Virgin birth of artworks is something artists do all the time. Whoops, where did that come from?
This is also the eighth year a group of artists have interpreted the nativity - www.xhurch.net/photomatrix.html. Each year has a big conceptual theme. A favorite was the alien nativity scene. Jesus was an alien, right?
Transformation and memorial is this year's theme. There is a lot of white in the space and the music schedule is freeform - want to play music - do it!
The Xchurch has a fascinating history. It was a synagogue. In 1948, the Vanport flood displaced African Americans to the Alberta neighborhood. Alberta was one of the small areas allowed for African Americans to buy homes under the Red Line system. It reminds the South African Bantu act of 1913. Apartheid.
The Red Line system was a product of the federal Home Owners' Loan Association project. But in South Africa, the white South Africans out-flanked the government and sold homes in white-only areas to African South Africans. An example is the Johannesburg suburb of Rosebank. We used it as an elections disaster recovery site where all races of election staff would not be questioned. We laid disinformation that the secure disaster site was in Sandbank, a wealthy gated white suburb of Johannesburg.
In 1952, that Jewish congregation sold the Xchurch to an African American Christian church.
But there was an anti-Negro force opposing an African American church there. The brave synagogue overcame it.
Lately it has been a rare artist live-work-perform space, amid Portland escalating rents. I'm sure there are several layers there.
Now it may be converted back to its use as a synagogue by new gen Jews.
Is that an Xxhurch? That's much better than an apartment block.
This is a great opportunity to chat with artists in chill space.
NTVTY VIII https://www.facebook.com/events/222370621638553/ at Xhurch xhurch.net 4550 NE 20th. Map 7PM-9+
