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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (May 13, 2015)
❘ / SIUSLAWNEWS ❘ @ THESIUSLAWNEWS WEDNESDAY EDITION Siuslaw News Coast Life Making a scene in Florence ❘ MAY 13, 2015 ❘ SECTION B SENIOR NEWS CALENDAR INSIDE — 6B Kenneth B Gallery expands to KB Gallery on Maple Street PHOTOS BY CHANTELLE MEYER/SIUSLAW NEWS KB Gallery on Maple Street opened for its first event on May 2 with the monthly Spoken Word Poetry Contest. B Y C HANTELLE M EYER Siuslaw News K enneth B Gallery opened on First Street just more than a year ago. Now, owner SK Lindsey is opening a new gallery space with the name KB Gallery in the heart of Old Town. “We talk a lot about wanting to get an arts district in town. What that’s going to require is a deep commitment by property owners, the community and artists. What you need is a synergy of vibrant artists who are wanting to break boundaries — because you’ll never establish a ‘scene’ if you don’t have a newer vision for people to come see,” said Lindsey. Lindsey is one of the new voices instrumen- tal to the gallery movement in Florence. She has a fine arts degree and specializes in acrylic painting, printmaking and drawing, but it was only after an early retirement from working with the California legislature and trading stocks that her dream of owning a gallery was realized. She named Kenneth B Gallery after her stepfather, who has supported her in the arts. “He’s very special to me, so I chose his name for the gallery,” she said. As for choosing the second location on Maple Street, Lindsey said that the landowners made that possi- ble. “Without that, this would never have happened,” she said. Kenneth B Gallery, at 1458 First St., will continue to function as a gallery and event space, featuring Two-dimensional artists like Curt R. Peters are on display. two live shows this weekend. began at Kenneth B, Soul Vibrator will play Friday, May 15, at that 7:30 p.m. and Tommy Hogan will play like the Spoken Word Poetry Contest on the first Friday of every month and Radio Saturday, May 16, at 8 p.m. A Taste of Hawaii begins Theater. “This place is designed to connect both to serving food one hour before tourists and the local community market. I’m both events. “Kenneth B will be a place representing community artists and a space for for people to kick up their people to come in and create art,” she said. “I heels and dance,” she said. can’t do anything without that. I really need “There is space to listen to the that vibrancy of people creating art.” Lindsey said it will be an “arena for the tal- event, eat excellent food from A Taste of Hawaii and drink in ents” of local artists like Michael Woods, the beer garden area,” Lindsey Stuart Henderson, Terri Warpinski and more. Artists will get the chance to use the space said. Other upcoming groups to create art while guests view the gallery. Lindsey personally hopes to create more art will be Soul Seed, George Mann and Petunia and the as well. “I could literally sit here and manage the Vipers. The new space at KB space and be painting with Michael Woods. Gallery will hold local art and That’s not bad — it would be totally cool. And feature artist demonstrations, he would have a lot to teach me,” she said. The new versatile space is all part of a con- workshops, poetry readings, instrumental jam sessions, versation to create a unique district that print classes and events encourages artists and draws people to the area. “If Florence really wants to establish a des- SK Lindsey hopes to incor- tination, it needs to bring in some very creative porate more three-dimen- ideas that people will talk about,” Lindsey sional and figural art. said. “Other-wise, it’s not much of a conversa- Here, Gigi Lassan’s unique tion.” handcrafted jewelry is on She knows Kenneth B and KB galleries are display. Gallery owner SK Lindsey only part of the developing art movement. Florence Regional Arts Alliance and Backstreet Gallery both feature talented artists and useful spaces. “Together, my two buildings can serve as an impetus for supporting local artists to come in and create, and have spaces for them to use. I’d like to open the doors to all workshops and work with FRAA to shore up resources,” she said. Now, with the addition of a Public Arts Committee in the City of Florence, the public’s eyes are more open to the importance of adding to the natural beauty of the area. With the awareness, Lindsey hopes for more hands- on support. “We need the community support because it’s such a financial burden for artists to pro- duce these things. The framing alone can be $100 a piece,” she said. With summer traffic through the new loca- tion and her plans to have painting going on almost every day, Linsey is hopeful that it will help artists get exposure. “As an artist, it feels so much more ener- gized when you’re working together with oth- ers and you’re being validated by the public. It’s really important,” she said. Through it all, she wants to be part of mak- ing a dynamic space full of vibrant art and tal- ented people. She is looking for people willing to help in the gallery and be part of events; for example, painters setting up an easel for a day, musicians bringing in their instruments or peo- ple creating mono prints on her etching press. For more information, contact SK Lindsey at 541-999-5875 and at sk@KennethB Gallery.com. To learn more about upcoming events at Kenneth B Gallery and KB Gallery, go to www.kennethbgallery.com. What can we do? Child Abuse Prevention Month ends with 90by30 conference Seven members of the West Lane County 90by30 Initiative Team participated in the third annual 90by30 Conference in Eugene on April 25. The day-long conference featured speakers, presenta- tions and live dramatizations followed by discussions and examinations of factors that help break the child abuse cycle. West Lane County team co- leader Jesika Kaczenski attend- ed, along with Suzanne Mann- Heintz, Amy Tanikawa, April Dumas, Teresa LaNasa, Maggie Oldershaw, Constance Castaneda and Becky Goehring. Rose Wilde, outreach coordi- nator for the 90by30 Initiative, was also in attendance. More than 200 people from through- out Lane County participated in the event. The Lane County 90by30 Initiative’s goal is to reduce child abuse and neglect 90 per- cent by the year 2030. It is the first initiative of its kind in the United States. “Some think this is a lofty goal,” said Phyllis Barkhurst, director of 90by30 and co- founder, with Jeff Todahl, of the University of Oregon Center for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect. “We think it’s an amazing goal and with support from residents of Lane County we think we can get there. And even if we reduce by 80 percent, or 70 or 50 percent, what a difference that will make for our children.” West Lane team members were enthused and energized by the conference, according to Kaczenski. “There’s nothing more empowering than when you have over 200 people in the same room with the same mis- sion,” she said. “Great things can happen.” A highlight of the conference was the presentation by a three- member team from Australia, representing National Assoc- iation for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect. The team shared experiences COURTESY PHOTO West Lane 90by30 co-chair Jesika Kaczenski, Teresa LaNasa, Becky Goehring, April Dumas and Suzanne Mann-Heintz and other area representatives attended an April 25 conference on the prevention of child abuse and neglect. and strategies used to prevent child abuse and neglect throughout Australia. “The presenters from Australia demonstrated how to create a “child friendly” com- munity ... focused on listening to children, respecting children and modeling appropriate behaviors,” said Tanikawa. See CONFERENCE 3B CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
