Neal Williams working on Ground Control label

The Art of Beer: What do Dinosaur Jr., Dave Matthews Band, Soundgarden and Queens of the Stone Age have in common? These bands are all on the client list of local “gig poster” artist Neal Williams, who Ninkasi just named its first artist in the new initiative AIR, or Artist in Residence program. You’ve probably seen William’s work on bottles around town — he designed the space-tastic label for Ground Control, the imperial stout brewed with yeast that was shot into space, released in April. “I could spend hours looking at the night sky, and I tend to devour space-themed documentaries when I can find them, so this project was a perfect fit,” Williams writes in his artist statement. “To begin the Ground Control project, we discussed some possible directions and inspiration, from astronaut mission patches to movie posters and comic books rooted in retrofuturism.” Beginning in July, Williams will set up studio in Ninkasi’s administration building in the Whit, where he will work both on independent projects as well as special collaborations with the brewery. Williams works in a self-described “heavily detailed pen-and-ink style.” He also pulls his screen prints by hand. “Art has a huge impact on how we market and present our beers as well as how we interact with our beer drinkers,” Ninkasi communications director Ali AAsum writes to EW. Artists will also teach classes to the public and, a press release says, “artists will be contracted annually to work hand-in-hand with Ninkasi’s marketing and design teams.” Look for Williams’ artistic touch on upcoming labels for Ninkasi’s Imperial Pumpkin Sleigh’r and “special edition artwork for its India Red Ale, Dawn of the Red, for the 2015 Halloween timeframe.” To see more of William’s work, visit epicproblems.com.

Jerry Ross of DIVA (Downtown Initiative for the Arts) has announced the 13 artists chosen to show work in the Lane County Annual Juried Show that runs through July 31 at the Broadway Commerce Center (44 W. Broadway), with an opening reception 5:30 to 8:30 pm Friday, July 3, during First Friday ArtWalk. In addition to Ross, artists include Josh Krute, whose tree prints are on display at Urban Lumber, as well as plein air painter Victoria Biedron and gestural painter Sarkis Antikajian. In other DIVA news, the nonprofit moved into an office at the Growers Market (454 Willamette) in June.

Oregon Country Fair volunteers Linda Reymers and M. Clare Feighan will host First Friday ArtWalk 5:30 to 8 pm Friday, July 3, starting at The New Zone Gallery (164 W. Broadway), followed by stops along Broadway at The Jazz Station, Pacific Rim Art Guild & Gallery (don’t miss the stunning multimedia work of Dan Chen e.g., “The Watcher”), Vistra Framing & Gallery and Out on a Limb Gallery.

June was the last month at the UO for Frances Bronet, dean of the School of Architecture and Allied Arts (A&AA) from 2005 until her appointment as UO acting senior vice president and provost in August 2014. Bronet next heads to Chicago, where she’ll act as provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Brook Muller is serving as interim A&AA dean. Also in the A&AA, associate professor Jack Ryan was recently named a 2015 Hallie Ford Fellow in the visual arts as one of five Oregon visual artists who will receive a $25,000 award. See his modern sculpture at volcanophile.com