(Above: Poseidon’s Dream is a zeppelin-like “flying submarine” created by internationally known steampunk artists Steve LaRiccia and Joe Mross, based on a concept by Ralf Huber. The piece is destined to become a chandelier over the dining room table in a Eugene home. Photo by Paul Carter.)
By Randi Bjornstad
Anthony Pope’s Self-Portrait is part of the Salon de Refusés show
The New Zone Gallery in downtown Eugene has three distinct art shows going on, including one called Salon de Refusés, which consists of artwork that was submitted to the Eugene Mayor’s Art Show but did not win space in that exhibit, which is on display at the Eugene Public Library through Sept. 4, 2022.
Through the years, the Salon de Refusés has become a cherished event among New Zone members as well as the public, offering a way to compare and contrast — and kibbitz about — the differences between the two.
In addition to the Salon de Refusés and the regular members’ show, New Zone also gives “featured artist” space to one of its members, right now Kelly Sweat, according to member artist Glen Smith, who was minding the store — something all members also do periodically — on a recent afternoon.
“We have about 70 members at New Zone, and they’re on a list to have their turn at being featured artist,” Smith said. “Being the featured artist comes around every two to three years.”
Business as Usual is a mixed-media collage by Kelly Sweat, the featured artist for August 2022 at the New Zone Gallery.
The New Zone Gallery is as much art shop as art gallery, featuring in addition to regular shows a wide variety of other arts — ceramics, fiber, paper, clothing, tchochkes — created and offered for sale by its members.
The venerable artists’ collective has seven locations during its three decades, but the latest incarnation, at 110 E. 11th Ave. in downtown Eugene, is is probably the best, with 4,200 square feet of wide-open space on the corner of one of downtown’s busiest intersections.
The storefront, owned by St. Vincent de Paul and formerly occupied by one of its thrift stores, has large banks of windows that take up two sides of the gallery, giving passersby a good glimpse of the wide array of creative paintings ceramics, sculptures, and other forms of artistic expression inside.
The New Zone Gallery moved into the space in May 2021 and displays a map of all of its geographical incarnations on a wall.
The New Zone Gallery
Where: 110 E. 11th Ave. (corner of 11th and Oak streets), Eugene
Hours: Noon to 6 p.m. daily
Information: newzonegallery.org
Eugene artist Uyen-thi Nguyen’s oil-on-canvas painting, The Truth About Adults, is part of the New Zone Gallery’s monthly show of member work for August 2022.
