GIANT Balloon Installation @ Portland Playhouse 9/10-18

602 near NE Prescott, Portland OR

10 September, 2021

Description

“Giant balloon art installation 
launches nine day art experience 
“Joy (Comes) in the Mourning” at Portland Playhouse SEPTEMBER 10-18” "Portland’s Best Balloon Artist” Kameron Messmer will create a gigantic balloon art installation spelling “JOY”. His creation will jump start a nine day art experience exploring and celebrating the rituals of loss and grief through different mediums such as dialogue, song, dance, and music. This must see event will be hosted by Portland Playhouse’s Community Program. "This giant installation will spell out “JOY” with balloons, but the negative space will be empty. I want kids and families and strangers to come across this giant, colorful, unexpected symbol of joy and spread it to others online. My goal is for people to take pictures of themselves inside of the sculpture, literally bringing the sculpture to life with joy. Filling in the missing void with themselves and spreading it to others.” -Kameron Messmer “It’s understandable given the dismal series of events that have taken place this year; the historic violence against Black bodies, the loss of lives from COVID-19 stretching into the millions worldwide, which has also disproportionately affected Black, Brown and Indigenous people of color, as well as the mental health repercussions on  individuals and families during this pandemic.      Most of us are hurting, and experiencing the weight and complexities surrounding loss; albeit a loved one, a home, performance gig, political voice, finances. We cannot discard 2020 as if it never happened.   I’ve invited artists, healers, dancers, faith-based leaders, singers, musicians and community groups to join me in this moment to reconnect to mourning traditions and rituals, to share in the practices acknowledging loss of our contemporaries, to express our grief in an open and unrestrained way. While this is not an answer to all of our woes, I would like to invite those of you so moved, to join us as we curate a sacred space to wail, release and mourn-unapologetically.” – Ramona Lisa Alexander
 -Community Programs and Associate Artistic Director Portland Playhouse Join Portland Playhouse in it’s nine day celebration of joy through multiple artists with dialogue, balloons, song, dance, music, food and more. September 10th-18th, 2021 All events are free and are open to the public except where noted. Due to capacity restrictions, please sign up to the events you plan to attend.  All visitors are required to wear masks covering nose and mouth while in any indoor and outdoor space at the Playhouse.  Safe distancing is required when attending an event where food is served. www.kameronmessmer.com