Proclamation in memory of Latin American artist Gerardo Calderón
Whereas, culture, creativity, and the arts fuel our economy, nurture the spirits of our citizenry, and shape Portland's identity; and
Whereas, the City of Portland acknowledges the significant impact of Latin American arts and culture in our community, enriching our cultural landscape and fostering diversity; and
Whereas, the late Gerardo Calderón from Mexico, an Oregonian, a composer, musical director, producer, multi-instrumentalist, sound designer, music educator, teaching artist, and author made Portland, Oregon, his creative home; and
Whereas, Gerardo Calderón, who was the musical director of the group Grupo Condor; co-founder of Nuestro Canto with Nelda Reyes, a group dedicated to the preservation of Mexican and Oregonian art and culture through arts education; and a member of Cosecha Mestiza and former Andanzas Lo Nuestro and Caña Son; and
Whereas, as a teaching artist for 30 years, Gerardo Calderón has taught students in pre-K, kinder, elementary, middle, and high schools pre-Columbian music, stories, and instrument-making; and
Whereas, for the community, Gerardo Calderón shared his music and culture for 35 years with the Instituto de Cultura Oregoniana, Arts Learning, Reforma Northwest, Marylhurst Museum, Chehalem Cultural Center, Oregon Historical Society, 5 de Mayo festivals across the state, and in Multnomah, Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego, Hillsboro, Cornelius, Forest Grove, Hood River County Libraries, and at community colleges and universities in Portland and throughout the state, including festivals throughout the Pacific Northwest, Eastern United States, Mexico; and
Whereas, Gerardo Calderón has composed and designed sound for arts and culture organizations and theatre groups such as Milagro, Tears of Joy, Third Angle Music, Hand2Mouth Theatre, Coho Theatre, Voz Alta, and GritoPoetry/Productions; and
Whereas, Gerardo Calderón's volunteerism welcomed visitors at the International Portland Airport with his healing acoustic guitar and pan flutes, and supported creative community-based intercultural exchanges and fundraising for a great number of local and regional artists and non-profit organizations; and
Whereas, Gerardo Calderón serves as an example of an artist, a culture bearer, and a community builder through his creative achievements, leadership, and community engagement, and has filled the City of Portland with “orgullo”—pride.
Now, therefore, I, Ted Wheeler, Mayor of the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City of Roses,” do hereby present this proclamation in honor of Gerardo Calderón for his dedicated contributions as a cherished Latin American and Oregonian artist in our diverse and creative city and community.