Posted by Anne-Allegra Bennett
Andrew Bisantz, artistic director and maestro of Eugene Opera, tries his hand at conducting the official guided tour of Lane Arts Council’s downtown Eugene First Friday ArtWalk on Dec. 6. During the first two stops on the tour, at 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., singers from Eugene Opera will perform selections from Liebeslieder Waltzes for vocal quartet by Johannes Brahms.
The tour stops — whether guided or visited individually — are open runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., along with many other galleries and businesses in the downtown Eugene area.
Official guided tour
Bisantz will meet his tourgoers at 5:30 p.m. at The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. 4th Ave.), which features an exhibit titled Limitless, a large collection of works created by participants of the Arts & Culture Program of Oregon Supported Living Program. The show includes work by more than 25 artists in a variety of mediums and runs through January. Eugene Opera singers will perform.
Raven Frame Works (325 W. 4th Ave.) at 6:00 p.m. is the second stop on the tour, showing a small exhibit of zines, defined as “small-circulation, self-published work of original texts and images, produced via photocopier.” The show covers a range of subjects such as The History of Consciousness, Quantum Worldview, and Kaizen Small Steps. The zines are black-and-white and hand-drawn, most only using a single sheet of copier paper with either four or eight panels. Eugene Opera singers will perform.
The tour stops at Raven and Rose Unique Boutique (17 W. 5th Ave) at 6:30 p.m. where the brand new boutique showcases work by local artisans.
The community’s youngest artists and entrepreneurs are featured at Eugene Mindworks (207 E. 5th Ave., Suite 220) at 7:00 p.m. where their work is shown and sold during the third annual Sprout Children’s Business Expo. A second display includes original artwork by young local artists ages 4-14 years, presented by the Multicultural Children’s Art Museum & Education Center.
The last stop on the tour at 7:30 p.m. is Framin’ Artworks (505 High St.) with recent paintings by Brazilian artist Milla Oliveira and jewelry by Wendy Hoffman, founder of Moon Bead Arts and an instructor whose one-of-a-kind jewelry has been shown and sold throughout the region.
More arts and culture
The following galleries and businesses also will be open for visitors during the Dec. 6 ArtWalk:
Allies, LLC (131 E. 11th Ave.) — This new art-making space and curatorial program is shared and run cooperatively by adults with developmental disabilities. This month, the newly formed gallery showcases a wide array of paintings, drawings, collages, and jewelry by program participants and staff.
ArtCity Studios on Broadway (160 E. Broadway) — The grand opening of this new studio space represents works by David Placencia of WheelHaus Arts, Terry Holloway of Fuzzy Beuys, Sandra Honda, Michael Lawrence, Christopher St John, Darryl Evans, Jessilyn Brinkerhoff, Adeline Celenza, Erika Propst, Jarrell Blake, Charly Swing, and Eugene Printmakers.
Broadway Commerce Center (44 W. Broadway) —WheelHaus Arts’ second annual K-12 Winter Showcase includes work by students, as well as a one-night-only Holiday Market with cards, gift items, and more, with an artists’ reception at 7 p.m.
ECO Sleep Solutions and Gallery (25 E. 8th Ave.) — Felted wool home décor and apparel by Tylar Merrill; clay tile collages by Annie Heron; hand-painted wood pieces and hand-painted silk apparel and other items 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.) — A show called Two By Three features work by musicians-who-paint Jacob Hall, Austin Armijo, and Kelly O’Grady.
Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) — Eugene Saturday Market celebrates 50 seasons with a historical display. The market has had an enormous impact on our community, including launching and supporting countless local artists, chefs, musicians, craftspeople, and small businesses. Byrdsong Consort will play an instrumental concert of Renaissance and early Baroque music, starting at 6 p.m.
Euphoria Chocolate Company (946 Willamette St.) — Tracy Sydor creates evocative images with a focus on fine art photography.
InEugene Real Estate (100 E. Broadway) — Working artist and printmaker Matt Dey of Blunt Graffix specializes in contemporary pop art. Dey shows his work around the world in galleries and art festivals, and curates group art shows with a network of galleries in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle.
Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette St.) — Bread, Shelter, and Circus features new oil paintings by Eugene artist Adam Grosowsky, characterized by grand-scale figurative paintings with bold compositions and dark backgrounds. This new group of paintings includes large-scale heads and figures in interiors, as well as street scenes, figures with falcons, colorful landscapes, and new work from his series depicting circus figures. The show runs through January 11.
LovaKava Kava Bar & Restaurant (120 W. Broadway) — See original art and sip kava.
Mosaic Fair Trade Collection (28 E. Broadway) — The shop features Fair Trade jewelry, furniture, homewares, unique gifts, clothing, and accessories from all around the world.
The New Zone Gallery (22 W. 7th Ave.) — Faces and Places, a Watercolor Retrospective by Barbara Aten, reflects her love of travel and adventure, and Pieces of Me by Gayle Macy shows her mixed-media style that includes acrylic and pyrography, including duct tape. The Klausmeier Room hosts the New Zone Fundraiser 10”x 10” = $100, including pieces by New Zone members, plus the Holiday Store and music by Steve Goodbar.
Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl St.) — Each November/December since 2015, Oregon Art Supply has continued the tradition of the Small Works Show, created by the late artist Beverly Soasey and originally held at the now-closed Jacobs Gallery. For this year’s exhibit, the group chose to present RED Square, in which each of the six artists — Zoe Cohen, Jenny Gray, Ann Hamilton, Rebecca Mannheimer, Beth Robinson, and Sarah Sedwick — created 12-inch by 12-inch works based on individual interpretations of “red.” Open until 6 p.m.
Out of Step Books & Gallery (1022 Willamette St.) — Last opportunity to see the Annual Coaster Show, featuring 200 coasters by over 120 artists working in various artistic mediums (painting, drawing, embroidery, and more). There’s also four walls of original artwork, hundreds of art prints, art books, sculptures, and gifts, as well as the chance for personal creation by drawing or coloring with free art supplies.
Passionflower Design (128 E. Broadway) — Passionflower’s annual Holiday Bash features food and beverages, along with a Trunk Show from Passionflower’s long-time friend and jewelry artist Susan Goodwin.
Starlight Lounge (830 Olive St.) — Mint Conditions offers vintage-inspired illustrations with a Christmas theme by Bonnie Bozell. Some of her work is featured in Visions from the Upside Down: A Stranger Things Art Book, released on October 15. Information on Instagram: @bbozellart
Townshend’s Teahouse (41 W. Broadway) — See wreaths showcasing flowers grown, harvested, and dried throughout the season by Angelina Star Hellar, the owner of Formosa Flower Farm, an urban farm in Eugene that offers organically grown flowers through a floral CSA, for weddings and events and more.
White Lotus Gallery (767 Willamette St.) — Gifts from My Ancestors: Lillian Pitt features work by one of the most highly regarded Native American artists in the Pacific Northwest. A descendant of Wasco, Yakama, and Warm Springs people, Pitt creates work that draws on over 12,000 years of Native American history and tradition of the Columbia River region. Her art gives voice to her ancestors through her contemporary clay, bronze, wearable art, prints, and most recently, glass.
Wild Light Yoga Center (820 Charnelton St.) — Acrylic abstracts and pours by Tammie Albert can be hung from every angle, creating a new perspective in color, texture, and movement.
Additional events
Design Arts Apprenticeship Showcase (942 Olive St.) – Middle and high school students around Lane County worked with professional designers to develop new and innovative products including reuse fashion, cell phone cases, corn hole boards, and gaming cards. Meet the student designers and learn about their creative process at this interactive showcase.
The MART Gallery (pop-up gallery at Public Streetwear, 873 Willamette St.) – The main goal of this pop-up gallery is to highlight and support emerging artists in the city, as well as create a dry, safe, inclusive space for all community members. Music starts at 7 p.m. with an open mic from 10-11 p.m. Suggested donation is $5-$10 (no one will be turned away). All of the money donated will be split evenly among participating artists. Event time is from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
No Shame Eugene (99 W. 10th Ave.) – The doors open at 7:30 p.m. with live music. The show begins at 8 p.m. and is made up of five-minute acts including monologues, sketch comedy, and the experimental. Each show includes the first 15 acts to register with the host when the doors open. Come to perform, but there’s no shame in just watching.
First Friday ArtWalk supporters
Lane Arts Council — Founded in 1976, the council is a nonprofit organization that cultivates strong and creative arts communities in Lane County, providing in-school arts education programs, supporting local artists and arts organizations, and coordinating community programs such as the popular First Friday ArtWalk.
December ArtWalk Sponsor — The Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace connects people to coverage and to help paying for coverage. Ready to learn more? Get started at OregonHealthCare.gov. Anyone can enroll through Dec. 15.
December ArtWalk Media Sponsor — KLCC, NPR for Oregonians, brings the arts to its 88,000 listeners with on air features, performances and reviews. KLCC provides NPR news, local and regional news, and a wide variety of music at 89.7 FM, klcc.org, and the free KLCC App.