The Joy Project

In early 2023, Gather:Make:Shelter launched The Joy Project: Re-envisioning Portland with Love, featuring ceramic house sculptures donated by artist Thomas Orr and painted by 100 people experiencing homelessness. Participants were paid for their work at citywide workshops and donated the finished houses for an exhibition and festival on September 9th at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Expressing their vision for the city they call home, project participants activated the plaza with a 600-square-foot installation in collaboration with architect Miles Woofter from Woofter Bolch Architecture. The Joy Project brought together a network of sister nonprofit organizations and houseless artists who work together to amplify their impact and create meaningful change. Proceeds from the auction of the 100 ceramic house sculptures were shared among partner organizations, nurturing a culture of mutual support. 

The Joy Project festival included an art auction, mutual aid fair, GMS artists mercantile booth, food and drinks, poetry readings, and live performances by Portland’s own Pink Martini guest vocalist Edna Vázquez & DJ Anjali!

The nature of GMS programming is collaborative, and we are thankful for all our sister organizations and their participants who supported The Joy Project, including our friends from Rose Haven, Streets Roots, Maybelle Center, P:ear Mentor, Cultivate Initiatives, WeShine, HIV Day Center, BIPOC Village, Queer Affinity Village and Hazelnut Grove.

Thank you to our event sponsors including: The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation, Ziddell Family Foundation, Regional Arts & Culture Council, Killian Pacific, Oregon Cultural Trust, International PAper, Woofter Bolch Architecture, Thomas Orr, La Bonita, Trader Joe’s, Gluten Free Gem, and Sinister Coffee & Creamery.