|
  |
||||||
| |||||||
Contact: Meagan Atiyeh, Oregon Arts Commission, (503) 986-0084 Vale, Oregon Mural Maquettes
Exhibited in Governor’s Office in Salem Nine original maquettes created for historical murals in Vale, Oregon will be on exhibit in the Governor’s Office through February 23, 2007. Organized by the Oregon Arts Commission, the show is part of the Art in the Governor’s Office program, showcasing the work of living Oregon artists. The small-scale paintings depict a selection of the 31 Oregon Trail murals found on buildings and various sites throughout Vale. Ten artists are represented in this exhibit with individual and collaborative works: Tresa Black, Ruth Boyle, Neo Brown, Norm Comp, Dorothy Danielson, Don Gray, Carol Hayes, James Spurlock and Robert Thomas. Vale, a small town in eastern Oregon near the Idaho border, was the first stop on the Oregon Trail. As such, artists had a rich history to reflect. In celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Oregon Trail, the Vale Heritage Reflections Mural Society, a group of business and community members, saw the opportunity to weave history and art into a community revitalization effort. Inspired by successful mural programs like those in Estacada, Oregon and Chemanis, British Columbia, the mural society called for “working together to create a community where the buildings are outdoor galleries and walls are windows into the area’s rich Oregon Trail heritage: a community with a diversified economy and a brighter tomorrow.” The first mural, “The New Arrivals” by Don Gray, was painted on the Malheur Drug Store, in 1993. The Art in the Governor’s Office Program honors selected Oregon artists with exhibitions in the reception area of the Governor’s Office in the State Capitol. The program considers only professional, living Oregon artists, and an exhibit in the Governor’s office is considered a lifetime honor. Artists whose work has been shown there include, Gordon Gilkey, Yuji Hiratsuka, Manuel Izquierdo, James Lavadour, Henk Pander, Michele Russo and Margot Thompson.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Oregon Arts Commission provides leadership, funding and arts programs through its grants, special initiatives and services. Nine Commissioners, appointed by the Governor, determine arts needs and establish policies for public support of the arts. The Arts Commission became part of the Economic Development Department in 1993; in recognition of the expanding role the arts play in the broader social, economic and educational arenas of Oregon communities. In 2003, the Oregon Legislature moved the operations of the Oregon Cultural Trust to the Arts Commission, streamlining operations and making use of the Commission’s expertise in grantmaking, arts and cultural information and community cultural development. The Arts Commission is supported with General Funds appropriated by the Oregon Legislature and with federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as funds from the Oregon Cultural Trust. - 30 - Dated for freshness! Page last updated May 02, 2008 |
|||||||
| |||||||
