The Reser & The City of Beaverton Present: Across Oceans by Portland artist Kanani Miyamoto.
Across Oceans, a unique installation created by artist Kanani Miyamoto, features beautiful imagery that wraps the east and south windows of The Reser and connects to the Beaverton Building at City Hall. On view through May 2025, visitors can enjoy unique large-scale prints from the interior and exterior of both buildings.
Miyamoto, an individual of mixed heritage and who most identifies with her Hawaiian and Japanese roots, has combined Eastern art aesthetics and techniques with Hawaiian philosophy to create a dramatic and expansive installation in the Central Cultural District of Beaverton. Miyamoto shares and celebrates her unique mixed background and represents her community and the beauty of intersectional identities.
Activating the expanse of the building’s facades, Across Oceans signifies the coming together of people from distant lands across bodies of water that connect, not divide us. Imagery embraces themes of our common bonds and relationship with nature, allowing visitors to have a deeper understanding and awareness of a diversity of cultural expressions and in turn share that with others in their community.
Beaverton ranks second in Oregon for its largest AANHPI population. The installation includes motifs from AANHPI culture that symbolize and celebrate our common connections.
Featuring Miyamoto’s work allows the entire community to see themselves reflected and included in our city’s cultural identity. The Reser has become a community gathering space known for its focus on equity, inclusion, and accessibility to the Tri-County area. Viewable from the Max Blue Line, Across Oceans is an invitation for all to explore and learn about the artworks on display. For individuals of AAPHNI communities, seeing culturally specific iconography and symbolism prominently presented on the building makes a visual statement and gesture of welcoming and belonging. Viewing the installation encourages exploration around the Beaverton Central District where at any time of the day one can see the gallery and other public artworks by local, regional, and national artists with a strong emphasis on BIPOC representation.
Sponsored by the City of Beaverton and the Ford Family Foundation.