(Above: “Still life on Table” by Jenny Gray, part of an exhibit at the Perugino coffeehouse on Willamette Street in downtown Eugene)

By Anne-Allegra Bennett

Mornings are crisp and pumpkins are starting to make their appearance on area front steps, so what could be more fitting that Eugene’s own arts maven and Slug Queen Santa Frida Babosita bringing her own seasonal slither to the Lane Arts Council’s downtown Eugene First Friday ArtWalk on Oct. 6.

The official guided tour begins at 5:30pm at Vistra Framing & Gallery (411 W. 4th Ave), followed by 30-minute stops at Raven Frame Works, The Lincoln Gallery, The New Zone Gallery, and Karin Clarke Gallery. ArtWalk is free, and runs from 5:30-8:00pm.

Official Guided Tour

Robert Canaga’s show, “A Sense of Place,” is on display at the Vistra Framing and Gallery in the Whiteaker Neighborhood

The 5:30 p.m. stop at Vista Framing and Gallery (411 W. 4th Ave) showcases “A Sense of Place,” with new paintings by Robert Canaga. A majority of the work is based on vineyards, terroir (the complete natural environment in which a wine is produced), and the giving of the earth to make wines. On display through October 29th, it also includes small landscapes and new explorations. Canaga has had works in collections at the Coos Art Museum, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, and Horizon House in Seattle.

Continuing on its route, the tour stops at Raven Frame Works (325 W. 4th Ave) at 6:00 p.m. Award-winning local artist Dan Chen creates art in a range of mediums, including painting, pastel, bronze, and engraved acrylic, and the exhibit includes examples of each. His artwork often features the natural world with a focus on plants and animals. During the ArtWalk, Chen will demonstrate his sculptural technique.

Kwang Lee’s painting of a pig playing a xylophone is on display at The Lincoln Gallery

At 6:30 p.m., The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. 4th Ave) offers the Oregon Supported Living Program;s “Summer Showcase Exhibition,” as a part of the program’s fifth-anniversary celebration. The show features new paintings, mosaics, comics, and jewelry, including artwork created during two mentorships, one in ceramics with Sam Allen and mentor Patricia Montoya Donohue, the other in portrait drawing with Larry Hurst and mentor Aunia Kahn. Work by Art Forum members appears in The Community Room Gallery.

Hosting a traditional “Zone 4 All,” the tour stops at The New Zone Gallery (220 W. 8th Ave) at 7:00 p.m., where more than 250 works, including those of well-known local artists as well as first-time exhibitors, will be on display through Oct. 27.

Rounding out the official finale of the tour at 7:30 p.m, the Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette Street) presents its largest show of the late Eugene painter Mark Clarke’s work since his unexpected death in January 2016. The show complements a major retrospective of the work or Karin Clarke’s parents, titled “Mark Clarke and Margaret Coe: Our Lives in Paint,” scheduled to run Oct. 21 through April 1 at the University of Oregon’s Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. The downtown exhibit includes about 20 pieces, mostly figurative works, landscapes, barns, and abstract explorations in acrylic on canvas or board. Some date to the 1970s, and several have never been shown publicly before.

More Arts and Culture

For those interested in stopping when and where they would like, additional galleries and art venues will be open during the downtown Eugene ArtWalk on October 6:

Aunia Kahn’S Halloween-themed painting is part of a show at the Broadway Commerce Center

Broadway Commerce Center (44 W. Broadway)— The “People’s Choice Awards for Architecture” showcase interiors and landscape architectural projects by members of the Southwest Oregon chapter of the American Institute of Architects as well as a Halloween-inspired show with works by Aunia Kahn, M de Vena, Sean McFarland, and Kris Hallford.

Cowfish (62 W. Broadway)— Paintings by Ivan Mandala.

ECO Sleep Solutions and Gallery (25 E. 8th Ave)— Felted wool home décor and apparel by Tyler Merrill; clay tile collages by Annie Heron; hand-painted wood and linen pieces and hand-painted silk apparel by Lybi Thomas; stone carvings, wood sculptures, and masks by Cedar Caredio; and light sculptures by Stephen White.

Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave) — Plein air paintings of the Oregon Coast and work relating to Dia de los Muertos, by Marco Elliott, with a performance of classic scenes from “Peony Pavilion” by the Chinese Kwun Opera Society at 6 p.m.

Eugene Yoga (245 E. Broadway) — “Travel Paintings in Gouache, Watercolor, and Ink,” by Patti McNutt, including paintings from New Zealand, San Diego, Eugene, France, and Amsterdam.

gilt+gossamer (873 Willamette Street) — “Love and Affinity,” a semi-abstract work by Christian Ives.

Goldworks Jewelry Art Studio (169 E. Broadway) — Original jewelry by Goldworks staff.

Gina Reynolds’ paintings, including this still life that evokes the Old Dutch Masters, is part of a show at InEugene Real Estate

InEugene Real Estate (100 E. Broadway) — Work by Gina Reynolds.

The Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway) — Photos of artists appearing at the Jazz Station by Keith Munson. Gallery open until 7 p.m. Music by the Oregon Jazz Ensemble with UO faculty guest artists, starts at 8 p.m.; tickets are $10.

Maven (271 W. 8th Ave) — Fantasy artwork by Michel Savage, based on the idea of bringing the texture of magic and childhood dreams back into our lives; info at greyforest.com Also, wine tasting from One Heart Vineyards, and music by DJ Kingsley Strangelove.

Mosaic Fair Trade Collection (28 E. Broadway)— Local waterfall photography and fair trade wine tasting.

Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl Street) — “The Going Away Party” by local artist and author Rogene Mañas shows portraits of endangered species sculpted in bas-relief using paper clay; open until 6 p.m.

Out on a Limb Gallery (191 E. Broadway) — Aunia Kahn’s “Retrospectivation” exhibit features artworks spanning a decade of her career.

Passionflower Design (128 E. Broadway) — Esoteric arts with complimentary tarot and energy readings, and sample herbal potions from Cascadia Bitters.

Perugino (767 Willamette Street) — “Chart the Unknown Course,” Paintings created between 2014-2017 by Jenny Gray. See JennyGrayArt.com

Red Wagon Creamery (55 W. Broadway) — “Let’s Get Lost,” photography by Ashley Fenison.

Townshend’s Teahouse (41 W. Broadway) — Work by Valley Calligraphy Guild. The Guild is open to anyone interested in the art of writing. valleycalligraphyguild.com   Refreshments are spirits from Thomas and Sons Distillery, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

White Lotus Gallery (767 Willamette Street) — The 25th Anniversary of the White Lotus Gallery continues with paintings by Jon Jay Cruson, mixed media art by Helen Liu, sumi-ink paintings by Satoko Motouji, reduction linocut prints by Connie Mueller, pieces by Nancy Pobanz using self-made pigments, ilfochrome prints by Gary Tepfer, whimsical art by Mike Van, drawings by Li Tie, and abstract works by Jamie Newton; show ends Oct. 7.

Additional Special Events

2017 Eugene Parklet Competition at three parklets located in front of Townshend’s Teahouse and Broadway Metro, and one parklet in front of Killer Burger. (A parklet is an extension of the sidewalk into a parking lane providing additional sidewalk space for pedestrian use). The competition is a partnership between City of Eugene Parking Department and the AIA Southwestern Oregon. Out of 13 entries, 4 were built in Downtown Eugene, and are available for use during the ArtWalk.

Kesey Square (corner of Broadway and Willamette):

  • “To Own a Dali” Preview- A preview of the play, which is an original piece written by David Gallagher and Juliet Rutter. Starts at 6 p.m., and a full performance will be onstage on Oct. 19-20 at Oregon Contemporary Theatre.
  • An Interactive ArtWalk Piece — Cooperate with others on this interactive art piece.
  • Artist Alley– Artwork for sale by local artists 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • “NERD ART NIGHT 2- REVENGE OF The… um… Nerd Art Night?” at Game Pub (881 Willamette Street) from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. features the talents of Cortney Fellet of Steel Web, Rick Ask, Kylea Phillips, Karrashi Art, Samantha Westrope, Tommy Harbour, and Kelli Harbour-Byers and Jesse Tannehill of Spooky Swirl Arts. Ages 21 and up.
  • No Shame Eugene (99 W. 10th Ave)– Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with live music. Show begins at 8 p.m. with 15 original five-minute acts including monologues, sketch comedy, and the experimental. The first 15 acts to register with the host when doors open make up each show.

First Friday ArtWalk sponsored by Lane Arts Council, lanearts.org/