Wednesday, February 15, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
9
All Oregon regions gaining Sisters artists featured in exhibit
jobs, but not equally
By Mateusz Perkowski
Capital Press
SALEM (AP) — Oregon
now has more jobs than before
the “great recession” but some
rural areas are still lagging
behind, according to the state
economist.
After the financial crisis
a decade ago, Oregon lost
roughly 8 percent of its jobs,
said Mark McMullen, the state
economist.
Since then, the state has
not only regained all those
lost jobs but also increased
the overall number by 6.5 per-
cent from the pre-recession
peak, he said during a hearing
this week before the House
Committee on Economic
Development and Trade.
However, McMullen said
those gains haven’t been felt
equally by all regions of the
state.
The Portland metropolitan
area has seen the strongest
recovery, with the number
of jobs now 9 percent higher
than before the recession.
There are now 7.5 percent
more jobs in the Columbia
Gorge, 6.8 percent more
jobs in Central Oregon and
3.3 percent more jobs in the
Willamette Valley.
Jobs contracted by about
12 percent in southern Oregon
during the recession, but the
region now has 0.3 percent
more jobs than before the
crisis.
Northeast Oregon and the
North Coast haven’t yet fully
recovered, but the number
of jobs is less than a half-
percent lower than before the
recession.
Southeast Oregon still has
4.7 percent fewer jobs from
the pre-recession peak, while
the South Coast has 6.1 per-
cent fewer jobs. These regions
have seen worse times, though
— both have recovered
roughly half the jobs they lost
during the recession.
Some counties are still
seriously reeling from the
downturn. Gilliam County
has recovered only 10 percent
of the jobs it lost during the
recession, while Crook and
Grant counties have recovered
fewer than 30 percent.
The good news is that
nearly 100 percent of Oregon
counties are now gaining
jobs rather than losing them,
McMullen said.
The lone exception —
Morrow County — is actually
an economic success story,
but has recently lost some
jobs due to the completion of
major construction projects,
he said.
Oregon now has about 2
unemployed people per job
opening, down from 11 people
per open position in late 2009.
In terms of income, the top
20 percent of Oregon house-
holds are now making 6.7
percent more money than they
were a decade ago, adjusted
for inflation, he said. Inflation-
adjusted incomes are about 1
percent lower among the mid-
dle 20 percent of households
and 7 percent lower among
the bottom 20 percent.
Oregon is the 12th most
trade-dependent state in the
U.S., he said. Computer and
electronic equipment lead
in the way in exports, fol-
lowed by heavy manufactured
products such as metal and
machinery, then agricultural
goods and forestry products.
China is the major destina-
tion for Oregon exports, fol-
lowed by Canada, Malaysia,
Japan and South Korea.
Exports from Oregon are
now facing a headwind due to
the high value of the U.S. dol-
lar compared to other curren-
cies, which makes our prod-
ucts more expensive in foreign
markets.
Sisters-owned
Lic.# 209860
A new art exhibit titled
“Sisters on the Road:
Eight Artists and Their
Discoveries” will run through
March 16 at Sisters Art
Works, 204 W. Adams Ave.
The
Roundhouse
Foundation, in an effort to
further its support for the
arts and artists in Sisters and
Central Oregon, invited a
group of artists to experience
artist-in-residency program-
ming at Anderson Ranch
Arts Center; Archie Bray
Foundation for the Ceramic
Arts; Arrowmont School of
Arts and Crafts; Penland
School of Crafts; and Sitka
Center for Art and Ecology.
While attending work-
shops, the artists were asked
to observe the different learn-
ing models and whether it
would be feasible to have
similar programs in Sisters.
The focus of the research
was, broadly, artist-in-resi-
dence, workshop, and shared-
space programs. Eight local
artists attended a variety of
programs on behalf of the
project.
Participating artists are:
Laura Campbell, Nancy
Das en, Gr eg Dav i d g e,
Susan Luckey Higdon, Judy
Hoiness, Deb Sether, Kit
Stafford and Mary Jo Weiss.
The exhibit “Sisters on the
Road” showcases their work
created while participating
in the research, workshops
and residencies, and features
works in iron, wood, ceramic,
metals, painting and mixed
media.
The exhibit is open
weekdays.
The community is
PHOTO PROVIDED
Kit Stafford’s work is featured.
invited to the artist recep-
tion February 24 from 4 to 7
p.m. during the Fourth Friday
Art Stroll in Sisters. Patrons
are invited to gather around
the outdoor fire pit, meet the
artists, see the show and cel-
ebrate creative Sisters.
Galleries across Sisters
will participate in the Fourth
Friday Art Stroll.
Year-round
FIREWOOD
SALES
— Kindling —
—
—
SISTERS
FOREST PRODUCTS
PHOTO PROVIDED
A wooden bowl by Greg Davidge.
541-410-4509
SistersForestProducts.com
Celebrate creative Sisters with us!
Sisters on the Road :
eight artists & their discoveries
Artist Reception February 24, 4-7 p.m. at
Sisters Art Works (During the 4th Friday Art Strmll)
204 W. Adams Ave. (Cmrner mf Ash & Adams)
Gather armund mur beautiful fi repit,
meet the artists, see the shmw,
and enjmy refreshments
tmgether.
Yes It’s Melting &
That’s When It Gets Bad
Ice melts slower than snow • Roof drainage is blocked
Water gets under shingles & can come in through your ceiling
Free consult to inspect for damage & potential damage
We prevent & repair ice & snow damage
We’ll work with your insurance adjuster
Call Paul Ryan | 503-756-0120
BLACK BUTTE PAINTING
Participating Artists: Laura Campbell, Nancy Dasen, Greg Davidge,
Susan Luckey Higdon, Judy Hoiness, Deb Sether, Kit Staff ord & Mary Jo Weiss