Arts Hound

In a town known for its athletics and music — from track to the Oregon Bach Festival, football to the UO School of Music and Dance — it makes perfect sense for artists to use both pursuits as muse. The Gallery at the Watershed hosts the exhibit Transcendence: A Tribute to the Beauty of the Athlete, Music and Tying It Together — Abstraction in the Visual Arts through June 28. The show hits a home run, chockfull of variety featuring local painter Lillian Almeida’s large format Pollock-meets-portraiture canvases, Randy Morrow’s giclée prints (fine art digital prints from inkjet printers) of Michael Jordan and Joaquim Cruz, Sarah Sedwick’s impressionistic instrument paintings and Mike Leckie’s hydrostone pieces — a modern take on the friezes of ancient Greece.

Small is the new big: The Oregon Supported Living Program’s Arts & Culture Program debuts the second annual So Small: A Miniature Art Show with an opening reception 6 to 8 pm Saturday, May 24, at The Lincoln Gallery (309 W. 4th Ave.). And they mean small — think artwork no bigger than a piece of broccoli or a thumbprint.

Eugene’s dapper funnyman Isaac Paris is hosting “Comedy at Countdown,” a night of standup featuring area comedians Gina Ginsberg, Lucy Glass, Mike McGowan, Itay Vagner, Alex Adney and Katy Rosslin 9 pm Friday, May 23, at the Whit’s Countdown Studio (543 Blair); $5 suggested donation. Paris writes that he will also be “playing cheesy organ intros like an old-time radio show.”

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!