‘Winter Lights’ shine twice, in outer East Portland

Visit with us the two locations, in our neighborhoods, that were part of this year’s citywide ‘Portland Winter Light Festival’ …

This glowing sign in a Community Room window lets visitors know they’ve found a continuing event of the Portland Winter Light Festival.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

When the Portland Winter Light Festival (PDXWLF) began ten years ago, this outdoor event premièred in and around the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, later expanding south along the Eastbank Esplanade.

The COVID-19 pandemic held it back, but, as pandemic restrictions lifted, organizers were persuaded to move the majority of the larger illuminated art exhibits and activities, called “Anchor Sites”, west of the Willamette River into downtown Portland.

Of the more than 200 free light-based art installations set up for the 2025 PDXWLF from February 7 through 15, these were the two to be found in outer East Portland neighborhoods:

Lights in Lents 4:
Powered by the People
February 8

Crafters have fun assembling their “time machines” during this year’s Lights in Lents program.

Again this year, the East Portland Collective, along with other folks from RAD Creative Space, participated in the PDXWLF, continuing their Lights in Lents project.

However, with NW ProGear Bicycle Shop & Repair moving into their long-vacant retail space at SE 92nd Avenue and Foster Road in Lents Town Center, the organizers needed a new location.

One of the overall organizers of the event, Jean Fang with the East Portland Collective, shows some of the recycled items that will be “up-cycled” into art, as part of the Portland Winter Light Festival.

They found it nearby in the Woody Guthrie Apartments Community Room, a block away, at 5800 SE 91st Avenue.

“We’re calling it ‘Lights in Lents 4’, because this is our fourth year participating in PDXWLF,” pointed out East Portland Collective’s Jean Fang during their Saturday evening event.

In the black-light entryway, Belinda Gannett the workshop leader for this activity, and Dani who leads a related dancing workshop, show off creative items.

“Following this year’s PDXWLF theme, ‘A Light For Tomorrow: A Technicolor Future’ – we see our future being powered by the people,” Fang elaborated. “So, tonight, for example, we’ve been inviting people to join in our community art adventure of creating ‘time machines’, and capturing our visions in glowing multimedia art,” Fang told East Portland News.

The theme of “time machines” came about as their group brainstormed the idea of “powered by the people”. The overall theme is about “the future”, she recalled. “We think that, in the future, we want to make sure that we are engaging with our community.”

Making crafts at the event are Medeline Defrieze, and dad Nickolas Defrieze.

Showing their Pepper’s Ghost illusion, it’s Morgan Carpenter.

Judging by the number of families who came to the showing, it was clear that there is a continuing demand for these fun, free, community art projects, Fang observed.

Throughout the PDXWLF, volunteers led four different workshops – ranging from other art sessions, to a dance class, to making UV-reactive friendship bracelets.

Pop-up Dance Deejay
Montavilla Street Plaza
February 11

Complete with mini-light show, it’s the PDXWLF Play DJ Pop-Up: Haute Toddy at Montavilla Plaza.

On Tuesday evening, February 11, the Play DJ Pop-Up Bus was parked on the north end of the Montavilla Public Street Plaza, along SE 79th Avenue, north of Stark Street.

Although music was playing, the Plaza was devoid of celebrants. This was likely due to the outdoor temperature sinking to 34° – with a brisk east wind blowing – not weather conducive to enjoying oneself at an outdoor disco.

DJ Tom Kay spins tunes, hoping some folks will brave the cold weather to come out and dance.

Little information was available about this. The vehicle seems to be officially named “Play: The Art Bus Experience” – and was hosted by 2025th Street.

PDXWLF described the performance as: “A roaming visual art & music experience. Join us at different community locations in the Portland area for music, lights, and dancing.”

Offering lighted trinkets and PDXWLF stickers is Ty Givens.

“What we’ve found – and it’s unfortunate – the bulk of people usually show up about 15 minutes before the end of our two hours set,” observed Ty Givens, who works with the promotion. “We hope people are getting warmed up in the local bars, getting ready to come out and dance.”

That’s it for this season. And, we’re still hoping a few more venues east of the Willamette River will be involved in next year’s Portland Winter Light Festival.

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