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Lowell Huell will have jellyfish paperweights on display at the Summer Arts Festival. Artist Huell, seen on middle photo, will display his work at the annual Summer Arts Festival at the Umpqua Valley Art Association Center in Roseburg this weekend.
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Glass artist Lowell Huell will display his work at the annual Summer Arts Festival at the Umpqua Valley Art Association Center in Roseburg this weekend.
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<b>Funky!</b> Satin Love Orchestra will perform Saturday night at the Summer Arts Festival.
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For the past 35 years, people have gorged themselves on tantalizing treats, swayed to the music of eclectic bands and wandered through vendors' displays at the Summer Arts Festival.
The tradition began as a way to expose the community to local talent. It's continuing because visitors continue to want more.
"It's the entertainment deal of the week," said Shawn Ramsey, executive director of the Umpqua Valley Arts Center, which hosts the event. "It will be a big party."
The Summer Arts Festival runs from Friday through Sunday at the center, 1624 W. Harvard Ave. in Roseburg. It will feature about 130 artists, live music, a juried visual art show and hands-on activities for children, including painting and sculpting. Although free, a $3 donation is suggested for each person.
Mickey Beach, the vice president of the Umpqua Valley Arts Association Board, said this year's festival will feature an expanded music lineup. Now, bands will perform on one of two stages, entertaining audiences late into the night with everything from rock 'n' roll to blues.
Local singers and songwriters will play dance and acoustic melodies on the performance stage, while the main stage will highlight the talents of regional groups. Some of the bands scheduled to play are Sonny Boy Rock-n-Blues Band, the Storyville Jazz Band and Samba Ja.
"Samba Ja (band members) are mobile and all over the place," Beach said. "It's a lot of fun and you can't help but get into what they are doing. They are a real dynamic band."
The headlining band, the Satin Love Orchestra of Eugene, is also expected to draw crowds. Beach said the group plays superb disco-era funk, and that many who hear them will become instant fans.
The tradition began as a way to expose the community to local talent. It's continuing because visitors continue to want more.
"It's the entertainment deal of the week," said Shawn Ramsey, executive director of the Umpqua Valley Arts Center, which hosts the event. "It will be a big party."
The Summer Arts Festival runs from Friday through Sunday at the center, 1624 W. Harvard Ave. in Roseburg. It will feature about 130 artists, live music, a juried visual art show and hands-on activities for children, including painting and sculpting. Although free, a $3 donation is suggested for each person.
Mickey Beach, the vice president of the Umpqua Valley Arts Association Board, said this year's festival will feature an expanded music lineup. Now, bands will perform on one of two stages, entertaining audiences late into the night with everything from rock 'n' roll to blues.
Local singers and songwriters will play dance and acoustic melodies on the performance stage, while the main stage will highlight the talents of regional groups. Some of the bands scheduled to play are Sonny Boy Rock-n-Blues Band, the Storyville Jazz Band and Samba Ja.
"Samba Ja (band members) are mobile and all over the place," Beach said. "It's a lot of fun and you can't help but get into what they are doing. They are a real dynamic band."
The headlining band, the Satin Love Orchestra of Eugene, is also expected to draw crowds. Beach said the group plays superb disco-era funk, and that many who hear them will become instant fans.
"If Samba Ja doesn't get you going, the Satin Love Orchestra will," he said. "They dress the part and nail the music. They are becoming known statewide and regionally as an exciting band."
Besides the music, viewing the art is a favored pastime among visitors. This year, the artists will showcase pottery, paintings, sculptures, textiles and ceramics. One of the artists taking part in the festival is Lowell Duell of Glide.
Since 1987, Duell has immersed himself in making hand-blown glass. He's attracted to the medium, he said, because it's versatile and dynamic. With it, he creates tide pool paperweights, pond balls and other objects of all shapes and sizes.
"I'm fascinated with it," Duell said about glasswork. "You have so much opportunity to be creative, and you can always learn more."
Duell said much of his inspiration comes from when he was a kid growing up in Aruba. An avid skin diver at the time, he would see jellyfish, sea flowers and other creatures on the ocean floor. He's since learned to incorporate the unique shapes and colors he viewed into his work, much of which can be placed in gardens.
To Duell, the fountains and standing objects he makes are meant to be felt, not placed on a mantle.
"Glass is nice to touch," he said. "It's really warm and smooth. I'd like to see them handle the piece and not just put it on a shelf and stare at it."
Duell has participated in the festival since 1996, and he continues to return because he looks forward to interacting with the community.
"Between the entertainment, the artists and the food, it's really one of the best events in the county," he said. "It's a real old show and I think the Arts Center has done a really good job with keeping it going."
Beach agrees, saying the event is an opportunity for people to dance and let loose. To him, it's a grand bash that everyone should check out for themselves.
"It's kind of like the front yard party," Beach said. "The town can get together on the common front yard at the Arts Center and have some fun."
* You can reach reporter Erin Snelgrove at 957-4208 or by e-mail at esnelgrove@newsreview.info.
Besides the music, viewing the art is a favored pastime among visitors. This year, the artists will showcase pottery, paintings, sculptures, textiles and ceramics. One of the artists taking part in the festival is Lowell Duell of Glide.
Since 1987, Duell has immersed himself in making hand-blown glass. He's attracted to the medium, he said, because it's versatile and dynamic. With it, he creates tide pool paperweights, pond balls and other objects of all shapes and sizes.
"I'm fascinated with it," Duell said about glasswork. "You have so much opportunity to be creative, and you can always learn more."
Duell said much of his inspiration comes from when he was a kid growing up in Aruba. An avid skin diver at the time, he would see jellyfish, sea flowers and other creatures on the ocean floor. He's since learned to incorporate the unique shapes and colors he viewed into his work, much of which can be placed in gardens.
To Duell, the fountains and standing objects he makes are meant to be felt, not placed on a mantle.
"Glass is nice to touch," he said. "It's really warm and smooth. I'd like to see them handle the piece and not just put it on a shelf and stare at it."
Duell has participated in the festival since 1996, and he continues to return because he looks forward to interacting with the community.
"Between the entertainment, the artists and the food, it's really one of the best events in the county," he said. "It's a real old show and I think the Arts Center has done a really good job with keeping it going."
Beach agrees, saying the event is an opportunity for people to dance and let loose. To him, it's a grand bash that everyone should check out for themselves.
"It's kind of like the front yard party," Beach said. "The town can get together on the common front yard at the Arts Center and have some fun."
* You can reach reporter Erin Snelgrove at 957-4208 or by e-mail at esnelgrove@newsreview.info.
<b>Summer Arts Festival</b>
<b>WHAT:</b> Summer Arts Festival. The 36th annual event is sponsored by PremierWest Bank and features the works of 130 artists, live music, a food and wine garden and crafts for kids. <b>WHEN:</b> Friday, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
<b>WHERE:</b> Umpqua Valley Arts Center, 1624 W. Harvard Ave., Roseburg
<b>PARKING:</b> Because of the Soccer Association field renovation, parking this year will be changed to a different grass field located by the pottery classroom. More spaces will be available than in past years.
<b>COST:</b> Free, but $3 donations per person are suggested.
<b>INFORMATION: </b>672-2532.
<b>Main Stage </b>
<b>Music Schedule</b>
<b>Friday:</b>
6 to 7:30 p.m. — <b>Virgil Robinson</b>, blues rock
8 to 10 p.m. — <b>MR. DJT,</b> funk
<b>Saturday:</b>
4 to 5:30 p.m. — <b>Sonny Boy Rock-n-Blues Band,</b> blues rock
6 to 7:30 p.m. — <b>Samba Ja,</b> samba
8 to 10 p.m. — <b>Satin Love Orchestra,</b> disco/funk
<b>Sunday:</b>
1 to 2 p.m. — <b>Storyville Jazz Band,</b> Dixieland
2 to 4 p.m. — <b>Phynx,</b> soul
3:30 to 5:30 p.m. — <b>German Band, Umpah</b>
