Drop the Prozac and pick up a paint brush. Can the process of making art actually slay the twin emotional demons of depression and anxiety? Most definitely, according to one Oregon painter, who claims artistic creativity can settle your thoughts and ignite positivity in all areas of your life. “Being an artist is being authentic […]
Art Watch
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Welcome…Everyone
Central Oregon’s Pride Celebration has grown from a small picnic to a full day of inclusive fun
Let’s start with the entertainment: Dykes on Bikes. Purple Queen. Lady Dice. Maurice’s Fashion Show. Plus, Detroit’s award-winning R&B singer Alise King. And your mistress of ceremonies for rather eclectic lineup? Why, it’s the lovely Poison Waters. Add it all up and you get just one word: Pride. The 13th Annual Central Oregon Pride Celebration, […]
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Gallery Alleys
More Outdoor Art on The Way—If You Know Where to Look
Like some fresh air with your art? Bend has the perfect solution. As you know, there’s no shortage of traditional downtown galleries where you can see a wide variety of exhibits on any given day. But have you noticed the growing number of pieces adorning some of the area’s outside walls too? It’s all part […]
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Humor Us
Local Live Comedy More Popular Than Ever
What’s so funny about Bend? Plenty, as it turns out, with the comedy calendar here getting increasingly crowded. Some weeks, you can find as many as six separate, locally-produced stand-up shows. That doesn’t even count special events such as Louie Anderson and Jake Woodmansee’s recent Tower Theater appearance, or the variety of comedy “improv” shows. […]
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First Friday’s First Host
Barbershop has cutting-edge idea
Call it First Friday: The Next Generation. Sure, you can still find plenty of art on Bend’s most festive night of the month. That’s not likely to change anytime soon. It’s an “artwalk” after all, with galleries at their brightest and shiniest. There’s plenty of live music, too. Now, Bishops Barbershop, in a push to […]
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The Bobs “Farewell” Tour Stops in Bend
Bye-bye Bobs
The seriously talented musicians who refuse to take themselves too seriously have decided to stop touring. While hilariously spoofing every logical expectation of how bands behave, these delightful and rather mischievous guys (and gals) have, over the years, injected humor into harmony—and comedy into “a cappella.” (Words that generally don’t appear so close together.) But […]
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Tiny Art, Big Heart
Thinking small can make a difference
Syria’s ongoing civil war has ignited one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time, with hundreds of thousands killed. The number of refugees is staggering. Countless Syrians are displaced—including over one million children. Amid all this, what can one women’s clothing store in Bend do about it? Plenty, it turns out. The effort begins […]
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A 19th Century Day Trip
It’s North(west) vs. South in a Civil War reenactment
Forget haggling with your Congressman at the next town hall. The president’s coming to Central Oregon. No, not that president. This one’s even more famous. Like, $5 bill famous. That’s correct. President Abraham Lincoln’s scheduled to make an address Saturday during the first day of the Civil War Reenactment at The House On Metolius Meadow […]
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Music in the Key of Kids
School, museum partner for an instrumental lesson
Parents know how hard it can be to get their children to study a musical instrument. Now try getting them to build one. The High Desert Museum recently joined forces with Sunriver’s Three Rivers Elementary School to do just that. And it worked, with fourth and fifth graders churning out finished products including drums, pan […]
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Chill Pills
Native Snakes Are More Charming Than You Think
Discussions about Central Oregon’s reptiles don’t typically turn philosophical, but Bend artist Abney Wallace has just managed to negotiate that rather sharp curve. “It’s easy to see a snake or lizard and think snake or lizard,” says Wallace. “Really though, they are all so different. When we begin to notice the subtleties of the world […]