The Metal Arts Gift Show that fills the Yamhill Valley Heritage Center this Saturday began last year on a whim and now enjoys the status of a thing. Organizer Maggie Bowman, the McMinnville silversmith and jewelry artist who corralled dozens of artists for the debut outing, is calling this year’s event the second annual show. Really, she says, the only question about Year Three is whether it will continue as a single-day event, or whether there’s sufficient demand for two.
“I did an exit survey, and every artist said, ‘Yes, 100 percent, do it again,’” said Bowman. “I said one day or two? Half of them said two days, half said one day. If I get 800 people this year in one day, I’ll do it two days next year. I just want to make sure it’s not a flash in the pan, but I don’t think it is.”
It’s a perfect opportunity to shop local by supporting artists and artisans from Yamhill County and a few beyond. Thirty artists are on board for the all-day event from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 9. Sponsored by William Henry, the show isn’t just a holiday “jewelry palooza,” Bowman said. You’ll also find bladesmiths, coppersmiths, sculptors, armorists, and artisans who work with bronze and reclaimed metal. There will also be 3-D CAD design demonstrations. Most artists are local, and some don’t sell online, so this is literally your one chance to discover them this year.
“When you come out here, everything is authentic, it’s real, you meet the person who made it,” said Bowman. “It’s not shipped from overseas, and the artist is there to talk to. It’s hands-on.”
The Yamhill Valley Heritage Center is ADA accessible and located at 11275 S.W. Durham Lane, just south of McMinnville along Highway 18. Admission is $5 cash or a donation of five cans of food for YCAP, the local Oregon Food Bank affiliate. Plan to bring cash if you want to buy; not all vendors are set up for credit cards.
There is no shortage of artistic and cultural offerings filling out the balance of the year; here’s a quick listing of a few other Yamhill County highlights:
TOO MUCH LIGHT MAKES THE BABY GO BLIND is what Linfield University Theatre is calling the 30 plays in 60 minutes that will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 7 and 7:30 and 10 p.m. Dec. 8. It’s an interactive theater event courtesy of students in the department’s course on directing, “a fusion of sport, poetry, and living newspaper,” according to the press notes. Tickets are $10; for more information call 503-883-2292.
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WHILE WE’RE AT LINFIELD, the juried student show of art will be on display in the Linfield Gallery at the Miller Fine Arts Center through Dec. 13. The show is juried by Portland’s Shelly Durica-Laiche. Gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
CHEHALEM CULTURAL CENTER IN NEWBERG has a full slate of events in December, including salsa dancing lessons on Dec. 13, a Christmas concert on Dec. 15 and 16, and, in the Parrish Gallery, the Yamhill County Artist Showcase through Dec. 22. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; visit the website for more information.
GALLERY THEATER’S YEAR-END MAINSTAGE SHOW is Anne of Green Gables, an adaptation by Joseph Robinette of the novel by L.M. Montgomery. Debbie Harmon Ferry directs. The show runs in McMinnville through Dec. 17, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. As always, the best advice for gallery shows is: Get your tickets ASAP, because they go fast. For more information, call 503-472-2227.
LAUREN KINHAN AT THE KEYNOTE CONCERT SERIES: The latest entry in the New Events category for local arts is this concert series conceived by Dana and Kim Libonati, the former a retired music instructor at McMinnville High School. The series launched this fall and will do shows monthly through at least April, possibly beyond. New York Voices jazz singer Lauren Kinhan is the featured musician at the next concert, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, at First Baptist Church, 125 S.E. Cowls St., McMinnville. For tickets and more information, visit the website.
PALETTE OF THE WILLAMETTE is the exhibition you’ll find through Dec. 30 at Art Elements Gallery in Newberg, with the colors and scenes of the Willamette Valley rendered in oils and watercolors by Christine Joy Swanson and Sarah Joy Silva. The gallery is at 604 E. First St. For more information, call 503-487-6141.
CURRENTS GALLERY IN McMINNVILLE is in the midst of its annual holiday show, with work for sale by more than 70 local artists. Find them at 532 N.E. Third St. downtown. The show runs through Jan. 2. For more information, visit them online or call 503-435-1316.
