Oregon Arts and Culture
Mini Documentary for the 2025 Oregon Arts & Culture Caucus
(Oregon) Art Does That
A few months ago, I attended a concert to see jazz pianist and composer Darrell Grant — Someone I deeply respect and admire both as an artist and as a friend. And before he took the stage and delivered an incredible performance alongside esperanza spalding, I felt compelled to say to him, “Darrell, I hope I don’t have to remind you, but if you ever need your help or if you can ever use my filmmaking skills, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m there.” To my delight, only a few weeks later, my phone rang. After some brainstorming, we sketched out a series of short films featuring his words, my visuals, and populated by a mix of extremely talented Oregon artists. Shown at the 2025 Oregon Arts and Culture Caucus Kick-off event, these videos serve as a love letter to Oregon artists, as a call to action, and a reminder that Art is not just for the artists but it is an essential part of what makes us human and that the act of creating and expressing ourselves is as essential as breathing.
A film by Darrell Grant & Adolfo Cantú-Villarreal
Written by Darrel Grant
Creative Direction by Adolfo Cantú-Villarreal
Cinematography by Adolfo Cantú-Villarreal & Ivan Cantú-Villarreal
Produced by TZOM Films
Music
Joel Pickard - Idle 02
Jumbo - Searchin'
TROX - Body Groove
Featured Artists
Open Space
Franco Nieto
Dinah Gardner
Elisa Trujillo
Maeve Ethridge
Omar Vargas
Kiri Maasen
Estelle McGuinness
Natalie Becker
Dreckig
Shana Lindbeck
Papi Fimbres
Forest Grove Highschool Mariachi Tradición
Chatter PDX
Alicia Lee
James T. Shields
Emily Cole
Amanda Grimm
Kevin Kunkel
Jeremy Okai Davis
New Expressive Works
Subashini Ganesan-Forbes
Angela Mazziotta
Jordan Isadore
Music Joel Pickard - Idle 02
Jumbo - Searchin'
TROX - Body Groove
Sponsored by Oregon Community Foundation, Creative West
(formerly WESTAF), the Cultural Advocacy Coalition Foundation, the Independent Venue Coalition and Friends of Rob Nosse.
LET FREEDOM RING