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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2020)
6 Wednesday, January 22, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Sisters painter transforms dreams into works of art By Jodi Schneider Correspondent Some people keep track of their dreams by writing them down on paper the minute they wake. But local artist Megan Phallon transforms her dreams into artwork. Phallon has narcolepsy. People with the disorder often report having vivid, bizarre, or disturbing dreams. A person with narcolepsy can enter REM state at sleep onset or shortly after falling asleep, making it possible to dream vividly even during a brief nap. Phallon9s dreamworld sometimes blurs with reality and when incorporated into her artwork, results are vivid, surreal paintings. She said, <My dreams help me see elements in a way most are not capable of during waking hours. Even PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER Megan Phallon’s passion for painting shows in her vivid work. though several of my sur- real dreamscape-like works may have a dark or profound theme, I use very lively pri- mary colors for a joyful whimsical feel.= Phallon grew up in a small coastal town near Fort Bragg in Northern California and had a passion for art since she could remember. ...I look at the world in an abstract way and enjoy seeing something ordinary become exciting and alive. — Megan Phallon <I9d walk around the art galleries in Mendocino and in middle school I enjoyed drawing dark and bizarre cartoons for my teachers. A couple of them even paid me for my pictures.= Phallon is a self-taught artist and has a good photo- graphic memory for color and detail. Her extensive travels in the Caribbean, Central America and Mexico had a huge influence on her color choices in the art world. <I9ve also lived in South Dakota, Utah and Minnesota. We moved to Sisters look- ing for a change, more of a small-town artsy vibe,= she said. She added, <I have never been embraced so warmly by a community as this one.= The scenery most featured in her paintings is a combina- tion of places she has lived, including St. George, Utah near Zion National Park and now Central Oregon. <I have a passion for painting because I look at the world in an abstract way and enjoy seeing something ordi- nary become exciting and alive,= Phallon said. <I started doing com- missioned artwork nearly 15 years ago, after I9d done some paintings on my friends9 kids9 walls. After that I started getting requests.= A few years ago, Phallon was the featured artist as a part of the Pillars of Art Program which was cre- ated to introduce tourists to Bend9s unique arts and cul- ture scene. She had several shows at Franklin Crossing and three murals as part of the <tin pan alley project= in downtown Bend. <I have several paintings with private collectors and in women9s health clinics and have taught art classes at Sisters Park and Recreation District (SPRD),= she said. Phallon will teach art classes at the Good Day Café (adjacent to Bedouin) on Hood Avenue in Sisters on Mondays beginning Monday, January 27, from 1 to 5 p.m. <My classes will be very casual, drop-in-anytime-type Mark Barringer & Bob Baker MEAT S, GAME ALASKAN SEAFOOD CHEESES SANDWICHES BEER, WINE, CIDER 110 S. SPRUCE ST. | 541-719-1186 CUSTOM FENCES ENCES AND DECKS Locally Owned, Craftsman Built Residential & Commercial Custom Ranch & Domestic Privacy Fencing Decks • Gates Stain & Paint • Repair F FREE FR R EE E E ESTIMATES E ST S T IM I M AT A TE T ES E S COMPETITIVE C MP CO MPET ETITT IV IVE E PR PRICING RICIN I G 541-588-2062 CCB#288388 www.SistersFenceCompany.com Playing in the Lounge at Chops Bistro ( 370 E Cascade Ave.) Saturday, February 1 6 to 8 p.m. Come join us! PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER Megan Phallon will teach local artists in painting classes at Good Day Café starting later this month. class 4 a very basic painting skills class unstructured and lively with acrylics. I want it to also be a social experience and will serve coffee and hot cocoa,= she said. <My favorite part of instructing painting classes is when people insist they are incapable of anything that looks like art and then walk away understanding their own abilities. I usually start them with shapes that are common to everyone and then show them how it can evolve into art. Students can spend a little bit of time or come back on and off to continue working on their masterpiece.= Email canvasda block@gmail.com for more information. Remodeling Resolutions? Call Sweeney Plumbing to tap into some great ideas! 541þ549þ4349 260 N. Pine St., Sisters Licensed Bonded / Insured CCB#87587