‘Season of Caring’ exhibit continues in Gallery One through December The Florence Events Center Gallery Committee is presenting a themed exhibit in Gallery One titled “A Season of Caring,” that began in November and continues through December. Art includes photographs, paintings and 3D works, all with a theme of social needs (children, elderly, homeless, veterans, etc.), ways to care (service animals, health professionals, volunteers, etc.), and foods of the harvest season or themes involving Thanksgiving, Christmas and family. Calendar of Events DECEMBER FRAA Art Festival — Dec. 4-5 Empty Bowls — Dec. 4-6 Light up a Life — Dec. 12 Poison Pen Players “Dead in the Sled” — Dec. 12 Community Chorus “Appalachian Winter Concert” — Dec. 13 Eugene Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” — Dec. 15 Concealed Weapons Training — Dec. 16 Jazz Kings Christmas — Dec. 17 Oregon Brass Band holiday concert — Dec. 20 JANUARY Artistic Visions Art Show — Jan. 9 Wine and Wallflowers — Jan. 9 Winter Music Festival — Jan. 16-17 Jesse Cook concert — Jan. 29 Jazz Kings — Jan. 30 ONGOING EVENTS : Florence Rotary Club luncheon - Tuesdays at noon Artists display holiday spirit at FRAA art festival Holiday Arts Festival 2015 is the perfect place to shop for unique gifts for the coming Holiday Season. This event, presented by Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA), is a two-day event that begins Friday, Dec 4, from 1 to 7 p.m., and continues Saturday, Dec 5, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Florence Events Center. Come meet the crafters and artisans showing their latest creative designs and unique works of art in many genres. For those seeking work from their favorite artists or looking for something new from artisans visiting from up and down the coast, the list of vendors in this year’s festival includes the following artists: Karen Skulley, knitted scarfs and shawls, purses and quilts; Ralph and Vicki Martin, scrollsaw wood art; Cindi Covert, all things crocheted; Debbie Brown, handwoven bags and pillows; Carol Strenkoski, dog sweaters and women’s beaded hats; Peggy Goodrow, stained glass; Patti Land, fabric baskets and pottery; Debbie Kiturkes, painted pottery dishes and jewelry; Karen Souza, upcycled jewelry and yard art; Tina Shoys, mosaic art; Lori Muir, local photography; Claudia Ignatieff and Ron Hildenbrand, prints, cards, oil paintings and lighted cubes; Sun Levine, fi ne pottery; Claudia Brown, sea glass, bead and wirework; Annette Bignami, woodworking; Sharon Pryor, tole painted item, Christmas crafts and glass art; Maggie Bagon, hand spun and dyed and felted items; Ken McDougal, fi ne art scenic photos; Janet and Kevin Square, intarsia woodworking and Still time for local artists to ‘Dance With Sea Lions’ in celebration of FEC’s 20th anniversary Next year marks the FEC’s 20th anniversary as a leader in community arts and entertainment. A coastwide celebration of this milestone will come in the form of the iconic sea lion and its longstanding relationship with the Florence area. Jennifer Connor, FEC marketing specialist and event coordinator, said, “This is a project not just for the FEC and our celebration, but a project for the city, community and whole Oregon coast.” Dancing with Sea Lions will be a public art display sponsored by the nonprofi t group Friends of the Florence Events Center and local businesses and individuals. Twenty area artists have an opportunity to be a large part of the historic project, which is centered around 20 fi berglass sea lions that are 7.5-feet tall. Each is a blank canvas that can be decorated to refl ect the artist’s own unique style. Sponsorships are now available for the project. Sponsoring a sea lion costs $1,500, with a total of 20 sponsorships available. Other sponsorship options are also available. For example, two businesses, Sea Lion Caves and Three Rivers Casino and Resort, have teamed up under the name “Stellar Underwriters.” “I keep going back to our original theme, that the arts have a ripple effect on the community. Art reaches out to all ages, and this project will reach out to all ages too,” Connor said. The “blank canvas” is a plain design nicknamed “Porter,” which is modeled after a cow sea lion. The project offi cially kicked off Nov. 1, when the call to artists went out. A grant from Spirit Mountain Community Fund will provide a $500 stipend for the artists who are selected and complete their project. “In the beginning, they will get $250 up front so that they can get their supplies and start the project. When the sea lion is completed, they’ll get another $250. We hope that’s an incentive to bring in the artists, and that will get a lot of ideas going,” said Connor, who explained that a line-art drawing will be available for artists to compose their color sketch, where they will also need to list design elements and materials. “I hope that our local artists really jump in and get excited about this. It’s an opportunity for them to be recognized,” Connor said. The Florence Public Arts Committee is helping set standards, so certain designs will not be allowed. Selected artists will be notifi ed by the end of December. They will receive their statues in early January and fi nish work in March, before the April 7 and A publication of the Siuslaw News. CENTERSTAGE “We Can Help” • Specializing in tax strategies & preparation for individu- als, corporations, LLC’s, estates and trusts. Display Ads: Camera-ready ads must be received by the 15th of month prior to publication. Jenna Bartlett A DVERTISING R EPRESENTATIVE 541-997-3441 Ron Annis, C ENTERSTAGE L AYOUT & D ESIGN Page 2 8 Dancing with Sea Lions Splash Off, when all 20 unique sea lions will be on display at the FEC. “I foresee some of these sea lions will be in the area for years,” said Connor. While they are on display, a map will detail each of the 20 locations, starting at the Umpqua Discovery Center in Reedsport, stretching through Florence to the Sea Lion Caves on Highway 101 and up toward the Sea Lion Foundation in Newport. Many of the sea lions will be available for auction in October 2016. Forms and information are available at the Florence Events Center, Banner Bank and Oregon Pacifi c Bank. All artist applications will be due by the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 4. For more information about Dancing with Sea Lions, visit www.facebook.com/ DancingWithSeaLions. Maintaining Financial Security Is Tougher Than Ever Published each month. Distribution: 7,000 in the Siuslaw News, Florence and surrounding areas. DEADLINES: Event copy: 10th of the month prior to pub li cation; Copyright 2015© Centerstage Printed by Central Coast Publishing fractal art; Diane Osburn, Santas (large and small); Norma Burkett, fi bre arts; and Peggy Murray, original art and illustrated printed cards. Holiday Arts Festival kicks off this special holiday event with the annual Empty Bowls event. So come join the fun and enjoy a unique shopping experience. Admission is free. Artisans exhibiting in the Holiday Arts Festival will be donating 10 percent of their sales to the FRAA Art Center at our new location, 120 Maple Street, just off Bay Street. For more information, contact Claudia Brown at 541-902-1933 or Peggy Goodrow at 541-902-1430. • Business consulting including Quickbooks installation and training. Karla Holloway 541.997.1994 phone 541.902.0991 fax 1-888-968-4086 715 Quince St.,Florence, OR 97439 www.eventcenter.org Rod McCulloch Independent, Professional Services (Not Influenced By Sales Of Financial Products) Holloway and Associates, LLC CPA’s 1625 12th St. Florence • 997-3434 The Florence Events Center website: www.eventcenter.org