Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts : May 2008

DIVA presents its new exhibit lineup for May:

Prints and Drawings About People by Steven Weeks
In Dust We Trust by Tom Bodhi Reeves
Bent Frames by University of Oregon video artists
Currency Exchange International Quilt Exhibit by 90 international fiber artists
3/32 by Jud Turner
As the Road Turns by Kristi Koons

The opening reception will be May 2, 2008 from 5:30pm to 8:30 pm.
The exhibits will be on display until Saturday, May 24.

Prints and Drawings About People by Steven Weeks
"I aim to represent the various forms of poetry in the world," says Weeks of his artwork. "Poetry is not only expressed through words, but visually through images as well." This ambitious goal is tackled by contrasting subtle ink and brush drawings with bold, colorful screenprints. Each screen print is an exact copy of the corresponding ink drawing, but enhanced with multiple colors and text. These paired art pieces represent the uncomfortable moments that occur in interpersonal relationships, evoking the strange and complicated realities of social dynamics. An Oregon-grown artist, Weeks is currently studying at the University of Oregon. His artwork has been shown in various galleries throughout Eugene and southern Oregon, but DIVA is proud to be hosting his first solo show. He enjoys working in a wide variety of media, including drawing, bookmaking, collage, and graphic design. A talented musician, music is a major influence in his life. Weeks will perform with a jazz trio at the First Friday opening of his art show.

In Dust We Trust by Tom Bodhi Reeves
"Burning Man is an event that no words can describe," declares Reeves, who has been participating in the event since 2001. In lieu of words, Reeves aims to capture the ephemeral nature of the art festival held annually in the Nevada Desert through his photography. This exhibit chronicles a five-years of impromptu art installations on the windblown playa, where the landscape is often dominated by whiteout dust storms. His photographs capture the temporary landmarks of the "city of art" that is fleetingly built by thousands of people from all over the world. "What happens out there ought to be experienced by everyone," explains Reeves. "Each moment instills a hope that no matter the setting or conditions, the true human spirit will always thrive." Reeves grew up in Washington, Hawaii, Oklahoma, New York, California, and Oregon. His interest in photography was triggered at the age of 17 by the mystic landscape of eastern Oregon. An avid traveler, Reeves survived the late 2004 tsunami that occurred in Thailand. Fascinated by photographing people and places alike, he is a frequent contributor to local magazines and newspapers. Two of his Burning Man photographs were published in Burning Book: A Visual History of Burning Man.

Bent Frames by University of Oregon Video Artists
DIVA's Media Arts Gallery is host to the work of 20 student filmmakers during the month of May. Bent Frames is a compilation of "cameraless films," a technique that involves altering scraps of old film footage or working with film leader or acetate. The filmmakers create new compositions by cutting and splicing the leader and or scraps of 16 mm film, sometimes painting on or scratching the surface of the film to create their work. Each artist's composition is approximately two minutes long and the combined works, mastered to digital, play in a looping sequence with a total length of 40 minutes. A joint effort of graduate and undergraduate students, "Bent Frames" explores the possibilities of a physical encounter with the film medium, its characteristic aesthetics and its symbolic language. Kartz Ucci, Assistant Professor of Art at the University of Oregon, played a key role in organizing this exhibit for her Advanced Practices in Video Art class. The university's digital arts program aims to combine the values of fine arts with the possibilities of new methods. According to exhibits director Katura Reynolds, "DIVA is always proud to host interesting work in the media arts. We hope that shows like these trigger more exhibit proposals from the media arts community. It's always satisfying to push the artistic envelope like this."

Currency Exchange International Quilt Exhibit
A collaboration of 90 fiber artists from the United States, Japan, and New Zealand, this exhibit of art quilts has been on a world tour since 2006. The main exhibit organizers, Sue Cutsogeorge of Eugene,
Oregon and Izumi Takamori of Tokyo, Japan, see this project as a way to promote international friendship and understanding among quilters of different countries and cultures. The 30 American artists represented in the show are comprised mainly of Willamette Valley artists, including members of the art quilt group "Tactile Expressions," who exhibit throughout the region on a regular basis. The "Currency Exchange" theme of this show challenged the participating fiber artists to develop a small quilt based on a motif
from a coin or bill from any country in the world. The idea was not to replicate or copy the entire coin or bill, but to use that motif as an inspiration for design a unique piece of art. Each of the 90 quilts on display is 20 inches square, and packed with vibrant colors and textures. The quilters represent various levels of fiber arts
experience and various styles of work, and the overall result is a brilliant symphony of talent. Laura Jennings, a quilter from Eugene whose work is on display in the Currency Exchange exhibit, will give a talk about art quilts on Friday, May 9, at noon. Admission is free—bring your lunch!

3/32": Wide Variety in a Narrow Medium by Jud Turner
Jud Turner has been welding steel into works of art for more than 14 years. This exhibit focuses on creations that he has made entirely out of 3/32" steel welding rods. The simple material has given rise to a very diverse range of work. The 2-dimensional wall hangings in the exhibit emphasize the linear qualities of the medium, as if they were elegant line drawings made out of steel. In contrast, the fully-formed animals and figures (including a life-sized self-portrait of the artist himself) remind the viewer of tightly-wrapped baskets or swirling tornados in space. The sculptures are accessible on many levels, and are quite a lot of fun to look at.Turner's work has been collected by the Boston Museum of Science, Washington State University, and many private collectors (including actress Rosie O'Donnell). A native of Eugene, Turner studied art at the University of Oregon under Professor Ron Graff and the late Professor Frank Okada. A frequent exhibitor in the Eugene art scene, Turner throws himself into creating surprising new experiments for each new art show. "I spend as much time as possible welding, working, and laughing," he says of his career. Jud Turner will give an Art Talk about his work on Friday, May 16 at noon. Admission is free—bring your lunch!

As the Road Turns by Kristi Koons
As the Road Turns is a chronology of one woman's decade-long journeyon her life's path. A visual travelogue of seasons, places, faces, and community stories and events, Koons has captured the essence of her life's journey through Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, Seattle, Oregon, and beyond. A combination of photography and mixed media, the exhibit deals with issues of family and personal transformation. Koons sees her background in photojournalism as an opportunity to take her photography—and her life—to the next stage. "No matter what images may come or how many miles and events and re-inventions of yourself occur, be engaged and ready," she advises. "Keep on clickin' no matter what life brings." Originally from California, Koon's first aspirations were in theater arts and journalism. Her experiences working in radio, newspapers, and television lead to studying photojournalism in Denver. Now residing in Eugene, the multi-talented artist continues her freelance writing and photography work for local publications. As chair of the Media Arts Committee at DIVA, she devotes substantial time and energy to organizing local cultural events.