Arts & Entertainment News July 2024

Chamber Music Northwest presents Beethoven’s incendiary and revolutionary Grosse Fuge that forever changed music. The almost incomprehensible genius of his “Great Fugue” has powered every genre of music since—from classical to jazz, Motown to heavy metal. We’ll explore equally fiery works by Brahms and Finnish composer Sebastian Fagerlund, inspired by the musical bonfire Beethoven ignited. After the Grosse Fuge, music would never be the same.

On her transcendent new record, Workin’ On A World, Iris DeMent faces the modern world—as it is right now—with its climate catastrophe, pandemic illness, and epidemic of violence and social injustice—and not only asks us how we can keep working towards a better world, but implores us to love each other, despite our very different ways of seeing. Her songs are her way of healing our broken inner and outer spaces.

Sign up for the Reser mailing list for information about all performance and other offerings.

The Beaverton Community Band invites you to join us for our Band in the Park summer concert series. The free concerts, held in collaboration with the Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District, are a fantastic opportunity to relax with friends and family, enjoy the beautiful outdoors, and celebrate the vibrant community spirit of Beaverton. So come on down, spread out a blanket, and enjoy an evening of music, entertainment, food, and good company under the summer sky!

Join us for a free summer concert on the Walters Lawn featuring the Portland Opera! Highlighting the rich history of Spanish music, explore everything from Zarzuela (a uniquely Spanish form of Operetta) to folk music to the most iconically Spanish idiom of all—flamenco.

Classical artists Jessica Blau (mezzo-soprano), Sydney Anderson (soprano), and Katherine Ciscon (piano), along with Espacio Flamenco members Brenna McDonald (guitar) and Yeshe Wingard (voice, guitar) come together to explore these different musical styles as they put their own spin on these genres. Bring a blanket and snacks for a picnic concert on the lawn. Please visit the event webpage for more details. 

Ten Tiny Dances presents the work of exemplary contemporary and traditional choreographers and performers on a four-foot-by-four-foot stage in non-conventional sites. This event engages, surprises, delights, and perhaps challenges the community around art in public spaces and highlights the artistic and cultural diversity of Beaverton.

La Strada dei Pastelli Chalk Art Festival is produced by Tualatin Valley Creates and supported by the Host Sponsor, the City of Hillsboro. The annual summer festival invites festival goers to engage with nationally recognized and emerging visual artists as they produce huge, temporary drawings down the center of the street(s); most averaging 10’x10’. 

Simultaneous to the visual arts exhibitions, local performing artists fill the air with rhythm and sound from the festival’s main stage and multiple pop-up locations. Local art vendors line Second and Third Avenues offering unique items and inspirations to attendees. 

Attendees of all ages are encouraged to take part in hands-on activities being provided by local nonprofit organizations. The annual summer art festival, held in Downtown Hillsboro’s Cultural Arts District, combines community engagement and art appreciation into this fun-filled weekend! From its creative core to all of the business partners involved, La Strada dei Pastelli’s goal is to build visibility for Washington County’s unique and diverse community assets.

Santa Catalina mountain sunset by Marlene Huntsinger
Santa Catalina Mountain Sunset by Marlene Huntsinger, Tucson, watercolor.

For more details about classes and events please visit the VGA website.

Come meet the Featured Artist, the Big and Bold Artist, and see the new show! Refreshments provided. 

Sunset at Rockaway Beach, photography, 30"x 40" on canvas.
Sunset at Rockaway Beach, photography, 30″x 40″ on canvas, by Jeannine Bamberg

Featured Artist Marlene Huntsinger: “Last August my husband and I took three months and drove our 24-foot RV across Canada on Highway 1 from west to east, ending in Nova Scotia. From there we wandered south, then east, then eventually north and home. He turns in early, but I stay up, and I painted what we had seen each day. While I slept in, he examined my night’s progress and was ready to critique when I got up. I picked a few to share as a memoir of a wonderful trip.” 

Big and Bold Artist Jeannine Bamberg: “While staying overnight at Rockaway Beach, I took this photo at sunset just before the sun slipped into the ocean. The reflections and vivid oranges and golds were so splendidly vivid. No retouching or enhancements needed—all natural beauty. Glad I was able to capture this moment!” 

Annie Salness
Annie Salness
landscape by annie salness

Nationally known acrylic painter Annie Salness is enthusiastic about sharing her experiences and insights into her work and teaching, and the event will feature engaging interactive demonstrations. Note: If you previously replied, please RSVP again due to this new location.

Village Gallery of Arts is delighted to award this year’s scholarship to Jessica Melgar, a graduating senior from Aloha High School. Congratulations, Jessica! Her winning photography entry, “Spiraling,” will be on display in the gallery throughout the month of June. Funds for this scholarship were raised from a portion of the Art Dollars for Scholars entry fees.

VGA’s Instructional Team is collaborating with THPRD on two weeks of art camp sessions. Each session will be unique. Find complete details in THPRD catalog online:, or call 503-439-9400.

book fold elephant

Join an exciting class learning a variety of art forms! A team of rotating instructors provides a chance to explore a variety of media and approaches while building artistic concepts and skills. All supplies included. August projects include: Book-folded Elephant, Needle Felting, Cubist Pets, Drawing and more! Sign up soon!

Introduction to Watercolor Painting with Susan Pfahl
shore dunes by susan pfahl

Watercolor for beginners. Each class we will experiment with how the paint and paper and water react together. Then we will paint a simple subject incorporating this “experiment” into our work. Masterpieces are unlikely, but skills will increase. No prerequisites needed. Returning students are welcome to repeat this course. New projects and techniques will be presented in each subsequent series of this class.

Ekphrastic Workshop: The Interplay Between Poetry & Visual Art with Carolyn Adams & Debbie Teeter

The first session will be writing poems inspired by the art in the Village Gallery, as well as block-out poems derived from print materials. In the second session you will create visual art prompted by a poem written by one of your fellow attendees. Examples will be provided for guidance. There will be many opportunities for collaboration and collective learning. When the sessions are over you will have at least one poem and a work of art to take home and enjoy.

The VGA mission is to: ignite the joy of learning, creating, and appreciating art in our community. We support professional and emerging artists by providing high quality affordable art education to children and adults as well as providing venues for sharing their work. Village Gallery of Arts is a non-profit (501c3) organization, receives no taxpayer money, and is staffed entirely by member volunteers.

Exhibition coming in September, accepting content for consideration now. View the application form for application and guidelines, or email tbbexhibitions@gmail.com.

beaverton stories

Everyone has a story to tell. Are you ready to share yours? The City of Beaverton will host an exhibition to coincide with Welcoming Week events and celebrations important to Beaverton’s immigrant and refugee communities from September 17-December 6. The exhibition, “Our City, Our Stories: An Expanded History of Beaverton”, will feature a series of photographs representing our diversity through objects such as personal, cultural, and familial collectibles, mementos, family recipes, photos, stories, etc.