Visit Art Galleries Featuring:
• Beautiful art
• Good company
• Artist Talks
• Demonstrations
All You Need to Know:
Who? You and your friends
What? SAA Fourth Friday Artwalk
Where? Galleries of Sisters
Cost? FREE
This Friday, the Sisters Arts Association teams up with SFF Presents for a community celebration to kick off the third annual Big Ponderoo Music + Art Festival. The Fourth Friday Artwalk through the Galleries of Sisters takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. and includes music from 4:30 to 6 p.m. That’s when a family-friendly event begins, with three artists performing on the festival stage at Village Green Park, along with food carts and interactive arts experiences for all ages.
Folks can enhance their Artwalk experience by picking up a “Ponderoo Passport” and map from any one of the 12 participating locations and getting a stamp at each place they visit. Completed passports can be redeemed for this year’s Little Ponderoo art token, a JoyBot, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Village Green Park. These unique, small robots are hand-painted on the back of dominoes by local artists and community members, each designed to spread hope, courage, love, and joy. Quantities are limited, so redeem your passport early.
GALLERIES
Flying Horse Gallery’s new exhibit is “Tarot & Kismet,” with spotlight artists Cassandra Kim whose whimsical paintings pair an animal with an image from past societies to create regal critters with attitude; and Mary Jean Runke, whose colorful forest animals stand out against a black-and-white inked background. Singer songwriter Pete Kartsounes will entertain.
The Campbell Gallery hosts “Expressions in Fabric: Color, Pattern, Play, and Passion” by artist Judith Beaver. Often starting with a single inspirational piece of fabric, she builds a color palette, using contrast and value as key design considerations and working intuitively as the piece evolves. Jim Cornelius and Mike Biggers are the featured musicians.
Hood Avenue Art features watercolors by Winnie Givot and mixed media by Sandy Dutko. Givot’s sensitive images combine the unseen natural beauty with the deeper beauty of the subject. Dutko’s experimental landscapes are a product of spontaneity using acrylics, mixed media, oil and cold wax medium. Michalis Patterson is the featured musician.
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Wildflower Studio has new original watercolors and prints by Kathy Deggendorfer. This includes a group of framed florals and landscapes. Also, gift items and cards by several local artists. Seth Acquarolo is the featured musician.
Makin’ It Local welcomes Taylor Manoles’ artist showcase, “Of Faith and the Human Experience,” contemporary landscapes including original paintings and fine art prints. Her art is both a cathartic practice and how she celebrates and remembers the goodness in the world around her. Stacie Lynn Johnson and Mystic are the featured musicians.
The Rickards Gallery presents “Traveling Through Time,” new work by Mare Schelz. Mosaics are influenced by specific locations and abstract interpretations of nature and include a collection of transformed pieces such as a car door and a vintage television acquired in her travels. Live music will be by Amanda Wrenn and Patrick Leonard.
The Stitchin’ Post Fiber Arts Gallery shows artists Jean and Valori Wells in “Seasons and Wisdom.” Valori’s display includes some crow paintings that have inspired a wisdom collection of block printed art, and Jean explores color and texture in her signature piecing and embellishment. Alicia Vianni and Mark Karwan are the musical guests.
Toriizaka Art spotlights contemporary Vietnamese artist Vu Thang, whose primitive figures are influenced by cave drawings and traditional sculptures. Figurative pieces are created using wood, hemp, canvas, fabric, and clay, including scraps of traditionally patterned clothing from the Red and Black Dao hill tribe. Singer/songwriter Erin Cole Baker will perform.
Sisters Gallery & Frame features “The Spring Snow,” Mike Sasko’s suite of mixed media landscapes that captures the dramatic and ethereal light of late spring snowfall on Southeast Oregon’s high desert. Wood sculptor J. Chester “Skip” Armstrong will stage a show around the Tri-Eagle sculpture that took first place in the Sisters Rodeo Parade. Music is by Lane Norberg.
There will also be live music at two other Ponderoo Passport locations, Nechville West and Thompson Guitars. Canyon Creek Pottery is on the Ponderoo Passport as well, but will not be hosting live music.
The Village Green Big Ponderoo venue opens at 5:30 with interactive art activities including a community weaving project, puppet theater, and painting stations. The free concert offers a sneak peek of the festival’s talent, Yarn and The Wilder Flower, along with a special appearance by the Sisters Middle School Outlaw Strings Club and a set from the dynamic Kota Dosa.
QuickDraw: At the close of the Artwalk, a drawing will b held for two $50 gift certificates, good at any participating gallery. Visitors may sign up once per gallery. Winners will be notified by phone and email, so it is important that all fields be complete. Thanks to Stellar Realty Northwest of Sisters for their generous sponsorship
ART WALLS
Fika Sisters - Featuring Jarod Gatley Emmy Award Winning photo journalist
The Barn - Featuring celebrated local artist, Jacob Norris and his colorful paintings
Sisters Bakery - Featuring the paintings of very popular and widely collected Megan Meyers.
MORE SUPPORTING BUSINESSES
Always ready to serve you on 4th Friday Artwalks
Alpaca By Design
Big Chief Vintage
Cottonwood Cafe
Dixie’s
Gypsy Wind Clothing
Hardtails Bar & Grill
Paulina’s Bookstore
Philladelphia's Steaks
Thompson Guitars
Ponderosa Lodge
Rancho Viejo
Sisters Cascade
Sisters Coffee Company
Sisters Folk Festival
Sisters Movie House
Sisters Saloon
Snow Cap
Suttle Tea
The Gallery Restaurant
The Open Door
The SweetEasy Co.
The Jewel
SAA is a 501(c)3 organization that welcomes new members: individuals who love art, artists, students, and businesses. Annual memberships range from $50 to $150, and now is a great time to join for 2025. More information is available at sistersartsassociation.org. SAA does not sell your info, but uses the numbers of visitors as a measure of the importance of The Arts in the vitality of our community!