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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (April 26, 2017)
16 Wednesday, April 26, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Science of expressionist painting On May 10, an art and sci- ence perspective on Fractal Expressionism will be pre- sented at Pine Meadow Village Clubhouse by world- renowned Professor Richard Taylor. The event is presented by the University of Oregon Alumni Association and Duck Sisters. Professor Taylor will share how science finally explained the meaning of Jackson Pollock’s “infamous swirls of paint” through computer analysis of the pat- terns. Science found that the paintings are fractal, reoccur- ring patterns over finer and finer magnifications, build- ing up shapes “of immense complexity.” Patterns in nature are often fractal, such as in light- ning, clouds, mountains and trees. These fractal pat- terns are described as “the fingerprints of nature.” For Professor Taylor, this meant that Pollock “distilled the very essence of natural scenery and expressed it on canvas with an unmatched directness.” In the lecture, Taylor will share the implications of fractal expressionism in art, science, nature and human behavior. He will also explain how viewing Pollock paint- ings can reduce the observer’s physiological stress levels by as much as 60 percent. Taylor is determined to bring collaboration of arts and sciences as director of the Materials Science Institute and professor of physics, psychology and art at the University of Oregon. For this Sisters lecture, Professor Taylor will use Jackson Pollock paintings as the model to help a viewer understand how we view pat- terns. In his research, he and his students have found that over the years of producing art, Pollock increased com- plexity deliberately “to reduce the imagery seen in his earlier work.” Taylor’s interest in Jackson Pollock paintings began in his youth and has remained a life- long interest. “I use my interests in frac- tals to encourage collabora- tion between the arts and sci- ences and to promote aware- ness of science,” Taylor says. He has been featured in several documentaries and the major scientific publications, including Scientific American, and The New York Times and London Times. He has spoken to the Nobel Foundation and the Guggenheim Museum, representations of his eclectic diversity in combining art and science. “Bioinspiration is my main focus,” says the professor, exploring the favorable prop- erties that make fractals so prevalent in nature and apply- ing them to artificial systems. This lecture is open to the public with limited seating. To register, visit uoalumni.com/ fractalexpressionism. There is no charge for the event, which will open at 11:30 a.m. for the noon presentation. Playwrights on hand for premieres W h e n “ N o w Yo u ’ r e Ta l k i n g 2 0 1 7 ” o p e n s Thursday night at The Belfry, three dramatists will be in the audience anticipating the premiere performances of their newest plays. Playwright Albi Gorn is coming to Sisters from his home in Hastings on Hudson, New York, for the world premiere of his latest play, “Missing,” a poignant story of a young woman, a Vietnam veteran, and the ice cream shop where they first met in 1980. Gorn’s plays have won numerous play- writing contests and have been produced throughout the United States, England and Mexico. Cricket Daniel, mainstay of the 2nd Street Theater in Bend, is bringing her lat- est play, “A Baby Baby,” to The Belfry for its world pre- miere. Daniel has an exten- sive background in stand- up, theater and improv, and “A Baby Baby” reflects her lively take on a 30-some- thing couple’s inevitable talk about their future. Larry Anderson of Sisters loves to see and write from the odd angles, and the world Strangers” by Jim Gordon; and “Verbatim,” also by Albi Gorn. The theatrical commu- nity of Sisters has also pro- vided directors for each of the plays: Marla Manning, who is also the producer for the show; Joan Upshaw, Lisa Fetrow, and Michelle Pwddyr. Actors include Evan Leiser, Raechel Gilland, C h r i s t i a n Tr a s k , M i a Burton, Melinda Jahn, Ann Nora Kruger, Deri Frazee, Melodin Trammel, Vicki Kouns, Nancy Harris, Jim Hammond, Rhonda Schantz, Gracie Conant, Tyler Santos, Shawn O’Hern, Michelle P. Ehr, Dyut Fetrow, and Larry Lloyd. “Now You’re Talking 2017” is the second major production of Silent Echo Theater Company, which incorporated in Sisters as a nonprofit community theater in July 2016, following the well-received one-act plays in “Now You’re Talking 2016.” More information can be found at www.silent echotheatercompany.org. HIT A POTHOLE? COLD LASER WE CAN HELP! THERAPY Alignments, Shocks, Struts, Wheels, Tires Helps accelerate healing and eliminate pain. We welcome all patients, Workman’s comp., and auto accidents too. DAVIS TIRE 541-549-1026 Serving Sisters Since 1962 188 W. Sisters Park Dr. In Sisters Industrial Park across from SnoCap Mini Storage Three Sisters Chiropractic & Pain Management Dr. Inice Gough, DC, CCT, CCST 541.549.3583 541-549-9388 PARK IT IN STYLE! H’ H Bike racks... we’ve got ’em! 115 NW Greenwood, Redmond | 541-588-6119 A’ H 192 E. Tall Fir Ct., Sisters | 541-549-1726 22&14K, Fancy-Cut White Topaz 541-549-9280 premiere of “All Sales are Final” makes that quite clear. Anderson admits to being heavily influenced by his love of 1930s and ’40s crime romps with a touch of dark comedy, and his first play takes the audience on a wild ride with a cast of slightly off-kilter characters trying to make the best of an extremely awkward situ- ation. Anderson has lived in Sisters since 2004; he has been performing stand-up comedy as Larry Lloyd in the Bend area for years. After the final curtain call, the playwrights will meet with audience members to share their experiences. Performances of all seven one-acts are set for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with a special matinee performance at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are available at bendticket.com. Audiences will also be treated to the Oregon pre- mieres of four other plays: “My Scale is Lying to Me” and “Stuck” by Scott Mullen; “The Kindness of • Sisters Industrial Park www.PonderosaForge.com | CCB# 87640 Enjoy the fl avors of spring — Serving Breakfast & Lunch — Gluten-free and vegetarian options always available Open Every Day Except Wednesday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. 403 E. Hood Ave. | 541.549.2699 Custom Design Consultation FREE $250 VALUE April thru May P’ P 182 E. Tall Fir Ct., Sisters | 541-549-1336 D T | O O Business Cell (541) 848-3194 “Enriching the lives of those we serve, one day at time”