Library to display 'field guide' art

Sisters students have many opportunities to take part in enriching experiences as they attend school. The results of one of these experiences will be on display in the community room of the Sisters Library for all of the month of August, as part of the Friends of the Sisters Library (FOSL) Art Exhibit.

Sisters Middle School students, with the help of the staff of the Upper Deschutes River Watershed Council (UDWC), and the artistic talents of Kyla Schoessler of the Art Station in Bend, developed a field guide for Whychus Creek.

The artwork used in the field guide is now on display in the community room of the Sisters Library.

In addition to working in a classroom setting, the team provided the opportunity for the students to take part in Whychus Creek restoration projects, and then make drawings of the many items that make up the Whychus Creek ecosystem.

Hunter Blaklock, of Sisters Middle School, an-up-and-coming graphic artist, will display his piece on a lodgepole pine he encountered while working on Whychus Creek.

"It was a neat experience," Hunter said, "going out in the wild, to draw from real life, instead of from magazines, books and the Internet. To be a part of the field guide was also exciting, since my drawings would be published and used for future reference.

"I also loved the fact we were allowed to choose the species of plant, and Laura Campbell (teacher with UDWC) said, 'No one has drawn the lodgepole tree yet, so if someone would want to take it on, go to it.' I knew it would be very interesting to draw, and I knew it would be a challenge."

The out-of-school enrichment activities would not be possible if it weren't for the many organizations, foundations and businesses partners that support UDWC, Arts Central, Wolftree and other groups that keep the valuable school extracurricular actives going.

This is the first time Arts Central has become involved.

Arts Central provides "Art for All" in the old Bend railroad station which was moved into the Old Mill area several years ago.

In addition to the inside art facilities and programs at the RR station, they have a small van with the colorful "VanGo" logo on the side - a portable art studio, complete with art instructor and supplies. It was this facet of Arts Central that helped the middle-school students reach their goal of creating a field guide for Whychus Creek and the FOSL exhibit in the Sisters Library.