Sisters throws a party for the arts

Sisters celebrated the arts with its annual My Own Two Hands party last weekend.

It started late Friday afternoon with a powerful beat of enthusiasm and expectation as people strolled the streets of Sisters to hear good music and view inspiring works of art at some 26 local businesses. The crescendo built into the wee hours Friday night with a tribute to Sisters Americana Project students at Bronco Billy's Ranch Grill & Saloon (see related story, page 24).

The crescendo came Saturday night with the My Own Two Hands Art Auction & Party.

Something about the juxtaposition of the industrial setting at Ponderosa Forge & Iron Works with the display of art works representing the creative geniuses of Sisters artists and craftsmen set a perfect stage for the evening's social event and art auction.

Auctioneer Dennis Turman, with the help of local artist and arts patron Kathy Deggendorfer, carried a receptive crowd through 28 live auction items, all of which embellished this year's theme, "Reflection."

Proceeds from the event's live auction coupled with the sale of more than 150 silent auction pieces and hand-held mirrors created in the Common Canvas Mirrors Project, plus the event's paddle raise, ticket sales and more raised thousands of dollars for the Sisters Folk Festival's Americana Project.

The Americana Project is the folk festival's educational outreach program. The program promotes American roots music and cultural expression as well as visual arts programs in Sisters schools.

Two of the event's veteran supporters are Oregon Senator Ben Westlund, D-Tumalo, and his wife Libby.

"I believe we were at the very first one (My Own Two Hands fund-raiser) at The Gallery. We bought a guitar from Kit Stafford eight years ago. I think one or both of us have been at every one since," said Senator Westlund. "This is a uniquely Sisters event. It is the ultimate expression of commitment to community and in this specific case a commitment to the arts community. Art is who we are. We are of, by, for and because of art. It's a critical component in all of our lives."

Local residents Roger and Gayla Nelson are also long-time supporters of the event. At Saturday night's auction they purchased a guitar, a painting by Paul Alan Bennett and a mask in the silent auction. They also gave $500 in the paddle raise.

The Nelsons support is exemplary of why so many support the Americana Project.

"We did this because we believe so much in the Americana Project," said Gayla. "The opportunity it gives kids who otherwise wouldn't have that opportunity is everything. It's like somebody said earlier: 'Kids that wouldn't have gone on to college are now going on to college if they have a focus.' Music was not a big thing when we were kids, but now I understand that it's just as important as being a doctor or a lawyer or anything else, and it's part of your soul."