Welcome to UpstARTpdx!

Posted on October 21, 2011 by

Our mission is to fight human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of all kinds by providing creative and income-generating opportunities to women marginalized by the sex industry, homeless, or drug addiction. We do this through collecting and repurposing unwanted jewelry, fabric, and other fashion accessories.

Here are some events you should know about:

1) Our official public launch will be at Mag-Big in Southeast Portland on Saturday, February 25. We’ll be selling and celebrating from 11-6, and opening ceremonies will begin at 4 pm, with guest speakers Multnomah County Commissioner Diane McKeel, survivor-activist Jeri Williams, and other special guests. This is a great opportunity to support upstARTpdx while at the same time discovering this wonderful artists’ collective.

2) UpstART Creations Yoga Bags! Our latest creation is a designer yoga bag made from upcycled fabric, neckties, and scarves. You can make one yourself in a special sewing class at Breedom Public Sewing House on February 25 at 2 or 3. See the Breedom website for more information.

3) SE Portland Art Walk, March 3rd and 4th, is a fabulous annual event. This year UpstARTpdx will have a table at the group site at 2800 SE Harrison on both days from 10 am to 5 pm. We’ll have items for sale and a chance for visitors to make jewelry of their own.

4) YOUR big event! We always need volunteers and hosts for our Creative Co-Ops. Want to know more? Contact us.

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An Artist Reflects

Posted on August 15, 2011 by

Here are some notes from LeRoy Goertz, artist-in-residence at Saint David of Wales Episcopal Church, who photographed these UpstART Creations:

When people see a pile of beads they start playing with them. Then something happens and another bead or components are joined together with other parts of the gleanings from the table. People who have never before known that they could create start doing things that they never imagined they could do. This magic is shared with marginalized women and our dream is that empowerment will happen for them as they discover creativity that they never dreamt that they had or had buried it as a result of the difficulties that life has brought them. These are a few of the pieces that the design folks at UpstARTpdx have created.

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What they’re saying about creative co-ops….

Posted on August 15, 2011 by

For the past three Friday evenings, upstARTpdx volunteers have brought creative co-ops to Rahab’s Sisters on SE 82nd Avenue. Here are a few words from the Rahab’s Sisters team leaders:

It was fantastic.  We had several guests stay the full 3 hours.  We had most guests and some of the volunteers beading, kids also beading and a friendly pup laying in the middle of the room.  Like one big happy family.

The activity has a wonderful, calming effect.  People sat talking and beading and being friendly.  People made beautiful things and appreciated each other’s handiwork.  Jewelry making is “the bomb!”.

We want to make creative co-ops available to women for whom creative work in the company of other women is normally a luxury. We are particularly interested in bringing creative co-ops into facilities where women trying to transition out of the sex industry are being cared for. We bring materials, volunteers, and refreshments, and it’s all free! Women donate some of their new creations back to upstARTpdx as they are so moved, and these are sold along with other UpstART Creations and all profits reinvested into this creative process. Contact us to learn more.

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Notes from the front lines

Posted on August 5, 2011 by

Want to know what a creative co-op is really like? Here’s Emily’s description of last Friday’s first event at Rahab’s Sisters:

Women & Jewelry, seems like a natural fit, doesn’t it?  The warm summer evening and the lively atmosphere inside the church on 82nd kept us all having fun until well past ten o’clock last Friday night.  For women whose lives are not usually characterized by words like “fun” and “easy”  providing a creative outlet was a welcome change.  Many women said that they had done beading in the past, and I was amazed at how many women stayed LONG after their meals were done – or in some cases forgot to touch their food because they were so caught up in the crafting!

Inviting the women of Rahab’s Sisters into this creative work also invited a wealth of positive feedback and camaraderie. The joy of creating was evident on everyone’s faces.  It was a level playing field last night.  We were all women, enjoying one another, enjoying beauty, enjoying creation and encouraging each other all along the way. 

As each woman wandered back out into the night, I heard several promises of returning for the next jewelry event.  It made me think that something more than beautiful necklaces and bracelets was created last Friday night.

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