DIVA Center News- May

"Keeping Pace" by Sergio Ortiz

DIVA Crosses The Finish Line. The end of July brought to a close DIVA's salute to the 2008 Olympic Trials. Curated by Tenold Peterson and Steven Oshatz, "The Notion of Motion" featured acceleration and movement as a subject for visual expression. The Galleries included the work of Sergio Ortiz (above), Don MacLane, Tenold Peterson and Steven Oshatz.
A highlight for the Center's celebration of the Olympic Trails was a presentation by director Erich Lyttle of his of Emmy award winning film, "Fire On The Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story". This event, coordinated by the the Center's Media Arts Committee, provided the opportunity for the audience to meet not only the director of the film, but also key people in the history of track of the time. Runners Pat Tyson and Geoff Hollister told stories about their friend and fellow runner Steve Prefontaine. And, Prefontaine's sister Linda shared her insight into their childhood together.
The film, though made almost 13 years ago, shines a spotlight on sports history and the political and social climate of the time in which Steve Prefontaine was the star of American track and field. Prefontaine, Oregon's most famous track alumnus, helped establish Eugene as the "Track Capital of the World."

DIVA Receives Grant Funding. The Lane Arts Council recently announced that the DIVA Media Arts Program had received a Community Arts grant of $1,200 to support its 2009 OpenLens Festival in January. This is in addition to a $750 grant from the Oregon Media Production Association to support DIVA's Youth Visions Teen Video Competition as part of the OpenLens Festival.

August Art Talk at Noon. Patrons are encouraged to bring their brown bag lunch and hear installation artist Michael Boonstra discuss his current DIVA exhibit "In Light Of" at 12 noon on Friday, August 8th. This Art Talk event is free and open to the public.
The focal point of Boonstra's exhibit is two giant camera obscura structures installed on the north end of the gallery. Hundreds of pinholes drilled in these large structures project the scenery outside the windows into the gallery, bringing the colors and the movement of the exterior inside. In addition, Boonstra displays two-dimensional translucent backlit drawings that reference landscapes and natural phenomena. "Much of my work is about topographies, or the study of place," explains Boonstra. More about Michael Boonstra is available online at his web site.

Volunteer Of The Month. Kira Burge has been a key player in organizing the Open Studios Art Tour, working on that project since June of 2007. "DIVA encapsulates two things I hold dear—community and art," explains Kira. "For as long as I remember, I've done 'organizing' projects—auctions, politics, dance tours. This Studio Tour fits well with the community and art part of my life."
Kira is a student at the University of Oregon, working towards her BFA in Fiber Arts with a minor in Arts Administration. Her current body of artwork centers on the theme of nostalgia: she is crocheting a series of soft sculptures based on people's memories of treasured objects from their childhood. She'll be celebrating this award with a trip to Greece this August!
If you'd like to volunteer at DIVA contact Katura Reynolds <diva.exhibits@gmail.com> for information.

Exhibits Director accepts new position. Katura Reynolds, who stepped into the role of Exhibits Director this past March, has accepted a new position at the Mount Pisgah Arboretum. "I'll be coordinating volunteers and helping put together special events, similar to my role here at DIVA," she explains. "But I'll be working part-time at the arboretum, which will free me up to focus on more of my illustration work." Katura, who studied science illustration at the University of California at Santa Cruz, has had her work published in books, magazines, and scientific journals. "I look forward to staying involved with DIVA—I'm a member, and being a part of this welcoming community of artists is really priceless."

July Art Talk by Don MacLane. Don MacLane, a Portland based sculptor, had his own totally different interpretation of motion on display as part of the Notion of Motion themed exhibit in July.
MacLane discussed his display of interactive kinetic sculpture titled "Exploring Cycles" and invited viewers to explore the variations of rhythm and motion that the steel and stone contraptions can create. McLane explained that "Each piece has a range of behaviors or personality. Some are peaceful, and others are energetic or even frantic."
MacLane, originally a student of math and science, got hooked on art during his time at Antioch College. "Learning to weld and pour molten bronze by moonlight seemed far more exciting than calculus," he reminisces. With a masters in art and an engineering degree from Portland State University, his years of work as a mechanical engineer have developed skills that proved very helpful in making his kinetic art sculptures. You can view an Oregon Art Beat video of Don MacLane and his work online. Click here to view video.

DIVA Second Annual gARTen Party. DIVA is now accepting reservations for its Second Annual gARTen Party from 4-10 pm on August 24th. Participants will tour the world-class garden of Marcella Moore and enjoy the Brazilian guitar of Sun Bossa. The tour is followed by a Brazilian feast at Davis' Restaurant with local wines and the sultry vocal performances by Shelly Rudolph. Tickets are $120 per person. Space is limited. Pre-register at divacenter.org or call 344-3482. Proceeds from this fundraiser benefit the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts.

2009 OpenLens Festival Issues Call For Submissions. DIVA's Fifth Annual OpenLens Festival will be held January 9-10-11, 2009. The festival has become an umbrella event that hosts two juried competitions including the Southwest Oregon Short Film and Video Competition and Youth Visions' Teen Video Challenge. It also includes a new program, the 3-Minute Video Showcase featuring very short works by Oregon artists. This is the first call for entries for all three programs.
     The Southwest Oregon Short Film and Video Competition is the signature event of the OpenLens Festival weekend. It provides an opportunity for artists living in the counties of Benton, Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Lane, Linn, Jackson, Josephine, and Klamath to showcase their work. Cash prizes include Best Juried and Audience Choice Awards The Southwest Oregon Short Film and Video Competition deadline is December 1, 2008
    Lane County Teens are encouraged to enter their video works in the Youth Visions Teen Video Challenge. The competition celebrates the work of young videomakers ages 13-19. Those videos that demonstrate the most creative, effective and skillful responses to the call for entries will be screened and awarded cash Jury and Audience Choice Award prizes at a special session of the OpenLens Festival. The submission deadline is November 30, 2008.
    DIVA is pleased to introduce the 3-minute Video Showcase. This is a non-competitive event open to all filmmakers living in Oregon. The showcase seeks to promote microcinema work by students, amateurs, and professionals. Submissions are due by November 1, 2008. For entry details and information about all events go to the OpenLens Festival web site or call 531-344-3482.

DIVA Brings Unique Art History Film to Eugene. Standing room only was the option for many attending the Media Arts Committee screening of the award-winning documentary, The Rape Of Europa, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 11-13. This remarkable film tells the epic story of the systematic theft, deliberate destruction and miraculous survival of Europe's art treasures during the Third Reich and the Second World War. Audiences expressed their thanks that the Center had brought this film to Eugene for its only showing in this area.
Many kudos to Eric Ostlind for negotiating the screening rights for this film at DIVA. A special thanks to UO Art Law Professor Dom Vetri who hosted the Saturday screening. And many thanks to Kristi Koons and Brian Walker for their assistance with the staging the event. The Center hopes to provide more multi-day screenings of important cinematic works in the future.

Art and the City Map Available. At long last an up-to-date guide to art in Eugene is available in a new map published by DIVA. The map lists 70 art venues around Eugene, including an inset for the University of Oregon.
According to Bob Keffer, Register Guard Art commentator, "The idea grew out of the city’s Cultural Policy Review Committee discussions, and DIVA’s diva, Mary Unruh, put the thing together with help from Eugene city planning mapmaker Sarah Zaleski and support from DEI and SELCO."
The art map will be located in various centers around town and of course you can pick up a copy at DIVA, 110 W. Broadway. If you'd like to download a copy you may do so by clicking here. The map is available as a PDF.

Media Arts Program Volunteers Sought. DIVA's Media Arts Committee is looking for volunteers to help with program events. We seek people whether students or working professionals, who have knowledge, energy and time to commit to DIVA's various media arts programs and events. If you have an interest, please e-mail Kristi Koons, chair of the MAC at divamac.chair@gmail.com. All active volunteers participate in and/or host at least one event per month.
If you find the Media Arts program of interest you, you may want to apply for Committee membership. Committee members are selected from the volunteer cadre who have participated in helping to stage events. The Media Arts Committee plans and develops film screenings, multimedia programs, and performance art events over the year.

Open Studios Art Tour and Calendar Sales. Your "Ticket" to the October Open Studios Tour scheduled for October 18, 19, 25 and 26 is now available for purchase. The ticket is included when you buy the new 15-month "Visual Arts Calendar" that highlights events for local galleries and arts organizations through 2009. The calendar is illustrated with the work of 30 artists whose studios will be available on the Center's Open Studios Art Tour. The calendar cost $20 and is available at DIVA, Smith Family Bookstores, The Duck Shops - UO, Valley River Center and Autzen, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art Gift Shop, Borders Books - Oakway Center, and Karin Clarke Gallery. You can also use PayPal. Enter payments@divanow.org as the requested e-mail address to which payments are sent.

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