(Above: Sound Waves, music photography by Todd Cooper, captures crowds, performers, and other “epic” stage moments in the world of music performance. Cooper’s work is on display at Epic Seconds.)
By Randi Bjornstad
There’s a lot that’s special going on at downtown Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk, starting with a variety of activities — opening remarks, musical performances, awarding of prizes for the 2022 Eugene Biennial art show, an artists’ marketplace, entertainment, art activities, and even a virtual reality experience.
It all starts at 5:30 p.m. at the new Farmers Market Pavilion at 85 E. 8th Ave. Then, as usual, until 8 p.m. (unless otherwise noted in the list below), a large number of downtown galleries, shops, eateries, and cultural activities will be open to receive visitors. But remember to bring along a face mask, in case some venues ask you to wear it so that everyone will protected during the continuing incidence of covid-19 cases.
Possible stops on the self-guided tour
Alex Hall’s pendants and 3D prints are on display at Allies LLC.
In the 5th Street Market Alley (550 Pearl St.) — Augmented reality experience with AR artworks/Glimmer Technology; art installation by Lane Arts Council grant recipient Cari Ingrassia in the Art Bar at the Gordon Hotel.
Allies LLC (131 E. 11th Ave. — The last month of the summer art theme, Fun Shine Pride!, features bronze-casted pendants and 3D prints by Alex Hall; demonstrations of divination through Nordic runes by Jon Conway; and a walk on the red carpet for the summer finale Pride Fashion Show.
Art with Alejandro (5th Street Public Market, Second Floor, Suite 224, 246 E. Fifth Ave.) — Languid landscapes and contemplative quotes for the month of August, with works by artist/instructor Alejandro Sarmiento, letter artist Erica Heim (aka the Eugene Chalk Lady).
ArtCity Studios on Broadway (in the basement at 160 E. Broadway — Work by young artists who participate at WheelHaus Arts, which provides professional tools, supplies, teaching, and gallery space.
Cognitive Dissident is one of Earl Dunbar’s creations showing at the Broadway Commerce Center
The Barn Light (924 Willamette St. — Featuring artwork by Sierra Squires, who uses her paintings to examine the relationship between physical form and art.
Books with Pictures Eugene (99 W. Broadway, Suite C) — A show called Kid Stuff by painter and assemblage artist Lisa Yu, a series of panels created on bulletin boards from thrift stores, using mostly paint and repurposed materials.
Broadway Commerce Center (44 W. Broadway) — Featuring artwork by Earl Dunbar in a show called Revision, including explorations of textures in the natural world in watercolor, oils, and acrylics.
Community Cup Coffee (901 Pearl St.) — Photographic work by Barbora Pakalarova, from patterns in nature to portraits.
Dark Pine Coffee (954 Pearl St.) — Abstract, fluid paintings titled Trippy, but Classy, by Kylie Jess, plus oil paintings on metal by mixed-media artist Brittany Micho, ranging from “derealization to depersonalization to uncanny.”
Jud Turner’s sculpture, Naseem, the Great Blue Heron, is on display in the Downtown Riverfront Park.
Downtown Riverfront Park — features Naseem, the Great Blue Heron, a sculpture in welded steel, found objects, chrome and glass by Jud Turner, presented by ArtCity, along with Culture Raising, a temporary art project by TJ along a 100-foot fence line, bringing awareness to the Native American people and cultures in the community.
ECO Sleep Solutions and Gallery (25 E. 8th Ave.) — Collages by Dori Koberstein, with representations of the natural world such as birds, landscapes, and flowers.
Epic Seconds (30 E. 11th Ave.) — Sound Waves, music photography by Todd Cooper, capturing crowd, performer, and other “epic” stage moments in the world of music performance.
Eugene Hotel (222 E. Broadway) — A pop-up gallery in the lobby with work by the residents and staff of the hotel, including watercolors, collage, pen-and-ink, textile arts,and photography; live music by Oregon Oldtime Fiddlers from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) — StoryHelix, a collaboration between storytellers and professional artists about belonging in this community, presented in panels based on their experiences.
Mayor’s Art Show (Second floor, Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) — Juried show on display through Sept. 5, 2022.
Framin’ Artworks (505 High St.) — Wildlife and landscape photography by Ben Sutter, highlighting the Everglades, Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks, and many Oregon locations.
FUSE Jewelry Collective (112 E. 13th Ave.) — Newly opened place for jewelry lovers to learn, shop, create, and connect, including a showroom of work by local jewelry designers and small-batch gift items; live jewelry-making demonstrations and studio tours of the FUSE classroom.
Karin Clarke at the Gordon (590 Pearl St., Suite 105) — Featuring Farmers Market, an invitational show of work celebrating the bounty of the season with work by Mark Clarke (1935-2016), Humberto Gonzalez, Bets Cole, and others.
Eugene artist Sarah Ciampa’s oil-on-wood, Copper Cup, is part of the Eugene Biennial 2022 exhibit.
Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette St.) — A juried show called Eugene Biennial 2022, featuring with work by regional artists in a wide range of mediums and styles, with a vote by the public to select the People’s Choice Award.
Mosaic Fair Trade Collection (28 E. Broadway) — Features fair trade jewelry, homewares, gifts, clothing, and accessories from around the world.
The New Zone Gallery (110 E. 11th Ave.) — Showing the usual eclectic mix of art by members of the collective with special shows for August:
- Salon des Réfusés — Art that didn’t get into the city of Eugene’s Mayor’s Art Show;
- Hues of Comfort — paintings of enlightenment by Kelly Sweat;
- Taxidermy — miscellaneous and unusual off-world life forms in various mediums by Will Lotz;
- Live music.
One Vision Nutrition (946 Willamette St.) — Work by artist, art teacher, spiritual healer, and life-and-grief coach Lynzie Kronheim, featjuring work she has created during her playmaking, storytelling, poetry and music classes.
Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl St.) — A show called got to be good for something by Diana C. Patin, using photography and mixed-media to showcase objects past their prime.
Starlight Lounge (830 Olive St.) — Acrylic art by Jonathan Norman, inspired by bringing emotions to life.
Windowfront Exhibitions — Interactive artwork and galleries created in empty storefronts in downtown Eugene, with the theme for August of Welcome World:
- 120 W. Broadway — Celestial Migration, a mural by Valentina Gonzalez, representing the creation story of Coyote and Jaguar.
- 224 W. Broadway — Work by Asian-American contemporary women artists, including Mika Aono, Kum Ja Lee, Mei-Ling Lee, Helen Liu, and Sandy Honda.
- 225 W. Broadway — A pop-up book of LIttLE BIG Bear, illustrated by Andre Royal Jr., and written by Andre royal Sr., hand-drawn with multimedia materials including Copic-style markers, watercolor, and traditional ink.
- 833 Willamette St. — Queer Ancestries, Self Prophesies, and Horse Girl Fantasies by Eric Braman, Alex Ever, and Melissa Rose, a collective of visual and written-word artists exploring magicall realism through creative disciplines that examine unseen moments of new growth.
- 856 Willamette St. — Meditative Layers by Kum Ja Lee, a weaving display exploring relationships between contemporary practices and conventional approaches in visual arts.
- 873 Willamette St. — Stencil art and funk fashion by Mija Matriz and abstract acrylic paintings by Scott Romo.
- 1059 Willamette St. — A Sunset Together, mural by Pattrick Price using traditional formline designs and ancient petroglyph styles.
- 99 W. 10th Ave., south window — Touching Balance, mural by Esteban Camacho Steffensen, showing the give-and-take relationship between humans and oceans.
- 100 W. 10th Ave. — See Eugene Public Library listing.
Special events
#Instaballet (Capitello Wines, 540 Charnelton — The public become choreographers, helping Eugene Ballet dancers create a new dance by suggesting new moves for the dancers to perform. Stop by between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to participate, and the final creation will be danced at 8 p.m. Free.
First Friday ArtTalk (Farmers Market Pavilion, 85 E. 8th Ave.) — Michael Boonstra talks at 6:30 p.m. about creation of Willamette River Contours, a new piece of public art installed recently in the Pavilion, including the initial call for art, the design, how it changed over time and the final installation.
Bailamos Latin Dance Network (Downtown Riverfront Park) — Experience Latino music and dance with Bailamos Latin Dance Network, a collective of dancers, DJs, event organizers, and instructors who are looking to create communities to promote and support LatinX dance culture. Dance lesson starts at 6 p.m., social dancing from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Free, but donations to support the network are appreciated.
About Lane Arts Council
Lane Arts Council is a nonprofit organization that works to cultivate strong and creative arts communities throughout Lane County. They provide high-quality arts experiences, engaging people of all ages in arts education and encouraging artistic endeavors.
Wildlife and landscape photography by Ben Sutter is on exhibit at Framin’ Artworks. Sutter frequently photographs landscapes in national parks.
