A6 COMMUNITY East Oregonian Tuesday, March 22, 2022 Open Regional Exhibit focuses on photography By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian PENDLETON — This year’s Open Regional Exhibit at Pendleton Center for the Arts focuses on photogra- phy. The show is open to all adult amateur and profes- sional artists who live in Eastern Oregon or southeast- ern Washington. In addition, there is a category for youths ages 13-17. Roberta Lavadour, arts center executive director, said the exhibition typi- cally features upwards of 100-120 photographs, repre- senting the work of about 75 visual artists. She is hoping to capture even more during the 2022 show. In an eff ort to do just that, arts center staff reached out to area high Pendleton Center for the Arts/Contributed Photo Visitors view photographs at the Open Regional Exhibit on May 8, 2014, at Pendleton Center for the Arts. Submissions for the 2022 gallery show will be accepted April 2, noon to 4 p.m. schools and colleges. Lava- dour also encourages photog- raphers of all skill levels to enter their work. “With the technology of cameras today, it off ers amateurs an opportunity to take great photos,” she said. Photographers are encour- aged to choose their best shots, which must have been taken in the past fi ve years. Each shutterbug may enter two photographs — the regis- tration fee is $10 per work for adults and $5 for teens. Photographers may indicate their work is for sale, with the arts center receiving a 30% commission. Serving as judge for the 2022 show is Charly Bloom- quist. A senior adjunct professor of art at Whit- man College, he has taught photography at Whitman since 1994 and at Walla Walla Community College from 1995 to 2007. In addi- tion, Bloomquist’s work has been exhibited in New York, California, Washington and in Managua, Nicaragua. The judge will award at least $1,000 in prize money in the adult and youth catego- ries. In addition, the Jacque- line Brown People’s Choice Award will be presented based on the votes of visi- tors to the exhibit. The $200 award is provided by the Picken/Brown family. The Open Regional Exhibit, which began in the mid-1970s, features photog- raphy in even-numbered years and other art medi- ums in odd-numbered years. Lavadour said the event contributed to the creation of a cultural community that has withstood the test of time. “It’s amazing to have this event continue for almost half a century,” she said. The beauty of the exhibit, Lavadour said, is attracting both seasoned professionals and “your next door neigh- bor.” In addition, she said artists gain personally from having their work on display. “Seeing you work on the wall in a gallery is a thrill,” Lavadour said. “And being able to provide a direct link for people is what we’re about.” The drop-off date for submissions is Saturday, April 2, noon to 4 p.m. at the arts center, 214 N. Main St., Pendleton. Arrangements for other times may be made by contacting arts center staff . The judge’s critique and awards ceremony is April 14, 5 p.m. The exhibit runs April 14 through May 27 in the art center’s East Oregonian Gallery. For more information, including registering/label- ing entries, visit www.pend- ltonarts.org. For questions, contact 541-278-9201 or director@pendletonarts.org. Learning the sum of the parts Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File World War II Air Force veteran Bob Stangier, left, and Korean War Army veteran Ken Garrett volunteer Feb. 24, 2022, at the Pendleton Air Museum near downtown Pendleton. The two nonagenarians will be recognized during the museum’s an- nual meet-and-greet Thursday, March 24, 5:30 p.m. at Mac’s Bar & Grill, Pendleton. Air museum takes fl ight By TAMMY MALGESINI East Oregonian Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian Fourth graders Jack Gregg, left, and Mya Thompson attempt to locate the beak of their squid Friday, March 18, 2022, during a squid dissection at Washington Elementary School in Pendleton. COMMUNITY BRIEFS Upcoming election forums provide voter information U M AT I L L A C OU N T Y — People are encouraged to mark their calendars for upcoming candidate forums. Voters will have a chance to learn more about Republican candi- dates for governor of Oregon and those vying for the Umatilla County Board of Commissioners. Each of the events begins at 6 p.m.: • March 24, Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton: Republican Gubernatorial candi- dates. Candidates who have confirmed they are planning to attend include Reed Ch r ist ia nsen, Ch r ist i ne Drazan, Kerry McQuisten, Amber Richardson and Marc Thielman. The following forums feature Umatilla County commissioner candidates: • March 31, Pendleton Convention Center, 1601 Westgate. • April 7, Oregon National Guard Armory, 900 S.E.Columbia Drive, Hermiston. • April 8, Milton-Freewater Commu- nity Building, 109 N.E. Fifth St. For questions about the April 7 forum in Hermiston, contact valerie. bradley@gmail.com or josiahbar- ron.pcp@protonmail.com. For the other three forums, contact ucrp@ gmail.com or Suni Danforth, Umatilla County Republican Central Committee chair, at 541-215-9389 or ucrpchair@ gmail.com. City Auto Sales gears up with celebration HERMISTON — A grand open- ing celebration is planned at City Auto Sales. The Hermiston Chamber of Commerce will start the event with a ribbon-cutting Friday, March 25, noon at 80857 N. Highway 395, Herm- iston. People are encouraged to stick around with all kinds of fun planned until 4 p.m., including food, raffl es and local vendors. For more information, call 541-561- 8314 or search Facebook. — EO Media Group PENDLETON — The Pendleton Air Museum invites the public to learn more about its mission. The museum will recog- nize a pair of nonagenarians as volunteers of the year. Bob Stangier, a 98-year-old World War II Air Force veteran, and Ken Garrett, a 90-year-old Korean War Army veteran, will be honored during the museum’s annual meet and greet. Mike Short, one of the museum’s founders, will be the special speaker. The no-host event is Thurs- day, March 24, 5:30 p.m. at Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400 S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton. Order food in advance by call- ing 541-278-5531 or via www. macsbargrill.com. People are encouraged to attend and learn more about the museum. “I want to get people excited and get acquainted with the museum,” said Debbie Rasmussen, museum coordinator. “Also, we’re always looking for more volunteers.” Also, through the end of March, visitors are invited to drop by the museum at 21 S.W. Emigrant Ave. for a cup of coff ee featuring products from Operator Coff ee. And in observance of Vietnam War Veterans Day, all Vietnam vets will receive a service orna- ment on Monday, March 28. And on the horizon, a pair of events off er a chance to have fun while raising money for the museum’s building fund. They include: • 80th Remembrance of the Doolittle Raid, April 18, 5 p.m. at BackFire Station, 911 S.W. Court Ave., Pendleton. Tickets for the 1940s-style dinner and silent auction event are $30 each. • USO-style Dance, April 23, 6 p.m. in the Let ’er Buck Room at the Pendleton Round-Up Grounds. Tickets are $25 for museum members and $30 for non-members. The Brass Fire Band will play music from the 1940s and beyond. People are encour- aged to don period style from the 1930s to 1950s, with door prizes presented to the best dressed. The museum is open Monday and Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays, noon to 2 p.m. Admission is by dona- tion. For more information, visit www.pendletonairmu- seum.org. For questions, call 541-276-6156. IT’S IN YOUR INBOX before your mailbox Subscribers can receive daily email updates and uninterrupted digital delivery on a computer, tablet and smartphone Sign up for free digital access Call 800-781-3214 EastOregonian.com