February is a short month but it ends strong this week! Enjoy blues or bluegrass at Tsunami Books, unique Samoan reggae from J Boog at McDonald Theatre, or the music of “Star Wars” performed by the Eugene Symphony at the Hult Center. Feast your eyes all month of February at New Zone’s Zone 4 All featuring eclectic works by more than 200 local artists. And enjoy the opening reception of a collaboration between White Lotus Gallery and FOOD For Lane County (FFLC) that contemplates the importance of food.
February 23
David Jacobs-Strain and Bob Beach | David and Bob have performed before innumerable SRO crowds at Tsunami over the years. David first played Tsunami 23 years ago. The subtly, intelligence, and depth of their music keeps us leaning in for more. This is an album release event for their recording “The Belfry Sessions.” Tsunami Books, tsunamibooks.org
February 23
J Boog | Jerry “J Boog” Afemata, a reggae singer of Samoan descent, was born in Long Beach and was raised in Compton, California. Steeped in Samoan culture and as the son of a Samoan chief, J Boog’s large family has had a huge impact on his artistry as the whole Afemata family helped set him on a path to creating his own unique reggae sound. McDonald Theatre, mcdonaldtheatre.com
February 25
Eugene Symphony: Star Wars Episode Vi – The Return Of The Jedi | The original Star Wars trilogy ends with Luke, Leia, and Han’s triumph over the Imperial forces at the Battle of Endor, and you’ll see the film in high definition on a big screen while Eugene Symphony plays John Williams’s epic soundtrack live on stage. May the Force be with you! Hult Center, eugenesymphony.org
February 25 & 26
“Actors Cabaret’s “Something Rotten!” | Two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of 16-century Shakespeare and 21st-century Broadway. Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, “Something Rotten!” Dinner also available. Actors Cabaret, actorscabaret.org
February 24 & 25
“Food is…” Opening | White Lotus Gallery and FOOD For Lane County (FFLC) present an exhibition of artworks that ponder the thought, “Food is…” The show consists of 39 pieces of art created by 28 artists, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the artworks will benefit FFLC to support its important work of reducing hunger in our community. The exhibit opens February 24 and shows through April 1. The Opening reception is February 25, 1 – 3 pm. White Lotus Gallery, foodforlanecounty.org
February 26
Henhouse Prowlers | Tours in Siberia or the Middle East are not uncommon since the Prowlers started working as cultural ambassadors with the U.S. State Department in 2013. These global experiences have pushed the band in new directions musically, with songs from Africa and Asia on several albums, but they have also moved the group to start an educational outreach program for both school children and festival-goers alike. While bluegrass is the undeniable foundation of the Prowlers music, the band manages to bend and squeeze the traditional form into a sound all their own. Tsunami Books, tsunamibooks.org
Through February 26
Beergarden’s Bacon, Bluegrass & Boneyard Beer Fest | Beergarden will host their 7th installment of their epic 7-day event: Bacon, Bluegrass & Boneyard Beer fest. Every year the Beergarden food trucks go bacon crazy and this year is going to be better than ever. Each night of the event, Beergarden will host entertainment. Every year the delicious Boneyard brews take over Beergarden’s taps. In celebration of 7 years running, Beergarden beer buyer Brianna Gordon and some of the beergarden crew collaborated with Boneyard on a brand new IPA that will be released at this event! Beergarden, beergardenme.com
Through February 25
Margaret Coe’s “Works” at Karin Clarke Gallery | Margaret Coe’s new show, simply called “Work,” represents her pandemic-era oils on canvas, painted between 2020 and 2022. Most of these were painted in her own backyard which backs up to the woods of Southeast Eugene. See Coe’s work as part of the First Friday Artwalk. Karin Clarke Gallery, karinclarkegallery.com
March 1
Kathryn Cotnoir: Intimate Observations | Karin Clarke Gallery is featuring a Spotlight Show of 20 small paintings by Portland artist Kathryn Cotnoir. In this exhibit, Cotnoir honors the nature of the Pacific Northwest, particularly the Oregon coast. Her paintings are an intimate scale, yet carry the spirit of the wind and the singing of the waves with the tenderness of en plein air style. Showing through April 1. An artist reception will be March 4, from 2–4pm. Karin Clarke Gallery, karinclarkegallery.com
Month of March
Zone 4 All | Eugene’s incredible creativity is on display again at the New Zone Gallery during the month of March in its bi-annual Zone 4 All. This non-juried open show showcases more than 200 artists and their eclectic work, from traditional to experimental and from paintings to 3D and assemblage and everything in between. New Zone Gallery, newzonegallery.org
Through July 1
Spring Museum’s “Stories of Labor in Springfield” | “Working Springfield: exploring labor in Springfield through local voices” is a new exhibit on display at the Springfield History Museum through July 1, 2023. Curator Maddi McGraw says that this exhibit is “a celebration of Springfield’s labor history over the past 175 years, and of the people who have made Springfield into the community it is today.” Springfield Museum, wheremindsgrow.org
