On Friday, June 26, from 5-9 pm, please join us for a fundraiser to support ongoing payments on and improvements to the Historic Nathaniel West Building No. 1, home to Mother Foucault’s Bookshop and l'école buissonnière, a nonprofit dedicated to creating the conditions for art, literature, music, and subversive play to thrive. This fundraiser, a rare evening combining poetry and strings, will also support l’école buissonnière’s ongoing and upcoming programs and services.
The fundraiser will be held at Mother Foucault’s Bookshop, located on the border of Portland’s inner-southeast industrial district. Founded in 2009, Mother Foucault’s Bookshop specializes in books in translation, foreign language books, poetry, and philosophy. The bookshop offers a perfectly cozy, unique space to enjoy poetry and string music.
Tickets: Sliding Scale - $10-15. Please RSVP here and pay at the door (Cash or Venmo).
Doors at 5 pm.
Fundraising/Mingling 5-6 pm.
Event at 6 pm.
With Poetry Readings from
Maudie Ainsworth, Ed Skoog, Shawn Levy, Joshua Pollock, Kayla Kennett, Grace, Pablo Murillo-Edwards
Musicians
Hannah Morton - Kitchen Congregation (solo project of Hannah Morton) crawls under your skin and performs in your heart. She writes sincerely from memory and experience using vivid, surreal, dreamlike imagery. She gently sweeps us from the tender to the epic. Every song contrasting, and complimenting the wide array of complicated feelings we all share. There is an obvious attempt at honest self expression, and innovation within her chosen discipline. Her dedication to her practice is apparent in her confident poise. Hannah is an artist that makes those intangible ubiquitous feelings tangible with great effect.
Alexis Mahler - Michigan-made, and classically trained, Mahler has made a musical home for herself in Portland, Oregon. Quieting rooms with her intimate blend of classical, jazz, and folk - she has endeared herself to audiences across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Her music contains thoughtful, elegant strings layered with memorable, and sweetly delivered vocal melodies. In her own words: “Music should be connective, accessible, expressive, expansive, often imperfect, healing - a release”.
The beauty and power that Alexis Mahler creates with her voice and cello is simply mesmerizing. With patient and confident phrasing, a soothing resonance of vulnerability and strength, Mahler has delivered a poignant and intimate EP titled Away that draws us directly into her being. Songs of heartbreak, taking space, rebuilding a life, self care, or maybe — self survival. These are pertinent emotions in a world that is pleading to wake up tomorrow more empathetic than it did today.” — Glide Magazine
Yucky Star - You may know Kate Koller as the player of dreamy cello lines that make you drool, yucky star is all the magic you’ve always known to come from kate & then some. What was once in danger of becoming a collection of unfinished songs is finally making its way to the ears of listeners in portland & soon beyond, and the world is all the better for it. Their stream of consciousness lyrics flow like honey. With distinctive guitar parts in sticky nonstandard tunings you might be tempted to steal.
Emma Smith - Emma Smith is a cellist, guitar player and singer / songwriter based in Portland, OR.
Joe Kye - Joe Kye is a musician and storyteller based in Portland, Oregon. Joe’s music is a tapestry of his many influences as a Korean American immigrant. His latest project explores his roots, melding Korean traditional sounds with everything from jazz to electronic music. Tenderhearted and peaceful, Joe’s work fosters a sense of deep internal reflection, healing, and spirituality. Joe’s recorded a Tedx Talk, been featured on NPR’s The World, and was a 2023 Oregon Arts Commission Fellow.
“You’re a different kind of doctor. A soul doctor.” - A Filipino Mom
Andrew Jones - PDX Bassist, improviser, songwriter, arranger and recording / mixing engineer
Autumn Bradford - Cellist, collaborator and member of the post metal band - Larkspur - Autumn has performed on several pdx stages and become engrained into the PDX string scene since relocating to Oregon.
Twin Bridges - Twin Bridges (Zachery G) is a cellist & songwriter from New Mexico, currently in Portland, OR. Twin Bridges creates live loops on cello and the project features a band of friends playing woodwinds, brass, bass and drums. Twin Bridges songs can be described as pensive, dark and melodic. Twin Bridges will be releasing their second full band album this winter on AudioSport Records.