Eugene Weekly : 10.20.05

Art & Other Pretensions

BEST ARTIST:

SCOTT BOYES

2nd: Kari Johnson

3rd: Jan Eliot

You read EW for the writers' hard-hitting journalism. Well, that's exactly what you don't get in this one-on-one with artist Scott Boyes.

Neo-expressionism or surrealism? Surrealism for sure. I've come to the conclusion that I'm a surrealist.

Scott Boyes, Best Artist

Picasso or pistachios? Nothing against Picasso, but I can eat pistachios.

Smear or pat? Smear just sounds funnier.

Favorite Ninja Turtle: Michelangelo or Donatello? I guess Michelangelo, nunchucks are badass.

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci or Mona Lisa Smile starring Julia Roberts? The Mona Lisa. I avoided [the movie] like the plague.

Salvador Dalí or MC Escher? Dalí, but they're both my heroes.

BEST LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS GROUP:

EUGENE SYMPHONY

2nd: Eugene Ballet

3rd: DanceAbility

BEST LOCAL POET:

Scott Lubbock, Best Local Poet

SCOTT LUBBOCK

2nd: Frog

3rd: Sam Rutledge

Scott Lubbock's On the Way to Water is a 100-page collection of poems about the human spirit. One critic wrote that reading it was like "listening to a man who had something to tell me about life."

BEST LOCAL WINERY:

KING ESTATE WINERY

2nd: Secret House Vineyards

3rd: Hinman Vineyards

King Estate Winery, Best Local Winery

When the King family decided to invest their considerable fortune to locate a fine winery in the Lorane Valley near Veneta, this whole area got very lucky. Not only does King produce some of the world's best pinot gris and pinot noir, and employ up to 60 people full-time (today, the number is 178 as harvest and crush have begun), the whole property, including vineyards and garden, is designated organic by Oregon Tilth. The Kings also take an active role in community philanthropy, especially in support of LCC. Soon, the "Castle-on-the-Hill" will become a beacon for area wine tourists. Love of wine, love of land, love of community: Winner.

BEST LOCAL NONTRADITIONALFILM VENUE:

BIJOU ART CINEMAS

2nd: DIVA

3rd: Cozmic Pizza

BEST THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE:

THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES AT UO THEATRE

2nd: Copenhagen at Lord Leebrick Theatre

3rd: The Drawer Boy at Willamette Repertory Theatre

BEST VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION:

DIVA

2nd: SALON des REFUSÉS

3rd: First Friday ArtWalk

DIVA, Best Visual Arts Exhibition

In operatic terms, divas are usually the stars of the show. In Eugenian terms, DIVA (Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts) is the star of the Eugene art scene. And while operatic divas have a tendency to be prima donnas, our DIVA is the exact opposite, generously offering a creative outlet for a wide spectrum of arts including film, ceramics, painting and countless others. Going strong since its opening in 2003, DIVA continues to provide an alternative to traditional galleries, making it Eugene's best visual arts outlet.

BEST WINE LIST:

THE BROADWAY

2nd: Ambrosia

3rd: Adam's Place

Eugene's east side downtown is anchored by The Broadway, and it wins Best Wine List because co-owner Angus James has a program and policy so simple it's elusive: Start with yummy deli grub, offer guests superb by-the-glass wines that change frequently, set price-points fairly, then open the shelves for selections. A thousand wines can be bought at retail, then opened for a $5 corkage. Pick, say, the 1982 Cheval Blanc at $750, and Angus will trot out the Riedel stems and even forego the corkage — if offered a taste. Or just choose a 6-ounce pour of Broadley 2004 Pinot Noir Estate: at $5.50/glass, that's like Christmas.