Dear Hyla,

I cannot believe we are halfway through 2024. WOW! There have been lots of ups and downs so far and I am certain there will be more. In the meantime, I think it is very important to do what we love doing. AND, that we tell people we care about - that we care about them.

I recently saw an interview with Jim VandeHei, co-founder of Axios. He has just written a book about doing the things you love. It is called Just the Good Stuff. I think everyone could benefit from reading it.

Speaking of reading - if you don't know about this - you should. The Ford Family Foundation gives books away for free to Oregon residents. The program is called Select Books. Here's a link: https://www.tfff.org/select-books/

One of their newest offerings is Barbara Kingsolver's book: Demon Copperhead.

In the meantime - come and visit. This current exhibit is amazing. The artists will be here on July 19 from 1pm - 4pm so you can ask them questions. They will be telling us all more about their art. It is very intriguing.

Hope to see you soon. Bring a friend!

Enjoy!

Hyla

Executive Director

Both Claire and Melissa will be at the museum

July 19 from 1pm - 4pm.

They are looking forward to telling you more about their art

and answering your many questions.

Melissa Thompson has included some pictures of what various processes she incorporates in her work. Here is the beginning of the six foot (200 pound) goat that is a focal point in the exhibit. Note the body is made of expandable foam. This is called a taxidermy model.

Here is the skinning process. Melissa uses a wet felting method for creating the animals' skin out of wool. It is here that she chooses the colors and textures that become the fantasy skin for her sculptures. She also incorporates dry needlefelting.

Heidi Brueckner: Persona Grata July 24 through September 20

From July 24 through September 20 we will be exhibiting the work of the Applegate Working Artists Group.

Ally came to visit the museum one day and we were smitten. Her colored pencil art is wonderful. We hope she will visit again.

Here is a great picture of her with the caves and the inspiration for one of her works of art.

The day after she was at the museum she climbed Mt. Ranier before going home to New Jersey.

Allyson Cook came to work for two weeks in Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve as an artist in residence. She traveled all the way from the coast of South Jersey where she works full time as a computer graphics teacher. Teaching has provided Allyson with the ideal lifestyle to also pursue a career as an artist and designer.

As an artist, she focuses on the ways nature is an enduring spiritual image. She primarily works in colored pencil on dark toned paper to create vibrant and surreal images. Allyson's work during the residency was largely inspired by the diverse ecosystems found within the park. She spent her time wandering the trails on the preserve where she let inspiration and beauty find her. She explored everywhere between the caves below and Elijah Mountain above. Drawing largely in plein air, she weaved together elements of her encounters with various plants, animals and landscapes.

You can view her website here: http://alynneartist.weebly.com/

Over the years, the Carpenter Foundation has been very generous in helping us with capital projects. One of the main people all grant seekers are privileged to know is Polly Williams, program officer for the foundation for 24 years. She is seen here on the left along with Emily Mostue, the president. I was invited to her retirement party and was so proud to be there.

The museum is used as a venue for outgoing president, Jim Huber. In addition, they gave incoming president Judy Basker a magic wand to help her lead in the coming Rotary year.

Art in the Garden was wonderful (as always). Huge thanks to our garden hosts, the coordinators, the greeters, the artists, and the retail outlets who helped sell the tickets. There were almost 300 people on the tour this year.

It is a very fun event that involved 143 people.

It definitely takes a village.

We are looking forward to next year.

Save June 7 & 8, 2025.

Second Friday - July 12

7pm - 9pm

Free

Read a poem, listen to poems, enjoy the company of fun people.

Optional Theme for July

Fireworks

Workshops in July include:

July 27 - Potter's Broken Bowl with Connie Wright (it will be on the website soon for signups.)

CLICK TO SIGN UP!

CLICK HERE OR THE PICTURE TO

SIGN UP!

Click below to view a trailer - and click above to purchase tickets!

Most Mondays, people gather at the museum to sketch a live model. Doug Iverson is the leader of this activity. If you are interested in learning more - please email office@gpmuseum.com with Life Drawing in the subject line and we will put you on Doug's email list. He sends an email out every Sunday to let you know what is happening the next day.

Here is a sample of Rupert Wates songs. His songs are mostly original and very heartfelt. This one is from a recent concert. You can just feel what it's like to be in the same room with a musician. It's very special. Hope you can come!

A great place to shop for gifts of all kinds - all original art creations by Southern Oregon artists. The best place for one of a kind ornaments and cards too.

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10am - 5pm.

A perfect place to find gifts!

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: "The mind, once stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions." Well, it turns out, he was correct. In the 1960s, neuroscientist Marian Diamond discovered that exposure to enriched environments increased brain matter, specifically in the brain's outer layer, the cerebral cortex.

Museums are the ultimate enriched environments, or super-enriched spaces, that are good for body, mind, and soul. Museums are dedicated to arousing our curiosity; engaging us in discovery and learning; and evoking our reflection, wonder, and awe.

The new field called neuroaesthetics studies how the arts and aesthetic experiences measurably change the body, brain, and behavior. We call this Neuroarts.

(Above are excerpts from the latest issue of Museum, a publication from the American Alliance of Museums.)

Further resources include:

yourbrainonart.com

neuroartsblueprint.org

artsandmindlab.org

HELP US TO PROVIDE YOU WITH

CULTURAL EXPERIENCES

(and help us grow your brain!)

Over the last 45 years, the Museum has showcased art that connects us across time, geography, and cultural differences. We couldn’t fulfill our important mission without the generous support of our members and donors. Today, will you go above and beyond and make a gift to empower our vital work of connecting our community with the power of art?

I love learning new things - or learning about old things that I didn't know about before. This fascinating video is about keeping the art of making lace alive.

It will intrigue those who knit, crochet, make lace - and those who are mechanically inclined. Much of the process is no longer available - no one knows how to make the patterns for the machine anymore. WOW!