Page 12
January 18, 2017
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JP’s Custom Picture Framing & Gallery
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Portland artist and journalist Donovan Smith, a leading voice in the fight against gentrification, will
serve as the inaugural director of an artist and residency program at the Emerson House.
Building a Stronger Community
Artist to serve at
Emerson House
Sweet Street Food Cart
on the corner of 15th and Alberta
call 503-995-6150 to place order
Monday - Friday, 11:00am - 7:00pm
Buy one chicken dinner get 1 free chicken sandwich
(Half-off with this coupon -- Expires February 28, 2017)
There’s a new neighbor in
northeast Portland’s King Neigh-
borhood and he’s looking to
shake things up with his appoint-
ment as the inaugural director of
the DIY Artist-and-Residency
Program at Emerson House.
Journalist and creative Dono-
van Smith will helm the curation
of the arts at Emerson House’s
gallery space. Emerson House is
a new program centered on cre-
ating sustainable, strong commu-
nities through arts and education.
The organization offers innova-
tive strategies and programming
through the arts designed to cre-
ate greener, safer, and stronger
models for neighborhoods.
“We couldn’t be more happy
to have Donovan and his unique
talents and deep roots throughout
the city as part of the community
we’re creating here,” says Diane
Freaney, Emerson House owner.
A former award-winning re-
porter for The Portland Observer
and The Skanner, and founder of
clothing brand Ignorant/Reflec-
tions , Smith has grown a fol-
lowing for his “ Gentrification Is
WEIRD!” themed projects and
clothing line .
He knows the importance of
the arts and information in build-
ing strong communities.
“We can talk about affordable
housing, but ultimately what
we’re talking about with gen-
trification, or ‘new Portland’ vs.
‘old Portland’ is the loss of com-
munities,” Smith says.“What-
ever’s been happening before,
hasn’t been working. The Em-
erson House, is offering itself to
as a ground-zero initiative, for
strategies to fortify our neigh-
bors and neighborhoods, through
connecting the gaps in commu-
nication between companies,
developers, non-profits, and our
neighbors.”
A fourth-generation north-
east Portland native, Donovan
attended nearby King School
throughout his elementary years,
before continuing his education
at the renowned Oregon Epis-
copal School for his middle and
high school years. Located at
Northeast 10th Avenue and Em-
erson Street, Emerson House is
centered exactly a block away
from the childhood home of
Smith’s mother.
Since returning to Portland in
2012, after a brief stint at Fisk
University in Nashville, Tenn.,
Smith 25, has emerged as a lead-
ing voice in the fight against
gentrification, and the arts.
Already under his direction,
the Emerson House has been
accepted into Design Week
Portland’s open house tours for
April, and will be exhibiting the
works of Julie Keefe, primary
photographer for The Skanner,
fresh off of her latest showing at
the Oregon Historical Society.
For more information, contact
Donovan Smith at dmsmith106@
gmail.com or 503-756-6128.