Lents’ exhibit joins Portland Winter Light Festival

SEE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO | True, most of this unique event has always taken place way west of outer East Portland. But, take a look at the special entry we found in Lents Town Center; and then go with us on a tour of other Eastside attractions …

People from all over the greater Portland area stopped in Lents to see the first Portland Winter Light Festival display to ever appear in outer East Portland – in Lents Town Center.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Now in its seventh year, the 2022 Portland Winter Light Festival lit up the dark and often-drizzly evenings in early February, offering dazzling displays and unique illuminated installations.

Due to the ongoing the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s version was again decentralized, with exhibits spread across the city – and, this year, several of them were in East Portland

Featured exhibit in Lents Town Center
For the first time since its inception, the Portland Winter Light Festival included a display in outer East Portland. It was inside a vacant retail store in Lents Commons, at the northwest corner of Foster Road and 92nd Avenue.

-2 Illuminated by ultraviolet (UV-A) luminaires, this mural – called “Lights in Lents” – highlights areas of the neighborhood.

Called the “Lights in Lents” mural, it was created by local artist Yathzi Turcot, with help from the East Portland Collective, and members of the Lents community.

These groups joined forces, as they told East Portland News, to “highlight what’s special about Lents, that you might not see at first glance.”

Take a tour of all the exhibits we visited.
Watch this exclusive video!

Eastmoreland: ‘Save the Giants’ Park

In Eastmoreland at “Save the Giants Park”, The Salazar family, was mesmerized by the illuminated giant sequoia trees. They came to the Portland Winter Light Festival all the way from Kaiser, near Salem.

Elsewhere on the east side of the Willamette River — the description of this Eastmoreland installation said, simply, “architectural lighting”. Lingering at the site on Southeast Martins Street in Eastmoreland, we watched as many surprised visitors made their way into this pocket park.

There, beholding the strands of white light bulbs around the base of the park’s perimeter, and the strands lofting high into the giant sequoias, guests stood still for minutes in silent awe.

Brooklyn: Rose City Coffee’s LEDs

In Brooklyn, in the windows of Rose City Coffee on Milwaukie Avenue, this kaleidoscopic patterned LED display often stopped traffic.

An exhibit, in the 3300 block of S.E. Milwaukie Avenue just south of Powell, was called “Action Potential” – an LED Pixel Display – and occasionally stopped traffic; sometimes causing drivers to turn off into the adjacent parking lot to get a better look.

Viewers seemed hypnotized by the illuminated patterns that appeared on the grid which occupied three large windows of a neighborhood coffee house.

Sellwood: Oaks Amusement Park

Oaks Amusement Park participated in the light festival this year; here, visitors stopped to take in swirling light patterns projected onto the “Adrenaline Peak” roller coaster.

Although there wasn’t an event-specific installation at the historic nonprofit park, like last year, the winterized but electrically-illuminated midway rides proved to be a draw.

Kids laughed and parents smiled as families strolled around, taking photographs of these thrilling attractions, even though they were silent and motionless.

Mt. Scott-Arleta: Window art installation

Not far from the Portland Mercado was “Rocket of Desire” where we found visitors, sporting illuminated headwear, pondering this unique exhibit.

At Uplifted Boutique and Maker’s Market, a display at 5404 S.E.72nd Avenue was entitled “Rocket of Desire”. According to its creators: “A rocket of desire is launched: Look! Can you feel your dreams coming true?”

Darkly lit, this one wasn’t easily seen by passing motorists. However, it was interesting to watch the expressions on the faces of people who came to gaze in the window with bemusement, puzzlement, and wonder. But, all left with a smile.

Southeast Industrial District: ‘Silent Disco’

In Central Eastside’s “Electric Blocks” we beheld a mesmerizing display called “Silent Disco”: Swirling to their own private beats, this crowd dances into the night in perfect silence.

Curious about this particular live event, we took in the “Silent Disco Dance Party” in the 200 block of S.E. Clay Street’s “Electric Blocks”.

It was spellbinding to watch, as constantly-changing art illuminated the external walls of a warehouse over the parking lot; there, a throng of dancers were “moving and grooving” – eerily, in complete silence.

Helping out in the Portland Winter Festival Information Booth at the “Silent Disco” is volunteer Zsanrei Konohia.

All of the participants were wearing glowing, wireless headphones tuned into one of three live DJs, who were silently spinning different musical genres only the dancers could hear.

If you missed these Portland Winter Light Festival displays, or even if you saw them, don’t miss journeying around the area early next February to see all the new ones!

At the “Silent Disco”, with her illuminated cape whirling about her, this roller-dancer entertains the crowd.

Find out more about the Portland Winter Lights Festival, and to sign up for their online newsletter so you won’t miss it next year, visit their website: CLICK HERE.

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