(Above: The Umbrella Project’s silent and live auction of artistic umbrellas happens during the April 5 First Friday ArtWalk in downtown Eugene)
Posted by Anne-Allegra Bennett
Downtown Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk of spring will be led on April 5 by Jason Brown, program director at public radio KLCC 89.7 FM. With over 20 years of experience in public radio, Brown’s work has included hosting shows, training and managing staff, fundraising, and creating on-air and digital content. He looks forward “to building on KLCC’s rich legacy while leading the station into the future.”
Kicking off the ArtWalk at 5:30 p.m., the guided tour meets at Lane Community College’s Mary Spilde Downtown Center (101 W. 10th Ave.), where The Division of the Arts at LCC presents a showcase of student work in media, performing, and visual arts, as well as culinary arts, augmented by live performances from the Lane Dance Company, guitarist Taylor Irving from the music department, and advanced acting students, with treats prepared by culinary arts students
The tour makes its way to Kesey Square (Broadway and Willamette streets) at 6:00 p.m. where “Puddle Disco!” showcases the works of Tropical Contemporary’s artistic program “Rain Magic!”, created in partnership with City of Eugene Cultural Services. “Rain Magic!” is a three-month long journey of the magic of the rainy season through performance, installation, and snorkeling. Snorkel Safari, Finding the Light, and Rain Machine are all on display during the ArtWalk.
Moving right along, the tour stops at KLCC (136 W. Eighth Ave.) at 6:30 p.m. as they open their doors to the public for an inside look at what goes on at a radio station. Lauren Purcell-Joiner, host of Straight Street, will be broadcasting live in the studio. On exhibit will be arts reviewer Sandy Brown Jensen’s photo display of artists and their studios featured on KLCC’s VizCity. Participants will also have a chance to sample a variety of KLCC shows and stories, and choose a short scripted Station ID to record for their favorite KLCC show
The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. 4th Ave.) at 7:00 p.m. features MECCA, which challenges artists to make inspiring, thought-provoking, and creative works of art in two months’ time out of a mystery box of materials that connect scrap and fine art. More than 104 artists participated in this year’s version, the Object Afterlife Art Challenge. These works inspire everyone to think differently about the things we may otherwise consider to be waste.
Raven Frame Works (325 W. 4th Ave.) is the final stop on the guided tour at 7:30 p.m., featuring an exhibit called “It Ain’t Art Until It’s Framed,” a demonstration by owners Anne and Terry on how presentation can enhance or diminish a work of art.
As usual, many additional galleries and shops will remain open late during the ArtWalk:
• Cowfish (62 W. Broadway) — Work by Ricardo di Napoli.
• 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.) — In honor of the 2019 Eugene Record Convention, Epic Seconds presents a collection of concert posters from the heyday of the San Francisco psychedelic movement, called Art of the Poster: Fillmore and Family Dog.
• Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Ave.) — Whiteaker Block Party Canvases, a community painting project led by The New Zone Gallery, with salsa dance to live music performed by the 11-piece Orquesta Descarga 54 at 6 p.m.
• Euphoria Chocolate Company (946 Willamette St.) — Original oil paintings by local artist Sean Brennan, with intricate patterns found in plant and insect life, vivid color.
• Framin’ Artworks (505 High St.) — Collage, photography, and lampwork beadmaking by Harris Dillon, plus mixed-media encaustic work by Patty McConnell.
• InEugene Real Estate (100 E. Broadway) — Artwork by Carolyn Quinn.
• Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette St.) — Oregon Native Saints by Olga Volchkova. Russian-born Volchkova trained as an icon painter and conservator, and is well-known in this region for her popular exhibit at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art and an in-depth feature on her on OPB’s Oregon Art Beat. The exhibit “canonizes” local plants, based on extensive research, fine detail and “little jokes;” artist talk at 6 p.m.
• LovaKava Kava Bar & Restaurant (120 W. Broadway) — Original art and a glass of kava.
• Mosaic Fair Trade Collection (28 E. Broadway) — Beautiful furniture and homewares, hand-crafted from salvaged wood from Indonesia.
• The New Zone Gallery (22 W. Seventh Ave.) — Barbora Bakalarova’s photographic work in “Frames of Mind;” paintings by Robin Levin in the Klausmeier Room; PhotoZone, a collection of diverse individuals interested in the craft of photography; live music: Jerry Zybach.
• Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl St.) — Staff Show 2019, featuring work by Laura King, Molly Helm, Clayton Sukau, Andie Wise, Hannah White, and Mat Whiteley. Open until 6 p.m.
• Passionflower Design (128 E. Broadway) — Jewelry by Susan Goodwin a well-balanced mix of timeless classics with a nod to current fashion trends, drawing inspiration from the glamour of the 1950s with influences from the natural world. Open until 7 p.m.
• Starlight Lounge (830 Olive St.) — Say What?, acrylic paintings by Teresa Soler: see Lumosgallery.
• Townshend’s Teahouse (41 W. Broadway) — Work by Maria Rose, a guide to her most authentic self with no mistakes but just a door opening into something more rich and authentic.
• White Lotus Gallery (767 Willamette St.) — “She Flies With Her Own Wings: Celebrating Female Artistry,” featuring work by Northwest artists Analee Fuentes, Lynda Lanker, Helen Liu, Satoko Motouji, Connie Mueller, Judy Ness, Barbara Setsu Pickett, Lillian Pitt, Nancy Pobanz, and Margaret Prentice. Up through April 13th.
Additional (free) events
• Dada Café (225 W. Broadway) — An evening of evening of song, dance, music, activities for children, and a puppet show; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Product Design Arts Apprenticeship Showcase (942 Olive St.) — New and innovative products developed by middle- and high-school students from Lane County working with professional product designers, including storage units, cell phone stands, and fashion accessories.
• The Umbrella Project Auction (Eugene Public Library Plaza, 10th and Charnelton streets) — Presented by ArtCity Eugene and City of Eugene Cultural Services, includes 60 original artist-designed umbrellas created by featured artists who creatively brought light and shelter from the rain to the downtown area during the dark and rainy nights of winter. Auction proceeds will benefit the 15th Night Community Movement. Silent Auction from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Live auction starts at 7 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. Each show consists of the first fifteen acts to register with the host when doors open. Come as a performer, but there’s no shame in just watching.
First Friday Art-Walk sponsored by the Lane Arts Council
