EUGENE–An exhibition of designer-created table settings, a luncheon and talk by an internationally acclaimed kitchen designer, and a wine tasting and sale are the major components of "Tablescapes: The Fine Art of Table Design," a special four-day fund-raising event at the University of Oregon Museum of Art, 1430 Johnson Lane.

The June 24—27 event, a project of the art museum’s board of directors with assistance from the museum’s many volunteers, will benefit the museum.

Table top designers include Twist; Furnish Your Home; Ballin Interiors; Passionflower Design; Vern Haffner; Jane Whitbread Interiors; Cooks, Pots and Tabletops; Nick and Nora; Reed & Cross; Renaissance Flowers; Provenance; The Paper Garden; Joe Courtemanche; Cris Braatz; College Hill Quilts & Garden Works; and The French Quarter.

"These designers have enthusiastically agreed to design and create tables in the museum set with a special flair, great drama or whimsy for every imaginable occasion," says Christie McDonald, the museum’s director of development and external affairs. "For instance, Carolyn Ballin of Ballin Interiors plans to design a table spanning the pond in the museum’s popular courtyard, while Jo Courtemanche, interior decorator of McMorran House, will include in her design the china, crystal and silver that were custom-made for the university president’s house."

Tickets to view the tables are $5 per person per day, with children under 12 admitted free. They are available to purchase in advance or at the door.

The luncheon from 11:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 24, will feature guest speaker John Hurst of John Hurst Design in Portland. Hurst, who has an international clientele for his acclaimed kitchen designs and redesigns, will talk about his work and share images of his many installations.

A gourmet box lunch will be served, and table designers will be available for informal discussion of their work. Tickets for this event are $45 per person, advance sale only, and are available through the museum.

A wine tasting and sale will be held from 5:30—9 p.m. Thursday, June 24, in the museum. Vintage House Merchants, Inc., will be on hand to answer questions as participants taste a variety of wines, and wine may be ordered by the case with a percentage of the sale to benefit the museum. Tickets are $30 each and are also available in advance through the museum and at the door.

UO Museum of Art board members serving on the "Tablescapes" planning committee are Connie Huling, Judi Cleaveland and Judy Murphy who is chairing the event.

For more information, call Christie McDonald at (541) 346-0765.

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