Arts Hound

Sept. 6 marks the first First Friday ArtWalk of the fall season. Hosted by art photographer Karen Rainsong (her work is on display at Goldworks Jewerly Art Studio), the tour kicks off 5:30 pm at MECCA for the 5th Annual Object Afterlife exhibit reception and awards ceremony, where Mayor Kitty Piercy, SLUG Queen Professor Doctor Mildred Slugwak Dresselhaus and others will pick winners. EW’s pick is “Made in China,” by Rogene Manas, an Uncle Sam-meets-technology bricolage. Next stop is the Eugene Piano Academy, where you won’t want to miss the sunny, large-format abstract expressionist paintings of Kiana Keiser-Mosley. Hop off the beaten path and pop into J Hayden Creative (44 W. Broadway, Suite 230) and get a sneak peak at local costume designer Jonna Hayden’s (Eugene Ballet, Eugene Opera) work-in-progress for Eugene Fashion Week 2014. Then head north to the chic, newly opened Plume Red and Heritage Dry Goods shop (861 Willamette) to see the ceramics of Holly Christensen.

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art offers free admission Sept. 6 (and every first Friday). EW did a reconnaissance tour of the museum last week and found some pieces to see from the Masterworks on Loan series before they’re returned: Jean-Michel Basquiat’s large-format oil stick drawing, “Ribs Ribs,” and Aristide Maillol’s enormous bronze and black patina sculpture of a huddled woman, “La Nuit, Première Etat,” valued by Christie’s at $5,163,750 and $2,166,531 respectively.

Michelangelo, Raphael, Donatello, Leonardo, Splinter, Shredder and April O’Neil are back in a big way. The Bijou Metro, Shoryuken League and Sizzle Pie have teamed up to bring you a pizza party double feature of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie and The Secret of the Ooze 9 pm Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6 and 7. No anchovies please.

Springfield’s Ditch Projects hosts an opening reception for the solo exhibits of Los Angeles- and New York-based artist Amy Yao and Portland-based artist and curator Rob Halverson 6 to 9 pm Saturday, Sept. 7, at 303 S. 5th Avenue, #165.

“You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down,” mused George Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life. Now it’s your turn: Cottage Theatre is hosting auditions 1 pm Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22.