Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 2, 2004 - FIVE
Local artist works at capturing cowboy life
Artist/photographer
Denise Smith’s artwork may
seem ordinary to some and
extraordinary to others. As
a cowboy’s wife and partner
in an authentic cow boy/
buckaroo culture, which is
still a liv e -an d -w ell, on
E astern O regon c attle
ran ch es, th is lifesty le
provides an abundance of
unique, but fleeting visual
images best recorded with
camera or poet’s pen. From
the east side o f Steens
M ountains in the sta te ’s
southeastern corner, to a
new ranch hom e in
n o rth eastern O regon on
Little Buttercreek, Smith’s
cam era and keen eye
continue to capture those
images. Colors and seasons;
moods and personalities;
traditions and changes in
c o n tem p o rary
cow boy
living- the heart of Smith’s
work.
D enise
S m ith ’s
original photo images are
presented in an unusual
form at the a rtist calls
“photopainting;” something
she has m astered over a
period o f tim e. Drawing
from ex p erien ce as art
te a c h e r/p a in te r,
and
in c o rp o ra tin g
d ig ita l
enhancem ent techniques,
Smith believes her new art
form m ore c reativ ely
expresses the beauty of her
su b ject ch o ices and the
respect and awe she feels for
them.
Often Smith’s work
catc h e s cow boys and
c o w g irls
at
th e ir
hardworking best. She has
ridden countless m iles a
horseback w ith some o f
them , roped calv es at
b ran d in g s w ith oth ers.
Artistically recording those
shared moments in time, she
says, “Nothing compares to
a good horse and the right
rope, but the perfect image
might come close.” Smith’s
goal for her painterly body
of work is to create a lasting,
visual tribute to the people
and places that color her far-
from-ordinary life.
For a visit to the
studio call (541) 676-5013.
Or view some of her work
a
t
wwwdenisesriithsrdndistudkiarii
Smith has taken her
passion of the country and
used it to create art. “I love
the rural landscape and all
that lives on it. I find special
p leasu re in looking at
ordinary subjects in different
ways. Design and color have
the utmost considerations. 1
love the culture and all of the
su b tleties that often are
missed by a quick glance. 1
want people to look and
become involved with the
work itself. I was a teacher
for 15 years, teaching art in
the public school system so
I like to give something to
t h e
view er
that
m ig h t
have
n o t
been
without
t h e
work. I
have a
passion DeniseSmith
for this
lifestyle that comes across
by the heightened sense of
color. I thrive on freshness,
but also see the beauty in the
mundane.
“I lived for 25 years
in the high desert of Oregon
on the east side of the Steens
M ountains. The area was
one of stark contrasts and
rich culture. The dirt road
held assurances that you
could count on. You better
have at least eight-ply tires
and extra water. We always
knew someone was coming
before they got there. You
knew where you were and
where you had been. I had a
good chunk of time spent a
horseback with my family.
We w orked hard and
enjoyed the country. My
love of horses as well as the
landscape was what brought
me to the desert. I will
always have horses. I find
pleasure in working with
them when they have a job,
they become a partner. I love
becoming, their partner.
“The w ork is the
best. Ranching can give you
a sense of accomplishment
in that you can see your
progress or lack of it. You
cannot be fainthearted. You
have access to M other
Nature’s cycle... how do you
work with her? People think
that Mother Nature can be
minimized, but they are too
full of themselves.
“ For me taking
pictures captures a moment
for later. I use the artist’s eye
to call attention to what may
be missed. 1 like to mull over
those moments. Thinking
that I may use the image as
W e d d in g T a t i es
Christina Wall & N ick N elson
Wedding Friday, July 2nd
-
MlUtójJ'J DflUJ
217 North Main • Heppner
Murray's
Country
R ose
676-9158
233 N. Main • Heppner
Serving Heppner, Lexington S lone
676-9426
DINNER SPECIALS
COMING UP AT JOHN’S PLACE
Weekend Pizza Blowout
a digital artwork or for some
other m edium 1 find the
computer will many times
create just the right sense of
drama that I want. I like to
layer my to o ls w ith the
computer images. It takes
time to get all the parts and
pieces to do the right thing
at the right tim e. Som e
people think you can just
click the mouse and it is
there. If it happened this way
an artist would find a harder
way to do it. I have had many
conversations with people
about the digital medium. I
say this... the computer is
your tool, the mouse a brush
in your toolbox, the software
is a vehicle of style for your
brush. Information limits
your brush or it can give it
infinite direction. What can
an ordinary person do with
a paintbrush? Well, they can
paint their room... give a
brush to Salvador Dali and
see what he comes up with.
I have taught computer art
to junior high students with
lim ited so ftw are and
technology... the result was
expanding and stretching
what we did have. So I am
still
ex p an d in g
and
stretching. I have had artists
say to me, ‘Let’s create a
movement.’ I wonder how
you do that?”
W illow
C reek
Terrace staff, residents, and
their fam ilies bid a fond
farewell to Manager Nancy
Vander Does recently. They
offered a hearty welcome to
the new manager, George
Naims.
They have also bid a
sum m er
farew ell
to
S h en an ig an s, the young
musicians who practiced on
Fridays at the Terrace, and
will soon do the same to the
S e n tim e n ta lists,
the
women’s singing ensemble
that practice on Thursdays.
The residents will miss the
melodies, many of which
they enjoyed singing, but
music will continue to be
part of life at Willow Creek
Terrace.
Music accompanies
exercise sessions led by staff
perso n s th ro u g h o u t the
w eek. W hen w eather
p erm its, those sessio n s
move to the patio. Judy
Rickert brings a music video
on T h u rsd ay s when she
com es to read the local
new sp ap er to in terested
residents.
A
v ariety
of
activities keep the residents
and guests busy each week,
in clu d in g the T uesday-
aftemoon pinochle games.
Some residents are “up” for
a game most any time they
feel a lull in the pace at
Willow Creek Terrace.
Monday afternoons
find several resid en ts
g ath ered for B ingo, as
members of the Nazarene
Church call the numbers.
The Nazarene ladies host
special events from time to
Cardarti
All You Can Eat Pizza w /S alad Bar
Family Rates!
Barbecue Blowout on June 11-12
Work Tee
Shirts
Brisket, Ribs, Pork Loin, Chicken
J O H N ’S PLACE
MAIN STREET, HEPPNER
NHS Inductees (L-R): Kasie Peterson, Jenny Griffith, Abby Key, Kyle Palniateer, Amy Jepsen
and Ashly Grams. Photo by Jeri McElligott.
An
in d u ctio n
ceremony for new National
Honor Society members was
held at the lone High School
cafeteria on Tuesday, May
25.
Parents and guests
were w elcom ed by NHS
*
m
$ 1 4 95
Gardners
Men’s Wear
(541)676-9218
193 N. Main Street • Heppner
p resid en t
N atalie
McElligott. Emily Key, Billy
Ross, Taylor McElligott and
Barbara Holland read the
attributes of a NHS member.
The guest speaker was lone
School Boardman Chairman
Joe McElligott. Amy Jepsen
played a piece on the piano.
New inductees were
K asie P eterso n , Jenny
Griffith, Abby Key, Kyle
Palmateer, Amy Jepsen and
Ashly Grams.
The ceremony was
organized by adviser Duane
Neiffer, with the help of
Cathy Halvorsen.
Mustangs pound Gaston in quarterfinals
By Rick Paullus
The
H eppner
Mustangs pounded out 18
hits to beat the G aston
G reyhounds 20-4 in the
A view from the hill
on Ju n e 4th-5 th
Watch for weekly specials
at John’s Place & Bucknum’s Tavern!
IHS holds National Honor Society induction
quarterfinals of the OSAA/
US Bank/Les Schwab Class
2A State baseball playoffs
on Friday, May 28 in
Gaston. The win puts the
M ustangs into the sem i
finals for the second straight
year and where at home
against the Bonanza Antlers
on Tuesday, June 1. The win
also improves the Mustangs
record to 24-2-1 on the year.
The
M ustangs
ju m p ed
out on
the
Greyhounds with five runs
after there were two out in
the top of the first inning just
as they finished their first
round game with Warrenton.
Chuy Elguezabal led off
with a walk, Kory Paullus
had a RBI single after two
were out, Kiel Naims was
hit by a pitch, Luke Murray
had a RBI single, Billy Gates
was hit by a pitch, Kyler
Lovgren scored two with a
single and Nick Christman
had a RBI double.
The G reyhounds
came back with two runs in
the bottom half and added
another in the second to
narrow the lead to 5-3, but
the M ustangs came back
with three in the third to
regain their five-run lead.
Murray and Gates singled,
L ovgren drew a w alk,
Murray scored on a wild
pitch and after Elguezabal
had w alked. Jode Coil
scored two with a single.
The Mustangs added
another run in the fourth
w hen N airns and G ates
singled and Naims scored
when Christman reached on
an error.
The G reyhounds
answered in the fifth with a
solo hom erun, but the
Mustangs added two more
in the sixth when Nairns
sin g led
and
M urray
homered to centerfield to
make it 11 -4.
They broke the game
open in the seventh when
C hristm an was hit by a
pitch, Elguezabal doubled.
Josh Gutierrez was hit by a
pitch, Elguezabal scored on
a passed ball and Paullus
beat out an infield hit as two
more runs scored. Then
N airns scored one on a
ground out, Murray was hit
by a pitch. Gates singled and
Cody Walton came into run
for him. Lovgren had a RBI
single, Christman hit a three-
run homerun, Elguezabal
walked and Coil had a RBI
double to make it 20-4.
Gutierrez went five
innings to pick up the win,
striking out seven w hile
giving up six hits w ith
C hristm an p itch in g tw o
innings in relief, allowing no
runs on two hits.
Murray went three
for four with a home run,
four runs scored and three
RBI. Gates went three for
four, scoring twice. Lovgren
went two for three with three
RBI and scored tw ice.
Nairns went three for four
and scored three runs.
Christman went two for four
with a double, homerun, five
RBI and scored tw ice.
Paullus went two for five
with three RBI and scored
twice. Coil went two for six
with a double and three RBI.
Elguezabal had a double and
scored three runs.
Heppner 503 102 9-
20 18 2
Gaston 210 010 0-4
83
Josh Gutierrez, Nick
C hristm an (6) and Jode
C oil; Jam es H oodenpyl,
Darren Reynolds (4) and
Jayson Hieter. W- Gutierrez
(5-1). L- Hoodenpyl. 2B-
Chuy Elguezabal, Jode Coil.
Christman (H); Reynolds,
David Cox, Cody Fassold
(G). 3B- none. HR- Luke
Murray and Christman (H);
Fassold (G).
time also. Their most recent
was a Mothers’ Day Tea on
May 8.
Fridays feature an
afternoon activity brought
by the C ath o lic C hurch
women, often a hot “peanut
auction” or “The Price Is
Right.”
Ongoing projects on
the hill keep fingers busy
throughout the day. The
challenge of a jigsaw puzzle
is e v er-p resen t in the
com m on room . Spring
w eather has offered the
gardeners opportunities to
begin planting a variety of
flowers and vegetables in
the terraced beds. And
resid en ts have recen tly
begun their first quilting
project.
O p p o rtu n ities for
contributing to this hive of
activity at the Terrace on an
occasional basis or as a
regular participant abound.
The
q u iltin g
p ro ject
rep resen ts
one
such
opportunity. The quilters can
use more cotton materials,
thread and extra hands. The
halls can again be filled with
melodies, when individuals
wish to visit and play the
piano or organ, popping in
once in a while or coming
on a regular basis. A great
place to practice for a recital.
If reading is a p e rs o n ’s
strength, sharing that talent
at Willow Creek Terrace can
be a pleasure for the reader
and the listeners. A favorite
book read a chapter at a time
is sure to be a hit with the
audience, and the discussion
that follow s can be
rewarding. Craft projects are
w elcom ed
also.
Eve
Ironhaw k has g uided
residents through a variety
o f c ra fts, and re sid en ts
We H ave
w ould w elcom e m ore
G r a d u a t io n
sessions that produce useful,
fanciful and beautiful items.
G ift I d e a s !
And those card players just
Hallmark Cards
m ight be talk ed into
Money Holders
attending a party now and
then.
Frames and Albums
The
six teen
and much morel
residents of Willow Creek
Terrace seem an enthusiastic
See o tr Graduation Registry • Gift Certificates available
group, eag er to receiv e
Tree gift wrapping • Delivery available
guests into th e ir hom e.
Anyone who wishes to bring
something of interest to the
Terrace should phone
217 North M a i n - Happner
233 N Main • Heppner
M anager N airns at 676-
676-9158
*4
676-9426
0004.
Serving the Willow Creek Valley Heppner. Lexington and lone