(Above: A collection of photographs of Oregon and other places in the Pacific Northwest and beyond by Katsuyuki Shibata is on exhibit at Eugene Yoga.)

Edited by Anne-Allegra Bennett

Join in the fun of the holiday season with December’s festive First Friday ArtWalk, hosted by nationally published author, photographer and KLCC-FM arts reporter Eric Alan. Waltz down the streets under the glow of the streetlights, and take in the free guided tour from 5:30-8:00 p.m. Enter for a chance to win tickets to Eugene Ballet Company’s annual production of “The Nutcracker” being performed Friday, December 22 – Sunday, December 24 at the Hult Center in Silva Concert Hall.

Guided Tour

Begin the tour at 5:30 p.m. at Eugene Mindworks (207 East 5th Ave., Suite 220), with the exhibits and booths at the Sprout Children’s Business Expo, which  features creative and unique arts and crafts handmade by local children. Youth ages 4-18 years will experience what it’s like to be a vendor selling their own art. Stop by to show support, and help encourage these entrepreneurs and artists. There will be live performances by local youth artists throughout the evening.

Jo Dunnick’s portrait of her grandfather is part of her show at Framin’ Artworks. The piece, titled “Daniel,” was a crowdpleaser when it first appeared in a national juried exhibit at the Emerald Art Center in 2015

Moving on to Framin’ ArtWorks (505 High St.) at 6:00 p.m., artist Jo Dunnick focuses on things that are special to her in the show “At The Heart Of It All… Love And Connection.” She dedicates the work “to the land, to the past and the present, to people who have supported us despite our short comings, to the ‘4-leggeds’ who feed our soul and show us how to live in the moment.”

Patti McNutt’s exhibit on the tour is at 6:30 p.m. at OUT ON A LIMB Gallery (191 E. Broadway), and her 2017 Oregon Coast plein air paintings are on display for the month of December. They were created during a yearly coastal gathering started by Nelson Sandgren more than forty years ago. His son Erik carries on the two-week long tradition each July. The show includes works in acrylic and ink, as well as charcoal paintings of landscape from Bandon to Cape Arago. For more information, see pattimcnutt.com.

The tour moves along the route to the West Park Street Block (8th and Oak) at 7:00 p.m., where ArtCity Eugene and the City of Eugene Cultural Services’ “Light Up the Night” with a showcase of multidisciplinary arts that use light and/or film to create artistic expression in the dark. Works include a projected light

David Placencia’s
Piano” is part of the “Light Up the Night” installation at Park Street Blocks

installation by Pipeworks Studio; lighted sculptures by Hana Behrs & John Van Strien, Cari Ingrassia & Terry Holloway, and Jill Mulholland; music by David Placencia and Nathan Asman; short films by Robert Uehlin, John Watson, and Barbara Counsil. David Placencia will unveil the latest Playable Public Art Piano for the public to play under the theme “Light Up the World,” and Nathan Asman will share his digital light and color instrument “Curve.”

Eric Gunderson shows his paintings and drawings in “Fire and Ice – Landscapes of a Changing Planet” on the tour’s last stop at 7:30 p.m. at the Broadway Commerce Center (44 W. Broadway). Ice is on the retreat at alarming rates around both poles. Is fire good, evil, beautiful, or ugly? Like the Robert Frost poem, Fire and Ice, this exhibit asks us to more deeply understand our world and ourselves. Gunderson is an architect, and is recently retired from PIVOT Architecture. He studied art at UO and Sutton School of Art in London. This is his first solo exhibit. Also check out ReJEWEL, a jewelry resale show with a mixture of elegant costume pieces. World AIDS Day is on December 1st, and all proceeds will go directly to the orphaned and HIV+ children supported by Makindu Children’s Program.

More Arts and Culture

As usual, many other galleries and shops also will be open during the ArtWalk from 5:30-8 p.m. on Dec. 1:

  • Antrican (245 W. 8th Ave) — Fine and folk art, including photography by Lon Myst, watercolors by Kiki Metzler, and neon sculpture by Neal Conner. Antrican specializes in vintage, world, and new clothing for men and women, accessories, and holiday gifts. A surprise musical guest also will be on hand
  • Cowfish (62 W. Broadway) — Meet the artists of the Painted Lady Art Collective and see the collaborative works of LED responsive artists Tiffany Rose and Ame Beard. Music by Audio Mirage. 6-9 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 and linen pieces and hand-painted silk apparel by Lybi Thomas; stone carvings, wood sculptures and fanciful masks by Cedar Caredio; and Luminessence light sculptures by Stephen White.
  • Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) — Portraits of positive icons by Simon Graves.  Concert of a cappella tune by Clefs of Insanity starts at 6 p.m.
  • Eugene Yoga (245 E. Broadway) — A collection of photographs of Oregon and other places in the Pacific Northwest and beyond by Katsuyuki Shibata.
  • gilt+gossamer (873 Willamette St.) — M.V. Moran exhibits “Anxious Circles — Despondent Spheres,” an exhibit by M.V. Moran, paintings designed to transform everyday melancholy, strife, and anxiety into artwork that takes away daily burdens.
  • Goldworks Jewelry Art Studio (169 E. Broadway) — Original jewelry by Goldworks staff.
  • InEugene Real Estate (100 E. Broadway) — A fundraiser for Bags of Love, helping children in crisis one bag at a time, with handmade quilts crafted and donated by community members.
  • The Jazz Station (124 W. Broadway) — Photos of artists appearing at the Jazz Station by Keith Munson. Gallery open until 7 p.m. Music: Idit Shner performs a re-creation of Booker Little’s “Far Cry,” 8 p.m.; tickets $10.
  • Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette St.) — New work by LCC art instructor and gallery regular, painter Adam Grosowsky.
  • The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. 4th Ave.) — Portfolio Project Exhibition, showcasing artwork and portfolios by 15 artists working at the OSLP Arts & Culture Program. The Community Room Gallery features work by the local artist Elizabeth Blue.
  • MAVEN (271 W. 8th Ave.) — New art by resident artist Marlis, as well as a sale on artwork and cashmere. Music: Local Blues music by Howlin Dogma.
  • Mosaic Fair Trade Collection (28 E. Broadway) — Unique handmade holiday ornaments from around the world and fair trade wine.
  • The New Zone Gallery (220 W. 8th Ave.) — “Bits and Pieces,” artwork in a variety of mediums by Julie Williams; the Holiday Store features unique, affordable, handcrafted gifts, and a new “Small Treasures” show in the Klausmeier Room showcases work by New Zone artists. Music: Walker T. Ryan on guitar.
  • The Northwest Hat Company (870 Pearl St.) — Locally and handmade hats, as well as contemporary and sustainable jewelry by Gary Dawson.
  • Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl St.) — “Boundaries: A Six-Woman Show,” featuring

    “Shut Trail” by Ann Hamilton is part of a six-artist show at Oregon Art Supply

    work by Zoe Cohen, Jenny Gray, Ann Hamilton, Rebecca Mannheimer, Sarah Sedwick, and Beverly Soasey. This show, continuing through December, challenged each artist to work within a set framework of space within the gallery to create their own unique display. Open until 6 p.m.

  • Passionflower Design (128 E. Broadway) — Passionflower’s Holiday Open House, featuring live music by Edsol Olivera, a photo booth, book signings with Connie James, and libations.
  • Raven Frame Works (325 W. 4th Ave.) — Display by award-winning Eugene artist Dan Chen,  in a wide range of media including painting, pastel, bronze, and engraved acrylic, depicting the natural world, focusing on plants and animals.
  • Red Wagon Creamery (55 W. Broadway) — “The Seeker & The Sought,” work representing questions and ideas about death, love, and aging by Adeline Celenza.
  • Townshend’s Teahouse (41 W. Broadway) — A collection by various artists in the Art Forum, a group open to the community that meets the third Monday of each month to encourage, support, and network; for both beginning and professional artists.
  • Vistra Framing & Gallery (411 W 4th Ave) — “Diverse Universe,” a group show of

    Sadie Smith’s art is part of a group show at Vistra Framing and Gallery

    smaller pieces by J.S. Bird, Robert Canaga, Patricia Carroll, Lisa Lavoni, Diane Lewis, Jacqueline Lukowski, Bess Nobel, and Sadie Smith in a variety of mediums, including oil, pastel, acrylic, oil and wax, watercolor, collage, and acrylic on paper.

  • The Wayward Lamb (150 W Broadway) — Artwork by Christian Ives, inspired by the moments in his life worth remembering. Heritage Distilling Co. will be on site.  Music: Chad Feipel on acoustic guitar.
  • White Lotus Gallery (767 Willamette St.) — “Faces of Beauty and Drama: 19th Century Japanese Woodblock Prints,” through Jan. 27.

Additional free events:

  • Product of Eugene Arts Apprenticeship Showcase (942 Olive St.) — Lane Arts Council celebrates the accomplishments of the 15 middle- and high-school designers in its first Product of Eugene Arts Apprenticeship Showcase. Students work with professional product designers for 10 weeks to create unique and original products ranging from coffee mugs to scooters.
  • “NERD ART NIGHT 3 – X-tra Xmas Edition!” (Game Pub, 881 Willamette St.) — “NERD ART NIGHT 3 – X-tra Xmas Edition!” Features the talents of Cortney Fellet of Steel Web, Kylea Phillips, Karrashi Art, Samantha Westrope, Tommy Harbour, Kelli Harbour-Byers and Jesse Tannehill of Spooky Swirl Arts! 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., 21+ only.
  • Very Victorian Wreath Festival and Auction (Oregon Wine Lab, 488 Lincoln St.) — Shelton McMurphey Johnson House kicks off their Victorian Wreath Festival with community judges Fred Crafts, Bob Hart, Nicole Trobaugh, and Mary Birckhead presenting the artist awards, and public bidding on the wreaths beginning, at the Oregon Wine Lab and or via an online auction website, through Dec. 20. Proceeds from the auction support the Shelton McMurphey Johnson House. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • No Shame Eugene (99 W. 10th Ave.) — Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with live music. The show begins at 8 p.m. with 15 original, 5-minute acts including monologues, sketch comedy, and the experimental. The show includes the first 15 acts to register with the host when doors open. Come to perform, but there’s no shame in just watching.

First Friday ArtWalk sponsored by the Lane Arts Council