Arts Hound

The somewhat elusive Springfield Ditch Projects gallery opened its latest exhibit May 18, and it runs through June 15. Ron Graff and Donald Morgan: New Work features the abstract expressionist paintings of Graff, a UO associate professor of painting, and 2-D and 3-D works of Morgan, a UO assistant art professor. Morgan’s graphic sculptures have had a playful (and sometimes dark) bent in the past, including a topographic wall hanging of Crater Lake’s Wizard Island, a pair of mirrored spider webs and a noose rack. For more information visit ditchprojects.com.

Corvallis’ The Arts Center, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, will host an exhibit by the Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts beginning May 23. Crow’s is a nonprofit Native American arts organization with an emphasis on printmaking nestled in the Blue Mountain foothills on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Don’t miss the poignant lithographs of Wendy Red Star, who explores the juxtaposition of life on and off the Crow Reservation where she grew up, especially “The (HUD),” a print featuring a stack of brightly colored, modest homes. Opening reception 5:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, May 23, at The Arts Center, 700 SW Madison Ave., Corvallis.

We want a shrubbery! The UO Ford Alumni Center is hosting the one-day symposium “Landscape Thinking” Saturday, May 25, featuring a who’s who in the world of landscape architecture. The symposium will feature scholars from University of California, Berkeley; University of British Columbia Vancouver; the Israel Institute of Technology and MIT. Kenneth I. Helphand, the Philip H. Knight Professor of Architecture and Allied Arts Emeritus, is retiring after 40 years of teaching, leaving a slew of landscape books in his wake including the critically-acclaimed Defiant Gardens: Making Gardens in Wartime.

Into Parkness. J.J. Abrams move over because the outdoor Trek Theater is hosting open auditions for August and September performances of Star Trek: The Next Generation’s “Tin Man” (season three, episode six) at a Eugene area park (TBD). You don’t have to be a Trekkie to audition but “some understanding of the characters as portrayed in Star Trek: TNG will be helpful.” Auditions run noon to 2:30 pm Sunday, May 26, at Sam Bond’s. Contact TNGinthePark@gmail.com for more information.

Hopefully you have Memorial Day off so you can stay up late for a free night of funny hosted by local comedian Leigh Anne Jasheway and friends at Sam Bond’s 8 pm Saturday, May 26.

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!