Imagine convincing professional musicians to audition for an orchestra that offers three major concerts per season, plays them three times each, and does it all for free. Now imagine accomplishing such a feat 50 years in a row. The Central Oregon Symphony (COS) has been doing just that—and aims to continue doing it. Now heading […]
Source Art Watch
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Empower Point
Tease does more than titillate
Burlesque is like poetry. Sometimes it’s extremely culturally relevant; other times it fades into the background, but it never goes away completely. (Kinda like pumpkin spice…) In a male-dominated society, burlesque will always remain relevant because it adds a sense of humor and a winking bawdiness to the male (and female) gaze. There is a […]
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Broadway Revisited
Shore Thing Productions presents “A Chorus Line”
Though it debuted more than 40 years ago, “A Chorus Line” remains both entertaining and relevant to today’s theater-goers. Given the increasingly competitive job market—with application processes that often feel like Broadway tryouts—Shore Thing Productions’ take on the award-winning musical aims to resonate with modern-day audiences. Broadway veteran Michael Heaton, who was just getting his […]
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Mysterious Bikelane Art
Been wondering about the artistic stencils on Riverfront Boulevard? Us, too. All we know is, it’s not the city.
Bikers, walkers and other active commuters may have noticed the varied road stencils marking bike lanes in Bend. Some of those stencils feature cyclists with a funky hat or other accoutrements. Most of the stencils are funded by the City of Bend’s street department Right of Way—that is, except the ones marking Riverfront Boulevard. When […]
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Art on the Walls
High Desert Mural Festival aims to change the rules to allow more street art
If you make it beautiful, they will come. That’s what Douglas Robertson, founder of the High Desert Mural Festival (HDMF), believes. Unfortunately, a quirk in the wording of the Oregon Constitution is restricting where the event can display its art—a hurdle Robertson is hopeful will soon be overcome. An accomplished artist with over 25 years […]
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That Dream-Like Feel
Friends who play together, display together
“Whenever we show a new artist, it changes the whole feel of the space,” explained Katie Clabough, art curator at Nancy P’s Bakery. Today, that “feel” is pretty dream-like. Nationally-known artist Denise Kester’s art is displayed there right now, alongside local artist Mare Schelz. Both artists have been friends for 30 years. They say their […]
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Into the Dark
Local gallery dims it down to offer a rare art experience
Take a look at most prints from before Japan’s introduction to the West and you’ll likely find them quite pale and muted. But with the opening of Japan to the West and the introduction of different dyes, all that changed. If you want to see the contrast for yourself, start at the A6 Studio & […]
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Ain’t No Party Like a Small Batch Party
Little Woody has aged to perfection
Way back when, The Little Woody started with a small group of local brewers getting together to share the barrel-aged beers they were producing. The small batches of brew were made as a way to celebrate craft brewing as an art form, back when every element of beer culture wasn’t soaked up by the general […]
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High Art Comes to Bend
Art in the High Desert
Creating a high-caliber art show that’s distinctive and accessible to a variety of budgets is no small task—but that’s where Art in the High Desert comes in. On Aug. 26, 27 and 28, 115 artists will line the Deschutes River at the Old Mill. Co-founders Dave and Carla Fox, now in their ninth year, have […]
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Drop Dead Kill-arious
“Musical Comedy Murders of 1940” opens at Cascades Theatrical Company
Cascades Theatrical Company launches its first main stage production of the 2016/2017 season with “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” combining all the best traits from theatrical farce, broad comedy and drawing room mystery. Shows like this don’t normally spend much time with characterization, yet “Murders” takes its time setting up the players in the […]