The new Portland will be very different from the old-school Portland," said Colored Pencils Art and Culture Council co-founder Ronault L.S. Catalani, known to most Portlanders as Polo, as he welcomed visitors to the opening of "Colors of Portland," an art exhibit that kicked off July 1 at the Multnomah Arts Center. "We will integrate newcomers immediately. Their spiritual, cultural, and social resources can’t be squandered."

If you are a newcomer to Colored Pencils, regardless of your race or ethnicity, your age, your faith, your gender orientation, your ability or disability, and whether you are homeless, rent, or own a home, Polo continued, you are welcome.

"Colors of Portland" is a mixed-media group show, and at the opening reception, the display was celebrated with music, song, and talking story. Polo shared "What Big Whales, Smart Swifts, and Ambitious People Do (Move)," reminding listeners that it is as natural for people to migrate as it is for humpback whales, arctic caribou, and our very own Chapman Elementary School swifts.

The doubly gifted Mira Shah, whose visual art is on display in "Colors of Portland," also plays the tabla, and those in attendance at the reception were spellbound by the grace of her hands and the intricacy of her rhythms — all the more remarkable because she lost her hearing before she learned to play. She is currently completing her master’s degree in art therapy.

Gauri Rajbaidya has been a part of Colored Pencils from the very beginning, two-and-a-half years ago, and he reprised his first performance for Colored Pencils, a "Nepali blues" song of unrequited love. "I love singing songs, and it’s more fun in front of other people," he said. The audience couldn’t have agreed more.

Artists Shu-Ju Wang and Farooq Hassan brought delight to those attending the reception, the former by confiding that she initially wanted to be an opera singer, and the latter by answering a question — "Would you like to teach again?" — with comedic timing and deadpan intonation: "No."

Other artists of Asian ethnicity or working with Asian themes are mixed-media artist, co-founder, and executive director of Colored Pencils Nim Xuto, painter Aden Catalani, photographer Thomas Le Ngo, painter Reetika Agarwal, and ceramic sculptor Michelle Gallagher.

"Art," says Xuto, "is not just copying objects, it’s a way to express ourselves. Art sustains us as human beings."

Colored Pencils is an all-volunteer organization and among those volunteers are people in training to help organize events. "Colors of Portland" intern organizer Frederic Henriot, who described himself as the "put-the-nail-in-the-wall guy," said Colored Pencils gives not only aspiring event organizers, but also visual and performing artists, an opportunity to "try it out and build some skills. You also build relationships. You build family that way."

The reception drew to a close with a singalong led by A. "Noor" Noormohamed, a local elder who regularly attends Colored Pencils Art and Culture Nights. The subject of the song was appropriate to the Fourth of July weekend, although the fighting for independence it described took place on the other side of the world.

Colored Pencils is a warm, welcoming, informal group. Members of the community are invited to experience the organization’s upcoming Art and Culture Night scheduled for Friday, July 29 from 6:00 to 9:00pm. The event takes place at Portland Center Stage, located at 128 N.W. 11th Avenue in Portland.

"Colors of Portland," the art exhibit, continues through August 3 at the Multnomah Arts Center, located at 7688 S.W. Capitol Highway in Portland. To learn more, call (503) 823-ARTS (2787), e-mail <newportland@coloredpencilsart.com>, or visit <www.coloredpencilsart.com>.