Gallery Calapooia Newsletter - September, 2018

Gallery Calapooia’s 5th Birthday!!!

September marks a milestone anniversary for Gallery Calapooia - 5 years of business in Albany! In 2013, we started our venture with 19 members and have 19 members today. Eight of them are original founders - Melissa Saylor, Rob Robinson, Sharon Poppleton, Pat Spark, Anna Harris, Bill Thompson, Linda Herd and Cheryl French. Since then, many artists have been gathered into the fold and benefited from the experience of the founders. To celebrate our 5th anniversary, we have invited our former members to return for this special September exhibit and reception.

The idea for Gallery Calapooia came to life in the summer of 2013. It was the brainchild of 19 local artists who wanted to create a vibrant art center to present their works and to foster the art scene in Albany. The dream, which originated with Melissa Saylor and Linda Herd, was for each artist to have his or her own display space and to staff and run the cooperative business. The founding members hoped to encourage participation in a variety of art-centered activities. Beyond being a place to purchase art in Albany, they wanted Gallery Calapooia to become a place to gather and be creative. The gallery provides enthusiastic support to artists and nurtures a deeper understanding of artistic skills, inspiration and techniques.

The first trial run was a sort of “phantom gallery.” Flinn Block owner Marc Manley agreed to let the group set up art displays in otherwise empty downtown buildings. During the downtown wine walk, this effort proved to be a huge success. As a result, the group of 19 artists were able to settle into their current spot, making the dream of an Albany art center into a reality. “With the help of the Manleys, our location at the heart of the Flinn Block began to evolve into a community gathering place. “We couldn’t have done it without their help” said Linda Herd, who became the first president of the gallery. John Boock was a big help financially and several other members, including Kathe Todd-Hooker and Pat Spark, of Fine Fiber Press, donated money to help with start-up costs.

The beautiful old brick walls could not accommodate picture hooks. Bill Thompson and Karen Tarnow designed and built the free-standing display panels using doors which the artists collected from the Habitat ReStore and other home supply shops. Several paint parties were required to get everything painted white for a cohesive look. Everyone participated in the design and creation of the space and contributed items from their own studios - Linda Herd donated the desk, filing cabinet and phone. Logo design and signage were done by Melissa Saylor, Lynn Powers and Bill Thompson. Financial matters and sales procedures were figured out by Cheryl French and Rob Robinson. With each artist member contributing to its evolution, Gallery Calapooia opened its doors for the first time in July of 2013. In May 2015 it became a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. September 20, 2013, marked the official Grand Opening. Since then, the dream of Gallery Calapooia has become a vital and thriving reality. Says Pat Spark, “In the beginning, we were strangers. We are now closer than friends, more like family. I have so much pride in what we’ve done and in being a part of the revitalization of downtown Albany.”

5th Anniversary Celebration! Friday, September 7th, 6:00 - 8:00pm

Please join us at Gallery Calapooia for our Fifth Anniversary Celebration, from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 7. This First Friday reception will feature the art of former members as well as current members. Come enjoy their special artistic creations, and celebrate the wonderful friendships made in these five years. Refreshments will include delicious hors d’oeuvres by Sybaris Restaurant and sweet treats by our members, as well as beer and wine. We’ll be treated to the lively music of String Theory with Tom Hughes on mandolin and guitar and Kim Collar on guitar and violin.

Gallery Calapooia is proud to introduce our newest member - Rachael Oehler

Beginning in September, awarded colored pencil artist Rachael Oehler will join our gallery family. Her finely detailed drawings offer a new medium and a new vison of Willamette Valley life, and will be a wonderful addition to Gallery Calapooia.

A graduate of Western Oregon University, Rachael Oehler’s colored pencil artwork is largely born of the rolling hills, friendly faces and natural beauty of the Willamette Valley, as well as from her travels in the US and abroad. She is drawn to landscape, portraits and nature as her subjects. Colored pencil is her primary medium, and she finds it ideal for precision and for creating luminous layers of color. Her finely detailed landscape work concentrates on the subtle textures and tones of the terrain, transformed by the magic of atmosphere and light. Another focus for Rachael is portraiture, where she looks beyond accurate depiction to reveal something of the life and character of her subjects. Colored pencil is a medium that sounds simple, but far from just involving the direct application of color, the medium requires many layers and many kinds of strokes to build up the vibrancy and punch that makes Rachael’s work unique.

“I strive in my work to capture those transient moments of glory from nature and the vitality of the human spirit. Capturing this moment is not unlike tuning an instrument. A landscape that appears flat and ordinary in one minute, with a sudden shock of sunlight, can become an exquisite chord of color. I often find this glory in the crevices: in the life-worn lines of a face, the glowing horizon, or the contrast of innocence and harsh reality. The music comes from honing in on these details and punching up the volume.”

“Also an Animal” written by Lynn Parrish Sutton and Illustrated by Melissa Babcock Saylor

The artwork of Melissa Saylor is featured in a wonderful new children’s book, "Also an Animal" written by Lynne Parrish Sutton. This joyful, animal ode to the love between a parent and child will have you pretending, imagining, learning and sharing with all the members of your animal kingdom. The gentle rhyming text and gorgeous cut-paper illustrations make this a book to cherish.

Available now at Gallery Callapooia for 12.00$ or shop online at:
https://new.myubam.com/p/7076/also-an-animal

Linda Herd and Marilyn Lindsley at 2018 annual Corvallis Fall Festival

The jewelry designs of GC artists Linda Herd and Marilyn Lindsley will be featured at the 2018 Corvallis Fall Festival. Visit Linda at booth #78 and Marilyn at booth #71. The Corvallis Fall Festival is on Saturday, Sep. 22nd from 10am-6pm & Sunday, Sep. 23rd from 10am-5pm. For more information visit: http://www.corvallisfallfestival.org/

Art Opportunity to save Cumberland Church

An art opportunity for artists and aspiring artists will be coming up in October in connection with the effort to save the Cumberland Church. The church, built in 1892, is located at the corner of Main and Santiam in Albany. An announcement about the opportunity will appear soon at http://saveourcumberland.org/ where you can also find more info about the church.

For more local events see Albany Downtown Association and Albany Visitor Center.

Gift Registry and Gift Certificates

Let Gallery Calapooia help you with special gifts by using our Gift Registry. Come in, note items in our gift registry that you would like to receive as gifts, and let your loved one know so that he or she can get you the perfect gift at Gallery Calapooia. We also have Gift Certificates available.

Gallery Calapooia is a 501(c)(3) organization.
Donations to the gallery are tax-deductible.

Gallery Calapooia is now accepting applications for membership

Artist Application form for membership in Gallery Calapooia
Membership and application information

Visit our Events Calendar to keep up with classes and events that will be
occurring at the gallery.

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Gallery Calapooia Inc. receives support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts.

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