June 17, 1998 Contact Heather Brown (541) 346-0942 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135 EUGENE--The University of Oregon Museum of Art will present the work of 33 contemporary Oregon artists this summer when the 1997 Oregon Biennial exhibition, "The State of the Arts," opens July 1 for a run that continues through Sept. 13. Located at 1430 Johnson Lane on the UO campus, next to the Knight Library, the Museum of Art is wheelchair accessible. Museum hours are noon-8 p.m. Wednesday and noon-5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The Oregon Biennial, a traveling exhibition presenting an overview of contemporary currents in the visual arts in Oregon, is organized every two years by the Portland Art Museum. Kathyrn Kanjo, the Portland Art Museum's curator of contemporary art, chose the 33 artists whose work is featured in this exhibition from more than 1,000 applicants. Kanjo selected work from both established and emerging artists and organized an exhibit that represents a broad range of materials and sensibilities. Themes that run through this group of work include interest in time and passages, systems of nature and culture; concerns for the crafted form and organic shape; and an abiding interest in the traditional concerns of landscape, representational and abstract painting. "The Oregon Biennial is an opportunity to cut across distinctions and simply highlight some of the most exciting work of the past two years," Kanjo says. Showcased in the traveling exhibition is work by Patrick Barrett, Joseph Biel/Richard Kraft, Christine Bourdette, Mick Briscoe, Michael Brophy, James Richard Clark, G. Lewis Clevenger, Tom Cramer, Tori Ellison, Brian Friedman, James Harrison, Lee C. Imonen, Malia Jensen, Shelley Jordon, Dianne Kornberg and Matthew Lyon. Also featured is work by Rae P. Mahaffey, Kristen Miller, William F. Moore, Gerladine Ondrizek, Thomas Orr, Trude Parkinson, Marilyn Robert, Laura Ross-Paul, Tad Savinar, Mark R. Smith, Patrick T. Stearns, Julia Stoops, Dharma Strasser, Storm Tharp, Molly Vidor, Marie K. Watt and Peter Wegner. The Oregon Biennial began in 1911 at the Portland Art Museum as an annual exhibition dedicated to displaying the work of Portland-based artists. Over the years, the exhibit has expanded to include all Oregon artists and, in 1981, the annual program became a biennial exhibition. The University of Oregon Museum of Art will celebrate the opening of the Oregon Biennial with a free public reception in honor of the Oregon Bach Festival from 5-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1. Featured will be a performance of music by Mozart by Kristen Halay and Christy Graffeo. The museum also has organized throughout the summer a series of contemporary MusEvenings! from 5-8 p.m. Wednesdays as follows: July 8--Contemporary music and a shadow puppet performance July 15--Gallery talk by Oregon Biennial (OB) artist Shelley Jordan July 29--A special lecture by Kathryn Kanjo, curator of contemporary art at the Portland Art Museum and curator of the Oregon Biennial Aug. 5--Gallery talk by OB artist Mick Briscoe Aug. 12--Gallery talk by OB artist Dianne Kornberg Aug. 19--Gallery talk by OB artist Tori Ellison Aug. 26--Contemporary music Sept. 2--Interpreting art through music Sept. 9--Gallery talk by OB artist Marilyn Robert Two contemporary Family Days! are scheduled in conjunction with Oregon Biennial on: Saturday, July 18, from 1-3 p.m. Children of all ages are invited to the museum's "Art with Artists" Family Day. Explore contemporary art with contemporary artists. Music, hands-on projects and outdoor activities will focus on art from the Oregon Biennial. Saturday, Aug. 15, from 1-3 p.m. Celebrate summer at the UOMA Family Day. Included will be summer-related art activities for the entire family--sun prints, floral collage, vases, storytelling and music. The 1997 Oregon Biennial exhibition is organized by the Portland Art Museum with sponsorship by AT&T Wireless Services. In addition, the UO Museum of Art gratefully acknowledges members of Gourmet Group I for their generous contribution toward this exhibition. The UO Museum of Art is a nationally accredited, state supported nonprofit institution. The museum's 1997-98 exhibitions and programs also are supported in part by a grant from the Oregon Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts. Admission is $3 for the general public and free with current identification for all students, UO faculty and staff, museum members and children under 13 years of age. The museum is open free to all from 5-8 p.m. during MusEvenings! each Wednesday. For information, browse <http://uoma.uoregon.edu> or call (541) 346-3027. For a taped message of current museum exhibitions and activities, available 24 hours a day, call GuardLine from a Touch-Tone phone at 485-2000, ext. 5665. -30- #P-2252/A&E