Room for Conversation features rare, one of a kind works by Ernie Barnes, Julian Gaines, Faith Ringgold, Isaka Shamsud-Din and Kara Walker, all from The BLACK Gallery powered by Don’t Shoot Portland’s collection.
As part of our ongoing archival work, Room for Conversation also features an oral history booth where everyone and anyone can share their thoughts and feelings about revolution, politics, social interactions, and whatever is on their mind. The exhibit is interactive, curated in a ‘living room’ style to create a welcoming and intimate space. The artists featured are champions of civil rights with their works reflecting cultural resilience, Black history and activism. Vintage magazines (Jet, Ebony, Ebony Jr., American Visions, American Legacy) are available to visitors to inspire reflection and foster dialogue.
Open through January 20, Room for Conversation intentionally provides Portlanders and visitors to our city, a place to land. The BLACK Gallery curators are known for developing bystander intervention and anti racist programming through Don’t Shoot Portland and it’s these values that center and inform our space.