THE FEMININE ERA

Lizz Ehrenpreis

Lizz Ehrenpreis is a frenetic navel-gazer, perpetual friend-maker, and multi-media creator. Before she became a full-time artist, she was a project manager and communications maven in the WordPress web development world, the managing editor of a semi-popular dating blog, and editor-in-chief for two sex worker oriented publications. She is a proud Brooks Institute of Photography drop-out who still occasionally positions herself behind the lens. She runs The Screaming Doodle and is one half of the On Recovery Project team. She has a passion for art, cats, true crime, cooking, and mental health advocacy. Her current obsession is creating wearable art, and she does so while drinking an appalling amount of seltzer from her home in Portland, Oregon.

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - Watercolor will always hold a special place in my heart.

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Frida Kahlo-- not just because her art is compelling, but because her politics and the unapologetic passion which drove her is something to be admired.

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Don't be afraid to fuck it up, because that's the only way you can access greatness. Don't be afraid to be vulnerable, because that's who you are. Don't be afraid to fail, because all of life is merely a series of beginnings. Keep failing so you can begin again, and again, and again.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - There are two things in this life that are not finite: love and creativity. The more you make, the more you have.

Tears in the Tar

Remind yourself of the roof tarring scene in The Shawshank Redemption. The blood, sweat & tears went into tarring that roof, a pivotal moment of that character Andy Dufrensne, taking a risk. A moment of trusting and asking for trust, this is what Tears in the Tar is as a improv group. Tears are the largest emotions of joy and despair, our toil and hard work as an expression of humanity being tossed in the Tar. Which is the world, life itself. An all consuming and unforgiving sufferable mass that is enduring and seemingly permanent, but inevitably, despite all its rigidity will fade away as well. When tears fall into the tar, when we put it all on the line, it’s the stuff of Life. It is our brief moment in the sun to express our stories, our humanity, and in our case… our improv

• Who do you consider your influences? - The Sunday Service- Vancouver British Columbia

Dominic Harris

Portland native crazy and creative. Lost in time & space. I put the He(art) in art.

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - My favorites are pencil, sharpie, paper & acrylic on canvas.

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Leonardo da Vinci

• Who do you consider your influences? - My imagination

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Never stop creating & never compare your work to others. Just make your art, always stay true to yourself & passion.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - Patience with my abilities

Renée Muzquiz

Renée Muzquiz is singer, guitarist, actor and associate producer for Risk/Reward. She curates Renée's Queer Cabaret, a recurring rock'n'roll resistance variety show which debuted at Artists Repertory Theatre in 2018. Curve magazine has urged their music fans to "keep an ear out for this one," and She Shreds magazine featured her in their #1RiffADay challenge in 2017. She has shared the stage with prominent Portland musicians Jen Conlee (Decemberists), Ritchie Young (Loch Lomond), Jeremy Wilson (Dharma Bums) and Zia McCabe (Dandy Warhols) and currently sings and plays lead guitar in Major Tomboys, her all female-identified David Bowie cover band.

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - Music, particularly guitar and my voice

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Patti Smith

• Who do you consider your influences? - Tori Amos, Sufjan Stevens, Frank Ocean, Amanda Palmer, My Brightest Diamond, Veruca Salt, Sia, Carole King, Joni Mitchell, Sharon Van Etten, Joanna Newsom

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - It's important to make time to create, even if you're not inspired. Someone told me that motivation creates inspiration, and not vice versa. That's made a huge difference for me in how productive I can be in my songwriting.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - Don't criticize what you're creating until it's done! It's rare that I don't like something I've made once it's complete.

D Martin Austin

D MARTIN AUSTIN is a writer, comedian, & accidental activist living in Portland, OR. They have been a regular contributor to The Portland Mercury, Associate Producer for Portland Queer Comedy Festival, & work closely with radically queer and sex positive organizations like SPEEC (Sex Positive Education & Event Center). A social critic with the ass of an equine goddess.

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - Comedy

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - I fear my idols

• Who do you consider your influences? - Kittens, unicorns, & the color green

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Relax. Fame is an illusion.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - To unabashedly be one's truest self

Jenna Vesper

Jenna Vesper is Portland based comic who is a high energy, crass, hardworking, loud divorced/queer/chubby/hairy slut who loves jokes about her dead parents! She produces Portland local favorite Comic Strip, and produces/hosts SMUT, DISOWNED, and the podcast Date Card Pod. She also puts her addiction to social media to great use as the Portland Queer Comedy Festivals Social Media Director. Validate her on all social media platforms @jennawithasmile ‘Seriously, give Jenna validation. She really needs this right now.’ - Jenna’s therapist

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - The mind

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Chris Farley

• Who do you consider your influences? - Margaret Cho

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Probably not much advice as I think my struggles make me who I am as an artist now.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - How to connect with people.

Kayla Banks

Kayla (choreographer) Is from Denver, Colorado and received her BA in Performing Arts and Business Administration from Colorado State University. She has danced professionally with Impact Dance Co. and trained here in Portland with NW Dance Project. She has performed in states such as Colorado, Oregon and New York. She has choreographed for school events, musical theater companies, artists and self works and she teaches dance at various studios. Her hope is to make a positive impact in her community.

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - Dance

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Pina Bausch

• Who do you consider your influences - Any artist thriving and running their own business. Anyone creating work.

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Know that your work is important

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - Give direction clearly, know who you are working with.

Forest Salazar

Forest Salazar was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM where he first cultivated his love for art, as well as a wide variety of other interests which continue to influence his work to this day. Learning music, photography, and ceramics early on in school would lay the artistic groundwork for his passion for painting. The main artistic influences in Forest's life have been the people that he encounters on a day-to-day basis and the common struggles that are shared through the human experience. His time as an environmental activist and hitchhiking in his late teens fueled the content of his early work. This path led him from New Mexico to Hawaii to New Orleans to Portland where he began his career as a preschool teacher. This would soon become his biggest source of inspiration. Forest found resonance in his own artistic approach, as well as fresh and constant insights into the human experience through his work with children. Much like children, Forest prefers to paint "spread out all over the floor" as opposed to using an easel. He attempts to fuse this childlike approach of fun exploration and experimentation with the harsh reality of our modern world. While he moved on from teaching preschool a couple of years ago, he still works part time as a nanny in Portland to help support his art. Both financially and as a source of inspiration.

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - Painting with acrylics is my primary medium but I always love when I feel like a piece calls for spray paint.

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Ursula Le Guin or Richard Feynman (yes, he counts!)

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - I shied away from the art world until recently, keeping it as more of a private endeavor. I would have encouraged myself to put myself out there a little bit more, a little bit sooner.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - To not get too attached to what I'm creating.

Jessica Tidd

Jessica has been working on Portland stages since June of 2009 after completing a BFA in acting from Illinois Wesleyan University. She was seen most recently as "Leading Player" in Lakewood's production of Pippin. Other favored recent credits include "Whitney" in Badass Theatre’s production of World Builders and "Officer Bottom" in Anonymous's production of A Midsummer night's Dream. She spent several years as a company member of Post5 Theatre which predominantly produced Shakespeare (Ophelia, Rosaline, Celia, Viola, Regan, Iago, others) and is currently a member of the sketch comedy group Spectravagasm which has several productions planned for this year. She is a multiple Drammy finalist (That Pretty Pretty or The Rape Play; Defunkt, Under the Influence; Fuse, Caucasian Chalk Circle; Shaking the Tree) as well as PAMTA finalist and recipient (Ablaze!; Staged, The Rape of Lucrece, Street Scenes). You can hear her on the Original Cast Recording for Ablaze! as "Tess" and as the solo voice on The Rape of Lucrece, which she helped to adapt and compose and went on to perform as a one-woman show.

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - Voice and body

Clifton Holznagel

Clifton is multimedia artist with roots in theatre. His latest video experiment allows the observer to be a world builder. Recently he's worked with Defunkt Theatre, Shaking the Tree, The Tiny Traveling Circus, Third Rail Repertory Theatre and has self produced solo music and performance. In 2018 he completed studies at the Institute for Contemporary Performance. He dabbles in podcasting and is still trying to find time to learn how to play the clarinet he got off craigslist. Follow his developments on Instagram @holzbagel.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - Sometimes what seem like the most obvious ideas are universal truths.

Dan Luce

Dan Luce is a puppeteer, musician and interdisciplinary artist based in Portland, Oregon. Throughout 20+ years in puppetry, he has studied and performed internationally under the late German marionette master, Albrecht Roser and American marionette master, Phillip Huber (Oz the Great and Powerful, Being John Malkovich). He is an alumnus of the National Puppetry Conference at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center in Connecticut. Since 2005, Dan has worked as a puppet designer and artisan for the world-renowned Michael Curry Design, in collaboration with clients including Disney, Cirque du Soleil, Universal Studios and Blue Man Group. Dan produces original works of sculpture, puppetry and music from his home studio, often in collaboration with his wife, Tracy McFarland, and a close circle of artists, musicians and puppeteers.

Tracy McFarland

Tracy McFarland is a teacher, writer, and singer of songs and stories. She loves humanity, and the Earth, and laughing at these wild lives we’re all living! Tracy integrates her creative gifts with her studies of energy medicine and sound healing. Her intention is to bring lightness, joy, and a sense of playfulness through her words and music.

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - I love to create with words and with my voice.

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - My husband Dan :)

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Your perspective, your feelings, and your gifts have a vital place in this world. Love who you are, share your gifts, and you will be amazed at how you inspire others to do the very same.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - When I start creating something, it comes to life—it has its own spirit, and it works/plays with me and tells me what it wants to be. I just have to take the time and space to listen to its intentions and take the next step. Creating is a cycle of listening and taking action.

The Snortwhores

Emily Newton has performed as original comedic characters all over the world. She has hosted events, toured two solo shows, and performed for Terrapin Puppet Theatre, Oregon Children’s Theatre, and Dell’Arte International. Reviewers have called her performances “comedic gold”, “a standout clown”, “complete and beautiful nonsense” and “a solo show that’s actually good”.

Jeff Desautels is a founding member of the comedic trio, Box of Clowns. He has toured to festivals all over North America, appeared on America’s Got Talent and The Gong Show, and has performed with Tears of Joy, CoHo Theatre, and is the Emcee of Sir Cupcake’s Queer Circus. His work has been praised as “infectiously joyful” and “A+ physical comedy”.

Together they are The Snortwhores, an alternative physical comedy collaboration.  They push the boundaries of the theatre experience using eccentric characters, imaginative worldbuilding, and audience involvement. Over the last two years they have been working together on Disaster Fantasy, an original airplane thriller in drag.

Claudia F. Saleeby Savage and John C. Savage

Duo Thick in the Throat, Honey began in 2007 at The Atlantic Center for the Arts. Morphing the traditions of jazz, spoken word, experimental music, chants, and devotional intoning, the duo is known for their unique melding of the disparate. Thick in the Throat Honey's work has been supported by the Creative Music Guild, Portland's RACC, the Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon State University, and Literary Arts. They have performed at The Improvisation Summit of Portland, No Fest, Risk/Reward, The Tenderness Project, Sacramento Poetry Center, The Extradition Series, and with other interdisciplinary duos throughout the Pacific Northwest. www.thickinthethroathoney.com

• What is your favorite medium to work with? - We are a duo. Claudia loves performing poetry and John loves composing and performing music (specifically woodwinds)

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Alice Coltrane

• Who do you consider your influences? - Cecilia Vicuna, Alice Notley, Etel Adnan, Andrew Hill, and Wil Offermans

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Stop going for perfection and get your work into the world!

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - Get in the zone

Caitlin Nolan

Caitlin Nolan is a freelancer and an avowed Jill-of-All-Trades. She resides in Portland, Oregon, where, in addition to her work as a theatre professional, she is independently employed as a photography assistant and a personal/administrative assistant. She thrives on creativity, collaboration, and imposing order on chaos. In her free time she likes to knit, crochet, read, write, and cuddle her cats.

Jessica Green

Jessica is native Portland writer who specializes in Poetry and Prose. She was a featured author in the National Poetry Foundations young adult series and has been heard shouting her poems and sad stories around town. She wants you to know she’s really bad at talking about herself but loves when other people talk about her. 

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Yrsa Daley-Ward

• Who do you consider your influences? - Other people’s emotions and stories.

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Stop trying to sound like everyone else and just focus on your voice; your thoughts matter.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - The whole, “write something every day” thing is bullshit. Let it come when it comes and let yourself be okay away from it.

Meg Nanna

Meg Nanna is an interdisciplinary artist who primarily focuses on photography. She cannot write about herself, so just look for her name scattered around town!

• If you could have lunch with any other artist (living or dead), who would it be? - Henri Cartier-Bresson

• Who do you consider your influences? - The world around me!

• What advice would you give to your younger artist self? - Stop comparing yourself to other artists and learn to love your work more.

• What is the most important lesson you have learned as you create? - Let it flow, don’t overthink.