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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2007)
44 ÌU StOUt DECEMBER /. 2007 Women Who Make History (and the Women Who Paint Them) Mural spotlights diverse communities by Tony LeTigre he 1,250-square-foot Women Making History in Portland T from their communities whom they felt have mural honors the life and work of 28 women, all living, who made a significant impact on Portland from the have contributed in diverse ways to the enrichment of the grassnxits level. Participants included The city’s community and culture. It is located on the north Urban League, Sisters in Action for Power, facing wall of a warehouse at 2335 N. Interstate Ave. Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement, Native American Youth from women and in so many different ways,” says Pérez, who is a lesbian. Robin Corbo, a Santa Fe, Calif., native who designed a similar-sized and Family Center, Black United Fund of Oregon and Camhodian “Some women are doing community organizing, while others are doing American Community of Oregon. service work, advocacy, working for immigrant rights and so on.” mural last year for the Community Cycling Center on Northeast Community members celebrate the unveiling of the Women Making History in Portland mural Oct. 27. Alberta Street, was the key force in realizing the project. She conceived Among the women represented in the mural are Basic Rights Corbo says she was pleased and inspired by the celebration. “In and designed it, solicited community advice on which women to honor Oregon development director Jeana Frazzini and her partner, K.D. some ways, it was the best day of my life. Many of the women we’d and supervised the painting and unveiling of the final pnxluct. Parman, with whom she raises two sons. The pair made headlines last honored came and spoke, their daughters came and spoke, and peo summer for winning a lawsuit in Multnomah County Circuit Court ple were giving the thumbs-up or honking as they drove by.” “Organizing the mural took a lot longer than painting it,” says Corbo, who is queer. that sprang from the couple’s indignation that the state unfairly After investing a full year in the planning and execution of the And she didn’t do it alone. Her assistant forced them, as a same-sex couple, to pursue a “second-parent adop mural, Corbo, who holds an undergraduate degree in art therapy, says artists were Emily Lux, Jason Greene and tion” of their son Emmett, conceived through artificial insemination. she’s taking a little break from community organizing to focus on a new Sherri Love. Mark Meltzer prepared the Also featured in the mural is Amara Pérez, co-director of In Other job as well as her own skills as a painter. She proudly admits that she per wall for the mural by washing and speckling Words Women’s B<x>ks and Resources. She replaced Sue Burns, who sonally nominated one of the women honored by the mural: Anne it prior to painting. Cara Buchalter provid Corbo describes as “a major participant during the planning phase of Berblinger, a 61 -year-old woman who co-owns an organic farm and who ed the mural’s calligraphic lettering. The the project.” worked for the Economic Development Administration for more than actual painting was done by Corbo and Pérez says she became aware of the mural when Corbo approached a team of about 60 volunteers. In Other Words for sponsorship. She was delighted to be nominated The mural design was a collaborative for representation in the project and appeared as a speaker at the effort between metro-area nonprofits and his unveiling event Oct. 27. torians who were asked to nominate women eatingiout eatingiout 30 years. “I feel very lucky to know her,” Corbo says, “and to experience firsthand the way she has contributed to building her community.” © Robin Corbo T ony L e T igre is an artist, writer, student and fledgling publisher. “It was a nice turnout, and it was great to see so much leadership eating|out eating|out eating|out eating|out eatingiout eating|out E-mail him at antht)nyletigre@gmail.com. eatingiout eating|out eating|out eating|out BELGIAN BEER, BELGIAN FOOD, esï» PORTLAND ADDRESS No Passport Required! J - B re a k f a st>Lu n c h *B ru ne lr F u rigba rÄJb lropìdy< house 'infused mimosas s Portland’s Premier Belgian Brasserie is Now Open! RESTAURANT & BAR Sustainable cuisine deeply rooted In the Northwest. ypf>rltHT& Division 3pm dai‘1^^ 5O3M4 4 SWWÎir Œlje ^Belgian 938 N C ook 503-517-993Í Reservations 503.222.9070 1239 SW Broadway @ Jefferson A u Q ITALIAN KITCHEN + WINE BAR LUNCH DINNER HAPPY HOUR SUNDAY BRUNCH 0470 SW HAMILTON COURT WWW AOUARIVAPORTLAND COM thebelgianembassy@yahoo.com ** ' a . Full dinner menu & cocktails from 5pm until 2 am nightly Happy Hour until 6:30 • I » 306 NW Broadway @ Everett 503.222.GI LT (4458) www.giltclub.com
