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    In the ten years since the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA) first opened its doors, downtown Eugene and its arts community have undergone dramatic change. Much of that has been the result of the trials and tribulations of the economic recession, and DIVA, despite how quickly it became an essential community fixture, was not spared from the fallout. But unlike many other downtown establishments, DIVA has weathered the storm, and though they are still working to recapture the momentum of their early years, the all-volunteer board and staff retain a broad and ambitious vision, both for their own organization and for the Eugene arts community.

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    In the ten years since the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA) first opened its doors, downtown Eugene and its arts community have undergone dramatic change. Much of that has been the result of the trials and tribulations of the economic recession, and DIVA, despite how quickly it became an essential community fixture, was not spared from the fallout. But unlike many other downtown establishments, DIVA has weathered the storm, and though they are still working to recapture the momentum of their early years, the all-volunteer board and staff retain a broad and ambitious vision, both for their own organization and for the Eugene arts community.

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    149 views3 pages

    DIVA: An Arts Initiative With A Community Focus

    Uploaded by

    CreateEugene
    In the ten years since the Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA) first opened its doors, downtown Eugene and its arts community have undergone dramatic change. Much of that has been the result of the trials and tribulations of the economic recession, and DIVA, despite how quickly it became an essential community fixture, was not spared from the fallout. But unlike many other downtown establishments, DIVA has weathered the storm, and though they are still working to recapture the momentum of their early years, the all-volunteer board and staff retain a broad and ambitious vision, both for their own organization and for the Eugene arts community.

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    AllimagesDIVA.Usedwithpermission.

    DIVA:AnArtsInitiativewithaCommunityFocus byLukeFannin InthetenyearssincetheDowntownInitiativefortheVisualArts(DIVA)firstopeneditsdoors, downtownEugeneanditsartscommunityhaveundergonedramaticchange.Muchofthathas beentheresultofthetrialsandtribulationsoftheeconomicrecession,andDIVA,despitehow quicklyitbecameanessentialcommunityfixture,wasnotsparedfromthefallout.Butunlike manyotherdowntownestablishments,DIVAhasweatheredthestorm,andthoughtheyarestill workingtorecapturethemomentumoftheirearlyyears,theallvolunteerboardandstaffretaina broadandambitiousvision,bothfortheirownorganizationandfortheEugeneartscommunity. Wehadtomovetoasmallerlocation,saysMiriamJordan,DIVAscurrentboardpresident, nowinhersecondyear.Butourmissionremainsthesame:strengtheningconnections,sharing knowledge,andbuildingcommunitythroughthevisualarts.Weputtogetherawidevarietyof exhibitsandeventsinanefforttobroadentheappealofthearts. SucheventsincludetheevermorepopularOpenLensFestival,SpringIlluminations,a oncepopularjuriedshowofLaneCountyartistswhichDIVArecentlyrevived,DrinkandDraw forDIVA,acasualmonthlyfundraisingeventheldatNinkasiBrewery,andtheopeningreception forBacktoBach,whichcelebrates35yearsoftheOregonBachFestival,andfeaturesan exhibitoftheeachoftheeventsoriginalpromotionalpostersaswellasartworkinspiredbyBach andhismusicfromvariouslocalartists.

    BacktoBach2013.AllimagesDIVA.Usedwithpermission.

    Additionally,thisAugust,DIVAtakesaleadingroleinCreate!Eugenesmarqueeevent,thefirst annualEugenePleinAirPaintOut,juriedbyOregonartistEricJacobsen.DIVAwillhosttheartist receptionandexhibitonAugust23nosmallfeatconsideringthepaintouthappensjusttwo daysbefore.DIVAsparticipationinCreate!Eugenealsoincludesaforwardthinkingclasscalled ArtSmarts,aworkshopforparents,grandparents,andteacherswhowanttoencourage creativityandartisticawarenessinchildren.ItistaughtbyKayKing,aDIVAboardmemberand localencausticartistwith30yearsteachingexperience. DIVAsfullandwiderangingcalendarofeventsisnoaccident.Ms.JordanenvisionsaEugene whichdoesmorethanjustfomentcreativeandartisticenergy,onethatsupportsandsustains theartsateverylevel,fromemergingtoestablishedartists,andinsodoingcreatesavibrantand vitalcreativeindustry.ShebelievescollaborationiskeytothesuccessofbothDIVAandthelocal artscommunityinsuchaventure.Asnoted,manyeffortsofthiskindalreadyexistorarein development,andtherearestillothers:earlierthisyear,DIVAheldanexhibitcalledVisionsfrom Within,featuring87worksofartcreatedbycurrentandformerprisonersinthestateofOregon. DIVAwillalsobeworkingcloselywithBijouArtCinemas,particularlyintheirnewdowntown location,BijouMetro,ontheirvariousfilmandcinemaevents,suchasOpenLensandthe ShaggyDogProject,designedtoguideaspiringlocalfilmmakersthroughtheprocessofcreating theirownshortfilm.

    FirstFridayArtwalk,07.05.13.AllimagesDIVA.Usedwithpermission.

    Collaborationleadstoinnovation,saysMs.Jordan,ThatswhyImsoexcitedaboutCreate! Eugene.Newideas,newenergy.Iwantustomentoremergingartistsandartprofessionals,so thattheycancarrytheballandmakethisgrow. TheDowntownInitiativefortheVisualArts(280W.Broadway)willhosttheartistreceptionand exhibition(August23)forthefirstannualCreate!EugenePleinAirPaintOut.DIVAalsohosts

    KayKingsCreate!EugeneworkshopArtSmarts(Saturdays,August1031).Formore information,pleasevisitdivacenter.orgorcreateeugene.com.

    LukeFanninreceivedaBachelorofArtsinComposition& RhetoricfromtheUniversityofWisconsinLaCrossein2009,and aMasterofFineArtsinFictionfromtheUniversityofOregonin 2012.HelivesinEugenewithhiswife,Amber,andtheirson,Ezra. Helikesreadingbooksanddrinkingthemanyfinecraftbeers brewedinandaroundLaneCounty.Ifyouseehim,feelfreetobuy himeither.

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