The Lovers play Friday night at Someday Lounge
The Siren Nation Festival is a celebration of woman-fueled art, music, film, and knowledge. If that sounds like a lot, it is. Beginning with a kick off festival this Thursday the 5th at Olympic Mills Building (107 SE Washington). This free, all ages event from 6-10pm will feature the DJ talents of DJ Safi and DJ Tender and some spontaneous performance art throughout the night. “The Journey” is Siren Nation’s annual fine arts exhibit. Through a variety of media “The Journey” expresses, both the overall journey of women and the personal journey of over 50 Portland Artists.
The fest continues Friday and Saturday at the Someday Lounge (125 NW 5th) with two great rock shows. Friday night gives us Grey Anne, Star Anna, Emily Wells and my new local favorite Lovers. Saturday has an equally interesting line-up of The I’s, Y La Bamba, Tender Forever, Sallie Ford and The Sound Outside.
Saturday afternoon should also be an interesting Siren Nation experience when the fest becomes one of film at the Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy). The five flicks, screening from noon-5:30 are all documentaries directed by women and showcasing female pioneers in politics, performance, poetry and partisanship.
12:00 p.m. Pasty Mink: Ahead of the Majority (57 minutes)
1:10 p.m. Ferron: Girl on a Road (73 minutes)
2:40 p.m. Ridin’ & Rhymin’ (57 minutes)
3:50 p.m. Storm Large Video “Eight Miles Wide” (5 minutes)
Left Lane: On the Road with Folk Poet Alix Olson (93 minutes)
SN’s Sunday lineup ends on a calmer, craft and knowledge based note with a craft fair market and free workshops at the McMenamins Kennedy School (5736 NE 33rd). Ranging from handmade fashion to mixed media art to tarot readings this marketplace is surely a refreshing shift to the unique and genuine lady-centric business. Especially eye-catching is the digital artwork of Kalina Torino and the creative and cute crochet designs of Lever & Lace.
There are 4 sessions of workshops, 11:00 am – 12:15 pm, 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm, 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm and 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm. Highlights include electronic music making, documentary filmmaking, tribal belly dancing with Gypsy Caravan, food fermentation and making duct tape wallets.
