First Friday ArtWalk

First Friday ArtWeek

To reduce crowding and allow for safe social distancing, we are expanding the ArtWalk experience from one night to a full week. Come downtown to enjoy Eugene’s art scene and support local artists, October 2-9! We will not host a guided tour, but you can check out a list of open venues and art exhibitions below.

ArtWeek Exhibitions:

Art For Change Mural Exhibit – Storefront Installation
Friendly Street Market (2757 Friendly St) Register Guard Article
On display for the rest of the summer
A group of 8 local young artists, ages 8 to 17, designed and painted a free-standing community mural titled “Hopes & Dreams,” in response to what is currently happening in the social, cultural, and natural landscape from their own perspective. The piece reflects their hopes and dreams for their community and the world. The project was led by Frédérique Château, a local artist and art educator. The goal of her program is to bridge creativity and community outreach, while giving younger generations a public platform to share their voices in a visually expressive way. This was all made possible by the generous help of City of Eugene Cultural Services, friends of Madison Meadow, Friendly Street Market, and many friends and local artists.

Bennett Vineyards & Wine Company
(199 E 5th Ave #11, Eugene)  Website

BRING Recycling
(4446 Franklin Blvd, Eugene, OR 97403)  Website
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm; Sunday, 10am-5pm
BRING challenged designers to visit on August 1 to comb through a prearranged selection of materials and pick out whatever called to them for the annual Product Design Challenge. Designers’ selections were documented with “before” photos (right) so that the community can see each amazing transformation. Some of the materials chosen include: Plexiglas triangles, iron fencing, “Houdini” crate on wheels, woven plastic “Super Sack,” roll-up cork, old mattress springs, cabinets, and lots of oak planks.  Stop by to see the final products created by these designers!

Create-Your-Own-Sculpture Treasure Hunts
Website
Earthbound Moon invites you to participate in five Create-Your-Own-Sculpture Treasure Hunts. You can find the posters for the Treasure Hunts in the windows of Eugene’s Public Library or at DIYSculpture.com. Download a Treasure Hunt (or all five Treasure Hunts!) and be a part of the artmaking for Visual Arts Week! Artists include: Eugene Difficult Music Ensemble, Jorah LaFleur, Mija Andrade, and Patricia Montoya Donohue.

Epic Seconds
(30 E 11th Ave)  Facebook
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10am-7pm, Sunday 12-6pm 
“Summer Reading,” work by Benjamin Terrell, on display for August and September. In a normal world “summer reading” refers to books that are better saved or savored over long breaks with more time to digest. Created during the COVID crisis, where time, schedules and normalcy are radically less controllable, these paintings are inventories of everyday objects and of the familiar places from where we emerge to confront the unknown.

Karin Clarke Gallery
(760 Willamette St)  Website
Hours: W-F 12-5:30pm, Sa 10am-4pm 
Facebook Live curator’s Talk: October 2nd at 11 am 
“Faces, Figures, and Phantoms—A Partial Self-Portrait,” an exhibition of work by Tom Blodgett (1940 – 2012), curated by Craig Spilman. The striking art of Oregon artist Tom Blodgett ranges from vivid, imaginative portraits to impressionistic landscapes and intricate, dreamlike scenes of people and animals. For this special and rare exhibit, Artist and Curator Craig Spilman has selected twenty-four powerful drawings and paintings from the Tom Blodgett estate. In addition, a large selection of his smaller drawing will be available to purchase unframed. This is the first major gallery exhibit of for Blodgett in 30 years.  Show dates: September 30 – October 31

The New Zone Gallery 
(22 W 7th Ave)  Website
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 12-6pm, Reception: October 2nd, 5:30pm
“Zone 4 All” is a traditional, non-juried show for community members and gallery members showing 2-D piece and 3-D work. Show dates: Oct 2-30. Music on October 2nd: David Rogers, classical, jazz, pop, and world music on guitar. 

The New Zone Gallery Annex
(Smith Family Building, 768 East 13th Ave)
Opening reception: October 9th 5:30pm
In conjunction with New Zone Gallery, the expansive back space of the building will be developed into an artist marketplace venue together with studio spaces for artists to create, produce and sell their works to the public. With 10,000 sf., featuring wide open spaces, a large mezzanine, an open concept ceiling and skylights, it is a beautiful space for the community to gather safely, supporting both developing and established artists.
For more details on the marketplace and studio spaces, contact: Dean and Michele Smith at dm3llcp@gmail.com or call (541) 520-6283.

Octagon: The Eugene Center for Architecture (92 E Broadway) and aiaoregon.org
Hours: Available for viewing at all times from the outdoors
The People’s Choice Awards for Architecture is held annually as a public showcase of local architecture, interiors, and landscape architecture projects. The community is asked to VOTE for their favorite designs in several categories. Please join us, in a socially distant manner, to celebrate design, share thoughts, look for inspiration, and vote for your favorite projects all from the comfort of your own home! View and vote online through a link at aiaoregon.org. Exhibition dates: October 1-15.

Oregon Art Supply
(1020 Pearl St)  Website
“Eugene Postcard Project” – Artists are invited to submit handmade postcards to transform the storefront into a temporary gallery! This is a new way to stay connected in a time that feels alienating, while supporting the US Postal System. The display is up now through November 16th. Image: Laura King.

PhotoZone Gallery
(inside the New Zone Gallery at 22 W 7th Ave) Website
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday 12-6pm, Reception: October 2nd, 5:30pm
PhotoZone is a collection of diverse individuals interested in the craft of photography. A wide variety of skills are valued which range from masters of silver print, platinum/palladium, gum bichromate, etc. to enthusiasts of digital production.  PhotoZone Gallery sponsors a retrospective of the life and works of Donna Gilhousen, a spirited advocate, and keen but soft-spoken artist, with a twinkling sense of humor, who passed away in the presence of her loved ones on the 13th of September 2020. Show dates: October 1st to November 3rd

Starlight Lounge
(830 Olive St)  Website
Hours: 2pm-midnight daily 
“Halloween Time: The Sequel!” work by resident Halloween artist Bonnie Bozell. This Halloween- inspired, hand-painted art and decor features pinups, monsters, normal families, and more. Bonnie is currently working on new work for Printed In Blood’s next art book (TBA) which should be out next year.

White Lotus Gallery
(767 Willamette St)
Appointments available Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4pm
“The Innovative Eye: A Life’s Work by Mike Van,” a collection of art that spans 65 years of his creative career, curated by Kim Still. Mike Van’s art reflects the lifetime he has spent in the Northwest. Depictions of beaches dotted with driftwood logs, mountain and forest scenes that showcase the abundant natural beauty but also remind one of the region’s logging industry, bears, crows and salmon in their natural state or personified have all made regular appearances in Mike’s work. He is also fond of studying and portraying people, focusing on faces, exploring the contrast between light and shadow, or experimenting with contours. His keen observation, whimsical imagination and immaculate execution bring to focus the beauty that surrounds us. Exhibit dates: August 21 – October 3, 2020

March 6th First Friday ArtWalk Guided Tour Stops