Arts Hound

Just announced: The Bali Arts Festival has invited LCC’s Balinese dance troupe Tirtha Tari to perform in the capital of Denpasar June 21, 2014. The troupe, consisting of six LCC students led by dance instructor Bonnie Simoa, will study the Legong dance form with master teacher Sang Ayu Ketut Muklen. See Tirtha Tari perform for the Asian Celebration 1:30 pm Saturday, Feb. 15, and 10:55 am Sunday, Feb. 16, at the Lane County Fairgrounds.

Erin Elder of Balinese dance group Tirtha Tar Photo by Michael Brinkerhoff

In Eugene-Springfield, there’s no doubt that beer is an art. But what about the art that cometh alongside the brew? As part of Springfield’s Second Friday Art Walk (5 to 8 pm), the Springfield Museum presents an opening reception for Behind the Label: The Art of Oregon Craft Beers, an exhibit featuring the graphic art of breweries including Ninkasi, Hop Valley, Deschutes and Gigantic, among others. Come back at 6 pm Thursday, Feb. 20, for a Q&A with Tony Figoli, the head of Ninkasi’s art department.

Due to the snow-ice-rain-clusterflake, Eugene’s First Friday ArtWalk is rescheduled for 5:30 pm Friday, Feb. 14, starting at DIVA Gallery with stops at The Jazz Station, Pacific Rim Art Guild, Goldworks Jewelry Art Studio and Oregon Art Supply.

The Cascadia Forest Defenders are also presenting their first-ever art show, Art from the Frontlines, 5 to 9 pm Friday, Feb. 14, at the ESAP Gallery. Art will include photography from the “White Castle treesit, paintings done in the tree tops,” and more. Never seen a treesit before? No problem. Look for the mock treesit in the gallery.

Theater roundup: Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer-winning play How I Learned to Drive, which explores themes of sexual assault and misogyny, opens Feb. 13 at OSU Theatre; Radio Redux presents “Radio Daze,” featuring two plays, Love Affair and The Undead, for one weekend only, Feb. 14-16, at the Wildish Theater; The Roving Park Players perform Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park 7 pm Feb. 13-16, at Good Samaritan Center (3500 Hilyard).

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!