This week we celebrate Memorial Day. Many of our wineries have open houses and special events planned, so be sure to check that out. It’s also the weekend for the annual Memorial Day Regatta that brings sailors from all across the Northwest to Fern Ridge Reservoir. Explore Sundance Wine Cellars’ free themed wine tastings on Friday and Saturday. This week, Eugene Symphony’s season of storytelling culminates with Maurice Ravel’s balletic masterpiece “Daphnis et Chloe.” Photographer Gary Tepfer and his wife photographed and studied the Altai herders of South Siberia and Mongolia. His photos are on display and he gives an artist talk on Saturday at White Lotus Gallery. There is one more string of shows to give you your chance to see “Xanadu” at Very Little Theater – we went last weekend and it is a rollicking good time. Treat the young children in your life to an orchestral experience with the Eugene Symphony’s “Carnival of the Animals” family concert. Frazey Ford comes to the Hult Center, and an exhibit opened this month at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art that highlights handwrought copper works by premier Arts and Crafts metalsmiths. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Eugene is celebrating the cultural diversity and influence of night markets that exist all throughout Asia with an Asian Night Market in downtown Eugene. And that’s just the start!
May 25
Eugene Symphony: Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloe” | Daphnis et Chloe combines a dramatic narrative sweep with jaw-dropping Impressionist details and will bring you to the edge of your seat. Eugene-native Carey Bell, now Principal Clarinet of the famed San Francisco Symphony, returns home to play Aaron Copland’s lyrical and lively Concerto, originally written for jazz legend Benny Goodman. American powerhouse Jessie Montgomery’s opening work draws on big-band jazz, R&B, and funk to weave a sonic tapestry. Hult Center, eugenesymphony.org
May 26
Asian Night Market | Bring your family and friends for a colorful evening of cultural performances, savory Asian street foods, and an artisan’s marketplace of craft vendors. The event also features the DisOrient Film Festival’s 2022 Audience Choice award-winning film, “Dealing With Dad,” through June 1. Eugene Downtown Farmers Market Pavilion & Plaza, asiancouncil.org
May 26 & 27
Themed Wine Tastings at Sundance Wine Cellars | Sundance Wine Cellars’ free themed wine tastings highlight various wine regions on Fridays, and on Saturdays, they host local and regional wineries. Apart from the weekends, their tasting bar is always open and has free samples of their featured wines. Sundance Wine Cellars has Oregon’s largest selection of wine and is one of the oldest wine retailers in the Willamette Valley. Since 1983, Sundance Wine Cellars has provided an unparalleled selection of wine from Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Sundance Wine Cellars, orwines.com
May 27 & 28
Memorial Day Regatta | Sailing season begins in the southern Willamette Valley with the annual Memorial Day Regatta hosted by Eugene Yacht Club. Sailors from all over the Northwest convene at Fern Ridge Reservoir to unfurl sails and be carried by the winds into a new summer season. And enjoy some delicious Hawaiian BBQ and live music. Register for the fun. Fern Ridge Reservoir, regattanetwork.com
May 27
Gary Tepfer Artist Talk | Saturday, May 27, join in an artist talk at 2 pm with Gary Tepfer as he discusses his new photographic exhibit, “Views of a Herder’s World: Landscape and Culture in the Mongolian Altai.” This exhibit reflects more than 20 years of field work in the Altai Mountains of South Siberia and Mongolia as he photographed the landscape while his wife, Esther Jacobson-Tepfer, pursued her academic studies in the rock art and monumental archaeology in North Asia. The exhibition runs through July 8. White Lotus Gallery, wlotus.com
May 27
Riffle at Bennett Vineyards | Memorial Day Weekend finds Riffle at Bennett Vineyards. Japanese-style hibachi food truck Kento’s will be on hand, with whites, reds, signature pinot noirs, cold hard ciders and local beers on tap, with lots of space on the lawn. Bennett Vineyards, bennettvineyardsor.com
Through May 28
The Fantasticks | The Jones and Schmidt musical opens May 12 at 7 pm and runs Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays at 7 pm until May 28. Pegasus Playhouse, pegasusplayhouse.com
Through May 28
Very Little Theatre’s “Xanadu” | Based on the 1980 cult classic of the same name, this musical is sure to “roll” into your hearts at the first note! It’s your typical story: boy meets Muse, Muse inspires boy, Muse and boy team up to create great art in the form of converting an old theater into a roller disco. It’s legwarmers. It’s neon jackets. It’s the Tony Award-nominated musical and it’s the VLT’s 94th season finale, “Xanadu.” Very Little Theatre, thevlt.com
May 30
Family Concert: “Carnival of Animals” | Bring your kids or grandkids to experience the joy of orchestral music, including Camille Saint-Saëns’s enchanting zoological survey. As they meet a regal Lion, a stately Swan, bouncing Kangaroos, and a ponderous Elephant, your young person’s eyes will sparkle with curiosity and wonder. Families with wiggling kiddos welcomed and encouraged! Hult Center, eugenesymphony.org
May 31
Frazey Ford and Amos Heart | Vancouver artist Frazey Ford, a founding member of The Be Good Tanyas, is revered for her soulful voice and immersive lyrical storytelling. On her most recent album, “U Kin Be The Sun,” she inhabits a world of shapeshifting rhythm, elevating every beat and groove with the subtle magnetism of her mesmerizing voice. Known for her captivating live shows, Frazey brings all her power and presence to her performances. Hult Center, hultcenter.org
Daily throughout May
The First Metal: Arts & Crafts Copper | The First Metal: Arts & Crafts Copper is the first exhibition to focus on copper metalwork in the Arts and Crafts movement in the United Kingdom and the United States, with additional works from Germany, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. The exhibition presents a range of handwrought copper works by many of the premier Arts and Crafts metalsmiths working in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The exhibit closes November 3. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, jsma.uoregon.edu
Month of May
New Zone Gallery’s ECCO art exhibit | During the month of May, New Zone will host an art exhibit from students of ECCO. It is free, and open daily, from noon to 6 pm. ECCO stands for Early College and Career Options, and serves students with the desire and potential to succeed in post-secondary education. Typically, ECCO students have not experienced success at the traditional high school and have sought out an alternative environment that better meets their needs. New Zone Gallery, newzonegallery.org
Through June 9
“Not Just: A World Collage Day Exhibition” | “Not Just: A World Collage Day Exhibition” is a juried show in honor of World Collage Day (May 13), featuring work by 40 local, regional, and national collage artists, as well as the collage art of 11 invited international artists from nine different countries, including Greece, Germany, Brazil, France, Spain, Columbia, Mexico, Argentina, and Canada. Maude Kerns Art Center, mkartcenter.org
Through June 24
Naeemeh Naeemaei: JAAN | Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1984, Naeemeh Naeemaei received her BFA from Tehran Art University in 2006, majoring in sculpture. Locally, Naeemaei is known from her stunning 2019 exhibit “Dreams Before Extinction,” at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. The JAAN series features eight stunning, large format photographs on canvas. Karin Clarke Gallery, karinclarkegallery.com
Through June 30
PhotoZone at Don Dexter Gallery | Enjoy a selection of works from members of PhotoZone Gallery at Don Dexter Gallery. The group exhibition is on view at 2911 Tennyson Ave #202 in Eugene. Featured gallery artists include Mark Anderson, Bryan Andresen, David Becker, Linda Devenow, Ron Dobrowski, Greg Giesy, Sandy Brown Jensen, Don Myers, Sandi T. O’Brien, Walt O’Brien, Patrick Plaia, Doremus Scudder, David Simone, and Michael Z. Taylor. Don Dexter Gallery, dondextergallery.com
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
