SPRINGFIELD — Summer weather always encourages larger crowds during the Second Friday Springfield Art Walk. The sun will be sizzling during the upcoming art walk on Main Street, with nine participating venues with local artists showing their art.
The Emerald Art Center is accepting entries for the 33rd annual PhotoZone Juried Photography Show from local photographers in Oregon. This juried show exhibits from July 5-July 28 at EAC, with opportunities for cash prizes. First place is $500, second place is $300, and third place is $150. Art needs to be delivered on Saturday, July 1 or Sunday, July 2. Instructions and the entry fee can be found on the PhotoZone website.
The featured member of EAC for the month of July is Robert O’Conner with his photography exhibit titled “Stories” featuring landscapes taken locally. Springfield and Mount Pisgah are prominent in this exhibit, as well as other locations locals will recognize.
There is an opportunity to win a Robert O’Connor print for those who show up for the reception between 5-7:30 p.m. on Friday, July 14. All one needs to do is enter their name, email and phone number in the fishbowl at the EAC and the winner will be drawn on Saturday.
The Island Park Gallery at Willamalane’s Adult Activity Center featured the artwork of Robin Paul. The artist only came to the arts later in life.
“After a long recovery from a car accident, I was gifted with some brushes and an easel and started painting about five years ago,” Paul said. This isn’t everyone’s journey into the arts, but it seems that time wasn’t wasted from the effort and skill put into it during that recovery.
Live music will be performed by Leo’s Jammer. WAAC provides complimentary refreshments and quenches the summer thirst with beer and wine for $6. They also offer a shuttle service to and from EAC every 20-30 minutes for convenience. Their gift shop of items by local artisans is open during the art walk.
This month, the City Hall Gallery treated art enthusiasts with an exhibit titled “The Art of Train Graffiti,” by Sandy Sanders. This artist is a member of New Zone Gallery in Eugene. The artwork features railroad graffiti, which the artist points out is an integral part of daily life in the Eugene and Springfield area. Anyone who has been stuck at a railroad crossing can tell you that.
“Viewing train graffiti is to see a melding of multiple layers of human and natural activity,” Sanders said. “Street artists painting directly on and on top of other street artist’s works … train staff reapply stenciled signage over the art … And then Mother Nature’s wear and tear of speed and time on steel and graffiti.”
Although this photographic documentary of the process is interesting, just as interesting is the artist’s statement detailing the thought process behind the conceptualization if one reads more in-depth about it.
Springfield History Museum’s new exhibit for “Motorcycles in Springfield, 1900-1939” opens July 14 through Dec. 30. Be prepared for spills and thrills.
The Iris Wine Bar will show work by Kristy Sarconi. Hearts for Hospice is presenting artist Ellen Gabehart. Memento Ink’s group exhibit, “From Dark to Light,” features April Slater, Tony Davis, Kyla Wall, Ivana Gallion and Siera Morrow. Other participants of the art walk included the Wax & Wool and Urban Lumber.
