Mayor’s Teen Art Show

“Using the simplest instruments — colored pencils and markers — I was able to create something beautiful, something to be proud of,” reflects Bella Tocco, a student at Monroe Middle School, on the Maude Kerns Art Center website. Tocco is referring to her piece “Majestic Still Life,” which will hang alongside the work of 12 other teen artists at the 22nd annual Mayor’s Teen Art Show at Maude Kerns. The show will feature 37 pieces in a variety of mediums, including watercolor, mixed media sculpture and photography. Tennepah Brainard, a 19-year-old at the Institute of American Indian Art, says in the exhibit notes that she hopes that “people will rethink the everyday things they see, without really seeing, through my photography.” After three years of participating in the show, this year will mark Brainard’s last Mayor’s Teen Art Show. Also at the center, see Habitat, a juried exhibit featuring the work of 32 member artists of the Studio Art Quilt Associates (SAQA). The artists were asked to interpret the theme “habitat,” which for Jean Wells Keenan led to the use of twigs and fabric strips to “build a comforting enclosure with a circular form,” a process she describes as simultaneous “challenge and discovery.”

Mayor’s Teen Art Show and Habitat will run through Oct. 1 at Maude Kerns Art Center, 1910 E. 15th Ave. Gallery hours are 10 am to 5:30 pm Monday-Friday and noon to 4 pm Saturdays. More information on the two exhibits at MKArtCenter.org.

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!