We all have treasured objects in our lives. Whether a humble memento from childhood or a unique work of art, the objects we hold are powerful expressions of our beliefs, values, and our place in the community.

OBJECT STORIES/HISTORIAS DE OBJETOS is a collection of short films created by five Latino artists living in Portland, Ore.: Nathan Alvarez, Marisa Bevington, Mateo Bevington, Gerardo Calderon, Lise Flores, and Ivonne Saed. Each film explores the relationship between an individual and an object that holds special importance; many of the chosen objects directly reflect and honor Latino cultural traditions. Invited to participate by the Miracle Theatre Group, the artists learned filmmaking from Film Center faculty members Sue Arbuthnot and Maya Muñoz-Tobon before recording each other's personal "object stories." They also produced stories told by invited community members: theatre artist Carlos Alexis Cruz, homemaker Marta Mercado, gallery owner Rose Quintana, photographer Gustavo Rappaport, and tango dancer Dr. Carlos Rosas. The compiled works premiered to a packed house in the Film Center's Whitsell Auditorium on March 12, 2011. The DVD, OBJECT STORIES/HISTORIAS DE OBJETOS, is now available free of charge by request. Please call 503-221-1156 or email info@nwfilm.org.

Press
Object Stories on KBOO
Object Stories in Portland Mercury
Object Stories in Portland Monthly

If you are interested in seeing Object Stories clips, please visit the Film Center's Vimeo channel on March 28. Photos from Object Stories can be found on Flickr.

For more information about how to tell your own Object Story at the Portland Art Museum, visit objectstories.pam.org.

For more information about how you can work with the Northwest Film Center on an outreach project, call 503-221-1156 or email info@nwfilm.org.

Object Stories is collaboration of the Northwest Film Center, the Portland Art Museum, and Miracle Theatre Group, and is generously supported by grants from the Metlife Foundation, Lehman Foundation, Kress Foundation, PGE Foundation, and Oregon Arts Commission.