Tribal member Anthony Hudson wins Spark award

By Nicole Montesano

Smoke Signals staff writer

Tribal member Anthony Hudson was one of two local Indigenous artists selected by the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation to receive some of the first awards in a new program intended to support the Oregon arts community.

“The Spark Award for Oregon artists is a new, three-year pilot program investing $1,500,000 in individual artists,” the foundation said in a press release. It said the program “is inspired by the foundation’s belief that the self-directed pursuit by professional artists of new ideas, opportunities and skills is essential to our state’s cultural vitality.”

Each of the 20 artists selected received $25,000 to enable them to pursue their work.

“I’m very grateful to be a Spark awardee and proud to be one of two Oregon Tribal members to receive one, along with Siletz playwright, cousin, and colleague Amber K. Ball,” Hudson said in an email. “Like Grand Ronde’s IPKA Fellowship, the Spark Award is quite an impactful and rare one. I hope more granting organizations take notice and I hope many, many more Oregon Natives are awarded in next year’s cycle.”

Hudson, a writer, performer and filmmaker, was chosen for “interdisciplinary performance.” He often performs as Carla Rossi, known as Portland’s premier drag clown.

In September, Hudson was named Native Artist-Scholar in Residence for Lewis & Clark College in Portland. He and fellow artist and Tribal descendant Felix Furby curated an exhibit, “Transgressors,” currently on display at Chachalu Museum and Cultural Center through April.

Ball was selected for her work in music. She is also a playwright and visual artist.

“We were thrilled with the range and diversity of the applications that we received across all the performing arts disciplines,” Foundation Executive Director Carrie Hoops said in the press release. “We are heartened by the reminder of the rich and ambitious artistic work happening in our state, and excited to see the positive impact this funding will have at pivotal moments in these artists' careers.”

The release noted that “half of the Spark Award recipients identify as Black, Indigenous or people of color,” while 60% identify as women or non-binary.

In 2025, the Foundation intends to focus the awards on literary and media arts. In 2026, the focus will be on visual artists.

"As the Miller Foundation enters its third decade of grantmaking in Oregon, we remain committed to supporting artists and arts organizations as the bedrock of vibrant, creative communities in our state,” Foundation Board President Peter Koehler said in the press release. “We are honored to invest in the creative development of this diverse roster of dancers, musicians, theater professionals and interdisciplinary performing artists."