JockaMo Liberté
JockaMo Liberté is a large-scale interactive frog sculpture made from recycled materials, offering shade, and illuminated storytelling. The installation invites visitors to rest, play, and explore whimsy and joy as acts of community connection and quiet resistance.
Portal Arts Collective's latest piece is a friendly frog sculpture named “JockaMo Liberté”. Roughly 14' in diameter and 12' tall, this structure is built out of repurposed steel and skinned in vintage Volkswagen fenders; depicting a grinning frog that visitors can escape from the sun under. Aside from being a place to relax and share space, JockaMo has imagery and story segments discussing the use and importance of whimsy and joy as a form of protest. Programmed LEDS outline the piece like a neon sign at night, and sun diffused through the skin during the day.
The name "JockaMo Liberté" comes from Creole protest chants and songs- Jock-a-mo translates roughly to: "We will not stand for this!" Recently, Portland has faced a strong reminder of how powerful facing down fascists with absurdism can be, with one person dressed in a frog costume inspiring a nationwide movement to demonstrate kindness in the face of abject cruelty.
