Spring, 2007

Ballet at Crossroads. These Ballet II (6-8 years old) performed for their parents the last
day of class. Debbie Friedman at top left instructs four classes of ballet each week.

Volunteer Profile

Louise Palumbo’s first experience with Crossroads was in a pottery class. She came with clean clothes thinking anyone could throw clay in the center of a wheel without making a mess. She left with an entirely new understanding of throwing pots on a wheel.

Louise, her husband Leo, and family moved to Baker in the 1960s. She soon became involved with Crossroads spending every Thursday afternoon for the next 12 years at the Center. Louise is one of the original signers to the Articles of Incorporation of Crossroads as Secretary. She remembers attending outstanding plays in the theater downstairs, which were always sold out. There were traveling shows to arrange and “what space was available was always filled.” She shared a copy of a flyer that was mailed out in the 1970s to advertise for membership. The fees have increased from $5 per year for an individual to $15 – still a bargain.

During this interview Louise remarked more than once that she enjoyed every minute of her volunteering. “It was always so much fun.” She is looking forward to seeing the new interior of the Carnegie Crossroads Art Center and to attending theatrical productions.

Louise volunteers for the Baker County Seniors and has been their Secretary/Treasurer for the past 22 years. “The job is ‘till death do us part’” she said, as no one wants to take her place. Louise graciously renewed her membership in Crossroads. She is promised the first tickets to our first theatre production in the new Carnegie location. Thank you, Louise, for your dedication and continuing interest and support of Crossroads Art Center.
     

Report by the Board Chair

This quarter welcomes many successes and challenges for Crossroads as we anticipate relocating to the new Carnegie facility. Recently, a committee from the board visited the Pendleton Art Center on a fact-finding mission. The purpose was to gather information as the board plans for the future of Crossroads. Indeed, the entire board met for an all-day work session in February on these issues. Committees were formed to develop plans for staffing, education and programs, development resources, and marketing/outreach as well as the gallery and gift shop. We are excited about the many possibilities for meeting the creative needs of our community.

On another note, we would like to thank Baker County Schools and Jumpin’ Jack Preschool for the wonderful selection of children’s art that has been shown at Crossroads this year. North Baker, South Baker, Keating, Brooklyn, Haines, and Baker Middle School student’s work has been featured in the south window since September. Brenda Johnson’s high school art students have maintained a section in the gallery and participated in the student show this month. North Powder and Pine Eagle student work is also part of this month’s show. The work is incredible and we celebrate these young artists.

The board would also like to thank John Denne who has been working in the south window demonstrating his coil and scrape techniques. His work is beautiful and we think it a special opportunity to watch him create and shape his works.

Thank you to the many volunteers who are the heart and soul of Crossroads. Deanna Davis has made Crossroads her second home, filling in when volunteers are not available and completing many tasks to help artists and our organization. A special thanks to James Morris for putting together the last newsletter, and to Marshall McComb who is updating and maintaining the Crossroads website.

I would also like to thank all of the board for the many extra hours they spend on committees to benefit Crossroads. Plans for a studio tour, new policy and procedures for our classes, a maintenance matrix for the new facility, insurance needs for Crossroads, grand opening plans, and budgeting and revenue building are just a few of the committees to which board members are generously devoting their time and energy.

We regretfully accepted the resignation of Becca Colton from the Board to Directors. We congratulate her on her new position but will miss her many contributions to Crossroads. Thank you, Becca!

Art is for everyone. As we make plans for the arts in Baker County, is there something you would like to see happen at Crossroads? Crossroads is whatever its members design. We appreciate your input and would love to hear from you.

Sincerely,

  

Crossroads Board of Directors

  

Terri Axness

Board Chair
     

The Stage at the Carnegie Library Building is taking shape.

Jeff Givens and a representative from Blue Mountain Workshops look over specs for cabinets and shelving in the Carnegie Library building.

         

    

From the Gallery

   

Ann Eriksmoen painted a wonderful piece for the Farmer's Market poster. They were very thrilled with the painting and will raffle it off this season as well as sell the posters.

Marcie Cook gave an oil painting seminar at the Interpretive Center on February 24th with 7 people participating. She is offering another workshop May 19th and 20th at Crossroads Art Center. Please see class schedule which a part of this newsletter.

   

The Crossroads Board would like to begin an Art Studio Tour in October this year for artists inside the city limits and in Spring 2008 for artists outside the city limits. We will be giving a luncheon in April for anyone with ideas of how this can be successful. Contact Crossroads 523-5369 or Linda Haynes 523-4542.

   

New artists in the Gallery include Bill Hightower and Trudy Estes from Elgin, Martin Wilke from Boise, Idaho, and Colleen Clark from Mt Vernon, Oregon.
   

    

Crossroads Art in the Park is Back

      

Nanci Sheppard, Ann Eriksmoen, Mary Sue Rightmire and Marcie Cook went to a luncheon put on by the Chamber of Commerce and asked to have the OLD Art in the Park brought back for the 25th Anniversary of Miners Jubilee. They were granted 22-36 spaces for Art booths at the east end of Geiser-Pollman Park, if they were willing to organize and contact the artists. A call for artists for July 20, 21 & 22 has been sent to over 300 artists.
   

Booths for art and originally crafted items are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A specially reduced price of $50 per space payable with submission of your entry form has been arranged for Crossroads committee approved booths. Please make sure your Crossroads membership is current. Those not associated with Crossroads wanting to take advantage of the discounted price may contact the Baker County Chamber of Commerce for a membership application at 541-523-5855.
  

Booth setup will begin Friday morning, July 20th with booths open until 8 p.m., Saturday 9 - 8 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A photo or CD of artwork is requested with a brief description of medium with the entry form. These will be lightly juried as to the appropriate nature of the work. Contact Nanci Sheppard at 523-3467, Ann Eriksmoen at 523-4518 or Mary Sue Rightmire at 523-1024 if you have questions or need more information.
  

Ann Eriksmoen and Nanci Sheppard designed a poster and painting for this year's button. The Chamber will sell lapel pins and charms from this design for this year as well as the usual buttons.
  

     

Baker High School

Graduating Senior Art Students
   

The Baker High School Art Department has three graduating seniors this year, Ally Munn, Ryan Hull, and Christina Gaub, who have taken many two dimensional and three dimensional art classes. Their art will be featured in a show during the month of May at Mad Matilda's.

Ryan Hull

My name is Ryan Hull and I'm eighteen years old. I'm a senior at Baker High. I first became interested in art when I was very young. No matter where we were, I always had pencils, crayons, and coloring books. When I started Baker Middle School, I began to study ceramics.

Some of my favorite mediums are glass, acrylic painting, and watercolors. The one thing I find most challenging is the human form though I feel my abilities to draw improve every year. I find it difficult to know when a work of art is finished. Sometimes it's whenever I feel there is nothing left to put in the big picture.

I credit my Aunt Tracy for much of my interest in art. Of course, my mom actually helped too, since she enjoyed sketching in her spare time.

Some of my earlier artwork received a few awards while attending Middle School. I have had the honor of having my artwork featured in Crossroads Art Gallery; and I exhibited at the Nightingale Gallery at Eastern Oregon University in LaGrande. After graduating from Baker High School, I plan on going to college at ITT Technical in Boise, Idaho, to study video game graphical design.

I have discovered that the only way to become a better artist is to put your mind to the goal ahead. Imagination is an artist's best friend, and if you really work at it you can achieve a great work of art at the end. If you really enjoy art, then you should stick with what you like to do. Never let someone talk you out of your dreams, or keep you from doing what it is you enjoy doing.

Allison Munn

My name is Allison “Ally” Munn. I'm seventeen and a senior at Baker High School. When I was nine, we moved to Baker City from Logan, Utah. I absolutely hated it. Now, I love living in this town.

I can't remember what first sparked my interest in art, but I guess it was somewhere along the lines of finger-painting or Disney Princess coloring books. As yet, I do not have a favorite medium; for now I like to try a little of everything. At some point I will try oil painting [check out those art classes at Crossroads, Ally–Ed.]

I didn't have room in my schedule as a freshman or sophomore to take an art class, so this year and last have been my only art classes since middle school.

Sometimes I have an idea in my head from the minute I start a project, and other times it takes me days to figure out what I am going to do. Pictures from magazines, books, or the all powerful World Wide Web are always helpful. I usually try to find something that has some sort of meaning to me, whether it holds some symbolism or I just like the colors.

Of all those who have sparked my interest in art, I would say the most influential is Alice Briggs, the mom of a friend from Utah. She is a very talented artist and introduced me to several art programs in Logan and Arizona when I would visit her and my friend over the summer. She is an incredibly talented woman and I have nothing but respect for her.

If I were to offer any advice, it would be to follow your own mind. Art is about expressing yourself, and you can't do that by following what everyone else is doing. Run with your ideas and mix things up.

I recently received a $1,500 scholarship renewable for four years to Eastern Oregon University for my work in two-dimensional art and have had my art displayed at Crossroads several times. Besides the opportunity at Easter Oregon, I am looking at Middlebury College in Vermont, Lewis and Clark College in Portland, and Whitman College in Walla Walla.

Christina Gaub

My name is Christina Gaub and art is an extremely important part of my life. It allows me to express my feelings without having to put them into words. Most of the time, my art is bright, happy and playful because I want it to reflect my personality. I include a lot of color in my art so that it might affect other people the way I wish it to. I want it to bring joy and love to the people who see it.

My interest in art started from growing up in a house full of beautiful art. I would draw for hours in my sketchbook trying to copy the pictures on the walls. My father and my Aunt Lenn have influenced my love of art. They make objects that are colorful and full of their bubbly personalities. They put all their love into the art they make, and I think that is the key to touching other people with your art.

Making art can be a major challenge for me sometimes because I have huge ideas, and trying to pull them out of my head and put them onto paper can be the hardest part of a project. I ask myself, "Is that too much color? Will anyone like what I have done? Do I like it?" The way I know I am done with a piece of art is when I feel my heart is ready to move on and when I can't look at my piece of art and see new things that could be done to put more of my personality in it.

My art was recently exhibited at Eastern Oregon University for the Eastern Oregon Regional High School Art Exhibit. I earned an Honorable Mention award in that show. I have also exhibited in the Crossroads Art Center.

Art has many important lessons to teach us if we are willing to trust our hearts and let that flow out of our fingers. Art can be an escape from the stress of life, or it can be created to let out feelings that just can't be put into words. Many of my ideas come from my surroundings and the things that make me feel happy.

I would tell anyone wishing to make a piece of art to use objects, colors, and things that you see everyday which inspire you. Use the things that you love, that make you happy or sad, that bring emotion from your heart.

Along with art, I sing in the Bel Canto choir at Baker High. I plan to attend a cosmetology school when I graduate from high school. This profession will allow me to support myself and use my creativity every day which I plan to share with other people.

  

2007 Local Winners of the Oregon State Elks Eye Injury Prevention Poster Contest
  

Each year the Oregon Elks Lodges are asked to contact their local 4th, 5th, and 6th grade teachers and invite them and their students to participate in the Elks Eye Injury Prevention Poster Contest.

   

This program is designed to educate our young people about keeping their eyes healthy and safe and, hopefully, to prevent eye injuries. This year nine teachers from North Baker, South Baker, and Brooklyn Elementary Schools and their 188 students submitted posters to Baker Lodge 338.

   

Our Judges selected the top three posters and they were sent to the District competition. Two of our top three were winners at the District level and have been forwarded to the State competition which will be held in late March or early April. Our local winners were: 1st Place– Amanda Bailey (6th grade, Mrs. Sullivan, North Baker); 2nd Place– Roberto Kitch (6th grade, Mrs. Sullivan, North Baker); 3rd Place– Erin Guyer (6th grade, Mrs. Sullivan, North Baker). Amanda and Roberto were also selected as winners at the District Level. While the winning posters have been forwarded to the State competition, a cross section of the remaining posters will be on display at the Crossroads Art Center in April.
      

Hal Huntington, Visual Chairman for Baker Elks Lodge 338, would like to thank all the students and teachers who participated this year and hope we will have even more posters next year. Congratulations to our Local and District winners. Stay tuned for the State Winners!!

  

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