DIVA Center News- November, 2008

DIVA's Year-End Appeal. Things are tough all over. It's an expression we hear frequently these days. When my mother used it, it meant we needed to be more creative and resourceful to make ends meet. That is exactly what it means for DIVA when the whole country is tightening its belt. There are challenges ahead near term that we must be prepared to address. Last winter, our heat bill was over $600 a month in December, January and February. It is possible that our costs could triple this year. Our facility is one of the dwindling number of buildings that still rely on EWEB’s steam heat. Costs for businesses remaining on the steam system grow as the number of users diminishes and we no longer have a utilities subsidy from the property owners for two of the three meters for our facility.

A year ago we received $35,000 from the Oregon Community Foundation that allowed us to nearly double the paid hours for our staff. We’ve worked hard this year to implement ways to sustain staffing at that level by initiating the first Open Studios Art Tours. It was successful for a first year event and we’ve discovered ways to make next year’s tours even better. Tour artists hosted over 1785 visitors at their studios and they netted over $17,500 in art sales. The studio tours alone didn’t bridge the $35,000 budget gap, but it helped us make progress in that direction. We continue to search for opportunities to serve the arts community and remain fiscally sound as we face broader challenges with the current economic downturn.

In just five years, DIVA has established a strong presence for the visual arts with links to local businesses and inclusion in public policy for the arts. Over 1000 people a month participate in exhibits, films, workshops and events that are planned and executed by four staff (two full-time, two half-time) and over 150 volunteers. Twenty-seven local businesses sponsored exhibits, projects and events in the last year. Our reputation and upgraded facilities made us an ideal partner with the Hult Center, University of Oregon and Eugene Cultural and Recreation Services for hosting Rhapsody in Black and White, a national exhibit from the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh.

Your contribution this year is critical. Like most nonprofits, we ask you at the end of each year to support our efforts with a tax deductible charitable contribution. If you believe that what we are doing to keep visual arts vibrant in downtown Eugene is important, we ask you to be generous in your support. We will continue to be creative and resourceful when things are tough all over. Together we will make sure that valuable art opportunities thrive in downtown Eugene.

Mary Unruh Executive Director

Thank You!

DIVA's Member’s Appreciation Party - December 21st. DIVA's Artist Services Committee cordially invites DIVA Members to a special event honoring all our members and volunteers who have supported the Center this past year. The party will be held Sunday, December 21st from 4:00 - 6:00 PM and will feature refreshments and a live performance by the Fifth Element Wind Quintet.
The Fifth Element Wind Quintet was organized in 1999 by musicians who enjoyed making music together. This enjoyment is still the group's primary objective. Four of its current players have retired from various professions; the fifth is a family physician. The quintet performs regularly for benefits such as the Eugene Symphony Guild's Garden and Christmas Walks, and gives at least three free public concerts each year. In May 2008 the group was the featured performers at the Springfield Mayor's Art Show. Please RSVP to diva.artistservices@me.com by December 12th.

DIVA Volunteer Announces New Web Site. Volunteer Rosemarie Atencio noted that between school and work that she began to have doubts that she would ever get her own art website up online. Although she still has some photography to complete she recently announced that her site is now online and has invited visitors to look around and put the site through its paces. Please check out Rosemarie's web site. She notes that suggestions, comments and purchases are all welcomed.

Having herself a merry little kitchen. DIVA Executive Director Mary Unruh was featured in a recent Register Guard edition of Home and Garden Monthly. The article describes Mary's efforts to remodeled her kitchen with the beauty, color and light of fused-glass artwork that she designed and produced in her studio kiln.
The article notes that "Unruh crafted 8-inch by 8-inch windows for most of the top cupboard doors, then backlit the fused-glass panes with fluorescent tubes. When illuminated, the cabinet windows glow in cranberry red, cream, blue and black. When left dark, each window reveals the more subdued metallic side of its iridized content, especially against natural light." "When the sun comes in and hits that irid, the glass looks totally different than it does when it has light in the back of it," she says. Read full article online.

Co-Exhibits Director's work featured in Los Angeles and New York. Nick Chase, DIVA's Co-Exhibits Director, will have the World premier of his composition Considering Light in Los Angeles on Friday, December 5th at the Loyola Marymount University Murphy Recital Hall. His composition is in tribute to educator/composer Stephen "Lucky" Mosko. Chase will facilitate an open discussion of Lucky Mosko's life and work.
Nick was also recently mentioned in the November 18th edition of the New York Times related to his composition used in this year's 60x60 Dance event. The article notes that "Germaul Barnes’s muscular male duo, Broken Spaces, performed to a score by Nicholas Chase, was one of two dances that were exceptional works during the event. The idea for 60x60 Dance is that 60 new dance pieces are performed to 60 new pieces of music, each lasting no more than 60 seconds. The event was held at the World Financial Center’s Winter Garden. Read Article Online.

OpenLens Video Submissions Due. Both the Youth Visions Teen Video Challenge and Southwest Oregon Short Film and Video Competition submissions are due on December 1st. Entries will be juried throughout December and winners will be screened at the fifth annual OpenLens Festival 2009 on January 9, 10, and 11.

OpenLens Festival Host Announced. Portland animator Joanna Priestley is this 2009 OpenLens Festival filmmaker in residence and host. Priestley will screen a selection of her award winning films at 7PM on Friday, January 9th and teach an animation workshop on the 10th.
The Fifth Annual OpenLens Festival is a celebration of the independent spirit in filmmaking. The Festival has become an umbrella event that hosts two juried contest including the South West Oregon Short Film and Video Competition and the Youth Visions' Teen Video Challenge. Full details online.

Great Directors Film Class Continues Winter Term. Tom Blank's Great Film Directors class offered at DIVA through Lane Community College will continue Winter term, 2009. Registration begins December 1st.

December Volunteer of the Month. John Watson has been named DIVA's Volunteer of the month. Recently transplanted to Eugene from Texas, John has taken DIVA to heart offering workshops on digital photography for artists and volunteering to assist with events. His help with the installation of the Charles "Teenie" Harris exhibit was especially appreciated given his extensive background experience with photographic exhibits.
    John says about his experience at DIVA, "The very name "DIVA-Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts - caught my attention even before I left Texas. As a downtown gallery owner in Corpus Christi, I was passionate about the role of the Arts in keeping Downtowns alive and viable. I resolved to contact DIVA as soon as I could get to town!
    I made contact with Mary Unruh as soon as I reached Eugene. After an introductory visit (and a very warm welcome!) she put me in touch with Eric, Sara and Nick. All have been a pleasure to work with. I enjoy the cohesiveness of the staff and their shared sense of purpose.
     The range of diversity in the programs, events and exhibits offered are proof that DIVA is truly an Art Center, with real initiatives designed to reach out to all types of artists, from the traditional visual artists to the most conceptual performance artists. This, I believe, is what keeps DIVA fresh and different, and a truly magical and inspirational place to work."
      John Watson holds an MFA degree from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi in studio arts. He has worked with all aspects of photography. He also has a background in creating artists books including layout, design, impositions and construction. He was recently hired by LCC as the Marketing and House Manager for Music, Dance and Theater Arts.

Join DIVA's Volunteer Cadre. DIVA is a volunteer based organization and the service provided by its cadre of volunteer assistants has made it an outstanding downtown center for the visual arts. If you have only a few hours a week or many to offer as a volunteer, DIVA would like to hear from you. The Center is looking for individuals interested in serving as Gallery Hosts to greet patrons during the Center's open hours and provide information about DIVA's many programs and opportunities. Volunteers to assist with events, receptions, and other activities are also needed. If you have an interest in film and performances there are needs for individuals to help manage events. There are also special receptions and programs at which food and beverage servers are needed. The Center is also in need of specialized services including administrative assistance and graphic design. Interested? Contact the Center's Exhibit Director for more information. Or, visit the Volunteer page on DIVA's web site.

News of Area Non-Profit Arts Organizations: