“Lake of Fire” by Dylan J. Beck

PENDLETON — Far from universities, gallery spaces and artist’s studios, Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture (PMRCAA) is fostering the creation of new work by artists, ecological scientists and scholars.

Pendleton Center for the Arts, 214 N. Main St., will showcase an exhibit of work by PMRCAA residents July 7–30 in the East Oregonian Gallery. The event kicks off with an opening reception Thursday, July 7, from 5:30–7 p.m.

About the ranch

Pine Meadow Ranch Center for Arts and Agriculture is a 260-acre working ranch just outside Sisters operated by the RoundhouseFoundation. They connect sustainable agricultural practices, conservation and the traditional skills integral to ranching life with the arts, sciences and contemporary crafts.

According to PCA Director Roberta Lavadour, the exhibit in Pendleton features work by 28 artists who have spent time at PMRCAA in two to four week visits over the past four years. It illustrates the wide range of media that the residency supports, including poetry and writing, photography, painting, drawing, book arts, ceramics, sculpture, printmaking, textiles and music.

For these residencies, PMRCAA provides an opportunity to live and work outside an artist’s usual environment while also learning about the work involved in growing food, raising livestock and being the stewards of the land. Residents are asked to contribute to the ranch by taking on jobs like collecting eggs or tending gardens and often present workshops or artist talks in the community.

Artists featured include Loo Bain, Dylan J. Beck, Michael Boonstra, Renee Couture, Shelby Davis, Poppy Dully, Bean Gilsdorf, Patricia L Giraud, Anne Greenwood, Alex Hirsch, Harvey L Hix, Donna Cooper Hurt, Anna Ialeggio, Diane Jacobs, Joe Kowalczyk, Roberta Lavadour, Jeanne Medina Le, Elissa Levy, Kelda Martensen, Hirona Matsuda, Andy Myers, Stan Peterson, Elizabeth Quinn, Jean Rohe, Christopher St. John, Annie Varnot, Leah Wilson and Laura Winter.

The exhibit in Pendleton marks the first time that residents from the program have shown their work as a group.

“Even though we designed the residency to be highly competitive, I’m blown away by the body of work that the program has inspired and facilitated since we started in 2018,” said Roundhouse Founder Kathy Deggendorfer. “I can’t wait to see it celebrated in the gallery at the Pendleton Center for the Arts.”

The Pendleton Center for the Arts, housed in a renovated Carnegie Library building, is a multi-venue arts center that features contemporary galleries, a fine craft marketplace, performances and an arts education program.

Admission is always free, and galleries are available to view Tuesday–Friday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Saturdays, noon–4 p.m. Other days and times available by appointment. More information is available by calling 541-278-9201 or online at PendletonArts.org.