Jamie Walsh

After two years at Lansing Community College, close to her family home in suburban Holt, Michigan, Jamie Walsh and a couple of friends moved to Los Angeles to establish California residency and decide where to go to school. “I didn’t like L.A. at all,” says Walsh, who headed north to study art history at Humboldt State in Arcata. “It’s small, and nature is everywhere,” she says of that much-smaller California town. She graduated in 2006, worked for three years at The Studio, an arts program for adults with developmental disabilities, then came to Eugene for a master’s in arts management. As an intern with the Oregon Supported Living Program, she helped develop its Arts and Culture Program as part of her graduate project on arts programs for adults with disabilities. “It’s a way for them to learn skills, to be productive and be a part of the community,” says Walsh, who got her MA in 2013 and became coordinator of the A&C Program when it opened the Lincoln Gallery at 309 W. 4th Ave. “It all fell into place. I live a block away.” The A&C Program offers open art studio hours and classes in many visual arts media, and in music, dance, yoga and cooking. “We’re open to anyone,” Walsh notes. “You don’t need to have a disability.” On Sunday, Aug. 16, 11 am – 5 pm, A&C artists will take part in Print!Eugene, a free event sponsored by Watershed Arts, at 291 Mill Street in Eugene, featuring giant woodblock prints rolled out by street-paving machines. Look for Walsh’s own watercolor and acrylic paintings at the ArtWorks Gallery in Corvallis, during the Corvallis Artwalk on Thursday, Aug. 20.

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!