(Above: Painting by Ralph Viols, on display at Stahman Guitars)

By Randi Bjornstad

“Stepping Outside the Box,” by Vicki Idema

The July 12 version of Springfield’s monthly Second Friday Art Walk features Robert Killen, director of Lane Community College’s Small Business Development Center, as guest host. Killen will meet the official tour-goers at 5:30 p.m. at the Springfield City Hall Gallery at 225 Fifth St., on the second floor outside the Springfield Public Library.

Artwork by Vicki Idema is on display there. She uses her background in textile art to weave international fabric motifs into cut paper designs. Her work has been part of solo and group shows throughout the state, including a Best of Show award for an exhibit at Linn-Benton Community College. The artist will be on hand for the reception, and there will be live music by Bob Ragan, who has been an award-winning high school band director and music supervisor, and now in Oregon is perfecting his jazz improvisation techniques on a variety of woodwind instruments. He has performed solos with many big bands and university ensembles.

Next up on the tour is the Tronson Gallery at 740-A Main St., where paintings and woodcut prints by the late Orval Dillingham are on display. Dillingham had a career that spanned six decades; members of his family will attend the reception there.

At the Springfield Museum at 590 Main St., the Oregon Trail Lacemakers have a show titled “The Living Art of Homemade Lace.”

“A Cool Drink of Water” by Lena MacDonald is part of her show at the Emerald Art Center in July

Several shows are on at once at the Emerald Art Center at 500 Main St. Lena MacDonald is a featured artist with her watercolors, and there is an all-medium show of work by center members in the Cyd and Casey Woodard Gallery. The upstairs Jaqua Gallery is showing the annual PhotoZone juried exhibition, with work by 60 photographic artists.

Sandi Grubb is the featured artist at Dark and Stormy, 420 Main St., followed by a show of paintings, mixed-media and whatever by Ralph — he prefers one name — at Stahman Guitars Repair at 329 Main St.

As usual, there are many additional galleries, shops, and businesses open during the Second Friday Art Walk hours:

  • Hearts for Hospice, 444 Main St. — art by Robin Marks-Fife, music by Lisa Oxman, complimentary refreshments by Guy, and Paco’s Famous Cookies.
  • 100 Mile Bakery, 418 A St.
  • Malerische Gallery, 236 Main St.
  • Bartolotti’s NY style pizza and Italian Bistro, 330 Main St.
  • Cornbread Café, 338 Main St. — a show of drawings by Michael Cross.
  • Hap-Hazard Creativity, 331 Main St. — botanical prints by artist Denise Davis of Karmidilo Clayworks.
  • Cheesesteak NW, 521 Main St. — contemporary art by local artists and members of the Emerald Art Center.
  • Wildish Theatre, 630 Main St..
  • The Refinery Skin Care and Spa, 740-B Main St.
  • Neu Real Estate, 741-B Main St. — watercolor and other art by Destry Neu, who teaches art and ceramics at Willamette High School.
  • Mezza Luna Pizzeria, 115 S. 5th St.
  • Chow / Moe’s Tavern, 471 S. A St.
  • Ethyria, 138 Main St. — clothing with an artistic flair by Anna Bjorndotte, with oil-on-canvas art by Jose Lopes.

Information: Call the Emerald Art Center at 541-726-8595