A Celebration for our New Space and our New Name!
(blog by Sara Bishop)

A Grand Opening - With excitement and enthusiasm we unveiled our new space at 881 Willamette Street and our new name, Oregon Arts Alliance (formerly Oregon Crafted) on Friday, Oct. 1, 2010. We held our grand opening celebration and reception in conjunction with the First Friday ArtWalk. Late afternoon sunlight streamed in through the gallery windows as upbeat and eclectic music performed by Accordions Anonymous welcomed visitors. As art-goers danced and wandered through the spacious gallery, they enjoyed regionally crafted beverages by the Ninkasi Brewing Company and wines donated by Market of Choice. And, of course, there is the art! The right side of the gallery encompasses the show, [Hold] Baskets, Boxes, Bowls and Containers and features work by over 15 artists with a special selection of ceramics by artisans from Clay Space. The left side of the gallery contains art by more than 30 of our member artists.
The extraordinary array of art in the gallery could satisfy even the most persnickety person, provoking among many things, admiration and conversation.
Here is just a sampling of the mediums exhibited:

Light sculptures
Fused glass
Watercolor & sumi ink stick
Ceramics
Pastels
Weavings
Multimedia collages
Poetry
Handmade lampwork beaded jewelry
Collage scarves
Mixed media fiber
Acrylic and paper collages
Mixed media photographs
Photography
Bronze sculptures
Stoneware
Gourds

Chatting with the Artists - I got the opportunity to speak with some of the artists whose works are on display. The artists expressed excitement about our new space and new name.
Shannon Weber has four works in Hold:
Trapped, beaver stick, sea grass roots, bull whip sea kelp that has been carved, stitched woven wax linen, thread, ostrich eggshell, clam and pooka shell beads Star Chart, fire pit wood wax, linen, thread stitched bullwhip sea kelp reed, stitched river rocks
Crab Pots, fire pit wood, wax linen thread, stitched bullwhip sea kelp, river rocks, clam shell beads
Orbit, random woven painted material: rattan, found metal, drip line, metal tape, vinyl disk beads, waxed lined thread

Weber had multiple reasons to celebrate: it was her birthday, and her work is going to be shown work at the Cavin Morris Gallery in New York City. She summed up the night quite fittingly: “excellent.” Weber feels “privileged” that she has been able to create her work for the past 25 years. Also, be sure to catch Weber on a future episode of “Oregon Art Beat” on Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Karin Richardson made her Eugene debut with her “Guardian Remains” series in Hold: Guardians Remain Series: Redwood, wood, sand-cast flat glass, steel Guardians Remain Series: Fire w/ Green Vessel, wood, sand-cast, flat and blown glass, steel Guardians Remain Series: Fir, wood, sand-cast and flat glass, steel Guardians Remain Series: Red Cedar, wood, sand-cast and flat glass, steel

Richardson studied at the Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, WA. A person asked Richardson concerning her work: “It’s all on purpose, right?” which begs the age-old question, is it intuition, planned or by accident? She also enjoyed the bringing together of artists and art in the gallery.

Katie Swenson’s Untitled is a part of Hold. Untitled is created of porcelain/stone, porcelain, wire and glass beads. As we talked about her work, she explained that she can’t exactly put her work into words. Swenson wants people to unearth their own interpretations in her work.

Death Valley during winter inspired Sheila Roth’s four oil compositions:
Study in Green
Study in Blue
Study in Orange
Study in Red

“People say that there’s no color like that in Death Valley. It’s what I see under the rocks,” Roth explained, “Color is something I love to work with.” Roth currently is working with watercolor. Roth is also in charge of our new Collector’s Club.

Photographer David Simone’s work consists of “natural and super urban settings” and is also “abstract and realistic at the same time.” “I like to travel and do adventure things, and I like to go to cities,” Simone said. His photographs Sea Ranch and Molokai Backside are examples of his work in natural settings. Simone also serves on our Board of Directors.

Wrap Up + November Events - During the evening I overhead clips of conversations, most centering on enthusiasm for our new space: “it’s beautiful” to “this place is a wonderful addition.” Thank you to our artists and sponsors: Goldworks, Kent Anderson & Associates, P.C., Ninkasi Brewing Company, Pacific Continental Bank, Market of Choice and Sweet Life Patisserie. Thank you to all who came to the opening; the evening wouldn’t have been a success without you all!

Hold: Baskets, Boxes, Bowls and Containers will be on display through Oct. 30, 2010.
Pencil in your calendar our November events!

Drawing Marathon, Nov. 5, 2010, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Witness and purchase new drawings by Eugene artists created in front of you as a benefit for Oregon Arts Alliance. Infamous models will be posing – including her majesty, Queen Slugasana.

OAA Fine Arts and Crafts Show, Nov. 12 through 21, 2010, 11:00 – 5:30 p.m. Formerly the Sampler Show, this Fine Arts and Crafts Show will showcase art from 25 of our member artists, each displaying their art in a separate space within the gallery.