News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Eddie Espinoza describes his design concept for portable artists’ studios to Fran Willis during a Sisters Art Works open house.
Ideas flowed like the waters of Whychus Creek and the atmosphere was as electric as a summer thunderstorm as 16 architecture students from the University of Oregon shared their concepts for creating portable artists' studios with the Sisters community.
The students are working on portable live/work spaces that fit in to the Sisters Country landscape. They presented their concepts at an open house at Sisters Art Works last Monday.
"I've really enjoyed it," said student Hala Hoffer. "It's different than other projects that we've worked on. It's a scale and a subject that a lot of us are interested in."
Hoffer designed a studio that leaves the insulation exposed, creating a diffused light pattern useful for artists' work.
"You end up with this glowing wall," she said.
Talking with Sisters artists, she received valuable feedback on how the work space might be designed differently for different types of artists.
Eddie Espinoza took inspiration from nature images found in Jean Wells' quilts and ultimately designed a studio based around the concept of a tree trunk with its rings.
The studio is sheltered but open to the air and light.
"It's very connected to the outdoors," he said.
Mark Fretz sought to create something that fit the landscape, using "the most portable architecture of all - the teepee" as inspiration. His studio uses triangular structural shapes covered with a hi-tech "skin." It's highly portable and designed to take advantage of pedal power to charge a battery for refrigeration and supplemental lighting.
"I'm interested in human power ideas, things like that," he explained.
The project is not merely an exercise. Feedback from artists and community members will help the students refine their concepts, under the direction of Assistant Professor Erin Moore. The project will culminate with the creation of a prototype studio for the grounds at Sisters Art Works.
The program is a collaboration between the University of Oregon and The Roundhouse Foundation to develop portable artists' studios to make creative space available in town on currently underused commercial or industrial spaces as an investment in arts-based economic development.
Sisters artist Jon Simpkins found the project "very exciting." He's in a position right now where such a space would be an ideal solution to his circumstances (see related story, page 3).
"In my life right now, I'm seeking a creative place to live," he said, gesturing to one of the model studios. "This is perfect!"
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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