Roller derby has been enjoying a resurgence of popularity in recent years. This is particularly evident in Portland, where derby fever has taken the city by storm.
On Saturday, you’ll have the chance to show your love for the sport in an environment that isn’t typically associated with rough-and-tumble competition: an art gallery. Add in ninjas, loud rock and roll, sitar players and a wide variety of visual stimuli and you get Disjecta’s High [Performance] Art + Music Symposium, a benefit for the Rose City Rollers’ all-star team, the Wheels of Justice.
The seed for the event was planted by NINJA, a Portland-based metal band that specializes in theatrical, guerrilla-style street performances. You might remember them from September’s Musicfest NW, where they blasted people in line outside of venues with a dose of impromptu rock.
According to NINJA member Chris Troiano, the group was interested in bringing together a broad range of creative individuals who wanted to promote their work in a fun, festive environment.
So how does roller derby come into play? Troiano states that it was born from NINJA’s deep respect for the integrity of the sport.
“We experienced a roller derby bout several years ago and were blown away by the awesome, theatrical, rockin’ athleticism put forth by the women of the Rose City Rollers,” Troiano said.
The group struck up a friendship with the roller girls and have rallied for their cause ever since.
“Sacrificing significant time and energy to pour their hearts out into the team, which is completely nonprofit, the women compete for the sheer joy of the sport,” said Troiano. “Their spirit to transcend the limitations of money and realize their dreams is worth promoting.”
This ethos is perfectly in line with the community-minded ideology behind Disjecta. The venue, which recently moved to a new location in the Kenton neighborhood, has always served as an extension of Portland’s creative collective. Since its inception in 2000, Disjecta has constantly evolved to reflect the needs of a city brimming with artistic talent. Bryan Suereth, executive director of the venue, claims that Disjecta’s start was an organic one.
“Essentially, Disjecta took root and grew on its own,” said Suereth. He provided the space for art to flourish, and artists of all kinds came in droves. One of those artists was Troiano, whose band played at Disjecta’s original location. Troiano kept the venue in mind, and felt it was the perfect spot to host his eclectic event.
The High [Performance] Art + Music Symposium is a perfect nexus of all the things that make Portland a great place to live: art, community, coincidence and a healthy dollop of the absurd. Don’t forget your roller skates and your ninja stars.