Set at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School in NE Portland, The Gatherade Stand is a multi-month collaborative social practice project that engaged fifth-grade students in a hands-on exploration of the wild nettle plant. Over three months, artist-in-residence Gili Rappaport partnered with educator Alexis Johnson and her class of 17 students to forge, brew, and serve wild nettle soda on the school playground and in the library.

Grounded in herbalism and ecological care, the project turned sensory engagement into a vehicle for environmental literacy and community connection:

• Soda Collaboration: Students designed custom soda labels in collaboration with Duality Brewing, transforming product packaging into creative storytelling tools.

• Corita Kent-Inspired Signage: Drawing inspiration from pop artist Sister Corita Kent, the project transformed traditional commercial branding into subverted, educational signage about our relationship with land and flora.

• Permanent Print Collection: The project yielded "The Nettle Flight", an editioned print featuring student artwork and poetry, now housed in the permanent collection at KSMoCA.

• Environmental Justice: All aluminum beverage cans were donated to Trash for Peace, a Portland-based organization creating waste reduction systems and youth sustainability programs. Most physical art supplies were sourced through SCRAP, a local creative reuse center.

Exhibitions, Press & Collections

• Permanent Collection: King School Museum of Contemporary Art (KSMoCA), Portland, OR

• Exhibitions:

  • Making Earth Cool Residency, Parallax Art Center (2022)

  • KSMoCA: Present Days, The Portland Building (2022)

  • Assembly, Annual Social Practice Art Conference at KSMoCA

• Publications & Features: Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC), SoFA Journal ("Come Together in Joy"), I See What You See (KSMoCA Book)

• Student Artists & Co-Creators: Aden, Ana, Bella, Caeden, Caterina, Chanel, Fatina, Matthew, Mo, Penelope, Rehema, Romelia, Romero, Serena, Taylor, Timmy, Zayair

• Lead Collaborator / Educator: Alexis Johnson

• KSMoCA Co-Directors: Lisa Jarrett, Harrell Fletcher

• Project Documentation & Photography: Harvee Bird, Bex Copper, Laura Glazer, Gilian Rappaport

• Special Thanks & Community Support: Amanda Lareeva, Aggy Hosey, Michael Bernard Stevenson, Lucia Monge, LillyAnne Pham, Diana Cuertas, Mo Geiger, Luz Blumenthal, Kye Grant, DJ Tikka Masala, and Hilary Rappaport