Pepto Pop by David Snider
of the UO, the city, and
all Lane County residents
and tourists.
Not only would the
area be ripe with new
life, but UO art and
music students would
find opportunities for
employment in the newly
created high-tech jobs it
would bring.
In his insightful book,
The Rise of the Creative
Class, Richard Florida
points out that 30 percent
of the workforce is
involved in high-tech pro-
fessions, including com-
puter software engineers
and others who have cre-
ativity and high levels of
technical skill. This is the
workforce that the UO is
training for viable busi-
nesses in downtown cen-
ters. Video gaming, for
instance, is a growing
business in Eugene,
employing graphic artists
and musicians for new
video games.
Florida’s premise is that a vibrant mix
of the arts attracts these workers to an area
and also attracts the businesses that would
hire them. In addition, he adds, this labor
force desires a beautiful, natural setting
with easy access to biking, hiking and
water recreation.
Eugene has all that, points out Cultural
Services Director Hankins, who has a
vision of growing the arts downtown and
connecting with the UO that is creating
excitement among local organizations.
“But Florida’s theory only works if you
think you can build an economic develop-
ment strategy around
celebrating the arts and
outdoors. I think you
could.”
In a recent meeting
with UO President Dave
Frohnmayer, Hankins
wondered why the con-
nection with campus
and downtown doesn’t
work better. Hankins
says you have a “couple
of blocks of greatness
downtown and then
nothing. Why can’t we
have eight blocks of
heaven?” Frohnmayer
agreed the one mile between campus and
downtown is a “universe of distance.” says
Hankins, who keeps coming back to the
same theme. “The more you can get people
downtown and force them to bump into
new, exciting things, the better off down-
town is gonna be.”
As for ArtFest, Hankins is excited because
the event “tries to connect people to new pat-
terns of walking around downtown. I see a lot
of students and others come downtown and
they don’t know where the cool, hip cutting-
edge stuff is. And you’d think with all the
information out there they would.”
‘Florida’s theory only works if you think you can build an
economic development strategy around celebrating the arts
and outdoors. I think you could.’
C ITY OF E UGENE C ULTURAL S ERVICES D IRECTOR - R OB H ANKINS
Print by Lou Coates
art all weekend
This weekend, downtown Eugene will come alive with arts and events to
kick off summer. The “Art of Eugene” includes the following:
• The Hult Center hosts a CD release reception and show for Misty River,
time. Tix are $12-16.
FRIDAY, JUNE 4
SATURDAY, JUNE 5
• The Lane Art’s Council’s First Friday ArtWalk, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, start-
ing at Café Paradiso, continuing to several downtown galleries and con-
cluding at 7:30 pm at Jacobs Gallery. Most galleries on the ArtWalk will
stay open until 8:30 pm. Free.
• The ArtFest, 5:30 to 8:30 pm, along Broadway and Willamette Streets,
showcases local artists displaying their creations. Free.
• During ArtWalk, DIVA hosts a UO dance performance in the main
gallery and music by percussionists Midnight Sun. Free.
• During ArtFest, the New Zone Gallery presents “A Gallery Without
Walls” at Broadway Plaza. The Broadway Bistro and Wine Market will offer
a winetasting from 5 to 7 pm and the Eugene Library celebrates First Friday
with a performance by Anguish of Snails, a local high school band. Free.
• FOOD for Lane County’s “Empty Bowls” fundraiser block party occurs on
East Broadway between Oak and Pearl Street. Samba Ja will perform,
Ambrosia will host a winetasting and in-store receptions and sidewalk sales
will be featured at
Passionflower, Nick and
Empty Bowls
Nora’s, Goldworks and
Cat’s Meow Jazz and
Blues. The Empty Bowls
sale is from 6 to 8:30
pm in the Eugene
Professional Building.
Local artist have made
and donated more than
1,200 bowls, with prices
starting at $10. (Bowls
tend to sell out quickly.)
• The Art of Eugene continues with
the Sasquatch Brew Fest from noon to 9
pm at Broadway Plaza. Beer, music,
silent auction, food booths and an after-
Brew party with Curtis Salgado at the
McDonald round out the day. Proceeds
benefit the Glen Hay Falconer
Foundation. Tix $10-15.
• Saturday Market and Farmers
Market continue from 10 am to 5 pm on
the Park Blocks at 8th and Oak. Free.
SUNDAY, JUNE 6
• The weekend winds down with the
Opening Celebration of Mercado Latino
from 11 am to 4:30 pm at the Park Blocks,
8th and Oak. Free.
OTHER EVENTS:
FRIDAY, JUNE 4
Victor Steinhardt
• The City Club presents its Arts and Letters Awards. Mayor Jim Torrey
will honor Victor Steinhardt. David Turner, of the UO Art Museum, will dis-
cuss “From the UO to Eugene: Can an Art Museum Help Shorten the
Distance Between the Two?” at 11:50 am at the Downtown Athletic Club.
Fee for lunch.
• Tuesday, June 8, the City Club hosts a roundtable discussion with Dick
Long of the Arts Umbrella at 5:05 pm at Café Paradiso. Free. — AS
JUNE 3, 2004 13