Harper Mahood

Features

Catching Up With Rose City Band

Though the grooves of Rose City Band’s Garden Party go down easy, when he was coming of age in Wallingford, Connecticut in the 1980s, Ripley Johnson defined himself by what he hated. “Being an adolescent you’re just against everything, so we were against all of the synth pop and ’80s haircuts,” says Johnson. “Everything was neon and there were yuppies and Reagan.” As a teenager, Johnson longed for more adventurous sounds, drawn to punk bands like Black Flag and JFA through his love of skateboarding and Thrasher Magazine.

Zine Culture on Campus

As digital media becomes increasingly prolific, students are rebelling against the mainstream and taking matters into their own hands through self-published work. Fliers for DIY publications and zines dangle from bulletin boards across the University of Oregon campus. The school’s library boasts an archive of zines in the Special Collections section and professors have integrated zine making and analysis into their curriculums. So, what is a zine? 

Behind the scenes of UO student created photo book, Seen and Not Heard

Evan Susswood, a journalism student at the University of Oregon, recently released Seen And Not Heard, a 64 page photo book centered around youth culture, friendship and growing up. The photographs provide an intimate look into the lives of Susswood and his friends as they navigate the later stages of their adolescence. The deeply personal project is Susswood’s first self-published piece.

‘The President Sang Amazing Grace,’ a profile on photographer Xinyu Liu

Xinyu Liu sits under the protective overhang of the outdoor patio at Espresso Roma as rain falls around him. He flips through a tightly-bound book filled with a collection of photographs taken over the course of several years. Titled “The President Sang Amazing Grace,” the book is a collection of Liu’s photography and a commentary on political disillusion in the United States.

Strange Weather exhibit debuts at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art

Dressed in a dark gray suit and Nike running shoes, Jordan Schnitzer addresses a small crowd of UO alumni, staff and students who are gathered on the second floor of the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art. It is Oct. 20 and Schnitzer is unveiling the museum’s latest exhibition, Strange Weather, the night before it opens to the public.

Shop local at the Eugene Native American Arts and Crafts Market

Hoping to shop local for this year’s holiday season? Look no further than the Eugene Native American Arts and Crafts Market located at the Eugene Farmers Market Pavilion on Dec. 3. This market is the perfect opportunity to support local Native artists and find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts. For those on a budget and those with more to spend, there’s an item for everyone.

‘The Art of Train Graffiti’ with Sandy Sanders

During the month of January, the New Zone Gallery on East 11th Avenue is running an exhibit by Sandy Sanders titled “The Art of Train Graffiti.” The show takes a multimedia approach, presenting photography with multimedia techniques like overlays and unique borders. Sanders offers a documentary approach for the project, highlighting the work of graffiti artists while intermixing his own artistic vision.

Eugene’s Windowfront Exhibitions is installing new art for February

In 2020, the city of Eugene implemented an idea to revive the struggling downtown by installing public art in empty storefronts. Named Windowfront Exhibitions, the project is celebrating its fourth year of public art. What began as an open call to Oregon artists resulted in works ranging from large-scale sculpture and stained glass to gallery-like spaces and videos. Today, they can still be found tucked inside many of the city’s vacant windows.

Exploring artist identities with Susan Lowdermilk, book artist and printmaker

“I was one of those kids that always wanted to be an artist,” Susan Lowdermilk, printmaker and book artist, said. “It was something that I was always focused on.” Lowdermilk is a professor of art at Lane Community College where she imparts her knowledge of digital and traditional art forms onto students.

Eugene Holiday Gift Guide

As classes wind down and transition into winter break, check out some of Eugene’s local businesses to get a head start on this year’s holiday shopping. Local, handmade gifts can not only be more exciting to receive but also help support artists and small businesses in the community.

What UO students wear in winter

As the days get shorter and temperatures drop, UO students are transitioning into their winter wear. T-shirts are being swapped out for waterproof jackets and Birkenstocks are retired for more water-resistant alternatives such as Dr. Martens.

Little Axe Records: a pop-up garage shop turned record store and label

Ravi Shankar and The Supremes smile down on a light wood countertop, where a composition book is opened to a pencil drawing of an ape. A quick flip through the handmade wooden record bins and shelves of cassettes reveals a colorful collection of music from around the world, ranging from Peru to Indonesia, Turkey to Nigeria. Welcome to Little Axe Records.