Media Release

April 29, 2008

“Wherever I Rest My Head:  How Housing Helps Creativity Thrive”

Opening Art Reception
Thursday, May 1st, 2008 5:30-8 P.M.
Commission Room, PDC, 222 NW 5th Ave.

During the First Thursday Art Walk and the TriMet Street Fair on May 1st, the Portland Development Commission (PDC) will showcase non-profit partnerships, affordable housing projects and the citizens they impact, by turning the PDC Commission Room into a fine art gallery space.

The exhibit will consist of local artists who are currently living in, or have previously used the services of PDC’s affordable housing projects and programs.  This event will increase awareness of the ongoing work of the PDC Housing Department and provide the community with a chance to come together and celebrate the ways in which we strive to make positive change in people’s lives.

The participants’ backgrounds are as varied as the artistic mediums they work with, ranging from drawing and oil painting to rap music and graphic design. Each artist tells a story of their experience with art and how PDC-funded housing has given them a space in which to create it.

"On a human level, this project exemplifies just how powerful an impact can be made when the Portland Development Commission, Bureau of Housing and Community Development, the Housing Authority of Portland and countless nonprofit partners come together and work towards a common goal, one which benefits our entire community." said PDC Art Show Coordinator, Mary Welch.

In a larger context, this event aims to illustrate to the public one of the ways in which tax dollars are being spent.  Not only do artists benefit from affordable and supportive housing, but residents of these projects range from those using rehabilitative services to people who simply cannot afford to pay market rent from the wages they earn.

Opening the show will be brief statements from a representative from Commissioner Sam Adams’ office, PDC Chair Mark Rosenbaum and Komi Kalevor, PDC Housing Development Finance Manager, on the importance of PDC's funding of affordable and permanent supportive housing throughout the city.

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