from all over the country with all things weird. You’ll find items such as taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork, horror/Halloween-inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, animal skulls/bones, funeral collectibles, and more. There is something weird for everyone. All items you see at the shows are legal to own and sustainably sourced.

Skeleton Crewe brings together original compositions, reimagined Grateful Dead favorites, and expansive improvisations in a musical journey shaped by traditional Hawaiian influences and psychedelic Americana. The group features Rob Barraco on keyboards and vocals, Barry Sless on pedal steel, electric guitar, and vocals, Stephen Inglis on slack key guitar, electric guitar, and vocals, Pete Sears on bass, and Jay Lane on drums and vocals.

Inspired by Crater Lake National Park, Michael Gordon’s Natural History weaves Native and symphonic music in this paean to the natural landscape. Plus, hear works by two of classical music’s most intrepid pioneers: Stravinsky’s experimental musical essay on wind and brass sounds, Symphonies of Wind Instruments,and Beethoven’s vivacious and dramatic Symphony No. 1. Oregonian Grace Miedziak enhances the program with a new work that celebrates the Pacific Northwest.

• Norman Huynh Conductor
• Steiger Butte Drum and Singers Native American ensemble
• Members of Portland State University Chamber Choir Ethan Sperry, Conductor
• Oregon Symphony

• STRAVINSKY Symphonies of Wind Instruments
• Michael GORDON Natural History
• Grace MIEDZIAK Cascadence (Rizzo-Cummings Emerging Composer Fellow at the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Symphony commission)
• BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 21

This concert is part of Classical Series A, and is eligible for the Choose Your Own Series (Portland only). Concert length is approximately 1 hour 33 minutes, with one intermission.

This pre-concert talk takes place one hour before the Sunday matinee performance.

SUN, NOV 1, 1PM: Conductor Norman Huynh and Rizzo-Cummings Emerging Composer Fellow Grace Miedziak with All Classical Radio host Warren Black.

tell ___ ‘hi’ from me showcases the work of 27 self-taught, neurodivergent artists who live and create in Oregon and are members of the Portland-based Progressive Art Studio, North Pole Studio. This diverse collection of contemporary 2D and 3D works reflects honest creative expression and raw innovation. It invites the viewer to deepen their understanding of the Progressive Art Studio movement and artists working within it, both regionally and nationally. tell ___ ‘hi’ from me offers a warm greeting and a long overdue introduction. It speaks to presence, persistence, and belonging: ‘we’ve always been here, won’t you get to know us?’ … ‘it’s time you get to know us’.

Join us during Hillsboro Art Walk to stroll through the gallery and meet the artists. Enjoy hands-on art activities, refreshments, and more!

After more than three decades, the unstoppable engine of joy that is Pink Martini continues to bring founder Thomas Lauderdale’s mission of multi-cultural connection and inclusion to concert stages on six continents. Presenting a mélange of catchy old-fashioned pop, global color, foot-tapping big band sound, and Hollywood glamour, Oregon’s most famous “little orchestra” performs music intended to appeal to everyone, regardless of age or background.

Performing with a number of iconic voices including the band’s first lead singer China Forbes, the inimitable Storm Large, NPR’s dashing Ari Shapiro, the soulful Edna Vazquez, America’s Got Talent finalist Jimmie Herrod, fan favorite Timothy Nishimoto, and international singing sensation Meow Meow, the “little orchestra” has played on legendary concert stages around the world, including the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall in London, and Bercy Arena in Paris. Pink Martini has released over a dozen albums on its in-house label Heinz Records, including the newest EP, Bella ciao , featuring the anti-fascist title song sung by Storm Large.

“This is rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious. And it seems to speak to just about everybody … from grade-schoolers to grandmothers to the young and hip and beautiful.” –The Washington Post 1 of 1

Lineup to include Thomas M. Lauderdale (bandleader and piano) Ari Shapiro (lead vocals) Jimmie Herrod (lead vocals) Gina Belafonte (special guest vocals) Ida Rae Cahana (guest vocals)

Bells of the Cascades presents “International Rhythms,” 4-5 p.m. Nov. 8 at Salmon Creek United Methodist Church, 12217 N.E. Highway 99, Vancouver. The concert features music from many different countries, including Grammy- and Oscar-winning songs like “Golden” from KPop Demon Hunters, “Russian Sailors’ Dance” from the ballet “The Red Poppy,” the English folk song “The Turtle Dove” and “Firedance” from “Riverdance.” Tickets are $20 for adults or $5 for students. Children 6 and under are free. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Buy tickets at bellsofthecascades.org or buy tickets at the door with cash, check or card.

Portland artist Eva Wrzesinski spent months visiting Blanchet House’s free café, drawing portraits of 22 guests while learning about their lives. The result is "At Our Table", a portrait exhibition that invites viewers to see people experiencing poverty, homelessness, addiction, and mental health challenges as unique individuals with stories worth hearing.

The event offers an opportunity to view the portraits and interview Wrzesinski and participating café guests about their experiences.

Each portrait includes excerpts from interviews that explore guests’ memories, relationships, challenges, and hopes for the future.

Heaven’s Gate (2021)
High-definition 3D 8K video with sound, color; 5 min., 45 sec., loop

A lavish and satirical take on the silver-screen spectacle of Hollywood dreams and excesses, Heaven’s Gate both celebrates collective storytelling and satirizes saturated glamour and stereotypes. The continuously looping video ascends through the seven levels of purgatory, each stage its own unique landscape of visual samples lifted from iconic moments in cinematic history.

Anthology (2025)
Photo–montage printed on wallpaper

Anthology mirrors the way we recall films: as iconic moments, cinematic scenes and emotional cues. By intuitively forming associations between set pieces and characters, Marco Brambilla constructs a compelling “memory timeline”, a series of powerful still images that represent narrative fragments, punctuating the rhythm of cinema across genres and eras.

These curated images resonate not because of their plot context but due to their visual and emotional impact. Chosen for their ability to stand apart, they act as pauses or reflections within the flow of a film’s narrative, exploring how singular moments in film can encapsulate entire stories. Characters and scenes become a visual grammar—pauses, interruptions, and exclamations— underscoring the evolving relationship between image, time, and viewer interpretation in cinema history.

One Grand Gallery is delighted to welcome back Portland-based Ashley Anson for her second solo exhibition with the gallery. Home Sweet Home expounds on Anson’s fondness for found textiles and materials and processes historically associated with feminine domestic labor. Drawing on traditionally gendered art forms such as quilting and embroidery, she combines textiles with painting and small sculpture to create narratives about the unseen worlds within people’s homes. Home is central to her work, a place that can hold peace, chaos, and danger all at once.

Anson transforms personal family folklore into layered narratives, exploring how stories imagined in childhood are remembered, exaggerated, and reinterpreted across generations. Her work also examines gender roles in art, asking what gives a painting masculine or feminine attributes and whether an artist’s gender can be sensed in the work. By combining the historically male-dominated practice of painting with embroidery and textiles, she challenges conventional distinctions between artistic mediums.

Join the opening reception on Friday, Oct. 30 from 6- 9 p.m. In the spirit of the Halloween season, the opening will transition into a party as the evening approaches. Costumes are strongly encouraged.

Featuring guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque, world-renowned bass master Kai Eckhardt, keyboard wizard Oz Ezzeldin, and drummer Sean Rickman, Garaj Mahal combines a century of musical experience to create a wide spectrum of musical expression.

Fareed Haque is a globally acclaimed guitar virtuoso blending jazz, classical, and world music traditions. Known for his technical mastery and genre-defying style, he has toured and recorded with artists such as Paquito D’Rivera, Sting, and Joe Zawinul. A co-founder of the jam-fusion group Garaj Mahal, Haque has performed extensively worldwide and earned recognition including Guitar Player Magazine’s “Best World Guitarist.” His music seamlessly bridges cultures, delivering a unique and innovative live experience.

Kai Eckhardt is a world-renowned bassist, composer, and educator known for his work at the intersection of jazz, world, and fusion music. A Berklee College of Music graduate, he rose to prominence performing with John McLaughlin and has collaborated with legends including Billy Cobham, Wayne Shorter, and Stanley Clarke. Co-leader of the acclaimed jam-fusion group Garaj Mahal, Eckhardt has toured extensively worldwide and contributed to hundreds of recordings. His dynamic playing and global influences make him a standout voice in modern bass.

Oz Ezzeldin is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, producer, and educator whose virtuosity and versatility have made him a distinctive voice in contemporary jazz and fusion. A North African-American musician based in California, Oz has performed and collaborated with renowned artists including John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Randy Brecker, Giovanni Hidalgo, Larry Coryell, Stanley Jordan, and Zakir Hussain. His playing is rooted in sophisticated harmony, deep rhythmic awareness, and a fearless approach to improvisation, allowing him to move effortlessly between jazz, funk, fusion, and world music. As a composer and educator, Oz continues to expand his musical voice while inspiring audiences around the world.

Sean Rickman is an American musician from Washington, D.C. He has worked with Shawn Lane, Garaj Mahal, Dapp Theory, Steve Coleman, Maxwell, Meshell Ndegeocello, Blacksheep, Phil Upchurch, David Fiucynski and Screaming Headless Torsos, Kai Eckhardt, Anthony Tidd's Quite Sane, K'Alyn, Angela Bofill and George Duke. Rickman was lead singer and drummer for Garaj Mahal from 2007 to 2011 and his rock band Big Mouth featuring guitarist Leonard Stevens. He was also featured alongside Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Marcus Miller on the Tribute to Miles 2011 tour.

**Atlantis Lounge is All Ages until 9:00 PM, at that time any minors will be asked to leave the space. Thanks for your understanding!