(Above: Kathy Snell’s work in acrylic, pen and ink, and watercolor is featured along with photographs by Sandi O’Brien at Framin’ Artworks at 505 High Street.)

Posted by Anne-Allegra Bennett

When not working at her job as communications manager at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art or as director of communications for the 20×21 EUG Mural Project, Debbie Williamson Smith may be seen around Eugene in her persona as Old SLUG Queen Holly GoSlugly, hanging out with her hens in her backyard FusterCluck Farm, or spoiling her two doodle dogs, Pippa and Maggie.

A costume design by Alexandra Bonds, professor emerita of at the University of Oregon, part of a show at Sparrow Studios

This month, Williamson Smith has another role — host of the March 6 First Friday ArtWalk in downtown Eugene.

The official, free ArtWalk guided tour runs from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. As always, people are welcome to participate in the guided tour and hear talks by featured artists, or they can design their own personal tour, choosing among the many ArtWalk venues that stay open for the evening.

Official guided tour

Williamson Smith will begin the official guided tour at 5:30 p.m. at The New Zone Gallery (22 W. 7th Ave.) where the spring ZONE 4 ALL non-juried gallery show is on display through March 27. PhotoZone also has a show of photographs by its members in the back gallery. Chico Schwall provides live music.

At 6:00 p.m., the tour checks in at various locations for events that are part of a Downtown Happenings program co-sponsored by the city of Eugene’s Cultural Services Dept., Harmonic Laboratory, and ArtCity. City of Eugene Cultural Services teams up with Harmonic Laboratory (Winter Lights, digital video art in the street-facing windows) and ArtCity (Rain Play, a sidewalk installation that appears only in the rain).

Winter Lights installations are on view with art by Olive del Sol at the former Rogue Brewery at 844 Olive St., at the former Sykes (190 W. Eighth Ave. with art by Vanessa Fuller and Tannon Reckling, and at the McDonald Theatre (1010 Willamette St.) featuring art by Cullen Vance, and Rick Silva’s Geomancer.

From there, the tour makes its way to Sparrow Studios (136 E. Broadway) at 6:30 p.m. for Behind the Curtain: The Art of Costume Design, honoring the imagination, artistry, and achievements of Alexandra Bonds, professor emerita of Costume Design at the University of Oregon, who began her career there in 1979.

Robert Dandarov’s work is part of an exhibit at Epic Seconds

Next up is Allies, LLC (131 E. 11th Avenue), at 7:00 p.m., which houses a creative art-making and gallery space shared and run by adults with developmental disabilities. This month’s show includes ceramics, soft sculpture, jewelry, leatherwork, paintings, drawings, and collage.

The last stop is at 7:30 p.m. is Epic Seconds (30 E. 11th Avenue), with work by friends and fellow painters Robert Dandarov and Benjamin Terrell. After sharing a studio last year, they found they shared a common theme, painting fleeting beauty, from the everyday to the eternal.

 

More arts and events

Many other galleries, shops and facilities also will be open during the First Friday ArtWalk:

● ArtCity Studios on Broadway (160 E. Broadway, downstairs) — Work by 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) — Idiosyncrasy, a showcase of artwork in various mediums by students of the Academy of Arts & Academics (A3) high school in Springfield, curated by student Raven Muir as her senior project.

● ECO Sleep Solutions and Gallery (25 E. 8th 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 and other items by Lybi Thomas; wood and stone carvings and wood sculptures by Cedar Caredio; and Luminessence light sculptures by Stephen White.

● Eugene Public Library (100 W. 10th Avenue) — Live Music Rock and Roll Dance Party with RIFFLE, one of Eugene’s favorite party bands; hits from six decades of rock, blues, R&B, country, jazz, and more with Timothy Patrick, Peter Giri, Jim Reinking, and Gus Russell.

● Framin’ Artworks (505 High Street) — Features Kathy Snell’s work in acrylic, pen and ink, and watercolors; Sandi O’Brien’s black and white photos shot with an infrared converted tiny 6 mp point-and-shoot camera.

● InEugene Real Estate (100 E. Broadway) — Mythical Creatures and “Huemans”, headdresses and historical attire modeled in animal portraits and abstract pieces that evoke intense emotions through simple colors and shapes created by Celeste Schield Jacobi.

● Karin Clarke Gallery (760 Willamette Street) — An invitational exhibit, The Oregon Landscape, featuring works by Mark Clarke, Margaret Coe, Bets Cole, Robert Gamblin, Jodie Garrison, Heather Halpern, James Kroner, Erik Sandgren, Robert Schlegel, Humberto Gonzalez, Karin Clarke, and Craig Spilman; on display through April 25th.

● The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. 4th Avenue) — Obscura, masks and related 2D and 3D art celebrating culture and costume and exploring ways we obscure our identities to represent unseen aspects of ourselves, plus work by OSLP staff in the The Community Gallery.

● LovaKava Kava Bar & Restaurant (120 W. Broadway) — Original art and sips of  kava.

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

● Oregon Art Supply (1020 Pearl Street) — Tattered Edge, new work by Beth Robinson, experimenting with pigment, old photos, ripped pages and found objects; open until 6:00 p.m.

● Out of Step Books & Gallery (1022 Willamette Street) — A peek inside the whimsical world of Damian J. McDonald, presenting 25 of his quirky creatures in his solo show, I.N.S.E.O.R.

● Starlight Lounge (830 Olive Street) — Behind The Looking Glass, works in acrylic, spray paint, wood, and epoxy resin by Brandon Holder of B. Holder Designs, abstract studies examining geometric forms and color theory.

● Townshend’s Teahouse (41 W. Broadway) — A mixture of dark and alluring, flora and fauna, and divine feminine art works by Wade Sewell and Savannah Stamps of Black Lotus Tattoo in Eugene.

● White Lotus Gallery (767 Willamette Street) — Celebrating 2020, featuring work by Jon Jay Cruson, Li Tie, Satoko Motouji, Connie Mueller, Dale Mueller, Jamie Newton, Margaret Prentice, Christine L. Sundt, Gary Tepfer, and Mike Van; show ends March 7.

Additional special events

● Aligned Architecture Open House (433 W. 10th Avenue) — Previously Nir Pearlson Architect, Aligned Architecture hosts a renaming Open House from 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., featuring an exhibit of completed commercial and residential projects, including familiar iconic local buildings, are on exhibit.

● Pop-up (140 E. 5th Avenue) — An interactive art piece that is a lifetime in the making, as a starving artist struggles to support his artistic practice while putting food on the table for his children. This multi-generational show features artwork by Andre Royal Sr., Andre Royal Jr., and Arion Royal and runs from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

● No Shame Eugene (99 W. 10th Avenue) — The doors open at 7:30 p.m. with live music. The show begins at 8:00 p.m. with fifteen original, five-minute acts including monologues, sketch comedy, and the experimental. Each show is made up of the first fifteen acts to register with the host when doors open. Come to perform, but there’s no shame in just watching

About Lane Arts Council

Lane Arts Council, founded in 1976, is a nonprofit organization that cultivates strong and creative arts communities in Lane County. The council provides in-school arts education programs, support local artists and arts organizations, and coordinates community programs such as downtown Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk.