Public Art Uplifted

Public Art in Spokane

My husband and I took a quick trip east of the Mountains recently and visited Spokane and Wenatchee. The weather was not too rainy and cold and we walked around looking for public art. Spokane was wonderful with lovely walking paths along the Spokane River, a historic downtown, a cleverly renovated steam plant and many great restaurants. My favorite piece of public art was a footrace installation comprised of many runners rounding a corner in a park.

Wenatchee was a surprise. The town has 83 public sculptures. Their program, Art on the Avenues, was inspired in 1994 by a trip to Grand Junction, Colorado “…where they had the impression that they ran into art every time they turned around.” www.artontheavenues.org/ (Grand Junction was also a muse to our local public art program, Longview Outdoor Gallery.) They have met their goal and there is art everywhere.

Coyote

Ped

Lotus Seeker

Pre-Mathematics (I loved that name.)

But my favorite art installation was not a sculpture. When I approached the covered bridge that connects downtown with Water Front Park, I could see colorful fabric attached to the inside-decorated bras. It was a fundraiser for The Wellness Place, an organization that develops and supports health programs for local residents. The bras were so unexpected and so cleverly decorated that I laughed first and then reached for my camera.

If you can’t get away to Spokane or Wenatchee, here are a couple of local activities to check out:
• Visit the Broadway Gallery and see Scott McCray’s latest paintings – florals on a white background. The colors just pop and he says painting on white improves his concentration. His blog is scottmcrae.wordpress.com/.
• See “The Unexpected Guest,” playing at the LCC Rose Center for the Arts until November 26, (lowercolumbia.edu/community/art-and-entertainment/theatre/) read the review by Greg Zschomle on the Columbia River Reader website (http://www.crreader.com/) and add a comment. Let’s get some conversations going about art in our community!
• Learn about Cowlitz County during WWI At the Cowlitz County Museum on December 1 (See details below)

First Thursday Activities – December 1

Broadway Gallery, 1418 Commerce, Longview www.the-broadway-gallery.com/
Members Show
Reception 5:30-7:30pm. Music by Calvin. Door Prizes.

The Gift Cottage, 1414 Commerce, Longview
Gourmet food tasting. Door prizes. In-store sale.
Open until 7pm.

Longview Public Library Koth Gallery, 1600 Louisiana, Longview www.longviewlibrary.org/
Christmas Quilt Show
Open until 8pm.

Lord & McCord Art Works, 1416 Commerce, Longview www.lindamccord.com/
Gala Opening of Wearable Art Boutique featuring Walter Camerer, Cathy McCausland, Ken Knodell and June Trusty (jewelry), Billie Bevers (shawls and beaded purses), Daniela Nyberg (sweaters and scarves), Ms. Marie (wooden purses) and Billie Bevers, Jean Watson and the late Dorothy Connor (hats) Door Prizes.
Reception 5:30–7:30pm.

Teague's Mezzanine Gallery, 1267 Commerce, Longview www.teaguesinteriors.com/
Suzanne Long (jewelry)
Reception 5:30-7pm.

The Bistro, 1329 Commerce Avenue, Longview www.thebistrobuzz.com/
Wine tasting. Live music. Door prizes. Reservations recommended.
Hours: 5-8pm.

Cowlitz County Historical Museum, 405 Allen St, Kelso www.co.cowlitz.wa.us/museum/
“World War I Home Front in Cowlitz County” by Beth Kirby. Talk is in conjunction with CTPA’s presentation of “All is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914” on December 4, 3 and 7pm.
Program begins at 7pm; museum open until 9pm.

A New Holiday Tradition

Hopefully, we all have holiday traditions involving food or decorations or family activities. These traditions are great and not to be tampered with.

But at the bottom of my activities list I have included an event that makes a wonderful tradition for that most boring of all the holiday events – New Years Eve. I say “most boring” because until I discovered the Year to Year Run, I was usually asleep by 11. I have tried parties and dinners and still managed to be asleep by 11.

Running (or walking) the Year to Year Run means that I am leaving my house at 11. At midnight my husband and I (and sister) are running and walking the streets of Longview along with many other families and feeling great about greeting another year on the move. The hot bath and champagne at 2am are just frosting on the cake.

This run has been a tradition in our family for 15 years. I recommend it. And the weather has been pretty cooperative for all those years. But there was the year we locked the keys in the car….

Happy Holidays

First Thursday Activities – December 2

Broadway Gallery, 1418 Commerce www.the-broadway-gallery.com/
The gallery is featuring work by members of the Lower Columbia Woodcarvers.
Reception: 5:30–7:30pm. Music by Calvin.

LCC Gallery at the Rose Center, 15th & Washington, Longview lowercolumbia.edu/community/art-and-entertainment/the-art-gallery/
Art exhibit by Dorothy McGuinness (baskets and masks) and Mark Perry (prints).
Open until 7pm.

Longview Public Library Koth Gallery, 1600 Louisiana, Longview www.longviewlibrary.org/
Ladies of the Lake Quilt Guild Holiday Exhibit.
Open until 8:00pm.

Lord & McCord Artworks, 1416 Commerce, Longview http://www.lindamccord.com/
Rosemary Powelson will be exhibiting her mixed media art and will talk about her work at 6. Carol Boudreau will be demonstrating watercolor in the classroom from 5-7.
Reception: 5–7pm.

The Bistro, 1329 Commerce Avenue Wine tasting. Live music.

Door prizes. Reservations recommended.
Hours: 5-8pm.

ZoJo Coffee, 1335 14th Avenue, Longview http://www.zojocoffee.com/
Featuring the works of Katie Mahoney. Live music.
Open until 7pm.

Activities
December 1-December 25: Landscapes, tapestries & original works. Teague’s Mezzanine Gallery, 1267 Commerce, Longview, Wash. Info: http://teaguesinteriors.com/.

December 3-4 and December 11: Holiday Bazaars at the Merk in Downtown Longview Dec 3-4, 10-6; Dec 11, 9-3pm. 1339 Commerce, Longview, Wash. Info: Mic McCoy 360-575-9440.

December 3-5, 10-12: “Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus”–a 1940s Radio Play. 7:30pm; Sun 2pm. $10 adults, $8 seniors/youth. Loves Street Playhouse, 126 Loves Ave, Woodland, Wash. Info: www.lovestreetplayhouse.com/.

December 3-5, 10-12, 17-19: “Plaid Tidings” Longview Stageworks. 7:30pm; Sun 2pm. LCC Rose Center for the Arts, 1600 Maple Street, Longview, Wash. Info: 360-575-8499.

December 5: "Ringing in the Holidays"- by a newly formed handbell choir. Celebration Concert Series. 3pm. Free will offering will benefit Community House. Reception to follow. St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1428 22nd Ave, Longview. Info: Gary Lindstrom, 360-431-8653.

December 5: Holiday Concert. Northwest Jazz Orchestra. 3pm. $5 general, $4 seniors and students, free for children under 12. Trinity Lutheran Church, 2021 Washington Way, Longview.

December 7: Word Fest–Ed Putka, Kelley Jacquez and Joe Schwab will read short stories. 6-8pm. The Brits, 1427 Commerce Ave, Longview, Wash. Info: Alan Rose 360-425-3430.

December 7: Lower Columbia College Community Choir Fall Concert. 7:30pm. Wollenberg Auditorium, Rose Center for the Arts, LCC, 15th Ave & Washington, Longview Wash. Info: lowercolumbia.edu/community/art-and-entertainment/music/.

December 11-12: “Messiah.” Dec 11, 7:30pm; Dec 12, 3pm. Offering taken for charity. Longview Community Church, 2323 Washington Way, Longview, Wash. Info: 360-423-6380.

December 12: “The Nutcracker”-Eugene Ballet Company. 3pm. $25-$35. Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, 1231 Vandercook, Longview, Wash. Info: 360-575-8499.

December 12: North Oregon Coast Symphony and Clatskanie Community Choir Clatskanie Arts Commission. 3pm. $10 adults; $5 seniors and children. Clatskanie Middle/High School auditorium, 471 SW Bel Air Drive, Clatskanie, Ore. Info: http://www.clatskaniearts.org/.

December 16: Annual Potluck Christmas Party. Longview Garden Club. 11:30pm. Guests are welcome. Christmas gift exchange ($7.50 suggested cost) and raffle. Home of Betty Hastings, 2739 Florida, Longview. Info: 425-0755.

December 19: “An Nollaig”-An Irish Christmas with Grammy award winning violinist Eileen Ivers. 7:30pm. $25-$45. Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts, 1231 Vandercook, Longview, Wash. Info: 360-575-8499.

December 31: 28th Annual Year to Year Run/Walk. Cowlitz Valley Runners. 11:50pm. Youth & Family Link, 907 Douglas Street, Longview, Wash. Info: http://www.cowlitzvalleyrunners.org/.

Opportunities
Call for Fiber Artists: Broadway Gallery Fiber Arts Show, February 1-28, 2011. First Prize: $100 Gift Certificate. Deadline: January 3, 2011. Info: 360-577-0544.

Call for Artists: Artwork for 2011 Salal Review. Deadline: January 30. Info: http://lowercolumbia.edu/salal or Hiedi Bauer 360-442-2630.

Call for Art Works for Display: Standing Ovation, a business located in the old Longview Theatre building at 1433 Commerce, Longview, Wash is looking for artists to hang work for sale. Contact Chris Siegrist at cjgrist@yahoo.com.

Writers Wanted: Valley Bugler seeking writers to produce 400 word essays on their profession or passion. Contact Michelle Myre, Publisher, at editor@valleybugler.com.

Grant Award: The Twining Humber Award. $10,000 award to female, visual artist, over the age of 60 from Washington State with 25 years of creating art. Artists must be nominated. Deadline: December 15. Information and nomination forms: www.artisttrust.org/grants/THA.