Corvallis Calendar: Thursday Afternoon to Friday Evening

Thursday, May 30

Art About Agriculture. LaSells Stewart Center, Giustina Gallery, 875 SW 26th St., Corvallis. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Free. OSU College of Agricultural Sciences’ Art About Agriculture 2024: Art About Agriculture’s 41st annual competition and touring exhibition presents juried selections from Pacific Northwest artists highlighting the lifeblood of the region’s agricultural diversity, economy, communities, and culture: our natural resources. RESOURCEful presents multifaceted interpretations of natural resources’ inseparable tie to our food and fiber. For the first time, Art About Agriculture’s annual juried open call encouraged student art submissions with scholarship awards for College of Agricultural Sciences students of selected artwork. This opportunity was made possible in partnership with OSU College of Agricultural Sciences’ Academic Programs. We are thrilled to include artwork from four students representing OSU College of Agricultural Sciences, OSU ECampus and Oregon Coast School of Art. Visit https://lasells.oregonstate.edu/exhibit/art-about-agriculture-competition-and-touring-exhibition-2024-resourceful for more info.

Bringing the World Together: Paintings, Prints & Panels by Betty LaDuke. Philomath Museum, 1101 Main Street, Philomath. Wed – Sat, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Free. LaDuke’s current exhibitions focus on social justice from multiple perspectives, with colorful, elaborate totems and turtles carrying messages of resilience. This retrospective art exhibition includes paintings, prints and panels created between 1972 and 2023. Other recent exhibits by Betty LaDuke include Fire, Fury, and Resilience: Totem Witnesses and Totem Wisdom, and Turtle Wisdom: Personal, Political, and Playful. In 1993, La Duke received the Oregon Governor’s Award in the Arts. In 1996, she received the National Art Education Association’s Ziegfeld Award for Distinguished International Leadership and the Oregon Medallion Award 2019. The Philomath Museum, located at 1101 Main Street in Philomath, is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. Visit https://bentoncountymuseums.org/exhibits/bringing-the-world-together-paintings-prints-panels-by-betty-laduke/ for more info.

The Spirit Coalescent. Corvallis Museum, 411 SW 2nd Street, Corvallis. Wed. – Sat, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Sun., 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Free. The Benton County Historical Society is honored to host an art exhibit related to the new commission that Franklin Piland, Julia Keefe, and Delbert Anderson, three incredible Indigenous musicians, have created for the opening weekend of PRAx at OSU. The Spirit Coalescent was a project that combined original instrumental compositions of The Delbert Anderson Trio, eight giant multi-media visual art pieces by paintere Karen Ellsbury and photographer Patrick Hazen, dynamic choreography from Maura Garcia, and tied together through the poetry of James Pakootas.Visit https://www.visitcorvallis.com/eventdetail/3811/the-spirit-coalescent#eventdetail for more info.

Sonic Booms: How the Sound and Science of Technology Created Pop Music. Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts, 470 SW 15th Street, Corvallis. Tues. – Fri. 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat. 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. Free. The inaugural exhibition in PRAx connects our gallery programming to the musical side of our mission. “Sonic Booms: How the Sound and Science of Technology Created Pop Music” unveils how advancements in science and technology drove the development of pop forms over the past 150 years of music-making. In addition to historical objects – including the original mini-Moog synthesizer and a 19th century wax cylinder player invented by Thomas Edison – interactive displays anchor the exhibition, inviting the visitor to participate in the history they are encountering. Come make your own hip-hop beats, mix a record and listen to the ways in which recording fidelity has evolved over the decades. Visit https://prax.oregonstate.edu/visual-arts/exhibitions-prax/sonic-booms for more info.

Preschool Storytime. Main Meeting Room, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Free. Preschool storytime is for children 3-5 years old. Storytime is offered year-round as a drop-in program: first come, first served. Space is limited due to the room capacity and to provide a positive, safe environment for all. Children must be accompanied by a grown-up. Many lasting friendships start at Storytime! Visit https://corvallisbenton.librarycalendar.com/event/preschool-storytime-15803 for more info.

Monroe Baby Storytime. Monroe Children’s Area, Join to read, sing, rhyme and move, followed by free play! Thursdays at 11:00 AM, for ages 0-24 months and their caregivers. Storytime is offered year-round as a drop-in program. Children must be accompanied by a grown-up. Many lasting friendships start at storytime! Visit https://corvallisbenton.librarycalendar.com/event/monroe-baby-storytime-14 for more info.

Confluence II- Art & Science Fellows. The Arts Center, 700 SW Madison Avenue, Corvallis. Tuesday – Saturday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Free. The Arts Center is hosting Confluence II, the first of four exhibitions featuring final projects from 2024 Oregon State University Art and Science Fellows. Confluences II is a suite of exhibitions and events featuring work created by ’23 – ’24 PRAx Student Fellows. These fellowships offer students the opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary creative or journalistic project informed by active engagement with research in science or engineering at Oregon State University. Work in a variety of mediums from sculpture and painting to film and musical composition will be presented at venues on campus and in downtown Corvallis through the months of May and June. Visit https://theartscenter.net/confluence-ii-art-science-fellows/ for more info.

Glint, Glimmer, Glow by Kathryn Cellerini Moore. The Arts Center, 700 SW Madison Avenue, Corvallis. Tuesday – Saturday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Free. Glint, Glimmer, Glow is an experiment. A proof of concept. A statement about protecting our Earth. An exhibit inspired by the physics of solar wind, powered by solar energy. It shows what is possible when members of the community work toward a common goal. Visit https://theartscenter.net/kathryn-cellerini-moore-glint-glimmer-glow/ for more info.

Owens Farm: Past and Future. Owens Farm And Natural Area, 3458-4776 Pacific Hwy W, Corvallis. 2:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. Join Greenbelt Land Trust’s Executive Director Jessica McDonald for a presentation and walk at Owens Farm to learn about the fascinating history of the property and the exciting vision of community health-focused recreation that the Owens Farm Partnership is moving forward. Step inside the historic farmhouse, walk along the route of future trails, and learn how you can help the Owens Farm Partnership – City of Corvallis, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Benton County and Greenbelt Land Trust – make the vision come true. Walk for up to one mile, with some mild elevation, over uneven ground at times. No restrooms on site. Please leave four legged friends at home. Visit https://greenbeltlandtrust.org/event/owens-farm-past-and-future/ for more info.

Author Event: Wilderness and the American Spirit by Ruby McConnell. Main Meeting Room, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Join author Ruby McConnell and philosopher Michael Nelson for a conversation in celebration of McConnell’s new book “Wilderness and the American Spirit.” The idea of the American spirit has always been rooted in expansion and abundance — at great cost to the environment. Americans now find themselves at the edge of consequence: entering an age of scarcity, less ready to thrive than ever before, and in need of a new relationship with the natural world. “Wilderness and the American Spirit” retells the story of the American West, putting our national mythology in context with our current environmental crisis. McConnell uses the Applegate Trail — the lesser known southern alternative to the Oregon Trail — as a vehicle to tell stories similar to how Rachel Carson used birds and Edward Abbey used Arches. She follows the route westward through time and place exploring map-making, land use policies, the establishment of utopian communities (both faith-based and not), and the creation of resource-based economies, connecting the dots and showing how we got to now. Blending history, science and storytelling, “Wilderness and the American Spirit” traces one route leading to our current moment and suggests new routes to move us forward. Visit https://corvallisbenton.librarycalendar.com/event/author-event-wilderness-and-american-spirit-ruby-mcconnell-18006 for more info.

Bridging History – Historic Preservation Celebration. LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St, Corvallis. 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The annual celebration of historic preservation in Benton County. This year’s celebration will focus on how the important history surrounding the Van Buren Bridge will be preserved. Paul McMullen, the director of the Van Buren Bridge 7-part video series (modules) will present a 10-minute preview of the first video that features the history of the bridge and interviews from 4 local people and ODOT engineers and staff. The City of Corvallis will present a historic preservation award to the Sigma Nu Fraternity House and Benton County and PreservationWORKS will present an award to BA and Lenny Beierle for preserving the Williams H. McBee house. The Historic Courthouse Advisory Committee members will be honored for their volunteerism. Please join us in celebrating history and honoring preservation advocates! Visit https://cd.bentoncountyor.gov/events/bridging-history-historic-preservation-celebration/ for more info.

Live Music: Cool Jones. Common Fields, 545 SW 3rd Street, Corvallis. 6 p.m. Free. Sleazy Blues music, and Vintage Rock ‘N Roll, with a touch of Psychedelia. Visit https://www.commonfieldscorvallis.com/events.html for more info.

Historic Preservation Celebration. Location: LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th Street, Corvallis. 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The annual celebration of historic preservation in Benton County. This year’s celebration will focus on methods to preserve the important history surrounding the Van Buren Bridge. Paul McMullen, the director of the Van Buren Bridge 7-part video series (modules) will present a 10-minute preview of the first video that features the history of the bridge and interviews from 4 local people and ODOT engineers and staff. Historic preservation awards may be presented. Visit https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HEqJmEnpY55t1CNw28dVhKZ_ktHhI_Tq/view for more info.

Corvallis School District: Budget Committee Meeting. Virtual. 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. Free. Information about the budget process is available at: https://www.csd509j.net/departments/finmngmt/budget/. Meeting will be live streamed on the district’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/CorvallisSchoolDistrict. Visit https://www.csd509j.net/calendar/ for more info.

Live Music: Strange Rotation. Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 7:00 p.m. Strange Rotation live at the Old World Center! Visit https://www.oldworldcenter.com/#Events for more info.

Spring One-Acts. Ray Theater, 470 SW 15th St, Corvallis. 7:30 p.m. $5 – $12. Join us for this annual event that puts OSU student work into the spotlight. The Spring One-Act Festival 2024 features six newly adapted plays inspired by folk tales written and directed by OSU students. The festival is sure to appeal to a wide range of tastes and includes everything from whimsical comic takes on familiar characters to chilling explorations of life, death, and redemption. Visit https://prax.universitytickets.com/w/event.aspx?SeriesID=18 for more info.

Friday, May 31

Family Storytime. Main Meeting Room, Corvallis-Benton County Public Library, 645 NW Monroe Ave., Corvallis. 10:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. Free. Family Storytime is for children of all ages. Storytime is offered year-round as a drop-in program: first come, first served. Space is limited due to the room capacity and to provide a positive, safe environment for all. Children must be accompanied by a grown-up. Many lasting friendships start at Storytime! Visit https://corvallisbenton.librarycalendar.com/event/family-storytime-15839 for more info.

Children and Family Mental Health Open House. Children and Family Mental Health Building, 4185 SW Research Way, Corvallis. 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Free. The Benton County Children and Family Mental Health program recently moved from its leased space on 9th street into a new building on 4185 SW Research Way in Corvallis. To celebrate Mental Health Month in May and to invite the community to the new space, the Children and Family Mental Health team is hosting an open house on Friday, May 31, 2024 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We welcome the community to join us in the celebration, tour the new space, meet the team, and participate in fun activities for all: Food, Games, Resources, Meet the staff, & See the new space. Visit https://health.bentoncountyor.gov/events/children-family-mental-health-open-house/ for more info.

Red Cross Blood Drive. Corvallis Community Center, 2601 NW Tyler Ave. Corvallis. 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Free. 14,000 units of blood must be collected every day to meet patient needs across our communities. To check your eligibility or to make an appointment, contact the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767, go to redcrossblood.org, or download the Blood Donor App. Visit https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/parksrec/page/red-cross-blood-drive for more info.

Confluence II. The Arts Center, 700 SW Madison Avenue, Corvallis. Tuesday – Saturday, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. Free. The Arts Center is hosting Confluence II, the first of four exhibitions featuring final projects from 2024 Oregon State University Art and Science Fellows. Confluences II is a suite of exhibitions and events featuring work created by ’23 – ’24 PRAx Student Fellows. These fellowships offer students the opportunity to develop an interdisciplinary creative or journalistic project informed by active engagement with research in science or engineering at Oregon State University. Work in a variety of mediums from sculpture and painting to film and musical composition will be presented at venues on campus and in downtown Corvallis through the months of May and June. Visit https://theartscenter.net/confluence-ii-art-science-fellows/ for more info.

Live Music: The High Deductables. Old World Deli, 341 SW 2nd St, Corvallis. 7:00 p.m. The High Deductables live at the Old World Center! Visit https://www.oldworldcenter.com/#Events for more info.

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