In place of Art Talk Bus Stop this program is a special 3 part documentary short (1 hr total). The show features interviews and original music from three musicians of Montavilla Jazz, Denzel Mendoza, Mary Sue Tobin, and Machado Mijiga. Each musician created pieces inspired by a food cart owner at The Yard on 82nd Avenue, across from Vestal Elementary a "school for social justice." The students and school community talk about how their school understands their social justice work, and food cart owners tell their stories of immigration and love of their cuisine.
The Vestal Storytelling Project is a collaboration between Montavilla Jazz, The Artist as Citizen Initiative at Portland State University, and Vestal Elementary (a Portland Public School). It’s made possible by a Metro Community Placemaking Grant and with support from the City of Portland. Interviews were conducted by Portland State University Capstone students in April and May of 2022, and produced by Erica Meryl Thomas.
The permanent archive of these episodes, complete recordings of original music can be found on the Montavilla Jazz website.
Produced by Erica Meryl Thomas
@ericameryl
worksprogressagency.com