Art Watch

Bend is lucky to have scenic mountain views, an amazing river that runs through the heart of town and striking pine tree forests. But it also has a concrete jungle—places like the industrial portions of Third Street and the parking garage. Those sections of town are not immediately visually appealing. Thankfully, the Tin Pan Alley […]

One of the most colorful – like, actually colorful – bicycles you'll see during Cross Culture, or perhaps all weekend, is the creation by Bombing Yarn Over Bend, a local “knit graffiti” group.

When Brad Bailey stopped by our offices and said he was planning a “big art and music event,” we weren't quite sure what to expect. He said he wanted to bring local musicians and artists together for a colossal showing of Bend's talent, but plenty of people say they're going to do things like this, and oftentimes nothing materializes.
That's not the case with Bailey, who is the mind behind Artisphere, the visual art, live painting, body-painting (and more) event at the Old Stone on Friday night that also boasts perhaps one of the most comprehensive local music lineups this side of the Bend Roots Revival. Having recently taken up playing open mics, Bailey wanted to get more of his neighbors, be they musicians or visual artists, the chance to shine in public.

Take a look at this number: 6,500. That's how many paintings Chris Haberman, the Portland-based artist whose work graces our cover this week, has sold in the past eight years. How many people do you know who have done 6,500 of anything in the last eight years? I don't think I've even brushed my teeth that many times.

For the sixth year now, Daniel and Talya Pite will celebrate the life of their daughter, Hannah, by hosting Bpositiv, one of Bend's biggest art shows of the season.
The first Bpositiv took place in January of 2005 and served as a birthday party for Hannah, who would pass away only months later from leukemia. Since then, the Pites have continued the annual art show to raise funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, always choosing the weekend closest to Hannah's birthday – and this year it falls right on the dot, January 30.
“Bpositiv is not meant to be a birthday party, it's still about the celebration of our community, but for friends and family it will always be a bit of a birthday party in our hearts,” says Daniel Pite, who incidentally just celebrated his own birthday on Tuesday.
The event brings in pieces from around the region and beyond, all of which is donated by artists who want to help out. This sprit of giving permeates the entire event as well with nearly every aspect of the night donated, including the wine from Columbia Distributing and the venue and staff at McMenamins Old St. Francis School.

Through the Bond Street Market's door, past the buzzing coolers and the bottles of beer and soda they dutifully keep cool, there's a hairpin turn that leads up a staircase lined on one side by a row of ascending paintings, some featuring the increasingly recognizable iconography of emerging Bend artist Alex Reisfar. At the top of the stairs on most days, or at least afternoons and evenings, you'll find Annie Shininger and her Tew Boots Gallery.
On an inversion-dampened afternoon, Shininger is in her second-level gallery looking over the current works on display through her distinctively vintage cat-eyed glasses. My Morning Jacket's “One Big Holiday” emanates from speakers on Shininger's desk, bouncing off the art-covered walls of the cozy albeit small space, as she takes a second to reflect on the current state of Bend's art scene.

Growing up, Clyde Keller knew he had some big shoes to fill. Keller comes from a strong art background.

Tom Monson wears his art on his sleeve.

Monson at work.

He is a postmodern scavenger, in his words “projecting value onto something un-valuable, like redemptions.” Tom turns kitschy thrift store finds into gems by adding bittersweet Maurice Sendak style characters, often placing them in grievous situations in a humorous way. In “slogan” a small plaque’s original saccharine image is over painted with a simply drawn nude that stares blankly at the viewer, his arm severed on the floor Monty Python style, the words “Win Some, Lose Some” fade into the background behind him. These altered appropriations confront universal emotions, but are also unabashedly autobiographical. Monson’s show at the PoetHouse last November called “Images that Breethe, frum thawts that bur^rn” (misspelling intentional) presented pieces that dealt blatantly with betrayal, hypocrisy and grief. In one piece, “Untitled,” a bright red snake is hacked in pieces and bleeding, X’s for eyes.