(Above: “New Orleans Funk” by Patsy Hand, is one of her paintings on display at Modern during the First Friday ArtWalk)
Posted by Anne-Allegra Bennett
Downtown Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk, which happens also to usher in the month of June this year, is headed this time around by Janelle McCoy, executive director of the Oregon Bach Festival.
The official guided tour gathers at 5:30 p.m. at Modern (207 E. Fifth Ave.), with subsequent stops each 30 minutes until the tour ends at 8 p.m. At Modern, tour goers will see Patsy Hand’s new show, a variety of abstract paintings that depict varying emotions. Besides painting, Hand also works in bronze and is the writer of a thriller novel, Lost Dogs of Rome.
The second stop on the art walk is at 6 p.m. at Swahili African Modern, in the Fifth Street Public Market at 296 E. Fifth Ave., Space 222. The shop specializes in African art, including a variety of hand-carved stools which in African culture are used variously for practical and ceremonial purposes, spiritual practice, or to convey personal status.
Moving on, the tour hits Framin’ ArtWorks (505 High St.) at 6:30 p.m. After retiring from work in the industrial sector, Wally Carothers was influenced by a friend to do some drawing and painting. His subjects range from still life, landscape, and portraits, in pen-and-ink, charcoal, pencil, and watercolor.
Next up is Mara Thygeson’s show of plein air landscape and seascape watercolors at OUT ON A LIMB Gallery (191 E. Broadway) at 7:00 p.m. While the exhibit includes pieces painted near Eugene and more farflung locales, Thygeson painted most of the works in this show Bolinas, in California’s Marin County.
The last stop on the tour at 7:30 p.m. is Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl St.), where Penelope Youngfeather shares pages from her collection of sketchbooks in a show titled, Life with a Sketchbook. The show encapsulates “delight in the everyday, awareness of the humble, and reverence for the spectacular,” from 20-second gesture ‘scribbles’ to four-hour watercolor immersion-in-place pieces.
As always, many other galleries and businesses stay open late during the First Friday ArtWalk, including these on June 1:
Alexi Era Gallery & Projects (1712 Willamette Street, Suite 100) — If a bird could design a dream home, what would it look like? “Feathered Dwellings” is an exhibition showcasing original and handcrafted artwork inspired by birdhouses; open 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Broadway Commerce Center (44 W. Broadway) — Artwork in various mediums created by artists from OSLP’s (Oregon Supported Living Program) Arts & Culture Program.
Cowfish (62 W. Broadway) — Paintings by Hambone Scotty.
ECO Sleep Solutions and Gallery (25 E. Eighth Avenue) — Felted wool home décor and apparel by Tylar Merrill; clay tile collages by Annie Heron; hand-painted wood pieces and hand-painted silk apparel by Lybi Thomas; wood sculptures and stone carvings by Cedar Caredio; and Luminessence light sculptures by Stephen White.
Epic Seconds (30 E. 11th Avenue) — “Let the World Take Your Weight,” new oil and watercolor paintings by Benjamin Terrel, with figures that roam in and out of step with the magic of the places they inhabit.
Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Avenue) — Paintings by Kari Jensen. Concert with the 17-piece Blue Skies Band plays swing classics featuring vocal trio The Jewel Tones at 6:00 p.m.
Goldworks Jewelry Art Studio (169 E. Broadway) — Original jewelry by Goldworks staff.
InEugene Real Estate (100 E. Broadway) — “This Nameless Wilderness,” paintings by Benjamin Terrell.
Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette Street) — “Robert Schlegel: Varied Themes,” a large exhibit of acrylic paintings and mixed media works of his familiar subjects as well as a new series of figurative works.
The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. Fourth Avenue) — Group showcase of artwork by participants in the OSLP Arts & Culture Program, including painting, ceramics, video, and fiber art.
LovaKava Kava And Kombucha Bar Bohemian Vegan Restaurant (120 W. Broadway) — Work inspired by the tropics, by featured artist Johnmichael T. Lahtinen in the artistic kava bar designed by master architect, Joseph Moore.
MAVEN (271 W. Eighth Avenue) — A group show, mostly photography-based, featuring Alaja Badalich, Amanda Blaeuer, and Fred; cookie tastings from French Cookie.
Mosaic Fair Trade Collection (28 E. Broadway) — Handmade chimes and planters from around the world; fair trade wine tasting.
The New Zone Gallery (220 W. Eighth Avenue) — “Imperceptions,” a show of abstract Live string music provided by “Just Duet.”
The Northwest Hat Co. (870 Pearl Street) — Digital painting and pen-and-ink by Richard McConochie, titled “Magical Ocean.”
Passionflower Design (128 E. Broadway) — Arts for personal adornment, including hair jewelry, nail polishes, and perfumes; open until 7:00 p.m.
Raven Frame Works (325 W. Fourth Avenue) — Work by award-winning Eugene artist Dan Chen, including painting, pastel, bronze, and engraved acrylic.
Starlight Lounge (830 Olive Street) — “Appreciation,” resin art by Kyla Dozier. instagram: @kyladozierarts.
Townshend’s Teahouse (41 W. Broadway) — First show by local abstract expressionist artist B. Rothweiler.
White Lotus Gallery (767 Willamette Street) — “Cultivating Nature: The Art of the Garden,” featuring works by Okiie Hashimoto, Chizuko Yoshida, Jun’ichiro Sekino, Kiyoshi Saito, Masao Maeda, Hide Kawanishi, Katsunori Hamanishi, Connie Mueller and Dale Mueller, and others.
Additional events
#instaballet (Capitello Wines, 540 Charnelton Street) — Help dancers from Eugene Ballet Company make a new ballet, whether suggesting steps or ideas or just sitting back and watching the ballet unfold. No dance experience is required and all ages are welcome. The final piece will be performed at 8:00 p.m. Also take in an art show of “anxious circles” by M. V. Moran, “luscious fruit” by John Holdway, and “atmospheric landscapes” by Amanda Martin Wilcox.
ArtsAlive: 1+1=1 (Kesey Square) — Interdisciplinary arts include performances by DanceAbility International, Oregon Brass Quintet, Paul Safar, local tango/modern/contact improvisational dancers, and Luis Rivera from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., ending with a community jam and community dance. Sketch, paint, or draw the dancers and musicians, and chairs will be set up around the dance floor. (Presented in partnership with Lane Arts Council, with special thanks to sponsors City of Eugene Cultural Services and EUGfun!, Banner Bank, Guitar Center, DanceAbility International, Eugene Ballet, and QSL.)
Golden Arts Healing Collective’s Spring Into Light (395 W. Broadway) – Features acrylic on canvas, colored pencil, watercolors, collage, and acrylic on sculpture by Cecelia Sykes Kronenberg, plus live music by Quasimodal, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Hyperplum World Tour (873 Willamette Street) – Join the band Hyperplum for their final show downtown and the debut release of their BFA Terminal projects, including pieces which test the limits of film, print, installation, interactive games, live performance, and more. Information at hyperplum.com
Nerd Art Night (Game Pub, 881 Willamette Street) – Grab a drink and check out some geektastic artwork by local talents Cortney Fellet of Steel Web, Kylea Phillips, Samantha Westrope, Tommy Harbour, and Kelli Harbour-Byers and Jesse Tannehill of Spooky Swirl Arts. 7:00-10:00 p.m.; for ages 21+ only.
No Shame Eugene (99 W. 10th Avenue) – Doors open at 7:30 p.m. with live music and for sign-ups for performing. Show begins at 8:00 p.m., made up of the first 15, five-minute acts including monologues, sketch comedy, and the experimental. Come to perform or just watch — no shame, either way.
Parachutes for the Planet (Butterfly Parking Lot, 750 Oak Street) – In collaboration with the EWEB Education Partnership, participating Eugene 4J School District students addressed a global environmental issue — plastic pollution in our water ways — via painting sessions of messages and drawings on parachutes based on classroom learning. The parachutes will be sent to Maryland to become part of Mother Earth Project’s permanent collection of parachutes made by people from all over the world, with two exhibits happening later this year in Washington, D.C. Information at motherearthproject.org/parachutes
Lane Arts Council
The Lane Arts Council was founded in 1976 by a group of artists who identified the need for a centralized arts agency in Lane County. Its mission is to cultivate strong and creative arts through high-quality arts experiences, arts education for all ages, and encouraging artistic programs, including arts education programs in schools, downtown Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk, professional development workshops, and more. Information at lanearts.org
June 2018 ArtWalk Sponsor: Oregon Bach Festival
Oregon Bach Festival (OBF) has presented the work of J.S. Bach in Eugene for nearly 50 years, including traditional choral and orchestral masterworks as well as other forms of music. The annual festival includes internationally known guest artists, educational programs, family-oriented activities, and community events. The 2018 schedule, which runs June 29 to July 14, includes Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, Felix Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah, an all-Mozart evening, a performance from composer Philip Glass and a regional premiere of his Piano Concerto No. 3, plus The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, and the world premiere of Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Yeshua. Information at OregonBachFestival.org