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We Built You A Garden
Oct 9 - Nov 1
Lilli Marie Everett, 2026, 35mm
We Built You A Garden is the third installment of Metro’s Community Voices, a multimedia storytelling project that invites residents at different Metro Affordable Housing Bond-funded communities to explore the meaning of home through photography, writing and collective reflection.
For this installment, nine residents at the Strong Empowerment Village participated in a summer workshop series with artists Gwen Hoeffgen and Domenic Toliver. They used 35mm black & white and color film photography and creative writing to explore what the members of the community have inherited, what they built, what is changing, and what they want to leave growing for the next generation. The culmination of their work will be on display starting Oct. 9 at The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX, where an opening night celebration will feature refreshments and remarks from local leaders, project organizers and the photographers themselves.
For this installment, nine residents at the Strong Empowerment Village participated in a summer workshop series with artists Gwen Hoeffgen and Domenic Toliver. They used 35mm black & white and color film photography and creative writing to explore what the members of the community have inherited, what they built, what is changing, and what they want to leave growing for the next generation. The culmination of their work will be on display starting Oct. 9 at The BLACK Gallery powered by DSPDX, where an opening night celebration will feature refreshments and remarks from local leaders, project organizers and the photographers themselves.
Exhibition Events:
Oct. 9, 5:30pm to 8pm: Exhibition Opening at The BLACK GalleryJoin us for the opening of We Built You a Garden, with remarks and refreshments as well as free copies of the project’s publication. Open to public with remarks from Metro, artists, and Don’t Shoot PDX .
Oct. 16, 6pm to 8pm: Open Mic with Brianna Renae featuring DJ Afreakano, guest poets and artists at The BLACK Gallery
A conversation about the past, present, and future of Portland through the experiences of the people who live, work, organize, and build here. Artists, activists, community members, youth and Metro come together to consider what we have inherited, what we have built, what is changing, and what we want to leave growing for the next generation.
Oct. 23, 6pm to 8pm: Community Conversation at The BLACK GalleryA conversation about the past, present, and future of Portland through the experiences of the people who live, work, organize, and build here. Artists, activists, community members, youth and Metro come together to consider what we have inherited, what we have built, what is changing, and what we want to leave growing for the next generation.
The BLACK Gallery will be open to the public on the following Sundays from 1pm to 4pm during the exhibition’s display: Oct. 11, Oct. 18, Oct. 25 and Nov. 1. Please email info@theblackgallerypdx.com to arrange visits or student groups during additional hours not listed.
Billy Ballastrassi, 2026, 35mm
Bella Ray, 2026, 35mm
Kylia Golden, 2026, 35mm