Vanport Mosaic In The Headlines
A Decade of Memory Activism in the Words of the Press
Place-Based Memory Activism: COMING HOME in Old Town
Vanport Mosaic organizes week of activations to reimagine historic Old Town
The Oregonian – September 18, 2024 | By Lizzy Acker
COMING HOME is an opportunity to deeply consider how our communities can unite to create a future that honors and safeguards Portland’s cultural heritage.
Coming Home: Reviving Old Town Portland’s rich and diverse history
Oregon ArtsWatch – September 26, 2024 | By Marty Hughley
Vanport Mosaic’s activations are reclaiming memory, honoring legacy, and amplifying cultural resilience in Portland’s Old Town through performance, exhibits, and storytelling.
History books to binoculars: Tour uses birdwatching to explore history of Vanport
The Oregonian – May 2023
An innovative tour that combines birdwatching with historical exploration to delve into the history of Vanport.
Vacant Portland Storefronts Become Canvases for New History Exhibit
Portland Monthly – June 5, 2021 | By Cami Hughes
The “History Is Now” project, part of the sixth Vanport Mosaic Festival, transformed vacant storefront windows in the North Park Blocks into displays depicting Oregon’s history through the voices of its underrepresented and marginalized communities.
Festivals as Acts of Resistance and Remembrance
Remembering is an act of resistance: 9th annual Vanport Mosaic Festival preserves the history of Vanport
Here is Oregon – May 2024 | By Chiara Profenna
This article highlights the significance of the 9th annual Vanport Mosaic Festival in preserving the history of Vanport.
‘Remembering is an act of resistance’
The Oregonian – May 27, 2024 | By Shane Dixon Kavanaugh
The annual festival is a highlight of Portland’s cultural calendar, blending history, culture, arts and activism into a living and highly creative memorial.
Remembering the Vanport flood and Portland's history of internment
Street Roots – June 1, 2023 | By Caroline Arya
The Vanport Mosaic Festival serves as a platform for 'memory activism,' celebrating and commemorating the historic city and its diverse communities.
Vanport Commemoration Combats 'Collective Amnesia'
OPB – May 22, 2019
The festival keeps the memory of Vanport alive and challenges the dominant historical narrative.
Vanport Mosaic Festival Honors Memories Of A Multi-Cultural City
OPB – May 28, 2018
The festival includes tours, screenings, reunions, and intergenerational dialogue, offering a vibrant remembrance of Vanport.
Vanport Fest to Educate, Honor Memory of Flooded City
Portland Tribune – May 21, 2018
Vanport Mosaic’s efforts to keep the history of the flood and its community impact visible.
Art as Historical Interpretation
New play celebrates Kent Ford, co-founder of Portland's Black Panther Party
OPB – June 17, 2022 | By Allison Frost
The Vanport Mosaic and Confrontation Theatre present a solo play, “Walking Through Portland with a Panther: The Life of Mr. Kent Ford. All Power!” honoring the legacy of Kent Ford and the Black Panther Party's impact in Portland.
Left Hook to Displacement
Portland Observer – May 15, 2018
A feature on Damaris Webb’s performance highlighting racial displacement and resistance.
New Paintings by Henk Pander Depict the Flood That Destroyed Vanport
Portland Monthly – May 21, 2018
Dutch artist Henk Pander reflects on the trauma of the Vanport flood in vivid detail.
State of Wonder: Interviews with Damaris Webb & Henk Pander
OPB – May 2018
A radio feature exploring artistic interpretations of Vanport’s legacy through interviews and sound.
Digital Preservation & National Visibility
Portland becomes first Northwest city featured on the Google Arts and Culture platform
The Oregonian – April 2024
Vanport Mosaic’s digital exhibit was featured in the Profoundly Portland project, highlighting the city’s diverse cultural heritage and hidden histories.
Response & Resilience: Adapting During COVID
A flood of memory, a mosaic of the future
Oregon ArtsWatch – May 7, 2020
In response to the pandemic, Vanport Mosaic transformed its public festival into a powerful virtual gathering space for reflection and resilience.
Reinvention: Laura Lo Forti of Vanport Mosaic
Stage and Studio – May 12, 2020 | By Dmae Lo Roberts
An interview with co-director Laura Lo Forti on shifting Vanport Mosaic’s month-long festival into a fully virtual space—and the unexpected discoveries that came from it.
Community History & Place-Based Storytelling
‘A Place Called Home’ Tells the Stories of Black Communities Displaced From Vanport and Albina
Willamette Week – February 20, 2020
A multimedia project exploring the lived experiences of communities impacted by displacement and racial injustice in Portland.
Legacy Tour Preserves Black Panthers Party
PSU Vanguard – October 2019
Vanport Mosaic’s walking tour on the history of the Black Panther Party in Portland fosters intergenerational learning and grassroots storytelling.
A City Transformed
Portland Observer – May 22, 2018
Vanport Mosaic’s work to share stories of transformation and resilience through oral histories and art.
A Story Comes Home
Artslandia – April 17, 2018
The Vanport Mosaic Festival brings together artists, historians, and community members to honor and explore the complex history of Vanport through multidisciplinary storytelling.