Object Stories at the Portland Art Museum began in 2011. It was a personal storytelling exhibition series that interrupted the traditional authoritative museum voice. Between 2013 - 2018, Object Stories became a platform where Portland and some of the Pacific Northwest's many communities directly addressed issues affecting their lives. Exhibitions featured the words and experiences of persons from the homeless and transitional housing communities (2018), the LGBTQIA+ communities (2017), and those from political and religious refugee communities (2016), among others.
The exhibition themes were narrowed down by a Community Roundtable of professionals, hobbyists, and persons with lived expertise. Up to six local persons (novice storytellers) participated in each exhibition. These storytellers contributed a personal story as an audio-video slideshow and personal items to the exhibition. Storytellers could help draft the Big Idea and outcomes for each exhibition, co-create the exhibition texts, plan associated programs, and develop multi-sensory activities and "calls to action" to accompany their exhibition.
One Step Away
July 20 - November 25, 2018
Partners: Outside the Frame and Street Roots
July 20 - November 25, 2018
Partners: Outside the Frame and Street Roots
One Step Away was a focused look at the compound and growing issue of housing insecurity and homelessness in Portland from the perspective of persons with lived experience to humanize the storytellers, build empathy in the listener, and introduce visitors to support resources.
Example video:
One Step Away
Audio and video for this exhibition were produced by youth and mentors from Outside the Frame with the guidance of myself and Jon Richardson, PAM's Photographer/Videographer.
Click here for all videos in the exhibition.
Audio transcript forthcoming.
Additional media:
Symptoms of invisible disabilities are not often observed, leaving those living with these disabilities easily judged, dismissed, and left feeling unvalidated. Invisible Me questions conventional perceptions of disability by surfacing these conditions to break down their attached stigma, fear, and shame.
Example exhibition copy:
Introduction Panel - Invisible Me
Example video:
Invisible Me
Invisible Me
Click here for all videos in the exhibition.
Audio transcript forthcoming.
Igniting Voices
September 2, 2017 - February 4, 2018
September 2, 2017 - February 4, 2018
Partners: CASA, Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon, and APANO
Igniting Voices spotlit Portland activists and advocates working across the spectrum of local agencies to inform, encourage, and inspire others to ignite change and create more inclusive communities.
Object Stories participant Luann Algoso provided opportunities within the exhibition for visitors to engage in community action and curated a list of organizations supporting various communities across the state.
Example exhibition copy:
Object Label - Igniting Voices
Object Label - Igniting Voices
Example video:
Igniting Voices
Igniting Voices
Click here for all videos in the exhibition.
Audio transcript forthcoming.
Combat Paper
June 3 - August 27, 2017
Partners: Combat Paper and Portland State University Veterans Resource Center
June 3 - August 27, 2017
Partners: Combat Paper and Portland State University Veterans Resource Center
This eponymous exhibition demonstrated the work of Combat Paper, a non-profit arts organization that unites veterans, active duty military, and civilians in communal dialogue and creative making to reframe how we think about war and military service.
Example exhibition copy:
Introduction Panel and Object Label - Combat Paper
Introduction Panel and Object Label - Combat Paper
Example audio:
Combat Paper
Combat Paper
Audio transcript forthcoming.
artNOW!: Living in the Present
May 21 - September 18, 2016
Partners: Oregon Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association
May 21 - September 18, 2016
Partners: Oregon Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association
Living in the Present introduced visitors to participants in the museum's artNOW! program for persons living with dementia and their caregivers, and demonstrated how engaging multiple senses through group art making can stimulate brain function and improve psychological well being.
*This exhibition was co-curated with Sarah Lampen, PAM's Docent and Access Programs Manager.
Example audio:
Living in the Present
Living in the Present
Audio transcript forthcoming.
Project Lead
2013-2018
Duties included:
Conceive exhibitions, seek out community stakeholders and exhibition participants, organize and run community roundtables and participant workshops, interview participants, record and edit interviews, co-write exhibition text with participants, guide participant creation of interactives and programs, collect artifacts, manage exhibition calendar, and oversee design and installation of exhibitions.