Pillars of Art program showcases unique artwork in Bend Visitor Center

Visit Bend doesn’t mind if people color on the walls at the Bend Visitor Center. In fact, they’re willing to pay for it.

In September 2011, Visit Bend kicked off the Pillars of Art program. Pillars of Art  is designed to introduce tourists to Bend’s unique arts and culture scene, and to support emerging local artists. The City of Bend Arts, Beautification & Culture Commission (ABC Commission) honored the Pillars of Art program in 2012 by giving the Bend Visitor Center the ABC Award that honors individuals, organizations and businesses that have made significant contributions to the celebration, promotion, beautification or preservation of the City's arts, culture, natural environment or public spaces.

On a rotating basis, Visit Bend will choose one local artist to create unique chalk drawings on two large, cement pillars in the lobby of the Bend Visitor Center. The chosen artist will also have his or her framed art displayed and sold in the Visitor Center.
See below for more information on the artists.

With thousands of tourists stopping by the visitor center regularly, the Pillars of Art program ensures great exposure for the artists and a terrific chance for tourists to see truly unique artwork.

Artists selected for the Pillars of Art program will receive a small stipend in exchange for their work. Are you an artist with a handful of chalk and a great vision? Contact the Bend Visitor Center at 541-382-8048.

Those interested in seeing the artwork are encouraged to stop by the Bend Visitor Center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

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Featured Pillars of Art Artists

 

Megan McGuinness - Featured artist from October 1 to December 31, 2011

Megan was born and raised in Portland, Oregon in the early 90’s. Surrounded by the creativity and culture of the Pacific Northwest, she grasped at every chance to express herself and reinvent the natural beauty around her. Beginning with her first solo art show at 13, Megan knew drawing and painting would be a passion for years to come.

Megan moved to Bend in January of 2010 and fell in love with the unique art culture that is here. She loves attending Downtown First Friday Art Walks and trips to Pak-it to find re-usable materials to paint on. Megan mixes realism with surrealism and adds a pinch of repetition to create a whimsical movement to her paintings. She hopes to make the viewer's eyes dance with her quirky imaginings, bright colors, and fanciful characters.

Megan was a resident at Poethouse Art for six months and spends time in the summer volunteering at a 4-H camp in Salem, Oregon, recently completing an all camp mural and teaching art to children. When not painting, She brings her unique touch to Ida’s cupcake cafe on Bend's Westside. Megan hopes to continue pursuing an education in Fine Arts, but  enjoys being a student of the amazing life and natural beauty  Bend has to offer.

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Kevin Schwarting - Featured artist from January 1 to May, 2012

Artist Kevin Schwarting grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and spent ten years in Montana before moving to Bend in the spring of 2010. He began drawing and sketching as a child, initially fascinated by charcoal until colors took him into another realm. Pastels, oils, and acrylics are his favorite medium, and winter landscapes are his favorite muse.

“There has always been this sense of peace and stillness in cold, snowy winter landscapes,” he noted. “I try to create the movement in a skier, flying in snow, breaking through thousands of frozen crystals and throwing that majestic spray of snow on each turn. I dream of a never-ending ski run because the way it makes me feel is beyond compare.”

Kevin was drawn to Bend for outdoor pursuits like skiing and fishing, but it didn’t take long for him to find his place in Bend’s vibrant art scene. “Bend attracts so many artistic people because it has created an atmosphere that suits an artist. From the festivals to the art walks, Bend has a wide array of talent. The Pillars of Art program is great for emerging artists like myself, and I’m absolutely honored to be displaying my work here.”

>> Read the Bend Buzz blog post on Kevin Schwarting here

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Sam Fisch - Featured artist from June to December 2012

A native of Ithaca, New York, Sam moved west when he was five and spent most of his life in northern Idaho and Eastern Washington. He’s been drawing since he had the coordination to pick up a pencil or marker, but got serious about his artwork as life experiences taught him to use it as a form of soulful expression. He began working primarily in pen and ink, but has spent the last four years exploring color with paint. He works with watercolor, oil, and acrylic, though oils are his favorite medium. He’s lived in Bend for the last two years and is a student at Central Oregon Community College.

Read more about what Sam had to say about art, nature, and what it’s like to be an emerging young artist in Bend...

>> Read the Bend Buzz blog post on Sam Fisch here

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Katie Lombardo of Katie Daisy - Featured artist from January 1 to June 2013

Visit Bend’s newest featured artist is bringing springtime to Bend just a little early this year.

Known for her honey-laced hand lettering and spring-scented illustrations, Katie Lombardo of Katie Daisy has gained notoriety for her artwork ranging from greeting cards to paintings. Her chalk drawings will be featured on the pillars in the Bend Visitor Center through June 2013, and her artwork will be displayed for sale throughout that time.

Katie has lived in Bend for less than a year, but she’s no stranger to the art scene. Her clients include Target, American Greetings, Pottery Barn, Papyrus, Walkers, Madison Park Greetings, and more. She also has a line of home and garden products for Demdaco, a stationery line with teNeues Publishing Group, and a series of drawings featured in a book by bestselling self-help author Louise Hay.

Katie attended the Minneapolis College of Art & Design and graduated with a BFA in Illustration. She operates a popular Etsy shop and enjoys spending time in Bend seeking inspiration in Drake Park or browsing antique shops and local boutiques. You can visit her online at katiedaisy.com, or stop by the Bend Visitor Center for a close-up look at her work. Be sure to check out Katie's art for sale on Etsy here.

>> Read the Bend Buzz Blog post on Katie Daisy here