DIVA Opens Provactive New Exhibits. DIVA's first sponsored VIP reception on January 4th, was a great success thanks to Stephanie Kelly and Jason Saunders of A.G. Edwards. Invited guests enjoyed a special preview of the new January/February exhibits.     "Living Canvas, Breathing Art," celebrates the art of the tattoo curated by Dr. Julien and Clay Fraser; "UO at the DIVA," includes video art, painting, sculpture and other work by University students. "Small Collages and Paintings," by Rakar West and abstract figure work by L.D Agosto Yeager are on exhibit through February 24th. Terry Holloway and Deborah Allen present "The Moon Garden," a dramatic moonlit landscape installation with night-time acoustics. And, in an other gallery Heidi Beierie's installation, "Altered Psyche", creates a three-dimensional world filled with artifacts of a dream-like state of mind. This is a stunning and provocative show and one of the best presented at the Center.

Artist Salon To Feature Framing Tips and Techniques. The Artist Salon will be held Sunday, January 28, from 7-9pm. At the Salon we engage in a group process to choose exhibitor(s) for the Members' Gallery, as well as creating a place for artist-members to come together to see each other’s work, socialize, and share great food. Bring your art, something tasty to share, and you! This month we will be selecting the show for July.
      January's program will be a presentation by local frame artist James Denier. With over 15 years of experience, James will share tips and techniques for choosing frame designs to enhance your art. There will also be a simple mat-cutting demonstration.

OpenLens Festival This Weekend. The DIVA Center hosts the Third Annual OpenLens Short Film and Video festival celebrating the spirit of independent video and filmmaking in SW Oregon this weekend, January 12,13, and 14th. Screenings, workshops, and other activities over a three-day weekend showcases some of the best in regional work by emerging artists in a competitive, yet supportive event. Prizes include Best Juried Award and Audience Choice Award. All events are held at the DIVA Center 110 W. Broadway. Check out schedule on this page.

Register Now! Portland filmmaker Kelley Baker will teach two professional film and video production workshops during his tenure as host for the OpenLens Festival in January. On January 13, Baker's workshop, "Making the Extremely Low Budget Film" will address issues of film production from scripting through post-production and how to get the most with very limited resources. His Sunday workshop, "Sound Design For Independent Films and Video" will explore what to do when faced with restricted time and resources and how to find creative solutions to the many sound design problems that challenge indie film and video producers. Both workshops run from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM.      Advance registration is required: Regular: $40. Student: $25.00 with school ID Card. Participants may register by phone or online. DIVA Members, when paying in person, receive a 10% discount with current DIVA membership card.

Take A Workshop or Class. Winter term workshops and classes begin January 22nd. An array of opportunities is available including: Introduction to Screenwriting, Advanced Screenwriting, Introduction to Bookbinding, Long Stitch Book, Expressionist Acrylic Painting, Manga Drawing for Young Adults, Surrounding the Figure, The Power of Portraiture, Henna (Mehndi) The Ancient Art, Drop-In Figure Drawing. Class registration is taking place now. So, sign up and guarantee a place for yourself. Check out the workshop and course list online.

Cultural Policy Review Public Forum Invites Input. The next Public Forum will be held on Tuesday, January 16 at 6:30pm in The Studio at the Hult Center.  You will have the unique opportunity to hear how Eugene’s arts participation fits into the larger national context.
     Alan Brown (Principal, Wolf Brown) is an expert on national trends and the creator of the Eugene Cultural Census, in which over 2,500 citizens participated. He will interpret the results of a recent survey which gives information as to what the community feels is important for a rich arts and culture scene in Eugene.
      The next step of the Cultural Policy Review (CPR) process will be to synthesize all information and input collected from the community since June 2006.   Specific goals and objectives will be developed which will shape Eugene’s arts community over the next decade and beyond. For all background and information, visit the CPR portal page.

"Coming Into View" at Schnitzer. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon is exhibiting through February 18, 2007, " Coming Into View". This is a traveling exhibition of the work of 12 emerging national and international contemporary jewelers. The exhibition opened in conjunction with the 2006 Society of North American Goldsmiths conference in Chicago. The purpose of “Coming into View” is to define some of the most visible conceptual strategies employed by emerging studio jewelers. More Information.

Free Media Literacy Kit Available. "Media Education: A Kit for Teachers, Students, Parents and Professionals" has been published in English and French by UNESCO. The kit is partly a product of the MENTOR project initiated by UNESCO and supported by the European Commission. It proposes a prototype of media education curriculum for the basic qualification of secondary school teachers, but it also extends its modular approach and key concepts (production, language, representation, public) to adults outside the school system, be they parent, media professional or decision-maker. In addition to a teachers' manual and accompanying students' handbook, the kit also contains a manual for parents as well as a handbook on ethical relations with professionals and one on internet literacy. Download PDF Edition free.

Media Arts Academy for Teachers 2007. Teachers of all grade levels and academic areas from throughout the Northwest are invited to attend this week long NW Film Center (Portland) professional development institute, now in its seventh year, and with more than 60 graduates, which is offered in cooperation with the Portland State University Center for Excellence in Writing and Department of English. Combining theory and practice, the Academy’s goals are for educators to acquire a framework for understanding media education today, develop hands-on skills in digital video technology and artistic processes, and learn how media literacy concepts and activities might be integrated into traditional academic subjects from science and language arts to health education. Lead by School of Film faculty with expertise in teaching young people through the Young Filmmakers Program, the week also provides an inside view into the world of the independent filmmaker and film arts. Guest presenters include educators from K-12 schools with active media programs which suggest various curricular approaches to teaching media. No previous experience in media or technology is required. Editing equipment provided. Bring your school’s video camera. Enrollment limit: 16. Monday-Friday, August 6-10, 9AM -5PM. 5 sessions | tution: $385     PSU Credit (Optional): $180. More Information.