June swoons with a tasty menu of arts and culture opportunities

Spring term may be spiraling to a close and graduation right around the corner, but plenty of opportunities remain to attend arts events on campus throughout the month of June.

Come out to the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on June 1 and view South Africa’s entry in the 2017 Venice Biennale “Passage by Mohau Modisakeng,” a video about slavery’s effect on the dismemberment of African identity, or create your own bath bombs at the Erb Memorial Union or drop in at Lawrence Hall and view the work of the UO College of Design’s School of Art + Design graduating seniors at the seventh annual end-of-year 2019 Spring Storm Exhibition reception.

June is also LGBT +Pride Month. The Summer solstice is June 21; National Doughnut day is the first Friday in June. Don’t forget dad on June 16, and if you’re needing a cat in your life, it’s also Adopt a Cat Month.

Art

Drop in or reserve your spot for a VSA/Art Access workshop for children with special needs on June 1. Led by artists in a creative and caring environment, the VSA program is provided under contract with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Call 541-346-5410 for more details.

Bath bombs On June 7, stop into the Craft Center at the EMU for Freebie Friday: Bath Fizzles and make your own soothing bath bomb from all-natural ingredients. A variety of essential oils and colors will be available to choose from.

What better way to relax than an evening of drinking and drawing at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History? Explore the museum’s new exhibit “Peregrine Falcon: From Endangered Species to Urban Bird” on June 20 and then snack, sip craft beer and wine and let your creative juices flow as you create your own bird illustration under the tutelage of science illustrator Kris Kirkeby.

Exhibitions

Bring the kids out June 6 to tour the Museum of Natural and Cultural History’s newest exhibit, “Peregrine Falcon: From Endangered Species to urban Bird.” Artist Kris Kirkeby will be on hand to help them create their own bird drawings using basic drawing and color-layering techniques.

Join UO College of Design’s School of Art + Design graduating seniors in art, art and technology and product design as they exhibit their work throughout Lawrence Hall at the seventh annual end-of-year 2019 Spring Storm Exhibition reception. The opening reception is June 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. Art pieces will be on view through June 17.

'God of Longevity' Don’t miss the opportunity to view museum of art founder Gertrude Bass Warner’s astonishing collection of art from China’s Qing dynasty. The exhibition, “Reflections of the Cosmic Web: Intricate Patterns in Daoist Art,” which features selected textiles, paintings, prints, ceramics, jades and other decorative objects, ends June 17. Also, be sure to check out a number of Masterworks on Loan at the museum, including works by Jackson Pollock, Joan Miro, Claude Monet, Man Ray and others; the exhibit will also be leaving the museum in June.

On June 17, “Naeemeh Naeemaei: Dreams of Extinction and Under the Earth, Over the Moon” opens at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. Featuring work from two recent series by the artist, the paintings, which are created in a dream-like and figurative style, bring a perspective to environmental art and activism. Born and trained as an artist in Iran, Neemaei now calls Eugene her home.

“I use my dreams, wishes, memorabilia and legends, plus information about the species, to extend my imagination,” she said. “In each painting, I've lived with an animal in my mind. It is a deep connection.”

Cinema

Passage by Mohau Modisakeng,” a three-channel video about slavery’s effect on the dismemberment of African identity, is on view through Aug. 4 at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. The video was South Africa’s entry in the 2017 Venice Biennale.

Music

Trumpet valves Pop in for a bit of delightful pop-up entertainment from the School of Music’s Lab Choir on June 3 at the EMU’s Oregon Plaza, by the O Desk. While you eat lunch or lounge, members of the vocal ensemble will perform a backdrop of beautiful choral music. If you’re hankering for a little brass, head over to Aesen-Hull Hall at 7 p.m. June 3 for an evening of All That Brass! chamber music.

Catch a lively performance by the UO Green and Yellow Garter Bands on June 7 at the WOW Hall in downtown Eugene. These elite athletic musical groups perform everything from “Louie Louie” to Disney’s Duck Tales before football games, at all women’s volleyball games and at many other venues on and off campus.

On June 8, join the UO and LCC for their swinging end of year jazz party at The Jazz Station in downtown Eugene. Tickets sold at the door.

Dance

Come out to Room 123 in the Global Scholars Hall on June 5 for some toe-tapping, hip-swaying West Coast Swing dancing lessons. The free beginner and intermediate lessons begin at 7 p.m., followed by a social dance until 10 p.m. No experience or partner necessary.

Lectures/workshops

Caroline Phillips, Curatorial Extern in European and American Art, will discuss Catalan-American artist Pierre Daura and the surrealist concept of “magic art” June 29 at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art.

—By Sharleen Nelson, University Communications