Celebrate the Arts During Weekend Festival

The arts will be celebrated in Hermiston during the Eastern Oregon Arts Festival on May 8-9.

Many new activities, entertainment and artists have been added to the event this year. Two metal artists, Chris Huffman of Hermiston and Karsten Boysen, of Port Orchard, Wash., will be creating sculptures during Saturday at the festival. Both are well known artists in the region, and have their own unique approach to creating. The Open Group Art Show is another new feature this year, and will be judged with $1,500 in prizes awarded to participating artists. The show will open Friday evening at 5:30 p.m., with music, light refreshments and beverages available.

Another new addition, OSU Master Gardeners will be presenting demos on garden topics, answering your garden questions, and selling their favorite garden plants. Hermiston Own Farmer’s Market will be on hand at the festival with their fresh produce and favorite vendors, plus check out the new demo stage for a variety of demos and informative talks by local experts.

The weekend kicks off on Friday evening, May 8, with an Artist Reception, live music and the opening of the Open Art Show at 5:30- 7:30 p.m., under the Big Tent on Second Street and Gladys Avenue in front of City Hall. The evening event cost $10 to attend and includes meeting the artist and juror, live music, and light refreshments. Beverages will be available for purchase.

On Saturday, the fun begins at 10 a.m., with a full day of entertainment for all ages of music, dance and fine arts including artist booths packed with hand-made jewelry, ceramics, photograph, prints and paintings for sale and for viewing. All activities Saturday are open to the whole family and are free.

Saturday’s line-up of activities include children art activities at the Victory Baptist Church building again this year. The Student Art Show for middle school and high school students from across the region will be in the former RoeMark’s Building on Main Street.

Many professional artists from around the region and from as far away as the Seattle area in Washington will be showcasing their artistic creations in hosting businesses on the 100 and 200 blocks of East Main Street and in the festival area near City Hall during the Eastern Oregon Arts Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You’ll find a mix of artistic styles from realism to modern, watercolors to metal, photography and many others in between. Artists will share with the public about their creative vision and process that creates their unique and original art. In addition, the Two Rivers Correctional Institution will have a group show of inmate art work hosted in the Grace & Mercy Lutheran Church at 164 E Main St. The show will feature a wide array of mediums.

“The Desert Arts Council is pleased to showcase the abilities of our regional arts community through this tremendous event.” says Desert Arts Council President Mary Corp. Throughout the day, live performances will entertain people of all ages, with musicians sure to get you grooving from jazz, to country folk to Latin and more.

“The Eastern Oregon Arts Festival is a celebration of spring, and all things new and creative in our region,” says Phyllis Shovelski, Eastern Oregon Arts Festival co-chair for 2015. “It is the goal of the Arts Festival and its sponsoring organization, Deserts Arts Council, to create more involvement in the arts and to help build a vibrant arts community in the region.”

For information on the schedule and artist lineup visit the Desert Arts Council website. For questions, contact Heather LaBeau at hlabeau@hermiston.or.us or 541-667-5010.