Portland’s Latino creatives shine at JUNTOSpdx Nuestra Cultura

Tucked onto a side street in Portland's Central Eastside Industrial District, the ringing of railroad crossing signals and the whoosh of cars passing on the highway set the backdrop for JUNTOSpdx's Nuestra Cultura (Our Culture) event celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with art and community.

On the last day of summer, creativity was on full display in all its forms: music, dance, photography, painting, screen printing and hands-on crafts of all kinds. Community members turned out in full force, filling the sunny day with energy as people engaged with the art in every corner. When they weren't admiring the abundance of creative expression, they were eagerly participating, trying their own hand at various activities.

"One of the things that I feel is very important to just share is the support that the people are bringing to the table," said Cristian Vargas, founder of JUNTOSpdx. "They continue to show up. It means a lot."

The organization, founded in 2022, is dedicated to building connections with the Latino Hispanic community and celebrating its culture. JUNTOSpdx's third annual event celebrated that artistic talent and achievement with an art gallery and vendor marketplace on Saturday.

The event was a collaboration with From the Westside wit Love , a collective founded by model Jazmine Cortez and photographer Eric Chavez that highlights photography in the Latino community. Inspired by popular photography showcases in Los Angeles, Cortez wanted to create a space for Portland photographers to share their work.

"I felt like it was needed in Portland, as far as building a base community for artists and creatives of Latino descent," said Chavez.

According to Cortez, Portland has started to become a hub for community events where creatives can meet and engage with one another's work. The event was a testament to that spirit, showcasing talent within the local scene.

On the street, blocked off with a DJ booth on one end and a vintage lowrider on the other, attendees browsed vendor booths showcasing handmade jewelry, leather goods, art prints and clothing.

Halfway down the block, a staircase led to the lower level of a nearby warehouse that served as an art gallery for the day, displaying pieces made by over 30 local artists. Each wall and pillar were decorated with canvases and framed photographs depicting landscapes, faces, still life and abstract creations. Much of the work honored Latino culture.

Where wall space didn't suffice, decorated T-shirts hung on clotheslines strung between pillars. On the floor, lowrider bicycles were interspersed between displays, filling the room with vibrant and eye-catching sights.

Attendees got to express their own creativity, too, learning how to oil paint, screen printing their chosen designs on canvas bags, building a lowrider bicycle and dancing with Huehca Omeyocan .

"There's just a lot of community through and through in these sorts of events," said Anahi Izazaga, a model attending the event. "It's just building that courage for the community out here to be themselves."

Izazaga cited organizations like JUNTOSpdx and From the Westside wit Love as integral community resources that have the power to build strong and supportive networks for people of Latino descent.

"We want to see each other win," Izazaga said. "So, it's just really nice to know that this summer in Portland has really showcased a lot of Latino creators."

Following the excitement of the Hispanic Heritage Month kickoff , Oregon has a wide array of upcoming events to celebrate , including another Nuestra Cultura gathering hosted by JUNTOSpdx on Oct. 12.

The event will be a celebration of Latino flavors with food and artisan vendors taking over Tany's Cafe Con Pan in Wood Village.

"This would not have been possible if the community would not come to the activations and support, not just JUNTOS, but their own personal community," said Vargas. "I can't thank them enough. The only thing that I can do is just continue to provide them a unique experience so they can connect with their families and community."

Faith and cultural connections

Museum exhibition honors 45 years of Ikoi no Kai nourishing Portland's Japanese elders

Vanport Mosaic organizes week of activations to reimagine historic Old Town

Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off with Hillsboro's El Grito Celebration

Nova festival massacre survivor inspires Portland Jewish community

Cómo una quesería de Oregón pasó, de ser un negocio desde casa, a convertirse en el hogar del mejor queso para deshebrar de Estados Unidos

— Chiara Profenna covers religion, faith and cultural connections. Reach her at 503-221-4327; or