By Lisa Britton

Go! Magazine

BAKER CITY — As with so many things, Sarah LeCompte’s plan for a sculpture garden changed dramatically in 2020.

The idea for Room 31 Sculpture Garden and Meditation Space came from a previous gallery, Short Term, that was located in downtown Baker City. It was there that a group began meeting regularly to practice meditation.

When Short Term closed, LeCompte considered another location.

“That was about the same time Churchill was opening,” she said.

Churchill School, owned by Brian and Corrine Vegter, displays art in the Hall Pass Gallery and also provides rental spaces for art studios.

LeCompte’s combination of a gallery and meditation space is named, aptly, after the schoolroom number: Room 31.

She wanted to focus on displays of sculptures.

“In town there aren’t a lot of places that have room for sculptures,” she said.

Room 31 opened in 2019, and then it closed in March 2020, although meditation — led by Tom Novak — continued online.

Now, the sculpture garden is open to the public during the First Friday art walk, the next of which is Dec. 3 beginning at 5:30 p.m., and on the second Saturday of the month from 1-3:30 p.m. The next is Dec. 11. Masks are required.

The current art display features sculptures by local and regional artists, along with recent works — both sculpture and paintings — by Tom Novak.

For updates, or information on in-person meditation, visit “Room 31 Sculpture and Meditation” on Facebook or https://room31-sculpture.com/.

Room 31 Sculpture Garden & Meditation Space

Meditation: 6 p.m. Mondays

Gallery: Open during First Friday art walk at 5:30 p.m., and the second Saturday of the month from 1-3:30 p.m.

Churchill School, 3451 Broadway St., Baker City