A local conglomeration of all things art

As long as temperatures don’t soar too high, there’s no need to line the air conditioned halls of a museum to purview a collection of art. For a more hands-on experience in an outdoor setting, Silverton hosts its 9th Annual Fine Arts Festival in Coolidge-McClaine Park.

For curious on-lookers, it’s bound to be a feast for the eyes. Demonstrations will be conducted throughout the weekend event by Capital Calligraphers, Silver Chips Wood Carvers, clay potter Dan Stevens, and painter Barb Dahlum.

If beauty is not there beheld, over 80 juried artists from all over the Northwest and Calfornia have vendor booths set up as the main draw of the outdoor event. For those family members with a wandering eye, there is also a wine and beer garden, an international food court, and live music.

There is also a “Youth and Alternative” stage where kids may participate in music, dance, and other performing arts activities.

The free festival is held August 15-16 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.silvertonarts.org or call 503-873-2480.

A frayed work of art

While quilting, crocheting, and especially knitting have found a certain resurgence of popularity in recent years, two area artists scale back their work a step creating un-wearable art using fibrous materials.

Mark Perry, a printmaker, and Nancy Pobanz, a fiber artist, share their art in an exhibit at The Arts Center in Corvallis from August 26-September 23.

Portland printmaker Perry creates art on fiber using a combination of printmaking techniques: woodcuts, edging and itaglio. These are means by which an image is transferred from a plate onto the surface (i.e. paper). This creates layered works as a result of several different plates with different colors being used. Perry’s pieces are abstract, arranged in various ways to create alternate effects.

Using raw materials from nature, such as sheep’s wool, Pobanz creates fibers that she then uses to make paper, or for use in constructing wall pieces, or sculptures. Pobanz also looks no further in search of color. The artist also creates her own pigments from Oregon soils, rocks, and plant materials. These are then incorporated into her work through paint and ink. Pobanz’s pigments and materials feature an array of color, texture, and blending.

The Arts Center Gallery is opening for viewing Tuesday-Saturday from noon-5 p.m. For more information, contact The Arts Center at 541-754-1551.

Sip and stare

It’s easy to get lost in a coffee shop. Lost in conversation, in a book, in work, or in a song.

Café Noir, located downtown at 610 Marion St. offers yet another pleasant distraction for its customers: Jami Moffett’s art show.

Salem-based Moffett from Off The Hook Studios presents a collection of her mixed media work and colored pencil portraits. Her pieces range in emotional content from outright fun to serious. Her portraits often show exuberant children depicting their innocence and happiness through the use of bright shades of yellow and blue. In contrast, she has a series of charcoal pencil drawings that display an emotional depth through shades of grey.

Moffett’s art is on display through the month of August. An artist’s reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. on August 8th.