GNSI Oregon Group

M.C. Escher exhibit at the Portland Art Museum

2009-06-22T23:04:00.001-07:00

Virtual Worlds: M.C. Escher and Paradox

JUN 6, 2009 – SEP 13, 2009 at the Portland Art Museum, http://portlandartmuseum.org

Printmaker Maurits Cornelis Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972) created visual puzzles in which logic and absurdity coexist. This exhibition traces the development of the artist’s work from his early stylized depictions of landscape and architecture to his later use of repeated geometric patterns.

**

For those of us who love the complex interface of art and science, this is an exhibit that's well worth catching. My jaw was hanging on the floor--I've seen lots of Escher's work in books, but the perfection of detail in the original prints was just stunning. They're presenting many examples of teh conceptual sketches and mathematical computations on graph paper that were used to arrive at the final images, as well as some of the original wood and linoleum plates used to print them.

Upcoming GNSI-NW meeting in Seattle

2009-06-22T22:55:00.000-07:00

If any of you find yourself in Washington next month, be sure to stop by for this fun event!

GNSI-NW MEETING 10 am
WORKSHOP 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Saturday, July 11 at the Green Lake Branch of the Seattle Public Library

Field Illustrated Journals
Come join your fellow artists for a fun time learning how to miniaturize your watercolor kit and record your trips. Photographs are one thing, but your own journal will bring back your trip like the scent of lilacs brings back your grandma's yard. Are you a "too tight" artist? No problem. The handout includes a step-by-step illustration of how to do a quick landscape. Instructor, Marian Gee, a member of the Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists, works in a variety of media but watercolor is her favorite. She envisions this workshop to be a sharing of ideas so bring your books, a special pen you've discovered or, best of all, your own illustrated journal! A sample trip journal (free black & white, $4 printing fee for color) and a small bag of idea materials will be included.

Workshop Registration Deadline:
Register for the workshop by Monday, June 29 to receive the sample trip journal and idea materials.
To register, contact Lisa at ArtDesign1@aol.com or call 206 295-6951.

Workshop Cost:
This workshop is free for GNSI members.
The workshop fee for non-members is $15 payable to GNSI-NW
Mail to Lisa Valore
P.O. Box 82272
Kenmore, WA 98028
If you would like to join GNSI-NW for an additional $10, enclose a check for $25.
Please include your contact information: Name, address, telephone number and email.

What to bring:
Bring your watercolor kits for painting at Green Lake across the street.
Bring your journal pages
Bring your lunch.
Bring something to write notes on.
Optional color handout fee, $4.00 payable to Marian Gee.

Meeting and Workshop Location:
GREEN LAKE LIBRARY
7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.
Seattle, WA 98115

The Green Lake Branch is located between 4th Avenue Northeast and Latona Avenue Northeast, directly across from the entrance to the parking lot for the Green Lake Community Center. Served by Metro Bus Routes 16, 48, 316

Green Lake Branch website:
http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=branch_open&branchID

Green Lake Library Driving Directions:
Driving from the south (heading north):
* Take I-5 exit 170 at N.E. 65th St. and Ravenna Blvd.
* Turn left on Ravenna.
* Stay on Ravenna for ½ mile. Continue straight through the stop light at 65th and the stop sign at Woodlawn Ave. to the stop sign at Green Lake Dr. N. Veer right and continue ahead three blocks to 4th Ave. N.E. The branch will be on your right.

Driving from the north (heading south):
* Take I-5 exit 171 at N.E. 71st St.
* Turn right onto 71st at the stop sign.
* Take 71st to Green Lake Dr. N.
* Turn right onto Green Lake Dr. N.
* Go two blocks to the branch.

Call to Artists: Open Studios in Eugene area

2009-04-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Downtown Initiative for Visual Arts in Eugene, OR has issued a call to artists for the Open Studios Tour, which is scheduled for October17-18 & 24-25.

Read the details here.

Download application here.
Deadline is May 4!

Upcoming workshop: Desert Notes/ River Notes: An Experiential Nature Journal

2009-03-30T21:42:00.000-07:00

Daniela Naomi Molnar in Portland shares the following workshop news:

Desert Notes/ River Notes: An Experiential Nature Journal

This is a workshop I am co-teaching with the brilliant Ryan Pierce in Eastern Oregon this June 3-8. Ryan (a painter and writer) and I will be leading a group of eight people in five days of observational drawing and creative writing techniques, while enjoying the pristine landscape of Oregon's Blue Mountains. Every day we will hike in the nearby North Fork John Day Wilderness where, through a combination of drawing, writing, reading, discussion, and guest presentations, we'll uncover the richness of Eastern Oregon's natural and human history, as well as build a relationship between our own work and the place around us.

In the evenings, we will share a swanky, 200-acre ranch (complete with a jacuzzi!) for group dinners, games, vacation... The workshop is run through Oregon College of Art & Craft's Continuing Education program, and is optional for credit. Download the complete course description here (we're on page 12). Although Ryan and I are planning a fantastic array of guests, lessons, and hikes, we see this as an opportunity to discover like-minded artists and allies. It won't be a hierarchical class in the traditional sense, so much as a group experience at the intersection of art and the natural world. Join us?

From: http://artdaniela.com/news.html

April Sketch Walk at Mount Pisgah Arboretum

2009-03-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

Katura Reynolds will be leading her second "Slowpoke Sketch Walk" at Mount Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene on Saturday, April 11, 10am -12 noon.

This casual field-sketching class is a benefit for Mount Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene, Oregon. Come one, come all, and explore the forest at an artist's pace! Meet at the Mount Pisgah Arboretum Visitor Center, rain or shine. Fee: $5 (MPA members free!)

Read the full description at Katura's website.

Get directions to Mount Pisgah Arboretum.

May events for Erika Beyer

2009-03-30T06:38:00.000-07:00

Science illustrator Erika Beyer reports on two events where she'll be setting up a booth for her botanical notecards and prints this spring.

The first is the Oregon Plant Fair at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, from 8-3 on Saturday, May 9th.

The second is the Mount Pisgah Arboretum Wildflower Show on Sunday, May 17th.

Get a preview of Erika's lovely work at her website: www.erikabeyer.com

New deadline for GNSI Annual Exhibit applications

2009-03-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

Sharing this update about the exhibit application process for the GNSI Annual Exhibit, which happens in parallel with the annual meeting in Fort Kent, Maine this year:

Dear GNSI member,

You should have recently received your march GNSI newsletter with the Annual Exhibit application form. Unfortunately the form says the deadline for submission was yesterday (March25th)! Please forgive this slip up. We expected the newsletter to reach people earlier than this.

The submission deadline for the the Annual Exhibit and the Fine Art Exhibit have been pushed back to April 8th. You may email your submissions or have them postmarked by that date.

The preferred form of submission is now electronic, but you may also submit 2x2 in. slides. You can find more instructions on the 2009 GNSI conference web site here: http://www.gnsi.science-art.com/2009ME/exhSciIll.shtml

We do apologize the the surprise and distress caused by the sudden deadline of this popular event. We hope you will all take the opportunity of this extra week and a half to submit an image or two of your best work that has not appeared before in the Annual Exhibit.

Notification of acceptance will go out by May 15th, and art must be delivered in Maine by June 30th. The exhibit will be up for the month of June.

If you are in contact with a GNSI member who does not use e-mail, can you please contact them and pass this news on?

Britt Griswold
GNSI Vice President

"Scientia venustior" exhibit at UO through March 30

2009-03-26T07:47:00.000-07:00

If you find yourself near the University of Oregon campus in Eugene before the end of the month, be sure to visit the entry lobby of the Knight Library to see their "Scientia venustior" ("Charming Knowledge") exhibit. It features lovely microscope images, digital photographs, computer-generated images, and scanning electron micrographs by researchers at the university. The exhibit is only on display through March 30, so plan accordingly!

The theme of the exhibit seems to be, "When you take science out of context, it sure is pretty!" UO researchers submitted about 120 images to the exhibit, which were judged and selected for display "not by other scientists but by artists and art librarians at the University of Oregon," according to the wall panel. Removed from the scientific context, there were startling resemblances to works by Ansel Adams, Jackson Pollock, Joan Miro, and even Japanese "manga" comic books!

Read the full article here.

Hours of the Knight Library.
(Somewhat limited at the moment, due to spring break!)

Location of the Knight Library.

Siskiyou Field Institute Classes

2009-03-26T07:37:00.000-07:00

Paul Brown is a wildlife illustrator who works with the Siskiyou Field Institute in Selma, Oregon, just south of Grants Pass. (The lucky duck lives on site--see the photos below!) He sends this news:

We're a non-profit organization offering classes in outdoor education in cooperation with Southern Oregon University. Please see our website featuring our facilities and class catalog.

Coming up:

Introduction to Lichens
April 4th and 5th:
Tuition: $100

Sketching at Wildlife Images
May 2nd and 3rd
This class features sketching and photography of live North American wildlife at Wildlife Images by Irene Brady.
Tuition: $100

Seabirds and Marine Mammals
Redwood National and State Parks
May 8th and 9th
Tuition: $50

Bat Ecology
May 15th and 16th
Tuition:$50

Beginning Bryophyte Identification Workshop in Eugene, OR

2009-03-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

David Wagner announces that there are still a few spots open in this fascinating workshop:

BRYOPHYTES: ALL THE BASICS. April 23-24-25-26.

This workshop starts with a classroom day of introductory lecture and demonstration. The next day will be a field trip to nearby locations to get direct experience common species of mosses, liverworts, and hornworts in their natural habitat and make observations about bryophyte ecology. The two subsequent classroom days will involve study of about 70 important species.

Emphasis in this workshop is on hand lens recognition of the species covered, their habitat characteristics, learning the basic terminology to describe them, and characteristics of the major families. Although microscopes are not necessary for this workshop, students with microscopes are urged to bring them. Methods of handling specimens and making slide preparations will be covered with ample practice material provided. Students will be introduced to a variety of keys and other identification tools.

This is a very intensive workshop intended to give beginners sufficient training that, with conscientious application of energy, they can move to more advanced levels on their own. Study specimens and copious handouts are provided, including the current draft of my "Liverworts of Oregon" on CD and a digital, illustrated key to the racomitriums.

Travel and lodging are the responsibility of the participants; I'll offer suggestions. Sandwich lunches are provided each day to workshop participants and included in the fee. Participants are responsible for transportation on field trip day; carpools encouraged.

Class size is limited. Fee: $400. To reserve a space, send $25 deposit (non-refundable processing fee). The balance is due two weeks before the workshop. Cancellations after the balance due deadline will be refunded only if waiting list alternates can be substituted. Please send check or money order (payable to Northwest Botanical Institute) to NW Botanical Institute, P.O. Box 30064, Eugene OR 97403-1064. Note that credit cards cannot be processed. An invoice can be provided upon request ahead of time, if needed. I will supply my tax ID number and DUNS number for electronic payment.

David H. Wagner, Ph.D.
Northwest Botanical Institute
P.O. Box 30064
Eugene, Oregon 97403
davidwagner[at]mac[dot]com
541-344-3327

Don't miss Frances Stillwell's exhibit in Corvallis!

2009-03-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

"Oregon’s Botanical Heritage," an art and science exhibition by M. Frances Stilwell, will be on view in the Corvallis Public Library meeting room, March 2-30, 2009. Twenty plein-air paintings in a variety of media honor Oregon’s diverse landscapes and flora. Information about plant distribution of each species in included as well.

The show is open to the public during library open hours when the room is not in use. Call the Library administration 766-6928 to check the schedule.

"Since 1986 I have painted native flowers in their native habitats in my travels around the Pacific Northwest. Twenty of these paintings are included here. All but one was started and finished while in the field when it became too hot to finish 'Out in the Noonday Sun.'”

Frances adds: "I will take it down 7-9 PM March 30. Really the best day to see it is March 30, unless you can squeeze in between the Model railroaders who will have a display March 28-29."

Sue Allen on Oregon Art Beat

2009-03-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

Sue Allen (and her exquisite silk-screen printmaking technique) will be featured on the Oregon Art Beat show hosted by Oregon Public Broadcasting this week. Tune in on Thursday, March 26 at 8 pm, or see it re-broadcast on Sunday, March 29 at 6 pm. Sue has given talks about her technique to the Oregon GNSI group in the past, and it's exciting to see her spreading the word about her process!

See Sue's website here.
Get the details on the broadcast here.