News
ENLARGE
Douglas County's arts and entertainment scene can be overlooked in a state with cultural centers like Ashland, Eugene and Portland.
Doing so would be overlooking a cohesive group of artists and entertainers who create a thriving art scene.
“When I first moved here, Roseburg was always a town that people drove through,” Umpqua Community College Director of Music Jason Heald said. “To me, it was like moving to the end of the earth culturally.”
Heald said that he soon learned that his perception of the county was incorrect as he saw firsthand the level of community support that surrounds the arts.
On a weekly basis, authors share ideas, actors trade lines, artists paint together and musicians jam.
Artists from a number of backgrounds have grown up or moved here to share their talents.
Shasta Ray, a musician and music promoter who moved to the Umpqua Valley from Napa Valley in 2005, said he believes that a town's business and culture rely on its arts scene.
“The more arts, the less stagnant a community is. Once the art dries up, the heart and depth of our community can get very dry,” Ray said.
MUSIC
The Roseburg band Moonglow the Duet is already into its acoustic set by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday night. In front of them is a packed house at Charley's BBQ on 123 W. Harvard Ave.
After the band is through, the stage is open to anyone to play two songs.
Such chances to hear live music are becoming more frequent, Ray said.
“In three years, it's totally a different environment musically. We have a lot of momentum,” he said.
Ray said when he first arrived, the music scene was limited. Weekday shows like the one at Charley's were rare and the talent was limited.
The county is now seeing a musical renaissance.
“I remember the days when we never had to show up early to get a seat,” he said.
Now on any night of the week, jazz, blues, country, classical and bluegrass, among other genres, can echo in coffee houses, restaurants and concert halls.
Heald said music fans have a selection of distinct music venues that are unrivaled for a place the size of Douglas County.
While the Jacoby Auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,010 provides an environment for larger concerts and shows, churches and businesses provide a more intimate setting for musicians.
Venues like Chimps Hangout, Joe Monkey Espresso Cafe, Little Brothers Pub, the Jasmine Events Center and the First Presbyterian Church are smaller places that are available to musicians weekly.
“Anytime you have opportunities like this to see live music, it's a very good thing,” Heald said.
Ray said he's seen a growth in the number of musicians and the level of talent.
With positive momentum in the county's music scene, Heald and Ray want to see the growth continue.
”It's good to find all of the musicians that are playing in their garage and playing in their back rooms and get them to perform,” Heald said.
ART
Art studios and galleries often reflect the natural beauty of the Umpqua Valley. In watercolor, oil and acrylic, the trees, rivers and farmlands are recreated.
“With all of our hills and valleys, there are so many different things you can paint,” said Vinita Pappas, a member of the Plein Air Painters. The group paints watercolors in an outdoor setting.
The surroundings attract artists internationally who come for the varied landscape.
The community of artists helps aspiring painters.
Pappas, who started painting professionally in 2002, said the art community supported and helped her while she learned the basics.
“One thing that I found out very early on was that the arts are very friendly,” she said. “I met a couple people right off the bat with great technique who helped answer questions I had.”
The Umpqua Valley Arts Association anchors the community. The Umpqua Valley Arts Center in Roseburg is a hub for teaching and showing art.
“The arts center provides a central beacon for our artists. It's a really good way to get connected,” Pappas said.
The arts association features seven rotating galleries, weekly classes and a staff to answer questions. Association members also teach art in schools.
The director of the art association, Kathy Henderson, said the healthy art community is substantial for a place the size of Douglas County. As a reflection of this, the organization's slogan is “Douglas County— known for its art!”
“We're really excited about the art movement in Douglas County. Little pods are growing across the community,” Henderson said.
AUTHORS
Writing can be lonely. Hours spent at a computer or typewriter can leave a writer feeling isolated.
Douglas County has two clubs that bring writers out of seclusion and into a community of authors.
An Association of Writers and Pen-n-Ink focus on connecting and sharing ideas with the purpose of making the writing process easier.
“It's a solitary activity, but once it's written you need the feedback,” said KatSue Grant, president of An Association of Writers.
An Association of Writers meets once a month. Pen-n-Ink meets most weeks.
Grant said the clubs are good for sharing ideas, overcoming writer's block, managing time and setting goals.
“We make sure that your book does not turn out amateurish,” Grant said.
The clubs also assist authors in finding a publisher, designing an attractive cover and marketing the book.
Within the clubs, the writers' experiences range from first-time authors to published veterans.
A majority are retired and focusing their creativity on writing. Grant said they draw on life experiences to write fiction and nonfiction.
In addition to the clubs, workshops, author fairs and other events cultivate connections between writers. Whether an author is an aspiring professional or hobbyist, the county has ways to develop the craft.
OUTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT
Cultivating arts and culture within the county sometimes requires bringing artists from outside the county.
The Douglas County Fair, Music on the Half Shell and Riverbend Live! present an eclectic collection of top entertainers.
“Our mission statement was to bring a wide variety of music to town,” a Music on the Half Shell organizer, Kelly Leonard, said. “It's tremendously received in the community and established from music lovers all across Oregon.”
The summer concerts at Stewart Park in Roseburg are free and supported by donors, sponsors and volunteers.
“People show up and listen to music they never would have thought they'd like,” Leonard said.
Riverbend Live!, modeled after Half Shell, provides a more intimate environment that also includes theater and poetry along with its musical lineup at Riverbend Park in Winston.
Mo Nichols, who helped found Riverbend Live! and Music on the Half Shell, said the concerts enhance the county's image.
“People used to think of Douglas County as a redneck community and now we bring artists from all around the country and world to perform,” Nichols said.
THEATER
Throughout the year, the Umpqua Actors Community Theatre and Centerstage Theatre play host to Victorian princes, Southern belles, Roman villains and Shakespearean heroes.
Theater in the county is a community-oriented arts event in which the audience, cast and crew all rely on each other to create a theatrical experience.
“We're pretty blessed around here because we have a lot of strong support from community groups,” said Dean Remick, director of Centerstage Theatre and theater at Umpqua Community College.
Remick said the amount of involvement has created high-quality community theater.
Centerstage and UACT both present five plays each year. Comedies, musicals, dramas and children's plays are the most popular genres.
Through ticket sales, donations and grants, the theaters create quality sets and props for each play.
UACT Director Melody Schwegel said the size of the county provides a more intimate experience between audience and cast.
“It's special that you can sit down for an evening and see your neighbor walk onstage as Hamlet,” she said.
Schwegel added that the size also requires assistance from community members who help with lights, sets and props.
In a large production found on Broadway or large metropolitan theaters, the crew are professionals. In community theater, volunteers serve as electricians, carpenters, engineers and fashion designers.
Schwegel said people rely on each other to make a smooth production.
“When you're working in such a close proximity, you automatically develop a relationship. It's fun to see it grow,” Schwegel said.
That relationship extends to the theater companies. Remick and Schwegel said UACT and Centerstage trade props and ideas.
“The relationship we share has been excellent. We help each other out,” Remick said.
• You can reach reporter Ryan Imondi at 541-957-4211 or by email at rimondi@nrtoday.com.
Doing so would be overlooking a cohesive group of artists and entertainers who create a thriving art scene.
“When I first moved here, Roseburg was always a town that people drove through,” Umpqua Community College Director of Music Jason Heald said. “To me, it was like moving to the end of the earth culturally.”
Heald said that he soon learned that his perception of the county was incorrect as he saw firsthand the level of community support that surrounds the arts.
On a weekly basis, authors share ideas, actors trade lines, artists paint together and musicians jam.
Artists from a number of backgrounds have grown up or moved here to share their talents.
Shasta Ray, a musician and music promoter who moved to the Umpqua Valley from Napa Valley in 2005, said he believes that a town's business and culture rely on its arts scene.
“The more arts, the less stagnant a community is. Once the art dries up, the heart and depth of our community can get very dry,” Ray said.
MUSIC
The Roseburg band Moonglow the Duet is already into its acoustic set by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday night. In front of them is a packed house at Charley's BBQ on 123 W. Harvard Ave.
After the band is through, the stage is open to anyone to play two songs.
Such chances to hear live music are becoming more frequent, Ray said.
“In three years, it's totally a different environment musically. We have a lot of momentum,” he said.
Ray said when he first arrived, the music scene was limited. Weekday shows like the one at Charley's were rare and the talent was limited.
The county is now seeing a musical renaissance.
“I remember the days when we never had to show up early to get a seat,” he said.
Now on any night of the week, jazz, blues, country, classical and bluegrass, among other genres, can echo in coffee houses, restaurants and concert halls.
Heald said music fans have a selection of distinct music venues that are unrivaled for a place the size of Douglas County.
While the Jacoby Auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,010 provides an environment for larger concerts and shows, churches and businesses provide a more intimate setting for musicians.
Venues like Chimps Hangout, Joe Monkey Espresso Cafe, Little Brothers Pub, the Jasmine Events Center and the First Presbyterian Church are smaller places that are available to musicians weekly.
“Anytime you have opportunities like this to see live music, it's a very good thing,” Heald said.
Ray said he's seen a growth in the number of musicians and the level of talent.
With positive momentum in the county's music scene, Heald and Ray want to see the growth continue.
”It's good to find all of the musicians that are playing in their garage and playing in their back rooms and get them to perform,” Heald said.
ART
Art studios and galleries often reflect the natural beauty of the Umpqua Valley. In watercolor, oil and acrylic, the trees, rivers and farmlands are recreated.
“With all of our hills and valleys, there are so many different things you can paint,” said Vinita Pappas, a member of the Plein Air Painters. The group paints watercolors in an outdoor setting.
The surroundings attract artists internationally who come for the varied landscape.
The community of artists helps aspiring painters.
Pappas, who started painting professionally in 2002, said the art community supported and helped her while she learned the basics.
“One thing that I found out very early on was that the arts are very friendly,” she said. “I met a couple people right off the bat with great technique who helped answer questions I had.”
The Umpqua Valley Arts Association anchors the community. The Umpqua Valley Arts Center in Roseburg is a hub for teaching and showing art.
“The arts center provides a central beacon for our artists. It's a really good way to get connected,” Pappas said.
The arts association features seven rotating galleries, weekly classes and a staff to answer questions. Association members also teach art in schools.
The director of the art association, Kathy Henderson, said the healthy art community is substantial for a place the size of Douglas County. As a reflection of this, the organization's slogan is “Douglas County— known for its art!”
“We're really excited about the art movement in Douglas County. Little pods are growing across the community,” Henderson said.
AUTHORS
Writing can be lonely. Hours spent at a computer or typewriter can leave a writer feeling isolated.
Douglas County has two clubs that bring writers out of seclusion and into a community of authors.
An Association of Writers and Pen-n-Ink focus on connecting and sharing ideas with the purpose of making the writing process easier.
“It's a solitary activity, but once it's written you need the feedback,” said KatSue Grant, president of An Association of Writers.
An Association of Writers meets once a month. Pen-n-Ink meets most weeks.
Grant said the clubs are good for sharing ideas, overcoming writer's block, managing time and setting goals.
“We make sure that your book does not turn out amateurish,” Grant said.
The clubs also assist authors in finding a publisher, designing an attractive cover and marketing the book.
Within the clubs, the writers' experiences range from first-time authors to published veterans.
A majority are retired and focusing their creativity on writing. Grant said they draw on life experiences to write fiction and nonfiction.
In addition to the clubs, workshops, author fairs and other events cultivate connections between writers. Whether an author is an aspiring professional or hobbyist, the county has ways to develop the craft.
OUTSIDE ENTERTAINMENT
Cultivating arts and culture within the county sometimes requires bringing artists from outside the county.
The Douglas County Fair, Music on the Half Shell and Riverbend Live! present an eclectic collection of top entertainers.
“Our mission statement was to bring a wide variety of music to town,” a Music on the Half Shell organizer, Kelly Leonard, said. “It's tremendously received in the community and established from music lovers all across Oregon.”
The summer concerts at Stewart Park in Roseburg are free and supported by donors, sponsors and volunteers.
“People show up and listen to music they never would have thought they'd like,” Leonard said.
Riverbend Live!, modeled after Half Shell, provides a more intimate environment that also includes theater and poetry along with its musical lineup at Riverbend Park in Winston.
Mo Nichols, who helped found Riverbend Live! and Music on the Half Shell, said the concerts enhance the county's image.
“People used to think of Douglas County as a redneck community and now we bring artists from all around the country and world to perform,” Nichols said.
THEATER
Throughout the year, the Umpqua Actors Community Theatre and Centerstage Theatre play host to Victorian princes, Southern belles, Roman villains and Shakespearean heroes.
Theater in the county is a community-oriented arts event in which the audience, cast and crew all rely on each other to create a theatrical experience.
“We're pretty blessed around here because we have a lot of strong support from community groups,” said Dean Remick, director of Centerstage Theatre and theater at Umpqua Community College.
Remick said the amount of involvement has created high-quality community theater.
Centerstage and UACT both present five plays each year. Comedies, musicals, dramas and children's plays are the most popular genres.
Through ticket sales, donations and grants, the theaters create quality sets and props for each play.
UACT Director Melody Schwegel said the size of the county provides a more intimate experience between audience and cast.
“It's special that you can sit down for an evening and see your neighbor walk onstage as Hamlet,” she said.
Schwegel added that the size also requires assistance from community members who help with lights, sets and props.
In a large production found on Broadway or large metropolitan theaters, the crew are professionals. In community theater, volunteers serve as electricians, carpenters, engineers and fashion designers.
Schwegel said people rely on each other to make a smooth production.
“When you're working in such a close proximity, you automatically develop a relationship. It's fun to see it grow,” Schwegel said.
That relationship extends to the theater companies. Remick and Schwegel said UACT and Centerstage trade props and ideas.
“The relationship we share has been excellent. We help each other out,” Remick said.
• You can reach reporter Ryan Imondi at 541-957-4211 or by email at rimondi@nrtoday.com.
