Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts Community Painting Event
Join a hands-on opportunity to help create Echoes of Belonging, a community-centered public art installation by artist Sahara Aylanna Defrees. People of all ages are invited to participate in this guided painting session in the Youth Tent, "Paint the Story: Communities in Color" at Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts (LOFA). For additional information, view the full event schedule on the LOFA 2026 website or contact the Arts Council of Lake Oswego at artscouncillo@gmail.com or 503-272-1214.
Echoes of Belonging is a community-centered public art installation by artist Sahara Aylanna Defrees, developed through a collaborative partnership between the City of Lake Oswego, Respond to Racism, and the Arts Council of Lake Oswego. The project is primarily funded through a City General Fund grant awarded to Respond to Racism for a public art installation, with the Lake Oswego Public Library selected as the permanent host site for the completed work. The installation seeks to acknowledge and educate about the history of exclusion and racism in Lake Oswego and the region while inspiring a more inclusive future. Through interpretive panels, interactive elements, and community engagement opportunities, the project invites reflection and dialogue, fostering greater understanding and connection. Expected to be installed at the Library by Fall 2026, Echoes of Belonging will become part of the City’s permanent collection, creating a lasting public space dedicated to reflection, connection, and a shared commitment to belonging.
About the Artist: Sahara Aylanna Defrees is a Black, biracial, queer woman who's an artist, designer and joyful disruptor who believes healing and art belong to everyeone. Through their practice, Studio Eden, she works at the intersection of visual art, design, sustainability and social change. Studio Eden exists as an imaginative place - part studio, part sanctuary - where art and design can become tools for liberation and joy. The word "Studio" reflects the breadth of their interactions, a creative space that hosts things from visual arts to design interventions; and "Eden" grounds them in abundance, Earth, connection and the feminine. Creating art is a generative act of resistance and healing that can shift culture, educate, heal communities and amplify voices.