CORVALLIS
EVENTS
JAN. 29 Chanteuse A Cappella
Pacific Double Reed Quartet, noon,
MU Lounge, OSU. Free.
FEB. 5 Sun Bossa, noon, MU
Lounge, OSU. Free.
FEB. 1 Super Bowl Party, one
hour before kickoff, Corvallis Senior
Center. $3.
Singers, 2 pm, Corvallis Senior
Center. 766-6959. don.
FEB. 2 Computer Users Club,
1:30 pm, Coin Club Meeting, 6 pm,
Corvallis Senior Center. Free.
“Chicana Artists: 1960s-Present,” 7 pm,
Corvallis Arts Center. $4 sugg. don.
FEB. 4 Juilliard String Quartet,
7:30 pm, La Sells Stewart Center,
OSU. $20.
Adell McMillan Gallery The Family Album Show, work by current and former stu-
dents and staff of the EMU Craft Center, through Feb. 27. 7 am-11:30 pm weekdays,
10:30 am-11:30 pm weekends. EMU, UO. Free.
Alder Gallery Coburg La Petite 11, national small format art competition, through
Jan. 31, 2003 & Elegance, new jewelry by Christine Sundt, through Jan. 31,
Landscapes Edge, work by Sarkis Antikajian, Madeline Liepe, Linda Bowman and
more, Feb. 3 through April 30. Bronze art by Steve Reinmuth, Feb. 3 through April
30. Artists’ reception 1 pm, Feb. 14. 11 am-5 pm M-Sa, 11 am-3 pm Su, closed Tu.
Downtown Coburg. Free.
The Art of Everything Works by local artists, ongoing. Noon-6 pm, Tu-F. 513 Main
St., Cottage Grove. Free.
Benton County Historical Museum Taking Shape, group sculpture show, through
Feb. 28. 10 am-4:30 pm Tu-Sa. 1101 Main St., Philomath. Free.
Buzz Gallery Tar, featuring paintings by Kelsey Strauch, through Jan 31. 11 am-2
am Su, 9 am-12 am M-W, 9 am-2 am Th-F, 11 am-2 am Sa. EMU, UO. Free.
Café 131 Water Color Art Show, featuring work by the Opus 65 Group, through Feb.
28. 7:30 am-4 pm M-F, 9 am-4 pm Sa. Sixth Avenue and Main Street, Spfd. Free.
Café Soriah Color photography by Anna Hults, through Jan. 31. 11 am-2 pm and 5
pm-10 pm M-Th, 11 am-2pm and 5 pm-11 pm F, 5 pm-11 pm Sa, 5 pm-10 pm Su. 384
W. 13th Ave. Free.
Circle of Hands Work by Jamie Dianne Burress, featuring paintings and mixed
media assemblages, through Feb. 4, Noon-5 pm M-Su. 1030 Willamette St. Free.
Emerald Art Center Clay Dimensionals, work by Susan Siwinski, through Jan. 31.
Fantasy: Reach into Your Dreams, work by Springfield High School and Gateways
students, through Feb. 2. 11 am-4 pm Tu-Sa. 500 Main St., Spfd. Free.
Erin Williams Gallery Floral, figure and landscape paintings, ongoing. Noon-6 pm
F-Su. 82048 Territorial Rd. 344-3516. Free.
Evergreen Aviation Museum How the Kite Invented the Airplane, through Jan.
31. 9 am-5 pm daily. 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way. $11, $10 sr.
Fairbanks Gallery Under Wraps: Buildings in Transition, photographs by Loren
Nelson, through Feb. 4, 8 am-5 pm M-F, 11 am-2 pm Sa. 106 Fairbanks Hall, OSU,
Corvallis. Free.
Gallery at the Airport EX LIBRIS, featuring artwork of the Eugene Public Library,
through Feb. 13. Can be viewed by ticketed passengers. Eugene Airport. Free.
Hinman Vineyards Work by Richard Quigley, Jeannine Edelblut, Rick Williams,
ongoing. Noon to 5 pm daily. 27012 Briggs Hill Rd. 345-1945. Free.
Hoa-Lan Tran Gallery Work by Nguyen Trung Viet, through Feb. 28. 11 am-9pm
attn:
OPPORTUNITIES
THE JUILLIARD STRING QUARTET PLAYS BEALL
CONCERT HALL. SEE THURSDAY, FEB. 5.
M-Sa. 1461 E. 19th Ave. Free.
Imagination Gallery Princess Carriage, sculptures and garden art by Ken Scott,
ongoing. Noon-9 pm T-Sa. 5th Ave. and Willamette St. Free.
Island Park Gallery Water and Oil Mix, paintings by Gloria Stager, Barbara Aten,
Demetra Kalams, through Jan 31. 8 am-5 pm M-F. 5215 W. C St., Spfd. Free.
Jacobs Gallery Work by Susan Lowdermilk, Tallmadge Doyle and Ken Paul, through
Feb. 28. 11 am-3 pm TU-Sa, and during performances. Lower level, Hult. Free.
Jawbreaker Window Gallery Paintings by Lindsey Dority and Jacob Solomon,
through Feb. 1, mixed media work by Ellen Knowden, Feb. 1 through Feb. 15.
Viewing 24 hours. 4th Avenue and Monroe Street.
Karin Clarke Gallery The Genius In the Moment, work by Ken Paul, through Jan.
31, The Magic Stir of Landscape, Soul and Waterways, paintings by Nelson
Sandgren, Feb. 3 through March 6. Artist’s reception 1 pm, Feb. 7. 10 am-5:30 pm
Tu-Sa. 760 Willamette St. Free.
LaFollette Gallery A Collective Passion, 4th Annual Benchmark Printmakers
Group Show, ongoing. 10 am-6 pm M-F, 10 am-5 pm Sa. 410 E. 11th Ave. Free.
Lane County Historical Museum All Things Small: A Diminutive Exhibition, ongo-
ing. 10 am-4 pm W-F, noon-4 pm Sa. 740 W. 13th Ave. $2.
Lane Memorial Blood Bank Work by Tricia Clark-McDowell, through March 3. 8
am-5 pm M-F. 2211 Willamette St. Free.
LaVerne Krause Gallery Work by Tennille Dover and Shayann Hoffer, through
Jan. 30. 10 am-5 pm M-F. Lawrence Hall, UO. Free.
Mary Lou Zeek Gallery Heart-inspired art by 100 national artists, through Jan 31,
Uplifted, Fly by Two, paintings by Diane Culhane-Painter, Feb. 3 through Feb. 28. Artist’s
reception 5 pm, Feb. 4. 10 am-6 pm Tu-F, 10 am-5 pm Sa. 335 State St., Salem. Free.
Maria Avila Art Gallery Open studio sale, work by Mari Avila, through Feb. 24. 10
am-5 pm M-F. 2690 Kalmia St., Sweet Home. Free.
Maude Kerns Art Center Work by Ed Vliek, Kathleen Laraia McLaughlin and Mike
Leckie, through Feb. 13. 10 am-5:30 pm M-F, Noon-4 pm Sa. 1910 E. 15th Ave. $3 sugg don.
McKenzie-Willamette Hospital Work by Randall Ingalls, through Feb. 29. 8 am-6
pm daily. 1460 G St., Spfd. Free.
Modern Work by Adam Heim, Jonathan Adler, Orfeo Qualgita and Melissa
Muszynski, ongoing. 10 am-6 pm M-Sa, 11 am-5 pm Su. 207 E. 5th Ave, Suite 105. Free.
Museum of Unfine Art Work by Meredith Griffin, Sybylla Lindert, M. Scott
McGahan and more, through Jan. 31. 11:30 am-7 pm Su, 11:30 am-8 pm M-F, 1:30
pm-8 pm Sa. 537 Willamette. Free.
New Odyssey Juice and Java Soul Journeys, paintings by Rebecca LaMothe,
through Feb. 29. Artist’s reception 5:30 pm, Feb. 6. 1044 Willamette St. Free.
Oregon Gallery Photography by Ron Keebler, watercolors by Michael Smith, pot-
tery by Carl Smiley and work by many Northwest artists, ongoing. 10 am-6 pm M-
F, 11 am-7 pm Sa, noon to 5 pm Su. 199 E. 5th St., Suite 5. Free.
Peace Health Medical Group Artist Always, work by Erin Brady Worsham,
through Feb. 5. 1162 Willamette St., Annex Building. Free.
Perugino The Art of Weaving, featuring hand woven rugs, through Feb. 14. 9:30 am-
10 pm Su, 6:30 am-10 pm M-W, 6:30 am-midnight Th-Sa. 767 Willamette St. Free.
Sacred Heart Medical Center Paintings by Lynn Sabol, quilts by Jane Baumgart,
through Feb. 5. 1255 Hilyard St., Third Floor. Free.
Maude Kerns Art Center seeks submis-
sions for Art for Your Garden at Art &
the Vineyard festival. 345-1571 for more
information. Deadline April 23.
OSU Department of Music scholar-
ship auditions, Feb. 7 and March 13,
Benton Hall, OSU. (541) 737-4061
for more information.
Auditions for VLT’s Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof, 1 pm, Feb. 7, Very Little Theatre.
344-7751 for more information.
Sattva Gallery Work by Claire Ribaud, Mitzi Linn, ongoing. 10 am-7 pm M-Sa, 10
am-6 pm Su. 1801 Willamette St. Free.
The Science Factory Science Sleuths: Exploring Wildlife Forensics hands-on
exhibit for all ages, ongoing. Noon-4 pm W-Su, closed UO home games. 2300
Harris Parkway. $4.
Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson House Historic House and Furnishings, ongoing.
10 am-1 pm Tu-F, 1-4 pm S-Su. 303 Willamette St. $3, $1 youth under 12.
Sweet Home Gallery Work by Maria Avila, Lee Dunning and Adriana Avila, ongo-
ing. 9 am-7 pm daily. 2690 Kalmia St., Sweet Home. Free.
UO Museum of Natural History Preserving Sights and Sounds: The Don Hunter
Legacy, recordings from the Pacific Northwest, A New Look at Oregon
Archeology, ongoing. Noon to 5 pm, Tu-Su. 1680 E. 15th Ave. $2 sugg. don.
The Wa Collection Focus on Earth, pottery by Tea Duong, Mary Hindman, Hank
Murrow and more, Feb. 1 through April 30, water sculptures by Fritz Suehs, light
sculptures by Stephen White and Sumi ink paintings by Julie Keaten-Reed, ongo-
ing. Market hours M-Su. Fifth Street Public Market.
Wild Rose Gallery New watercolors by Eugene artist LaVonne Tarbox Crone,
original and giclee limited edition prints by Jan Robert Dominguez, ongoing. 10
am-5 pm Tu-Sa. 1320 Main St., Philomath. Free.
WOW Hall Gallery Photography and paintings by Bruce Nealley, through Jan. 31.
3 pm-6 pm M-F. 291 W. 8th Ave. Free.
WORK BY NELSON SANDGREN, KARIN CLARKE GALLERY,
THROUGH MARCH 6.
BY SYLVIE PEDERS0N
Three-artist show at MKAC
T
his exhibition at Maude Kerns Art
Center through Feb. 13 of work by Mike
Leckie, Kathleen Laraia McLaughlin,
and Edward Vliek is not to be missed.
The human figure never ceases to fasci-
nate. It is part of the narcissism of our
species, an impulse that fuels our curiosity
about every aspect of ourselves as human
beings: We are primed to find the human
body not merely sexually but also aestheti-
cally pleasing, as evidenced in art since pre-
historic times. Eugene sculptor Mike Leckie
stands among artists who devote themselves
to exploring, understanding and rendering the
beauty of the human form to the human eye.
“I’m in love with form,” Leckie said.
“What people see now is the result of 30
years of devotion to line, form and volume.”
Leckie’s is a classicist approach, with
roots harking back to ancient Greece all the
way through Rodin to Paul Manship. “I
understand the historical classical figurative
tradition,” Leckie said. “As a kid it was
already what drew me, and now I’m making
modern pieces in that tradition.” Unlike
many contemporary neoclassicists, he is
interested as much in male as female figures.
Equally at ease with additive (clay) and sub-
tractive (marble) processes, Leckie is also
experienced in bronze-casting techniques.
Marble is his stone of choice for its crys-
talline structure and aliveness. “I seem to
understand it intuitively,” Leckie says. “And
marble sings when you work on it — it’s like
a humming coming out of the stone.” During
a visit to Europe when he was an adolescent,
Leckie was struck by the power of form
shown emerging from marble in contrast to
wholly finished pieces. “I always leave an
unfinished part in a marble piece for the pub-
lic to relate to what the piece was before it
was carved. Michelangelo knew to leave
chisel marks and rough stone in places.”
Leckie’s marble figures exude energy as
if they’d risen out of the stone through their
own power, with female curves simultane-
ously conveying movement and solidity
(Victory, Tiger Rock Girl). In contrast,
Leckie’s bronzes from clay originals exhibit
a softer, sober demeanor — gracefulness
emphasized rather than strength (Reluctant
Goddess, Helen, Lilly), sometimes a hint of
vulnerability (Facing the Wind, The Price).
However, when Leckie casts together
fragments only from these clay originals, cre-
ating what he calls “museum fragments” in
reference to incompletely recovered ancient
statuary, he provides them with a new edge,
tension and interest. Missing parts create
space for the viewer’s imagination to roam,
speculate, create stories. We are inevitably
drawn to fill out the intentional voids.
Incompleteness has here a function similar to
that of stone areas left untouched in the mar-
ble pieces. Whereas the complete bronzes
evoke a predominantly aesthetic response,
elders, the faces she shows are intensely real
and hence deeply moving. Even when they
pose in their best clothes, the villagers
remain genuine in a way rarely achieved in
our more image-conscious culture.
Accompanying documentary texts are
informative, tinged with the same warmth
and humor as the photographs. Given such
level of quality, it is odd that mats and photo-
graphic paper don’t match in tone, detracting
from the rustic wood-frames hand-carved by
Vasile Apan (Romania). Both prints and text
deserve book format for excellent artistic and
ethnographic value.
ew
JAKE BY MIKE LECKIE, BRONZE FROM MARBLE ORIGINAL, 1997.
Figures, Cities & People
the fragments involve us psychologically and
emotionally as well. (The explanatory notes
that accompany the sculptures are thus an
unnecessary distraction and detract from
pieces that require no verbal support.)
The sculptor recently started sand-casting
glass, which will be shown on Leckie’s third
OPB special this spring. Classical antiquity
provides theme and style for Leckie’s glass
pieces, which feature the faces of classical
goddesses adorned with Bacchus’ grapes.
There are definite Art Nouveau and Art Deco
overtones. Though the figures stand on their
own, these pieces would also work wonder-
fully as architectural sculptures. Leckie’s
other exhibited works include a series of
porcelain low-relief collages.
Best-known for his photographic docu-
mentation of the Oregon dunes, Edward
Vliek now presents black-and-white travel
images from Italy, with classically composed
views of architecture and cityscapes as well
as portraits of people he encountered, such as
a grocer with a giant squash and wonderful
expression or the remarkable profile of a
bride posing for another photographer.
In Kathleen Laraia McLaughlin’s crisp
gelatin-silver prints of Romania, aesthetic
considerations such as composition are
enriched by genuine love and interest for the
people portrayed. The Transylvanian vil-
lagers whose life and ancient rural customs
she shared a full year are never treated as
curiosities or relics, nor are they aestheti-
cized, sentimentalized or romanticized.
Instead McLaughlin’s gaze balances mat-
ter-of-factness with warmth as she docu-
ments a vanishing lifestyle. From children to
JANUARY 29, 2004 19