6/4 First Friday at BICA

Bend's only gallery devoted exclusively to independent contemporary artists - no "tourist art" here! -hoc

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New Exhibit showing thru June 2010, ‘Departure Point’ featuring bold, abstract landscapes by Portland Artist Kentree Speirs. Continuing thru June, ‘Mixed Media’ a collection of paintings by Justyn Livingston and Randy Redfield. First Friday Artist Reception, June 4, 5-8 PM. Come meet the artists and enjoy drinks and eats.

Kentree Speirs paints from an instinctive response to the natural world. The feelings he experiences in wilderness settings act as a compass; as they are dynamic and real. He strives for this aliveness in his art, appreciating the sweeping gestural paint strokes, thickly applied, as much as the thin translucent layering. Organic shapes predominate in a delicate balance of serendipity and intention creating a provocative assemblage of color and form.

Randy Redfield has been collected for over 30 years. His recent paintings titled “New Worlds” are very active renderings mixing the use of oil, acrylic, pencil and spray paint creating a surface full of information about the paint. The compositions all follow the theme of 'places in space' almost planet like shapes following an orbit into their own creation. Some resemble landscape others more of a riotous array of color intersecting with hand drawn lines that create a "quiet but tense moment”

Justyn Livingston approaches a blank panel without any particular imagery in mind. However, there is a particular emotion or impulse upon beginning, which may or may not be carried forward. Through the movement and layering of materials and colors, the painting ‘comes to’ on its own with an underlying meditative quality; an unfettered focus she experiences in this process. It is this unexpected and cathartic exploration which motivates her to paint.

BICA Gallery | 2748 NW Crossing Drive Suite 130 | located in NorthWest Crossing | Bend | 541.788.4623 | www.bicagallery.com

6/12 Let's Pull Together - Community Noxious Weed Pull

Fishing in Montana made me realize how important it is to take invasive weeds seriously. Some river banks there have become completely choked with Knap Weed. Let's keep this from happening to Deschutes County! -hoc

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Noxious weed pull events begin Saturday, June 12 and continue through June 19 during Noxious Weed Awareness Week. Called Let's Pull Together, the annual weed pull events will help to preserve Central Oregon's ecosystem from noxious weeds while offering a time for the community to connect afterward at a free BBQ lunch. 

Let's Pull Together is a countywide noxious weed-pulling event. Participants include neighborhood and homeowners associations, city and county government and boards, park and school districts, utilities, private and public entities, businesses and incredible volunteers. All events are family-friendly. 

After the weed-pulling events, all volunteers are welcome to feast at the complimentary volunteer appreciation BBQ lunch, held in each participating community (Bend, Redmond, La Pine, Prineville, and Sisters). Festivities include entertainment and great prizes. 

Noxious weeds are non-native invasive species that threaten the ecosystem. They not only crowd out native plants, but they starve wildlife, use water and create allergens. Noxious weeds also provide tremendous ladder fuels that can radically change the speed and fury at which wildfires burn. 

The Deschutes County Weed Advisory Board and Let's Pull Together event organizers sponsor annual weed pulls. In recent years, the weed pulls have been some of the best-attended community service projects in the county. We are hoping for another good turnout. So, Let's Pull Together!

For more information about weed pull locations and how to participate, please visit the Let's Pull Together event web site at www.letspulltogether.com  or contact event coordinator Cheryl Howard at howard@bendcable.com or (541) 815-5558. 

For assistance and information about noxious weeds, please visit the Deschutes County web site at www.deschutes.org/weeds or contact Vegetation Manager Dan Sherwin at (541) 322-7135.