ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
queer and lGBTQIXyZ communities of Portland
to collaborate and create New projects for a
process-based experimental music-art-perfor-
mance festival. Not enough! is a festival that has
come out of the desire to create safe, loving, and
inclusive spaces for queers to perform in, while
at the same time strengthening communication,
bonding, and cohesion of those who perform in
the festival. It has come out of the desire to have
queers and those at the periphery create their
own fun spaces to experiment, collaborate, and
learn from. notenoughpdx.com
30
Justout.com
by Alley Hector
Now in its third year, the Not Enough! Fest may seem like any other
queer or punk art and music festival, but it is anything but typical.
Born out of a riot grrl reunion show, Not Enough! is September 7
and 8 at Refuge PDx (116 SE yamhill). In the past there have been
over 22 bands and other performance groups in addition to visual
art and film. It aims to not just showcase these arts but to actively
create them. That is why it is a requirement that every act be both
collaborative and brand new, that is, created specifically for the
current year’s fest. This creates a dynamic and diverse festival that
is constantly changing and tough to characterize.
It also creates a sort of chaos that can be difficult, but can also be
quite freeing. They want to keep it queer and not be penned in
by past experiences and expectations (although they do their best
to make sure spaces are accessible, all ages and affordable). “We
might decide to have it at the beach or in a parking lot [one day],”
organizer Edgar Frias said. “We want this festival to grow based on
the needs and wants and the voices of our community.”
Though Frias and fellow organizers Jen Nigg and Joseph Bonnell
would not call Not Enough! punk per se, this malleability and spir-
it of collective DIy is the most important part of Not Enough. you
can apply to perform by submitting online a fleshed out idea with
fellow performers already lined up or you can meet others who are
interested in participating at the “Night of Possibilities” that takes
place a month or two before the festival. This all-ages social gather-
ing took place this year at the Radio Room on July 23 and is a laid
back way to get together for brainstorming and introductions.
They also leave time and space within the festival itself for people
to mingle and come up with new ideas. Participants are encour-
aged to try media that are new to them. Nigg has been a musician
for several years but this year she will take a seat behind a drum kit
instead of her usual up front spot with a guitar. Ideas about incor-
porating informational or teaching workshops and food cooking
and serving have found their way into the mix. And when you ask
what performances or pieces they are most excited about the three
have absolutely no idea — because anything can happen.
But the trio were able to identify some past performances that
were particularly poignant, such as Wyatt Riot’s invitation to feed
him on stage. The food and body-positive host of web series “Put
It in your Mouth with Wyatt Riot” let audience members stuff his
mouth in a performance that was as silly as it was vulnerable.
In the first year Bonnell created a piñata of his colon with audi-
ence members taking turns whacking at it until it eventually burst
with streams of glitter and ticker tape. Since then the piñata has
become one small Not Enough! tradition to break on the last day;
this year they’ve commissioned one in the form of a chimera, the
sigil of the fest. So bust out the dance moves, the theremin, and the
@ Refuge PdX finger paints because though It may feel like too much it’s really
116 Se yamhill Not Enough. g
Sept.7/8
September 2012
Photo by Horace long
Not enough! encourages people in the diverse
Not Enough!
Fest