(Above: One of Adam Grosowsky’s large oil paintings, part of a show called Bread, Shelter, and Circus, on display at the Karin Clarke Gallery)

Posted by Anne-Allegra Bennett

The new year will barely be here when the first First Friday ArtWalk of 2020 happens in downtown Eugene, with Michael Fisher, executive director of the Maude Kerns Art Center, leading the Jan. 3 official guided tour of hot art spots.

As always, the guided tour offers 30-minute stops along the way and often includes chats with the artists whose work is on display. Also as always, tourgoers are welcome to follow along or strike out on their own to take in the many and varied galleries and shops that stay open from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on ArtWalk evenings.

Official guided tour

Eden V. Evans created this piece for a show of work at Anti-Aesthetic, by Master’s of Arts students at the University of Oregon

Fisher will begin the official tour at 5:30 p.m. at Anti-Aesthetic (245 W. Eighth Ave.), where Eugene Contemporary Art presents a show called Under Our Moon Future Ascensions, the first exhibit in its new brick-and-mortar gallery space. It features the art of Sajad Amini, Dana Buzzee, Agnese Cebere, Eden V. Evans, Noelle Herceg, Erin Langley, Ian Sherlock Molloy, Hannah Petkau, Tyler Stoll, Elnaz Talaei, Nathan Alexander Ward, and Carol Yahner, all part of the Master of Fine Arts program at the University of Oregon.

Next up is the 6 p.m. stop at the Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette St.), where longtime Eugene artist Adam Grosowky has an exhibit of his large and colorful paintings titled Bread, Shelter, and Circus. In addition to his own printmaking and painting, Grosowsky taught art at Lane Community College for more than 30 years.

The art of quilting is the topic at 6:30 p.m. at Euphoria Chocolate Company (946 Willamette St.), where the Eugene Modern Quilt Guild has a show called Traveling Quilt Bee. The traditional meaning of the term refers to a group of quilters who take turns adding their particular artistry to the same quilt, resulting in a potpourri of styles and colors that span the wide variety of quilting techniques and aesthetics.

Daisy Schrock was one of many artists who responded to the “Sketchbook Challenge” at sponsored by Sparrow Studios

At 7 p.m., Sparrow Studios (136 E. Broadway) is the destination, with a show called Unbound that challenged artists, designers and other “creatives” to start or work on a sketchbook or other visual practice. The challenge began in August, with work continuing through the fall, and the result is a collection of books of different sizes, mediums, and purposes, reflecting the freedom of artists to create without expectation on a day-by-day basis.

Last up on the tour is Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl St.) at 7:30 p.m., where Erika Beyer has a show of her assorted work that she describes as “scientific storytelling” using watercolor and gouache on paper that derive from her background in geology, scientific illustration and architecture and also contribute to her teaching career in art and design at Oregon State University and Lane Community College.

More arts and culture

The official guided tour is far from the only artwork on display during the First Friday Artwalk, when many other galleries and shops remain open for the evening, including these:

● Allies, LLC (131 E. 11th Ave.) — Creative art-making space and a curating in a space shared and run cooperatively by adults with developmental disabilities. This month, Allies artists are showcasing works that describe artists’ personal connections with the seasons and with nature.  Works include paintings, drawings, collages, and jewelry by program participants and staff.

• ArtCity Studios on Broadway (160 E. Broadway) — The studios of 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) — In the Chris Wick Gallery 2020 Vision: Emerging Artists in Contemporary Art, an exhibit of new works by Ronald Fox, Jessica Jones, Simon Graves, Tracy Jensen, Bessie Amanita Joyce, Sheila Wadsack, Paula Goodbar, Ammama Malik, J.B. Mangold, Rachel Osterman, Christina Wickstein, and Corey Youngren.

● 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) — Two by Three, featuring the work of local-musicians-who-also-paint Jacob Hall, Austin Armijo, and Kelly O’Grady.

● Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) — Mixed media art by Zoe Cohen and Beth I. Robinson, exploring “the raw and strangely beautiful landscape of grief and loss” plus high-energy African dance and drumming by West African Cultural Arts Institute.

By Benjamin Terrell, at InEugene Real Estate

● InEugene Real Estate (100 E. Broadway) — Here Not Here, new paintings by Benjamin Terrell, with main characters present, gone, or no longer as they once were, evoking beauty and sadness that exist at once.

● The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. 4th Ave) — Limitless, a large collection of works in many mediums created by 25 participants of the Arts & Culture Program of Oregon Supported Living Program. This exhibition showcases the work of over 25 artists in a myriad of mediums, with Nancy Albro as featured artist in the community gallery.

● LovaKava Kava Bar & Restaurant (120 W. Broadway) — Kava to drink and original art to enjoy.

● Mosaic Fair Trade Collection (28 E. Broadway) — Handmade Fair Trade jewelry, furniture, homewares, unique gifts, clothing, accessories, and more from all around the world.

● The New Zone Gallery (22 W. 7th Ave) — Norman’s World by featured artist Norman Dube and Quirky Facts by spotlight artist Dianne Story Cunningham. Music by Jerry Zybach on guitar.

● Out of Step Books & Gallery (1022 Willamette St.) — Annual Coaster Show, featuring 200 coasters by over 120 artists working in various artistic mediums (paintings, drawings, embroidery, and more) plus four walls of original artwork, hundreds of art prints, art books, sculptures, and gifts and drawing or coloring with free art supplies.

● Starlight Lounge (830 Olive St.) — Art by Shadowfox (aka Jason Pancoast) exploring the relationship between nature and narrative, story and self, inspired by the Pacific Northwest. Instagram: @shadowfox

● Townshend’s Teahouse (41 W. Broadway) — Forever Avant-Garde — Masterpieces of Children’s Art,  by young artists ages 4 to 15  years studying with Stephanie Tsuchida and The Little Owl School of Arts in Eugene; presented by the nonprofit Multicultural Children’s Art Museum & Education Center.

Additional (free) event

● No Shame Eugene (99 W. 10th Ave.) —Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with live music. Show begins at 8:00 p.m. featuring 15 original, five-minute acts including monologues, sketch comedy, and the experimental. The show is made up of 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 sponsors

January ArtWalk Sponsor: Sherry Schaefers Insurance Agency Inc., State Farm, 252 W. 7th Avenue

Lane Arts Council: A nonprofit organization founded in 1976 that cultivates creative arts in Lane County, providing in-school arts education programs, supporting local artists and arts organizations, and coordinating community programs such as the  First Friday ArtWalk

Erika Beyer’s Pileateds is part of her show at the Oregon Art Supply