(Above: Thomas Pettus-Czar’s artwork is on display at Epic Seconds in a show called Hi/Lo, Maybe So)

Edited by Randi Bjornstad

In the face of continuing uncertainty about the safety of reopening galleries and businesses amid the ongoing national coronavirus pandemic, the Lane Arts Council has decided to make some changes to the popular First Friday ArtWalk in downtown Eugene.

Instead of congregating all at once on the first Friday of the month — July 3 this month — the arts-and-culture event now will be spread out to encompass a full week, from July 3 to July 10.

The traditional guided tour will not take place, but many galleries and shops feature exhibits and special activities. Following state public health guidelines, wearing masks and maintaining social distance will be required.

Here’s the lineup for July’s First Friday ArtWeek:

ECO Sleep Solutions and Gallery (25 E. 8th Ave.) — Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, except 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. only on Wednesday;
felted wool home décor and apparel by Tylar Merrill; clay tile collages by Annie Heron; hand-painted wood pieces, hand-painted silk apparel and nuno felted pieces by Lybi Thomas; wood and stone carvings and wood sculptures by Cedar Caredio; and Luminessence light sculptures by Stephen White.

Epic Seconds (30 E. 11th Ave.) — 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday (except closed on July 4) and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday; Hi/Lo, Maybe So, mixed-media paintings on canvas by Thomas Pettus-Czar. Show up through July 27.  Artist website at twpcart.com

Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette St.) — Noon to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, with small meet-the-artist reception from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on July 3, 10, 24, and 31; closed July 4. Exhibit is Ken O’Connell: A Retrospective, featuring drawings, sketchbooks, paintings, prints, photography, animation, and ceramic works, dating from 1963-2020. Show runs through Aug. 1.

The New Zone Gallery (22 W. 7th Ave.) — Noon to 6 p.m. daily with reception from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.. on Friday, July 3; featured artist for July is Erik Roggeveen’s Happyface Empire; spotlight artist is Marjorie Templeton’s HOPE, paintings of wildflowers. David Rogers entertains on guitar on July 3.

Grady Tarbutton’s photography is featured in the PhotoZone space inside The New Zone Gallery

PhotoZone Gallery (inside the New Zone Gallery at 22 W. 7th Ave.) — Noon to 6 p.m. daily, with opening reception from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. on July 3. PhotoZone is a collection of diverse individuals interested in the craft of photography, ranging from methods such as silver, platinum/palladium, and gum bichromate printing to digital production. July’s featured artist is Grady Tarbutton, with a show called Works,  featuring human-created objects and contrasting their various purposes.

Starlight Lounge (830 Olive St.) — 2 p.m. to midnight daily. Spirit Guides is a show of realistic wildlife paintings in gouache by Bekah Zeimetz.

White Lotus Gallery (767 Willamette St.) — Open by appointment only. A show called In Good Company: Works by Regional Artists, showcases new work by Rich Bergeman, Jon Jay Cruson, Li Tie, Satoko Motouji, Connie Mueller, Jamie Newton, Margaret Prentice, Charles Search, and Gary Tepfer, ranging from acrylic and oil on canvas to photography and linocut reduction prints. The exhibit runs through August 15. Email lin@wlotus.com to arrange appointments.

July ArtWeek sponsor: “Virtual” Oregon Country Fair
Since 1969, the non-profit Oregon Country Fair has taken place every year. Proceeds from the three-day extravaganza of music, crafts, food, and sights has generated more than $1.5 million in grants to local non-profits and other community programs through the years. The popular and nationally known fair will not happen physically this year because of the coronavirus pandemic, but there will be a “Virtual Oregon Country Fair on July 10-12. Visit www.oregoncountryfair.org online for details and updates.

About Lane Arts Council: The Lane Arts Council, founded in 1976, is a nonprofit organization that cultivates strong and creative arts communities in Lane County. It provides in-school arts education programs, supports local artists and arts organizations, and coordinate scommunity programs such as the popular First Friday ArtWalk (and now First Friday ArtWeek).

Information: http://lanearts.org/first-friday-artwalk/, lanearts.org, www.oregoncountryfair.org

 

Satoko Motouji’s Flow in Spring, Sumi ink on watercolor paper stretched on canvas, is part of a show at the White Lotus Gallery; because of the continuing coronavirus pandemic, White Lotus is open only by appointment.