Opening Reception:
08.06.26, Time TBA
07.20.26 – 10.09.26
Dear Evergreen
Produced by Charles Xiong, Zane Hanayneh, & Amon Watson | Featuring Mariana Mora, Kaya Noteboom, & Chase Travis
Program Description:
Art serves as a function of compassion, lighting a candle to illuminate a piece of ourselves to be seen by others.
Dear Evergreen centers on the honest exploration of self-love, identity, and the bonds that shape us within Portland’s BIPOC and queer communities. Produced by Charles Xiong, Zane Hanayneh, and Amon Watson. The practice of building Dear Evergreen has been a devotion to collaboration and engaging with our environment and community to bring this idea to life.
This exhibition serves as the introduction to the publication. An invitation to the inner world and to let the gift of this moment linger for just a few more seconds.
The photography series is the heart of the project. Dear Evergreen was born from Charles’ journey as both a person and an artist — and stands as a tribute to it.
Building off of that, Charles had this to share: “Looking inward, it can be disheartening when you don’t see anyone who looks like you or shares your experience, making you feel like you never had a chance to begin with. This project is my way of carving out space where we can see one another, celebrate our presence, and feel less alone. It is a love letter to my younger self, my friends, my family, and this city.”
Mariana Mora, Kaya Noteboom, and Chase Travis extend this conversation and offer a glimpse into the project’s future. Through the intertwining of writing, installation art, and design, they weave in additional layers to uplift voices, amplify their own diverse stories, and nurture creative connections within the community.
“Our hope is to celebrate creativity, which makes us so very human, as we keep our hearts open to the world around us.” - The Dear Evergreen Team
This project is funded with the support of the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Portland Office of Arts & Culture.
Curatorial Statement by Deven Truong
I reached out to Charles around the end of 2025 when I saw that they were starting a project highlighting queer and BIPOC artists around Portland that would manifest in a magazine. I was only a few months into my curatorial journey at the time, but this was something I immediately knew that I would want to contribute to.
As we’re moving into the summer and a new phase of the galleries, I was pondering with the team about how we can evolve this beautiful space that we have beyond a white box for art. Our collaborative exhibition with the magazine’s namesake, “Dear Evergreen,” is an extension of the ethos that Charles and their team have crafted and a natural next step for the gallery. Beyond an art show, the exhibit also serves as a communal space, one connected to our shared differences and desire for belonging. Our gallery’s goal is to serve the people, and we hope this show offers a space you can continually return to, seeking comfort or finding something new.