High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon

Top Custom Picture Framing Award: Myrna Dow Honored by PPFA

High Desert Gallery Of Central Oregon  is honored to announce that Gallery Director, Myrna Dow, has again received top honors from the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) in the 2009-2010 Pacific Northwest Cascades Chapter Print Framing competition.

Each year, PPFA chapters hold their annual Print Competition, where entrants frame the same piece, and the Open Competition, where entrants frame an item of the framer's choice. Entries are judged on a variety of criteria, including expert knowledge of preservation materials and practices, overall impression of the creative design, technical skills necessary to achieve the unified goal, design and creative elements, and a critical assessment of skills. The judging is rigorous and the professional picture framers placing First, Second, Third, and honorable mention advance to the International Competition.

Myrna Dow competed in the Print Framing Competition on November 1, 2009, in Portland, Oregon, and was awarded First Place, Top Honors and Peoples Choice Awards. These honors join a long list of prior International Framing distinctions, including First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition.

Myrna Dow framed "Heart Rod Guitar" by artist Rod Morris, and her entry will continue on to the PPFA International Print and Open Framing Competition to be held during the PPFA Annual Convention in Anaheim, California, February 20 – 23, 2010. We've included a sneak peek at the artwork – we can't reveal the complete framed artwork until after the International Competition in February, 2010. 

Myrna Dow has been the creative force behind High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon, and High Desert Frameworks!, which currently offers Fine Art and Custom Framing in Art Galleries located in Sisters, Redmond, and two locations in Bend, Oregon. The constants in her artistic vision include innovative design principles, expert knowledge of preservation materials and practices, and an expert understanding of color.

About Myrna Dow:  Myrna Dow, owner, director, and professional picture framer of High Desert Gallery and High Desert Frameworks! has a background in the arts and framing industry spanning more than twenty years. Earning a BFA in Graphic Arts from Portland State, Dow first started in the graphic arts field working for several large agencies and type houses. In the early 80's she began her career in the gallery business as a sales associate and gallery manager. After several years, she migrated to the custom framing environment and mentored with an accomplished professional picture framer. In 1999 Dow relocated to Central Oregon and soon thereafter established High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon, Redmond and Sisters Oregon and High Desert Frameworks! located at 431 NW Franklin Avenue at Lava in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, 2008 and 2009). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250. Follow us on Friend Feed, Get gallery updates via email or RSS.  -- track, follow or subscribe to us!  Visit: High Desert Gallery Social Media. The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

Image: "Heart Rod Guitar" by artist Rod Morris - antique Holbein watercolor applied to gesso on watercolor paper, pastel and felt tip pen, acrylic spray, 3 inches by 17.5 inches.

Creating the I AM – An Interview with Jacob Norris

High Desert Gallery has been a fan of Jacob Norris since we saw his show at The Sparrow Bakery a few years ago, and we are honored and pleased to represent Jacob's work in our new Bend Oregon Art Gallery in the Oxford Hotel, located at 10 NW Minnesota at Lava, in downtown Bend.   Recently, our Bend Gallery Manager, Kim, had an opportunity to sit down with Jacob and learn more about the passions driving this emerging young artist.

Kim: Your work has an exuberance that makes us think there's nothing else you'd rather be doing. Did you always want to be an artist?

Jacob: I always wanted to paint. I love the romance of the artist – the idea, the notion of what art is, to me. I feel I am a vessel for painting, a beam of light that resonates through me, bending light into the form of a painting.

Kim: How would you describe your love affair with paint?

Jacob: My love affair with painting is ...a dependent arising...a cycle of healing – the everything...

Kim: How do you start a painting?

Jacob: I am more of an intuitive painter, but I also try to balance conceptual elements to ground myself.

Kim: How is your art different?

Jacob: I choose to create from a place of no mind and that allows me to be original. If I chose to think about my work – my self conscious would take over and then I would become a vessel of conditioning.

Kim: What stories do you tell through your art?

Jacob: They are timeless stories of human emotion.

Kim: What artistic influences do you draw upon the most?

Jacob: Directly, the artists I create with are Ken Roth and Nathaniel Praska. They show me a template, we bounce ideas and techniques off each other, and on a spiritual level they listen – we are brothers. Historically, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Tom Thomson and the Impressionism period, for their use of color and sense of design elements.

Kim: Where do you want to be in ten years?

Jacob: How I see my future is living and creating in Europe with my family, my bike, a wool blanket and my paint box. Making my own paints and brushes. I want to move into portraiture and abstracts and use a primitive imagery that is less anchored in one genre. I want to push the boundaries of what I know or what everyone else knows of art, but with a level of simple restraint and subtlety.

Kim: What accomplishments are most important to you?

Jacob: Being in a gallery. I have wanted this since I was a small child. It is an honor to be accepted by the community and my peers.

Kim: Do you have an artist statement?

Jacob: It's a poem.

Ocean

Like a blind man seeing for the first time

Sacred, Spiritual, Natural

Playful, Honest, Present

I play the instrument of painting for all to hear

Move free falling like a fool

Singing like the birds in all weather

Riding the wave on the surfboard of Now

Create the I AM

Sacred Balance

In accordance to hand, heart, head.

About Jacob Norris:  As a young boy, Jacob Norris was inspired by his grandfather, Walter Joseph Norris II, an oil painter and artist. Jacob's first art experience was also influenced by his grandfather, when he copied a painting of Mt. Jefferson in pencil, before moving on to charcoal, which Jacob describes as "an extension of my fingers." During a year on the coast, Jacob spent much of his time studying A Field Guide to Western Birds by Roger Paterson. The illustrations of birds, painted by the author, lead Jacob toward painting his own images of birds, in oil on panel, and toward the goal of one day printing his own book of painted birds of the area. In high school, Jacob met Ken Roth, a respected art teacher and successful artist in his own right. Jacob says, “Meeting Ken was a turning point in my art career – he gave me a voice in my artwork – he let me sing.” While Ken Roth was Jacob's mentor in high school, he now sees his former student as a contemporary, and often paints with Jacob and Portland based artist Nathaniel Praska en plein air. Jacob has exhibited regionally and is represented in Central Oregon by High Desert Gallery. He touches the soul of those he meets and continues to paint, dream, and live the romance of the artist. 

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon, Redmond and Sisters Oregon and one High Desert Frameworks! located in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250.

High Desert Gallery Announces a Niche of New Artists in the Redmond Gallery

High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon is pleased to announce a new slate of unique artists for the Redmond Oregon Art Gallery. 

 "We've worked hard to establish a great mix of artistic approaches that compliment our Central Oregon lifestyle," said Myrna Dow, High Desert Gallery owner.  "It's important to showcase artistic viewpoints that take the ordinary a bit farther, while remaining representational.  The new artists in our Redmond Gallery do this while maintaining continuity with our Sisters and Bend Gallery artists."

We invite you to visit our Redmond Gallery to view over 60 new original paintings, monoprints, collage and fiber art representing our exciting new Gallery Roster of Artists, including Kay Baker, Sue Gomen Honnell, Rosalyn Kliot, Patty Freeman-Martin, Vivian Olsen, and Sue Favinger Smith.  Work includes plein air painting and wildlife art, landscape in both watercolor and oil, as well as contemporary landscape  and still life, mixed media fiber, western art, and collage.  Future plans include the addition of more Redmond Oregon area artists including work of 3-dimensional artists and guest artists from the Sisters and Bend Galleries. 

Current Featured Artist: Sue Favinger Smith, "Perception and Imagination," featuring a new selection of oil paintings inspired by the landscape.  With "Perception and Imagination", I am prying open that window between what I perceive visually and what I can imagine.  The landscape has always been the inspirational foundation, but my work is not about topography - as beautiful as it is.  It's about being "alone" and not "lonely", about venturing into the unknown and what I might find there. It's about courage and accepting the invitation to explore.  Sue Favinger Smith, Redmond, Oregon 2009

In coming weeks, we'll be highlighting each artist in the blog, but don't wait to see the exciting new art we have to offer.  There's no better time.

Where:  453 SW 6th Street at Evergreen, Redmond Oregon

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00AM - 5:00PM

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon (Open Summer 2009), Redmond and Sisters Oregon and one High Desert Frameworks! located in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, 2008 & 2009). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250. The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

Thank You to "The Source Weekly" and - Especially - to Central Oregon

You know the feeling.  You've had a long day.  You go to the mail box or or answer that last phone call or email, and instead of more work, you learn - Wow!  Something really nice and unexpected happened to you today.

This is how everyone at High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing is feeling right about now.  We've just learned that our Sister's Gallery was voted as "Best Art Gallery in Sisters "- for 2009, and our Redmond Gallery won "Best Art Gallery in Redmond" - 2009 by the readers of The Source Weekly.

We are grateful for our gallery supporters.  High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing has won this award in years past, but this acknowledgment is special.  Special because, despite the economic ups and downs, we have continually worked hard to surpass your expectations.  Special, because we want to create the very best in the fine art gallery experience by introducing you to a wide array of talented and unique artists.  Special, too, because we work hard to come up with custom framing solutions that meet your needs while creating something more than just a generic frame on the wall. 

Special, because enriching our lives through the power of art should be accessible to everyone.  The Source, and her readers and voters, have let us know that we're on the right path.

Yes, we're doing the Happy Dance. But we're also humbled, and working hard to exceed your expectations now that our reputation continues to grow. 

We thank you!

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon (Open Summer 2009), Redmond and Sisters Oregon and one High Desert Frameworks! located in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, 2008 & 2009). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250. The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

Central Oregon “Best Of” Guide 2009 - Online Voting Ends July 10th

Every year, The Source Weekly publishes “The Best of Central Oregon,” perhaps one of the most highly anticipated and definitive guides to “what's hot” in the Central Oregon area.

The picks range from the serious - Best Restaurant or Best Public Art, to the whimsical - Best Place to Watch People. Readers of The Source Weekly participate, nominating what they think are the Best Places for just about everything.

But The Best of Central Oregon is more than a way for people to support their favorite places: what this report does is recreate a microcosm of the amenities in life, everything that makes Central Oregon what it really is – the Best Place to Live, period.

What is your favorite Book Store?  Your favorite restaurant?   Favorite Art Gallery? and the list goes on and on.  Don't for get to vote by July 10th!

High Desert Gallery has been honored as Best Art Gallery in Sisters 2005, 2006, and 2008, and Best Art Gallery in Redmond 2006, 2007, and 2008 by the readers of The Source Weekly, and we are deeply appreciative of these opportunities to be included in the listing of what makes this area so special. We applaud The Source Weekly for their efforts each year in putting together such a comprehensive and entertaining list - making The Source Weekly simply The Best Weekly A&E&P (Arts, Entertainment with a good dose of Politics) Publication we've ever read.

Vote for your favorites and Best of the Best.  Is High Desert Gallery on your list?  Voting is up July 10th -- Hurry now!  Vote Here:  The Source Weekly Best of the Best

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon (Open Summer 2009), Redmond and Sisters Oregon and High Desert Frameworks! located at 431 NW Franklin Avenue at Lava in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007 & 2008) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, & 2008). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250. Follow us on Friend Feed -- track and follow all our activities in one easy location! Visit: High Desert Gallery Friend Feed. The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

2009 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show - Fabric Post Card Auction

The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show, in Sisters, Oregon, is the largest outdoor quilt show in the country, an annual event that drapes the little town at the foot of the Cascade Mountains with more than twelve hundred quilts, or roughly one per resident.

Every second Saturday in July – a day chosen by organizers because it has one of the least statistical chances for rain – an army of volunteers wake before dawn and begin hanging the quilts from every downtown storefront, fence and available public space.

While the spectacle attracts thousands of visitors for the one-day event, there are other numerous other quilting-related activities, including classes, contests and specialty shows. One of the more recent additions growing in popularity is the postcard show, featuring quilts the size of a four by six inch postcard.

In 2008 roughly 1,000 postcard quilts were submitted for the show, according to organizers. Of those, 73 were selected by a jury to be framed and then put up for bid at a silent auction to raise money for a local cancer charity.

“The postcards are wonderful,” said Sally Rogers, a resident of nearby Redmond, Ore., who on a whim last year purchased one of the postcards at the silent auction for $100. It was a take on the American flag stitched by a well-known local quilter.

“It was just something that went with my house … but also a good way to raise money, and, of course, the framing is wonderful,” said Rogers.

It’s no secret to artists that a custom frame complements a painting or photograph and adds value, something Myrna Dow, a co-owner of High Desert Gallery in Sisters, knows well.

In 2007, the first year of the postcard quilt show, Dow was disappointed to see that the juried pieces were framed with generic, mass-produced frames. She approached the organizers and asked if they would be interested in custom framing each juried piece for the following year’s show.

They liked the idea but were certain the show, which is run as a nonprofit, wouldn’t have the money necessary to pay Dow for her work. So she offered to donate the time and materials.

The decision made a difference. In 2007, the show’s silent auction raised $6,000. In 2008, helped by Dow’s custom framing, the silent auction raised $11,400.

“When Myrna put them in frames, they just looked fabulous,” said Ann Richardson, the executive director of the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show. “The custom framing really made a difference and added a quality that caused sales to almost double.”

Custom framing 70 miniature quilts was no easy task – there were deadlines to meet and technical challenges to overcome – but Dow proved up to it.

Knowing she’d have little time between when the postcard quilts would arrive at her shop and when they had to be delivered, Dow started by building frames. Choosing from the more than 2,800 molding samples in her shop, Dow and an assistant began building different frames, each 10 by 12 inches, despite the fact they had yet to see the postcard quilts.

When the organizers finally dropped them off, roughly a month before the show, Dow began matching them to the frames.

“What was fun was to be able to use stock on hand to create different approaches, from fun and festive to elegant,” said Dow. “We had such a wonderful gamut of frames, it made each frame look like the postcard was picked for it.”

Next, each postcard quilt was mounted. Adhering to strict archival standards, no glue or adhesives were used, enabling the pieces to be easily removed if required. Pieces with finished edges, such as a border, were suspended by stitching the corners to a backing material. If the piece was flat and without finished edges, it was placed in a similar sized hole in the backing material, also called a sink set.

Many of the pieces featured 3-D relief, due to beads, buttons or other fabric forms stitched into the postcard quilts. Dow used foam core spacers in addition to double and triple matting to keep the pieces from touching the frame glass.

The end result was 73 custom framed postcard quilts, each one of them different.

“We didn’t just slap a frame on them,” said Dow. “Each piece had character and we were able to pull it out. We made them special.”

And that mattered to the show’s organizers. The Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show has been around for more than three decades but the postcard quilt show has given a new meaning to the show. The silent auction benefits Wendy’s Wish, a nonprofit based in nearby Bend, Ore., that provide education and promote the early detection of colorectal cancer. It is named after Wendy Huntley, a Central Oregon quilter who contributed to the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

“It’s added an element of visible community support,” said the show’s executive director, Ann Richardson. “It’s also added that art element. Because we’re an outdoor show that doesn’t attract what you would consider art quilts because people don’t want those hung outside, this show is indoors, on a small scale … it gives us an expanded dimension of the art side of quilting.”

 Alma de la Melena Cox, a Sisters fiber artist who had a postcard quilt in the 2008 juried show, was also appreciative of Dow’s efforts. The frames were perfect, she said, and made a significant impact on the show.

“What I found to be incredible was how valued the postcards were,” said Cox. “People were standing next to them at the silent auction in order to outbid others because they were so passionate about the pieces. It just seemed like people were not even thinking about the money aspect, they were just drawn to something they wanted.”

Dow is again preparing to donate her time and materials for this summer’s postcard quilt show. It’s a worthwhile effort, she says, but also helps give her business exposure as well as inspire visitors as to what is possible with framing.

“What I love is we were able to use our skills and showcase what framing can do for art and it’s for a good cause,” said Dow. “It’s a win for everyone.”

The 2009 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show will be held Saturday, July 11 in Sisters. For more information, visit: Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show.

Andrew Moore - April 2009

Gary Miller, Photographer. 

Additionally published:  Decor Magazine -- May 2009 Retailer Focus

High Desert Frameworks! opens Friday, June 5 -- Bend First Friday Gallery Walk

High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon (www.highdesertgallery.com), an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery, is proud to announce the expansion and opening of High Desert Frameworks! The 1,210 square feet retail custom picture framing gallery is located at 431 NW Franklin Avenue at Lava in downtown Bend, Oregon. High Desert Frameworks! will host their first Bend First Friday Art Gallery Walk on Friday, June 5, 2009 from 5-9pm and feature fused glass by Oregon artist, Jenelle Lynn Kathan, refreshments and lively conversation.

“High Desert Frameworks! is key to our Central Oregon expansion and will complement our retail art galleries in Redmond and Sisters, Oregon as well as our new gallery scheduled to open in the Oxford Hotel this summer,” states Myrna Dow, owner of High Desert Gallery. “Our Frameworks! location will provide all services of a custom picture framing gallery including on site manufacturing, conservation custom picture framing, consultation, design, layout and installation services. Additionally, we'll represent Pacific Northwest artists working in three dimensional glass, clay, silver, wood and other mediums. We are excited about the opportunities that Bend brings us and are looking forward to partnering with its art and business communities.”

High Desert Frameworks! is open Monday through Friday 10am to 5:30pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm. For more information on the gallery please visit www.highdesertgallery.com or call High Desert Frameworks! at 541-647-2191.

About Myrna Dow: Myrna Dow, owner, director, and professional picture framer of High Desert Gallery and High Desert Frameworks! has a background in the arts and framing industry spanning more than twenty years. Earning a BFA in Graphic Arts from Portland State, Dow first started in the graphic arts field working for several large agencies and type houses. In the early 80's she began her career in the gallery business as a sales associate and gallery manager. After several years, she migrated to the custom framing industry and mentored with an accomplished professional picture framer. In 1999 Dow moved to Central Oregon and soon thereafter established High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon.

About High Desert Gallery & High Desert Frameworks!: High Desert Gallery, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon (Open Summer 2009), Redmond and Sisters Oregon and High Desert Frameworks! located at 431 NW Franklin Avenue at Lava in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007 & 2008) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, & 2008). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250.

Myrna Dow of High Desert Gallery Receives Honors at the PPFA 2009 International Framing Competition

The winners of the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) 2009 International Framing Competition, held in Las Vegas, have been announced. Myrna Dow, owner of High Desert Gallery and High Desert Frameworks! walked away with a coveted third place in the International Print Competition. All participating professional framers framed the same vintage necklace and were required to win at their local chapter to qualify for entry into the International competition. Bonnie Dietering of Art Incorporated in San Antonio, TX, took first place and a Judges Award for Best Use of Fabric in the Print category. Judy Niewald and Mike Bettmann, CPF, Colorado Frame Co., Lakewood, CO, won second place, High Point First Time Entry, and a Judges Award for Best Shadowbox. Myrna Dow, High Desert Gallery, Sisters, OR, came in third.

Dow who was honored in 2008 with a Top Honor, First Place, and a Judges Award for High-Point First-Time Entry in the Open Competition was thrilled to participate again this year. “When you challenge yourself and enter a competition it allows for critical feedback and you are judged with your peers. It's humbling to receive Third Place in the PPFA 2009 Print Competition and to be critically judged amongst so many great professional framers," states Myrna Dow.

The custom framing entries in the Print Competition were judged on four critical components including, overall impressions, design and creative elements, technique, and critical assessment of skills. The Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) hosts custom picture framing completions in several categories during their Annual International PPFA 2009 - Leadership in Framing Convention held in Las Vegas in March 2009.

Dow, owner, director, and professional picture framer of High Desert Gallery and High Desert Frameworks! has a background in the arts and framing industry spanning more than twenty years. Earning a BFA in Graphic Arts from Portland State, Dow first started in the graphic arts field working for several large agencies and type houses. In the early 80's she began her career in the gallery business as a sales associate and gallery manager. After several years, she migrated to the custom framing environment and mentored with an accomplished professional picture framer. In 1999 Dow relocated to Central Oregon and soon thereafter established High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon (Open Summer 2009), Redmond and Sisters Oregon and High Desert Frameworks! located at 431 NW Franklin Avenue at Lava in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007 & 2008) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, & 2008). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition. For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250.

About PPFA: Serving the art and framing community worldwide, the Professional Picture Framers Association™(PPFA®) encourages artisans to hone the time-honored skill of custom framing. As the professional trade association for the custom framing industry, PPFA connects frame shops, art galleries, and suppliers to a network of knowledge and support. PPFA, a PMA® member association,builds on its 37-year history of establishing best practices for framing and providing programs and services essential for entrepreneurial success. Through education, certification, business services, industry research, and events, PPFA leads its members to discover, understand, and act on new business opportunities.

Kathy Deggendofer Featured on Oregon Art Beat - May 7, 2009 - opb.org

Regionally acclaimed and nationally collected Oregon Artist, Kathy Deggendorfer will be featured on Oregon Art Beat! Oregon Art Beat is an Emmy award winning weekly television series produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB) and profiles artists, musicians, and artisans, and suggests upcoming events. K.C. Cowan, co-host and segment producer has created a wonderful feature highlighting Kathy. The episode will air on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 8pm and rebroadcasted on Sunday, May 10, at 6pm. For more information on Oregon Art Beat and OPB please visit: http://www.opb.org/programs/artbeat

Oregon Art Beat Feature on OPB TV

What: The Art of Central Oregon Artist, Kathy Deggendorfer
When: Thursday, May 7, 2009 at 8pm and rebroadcast on Sunday, May 10, at 6pm
Where: In Oregon and SW Washington -- Over the air and cable providers
Online Information: Oregon Art Beat Season 10 Info: http://www.opb.org/programs/artbeat/episodes/
More Information: http://www.opb.org/programs/artbeat

I am honored to be included among the artists featured on Oregon Art Beat. I have always been impressed with the professional production of OPB's Oregon Art Beat. KC Cowan is a wonderful host and seems to make the artists feel so comfortable in front of the camera. Recognition, like this, is an affirmation of the work we do as artists. To be selected as a featured artist on this program has been a long time professional goal of mine and I am so excited to see the show. Of course, I'm nervous about the way I might look, the dumb things I might have said, and all the rest of that crazy stuff that goes through one's head, but..... I am grateful and honored to be able to join the ranks of the talented Oregonians that have been lucky enough to be showcased on Oregon Art Beat! Thank you OPB! -- Kathy Deggendorfer, April 2009

High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon is pleased to announce an artist spotlight feature for regionally acclaimed Oregon artist, Kathy Deggendorfer. Kathy's original paintings and fine art prints will be displayed for sale through May 30, 2009 at High Desert Gallery in downtown Sisters, Oregon. The event is free and open to the public. For more information on the event, Kathy and the gallery please call 1-866-549-6250 or visit: www.highdesertgallery.com.      

Artist Spotlight: Kathy Deggendorfer

What: Original Paintings and Fine Art Prints by Kathy Deggendorfer
When: Through May 30, 2009, Open Friday through Monday 10am to 5pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10am to 2:30pm
Where: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, 281 W Cascade Avenue Downtown Sisters, Oregon
Public Contact: High Desert Gallery, 541-549-6250 or 866-549-6250
Cost: Free and open to the public
More information: 541-388-8964 and www.highdesertgallery.com

About Kathy Deggendorfer: Kathy Deggendorfer lives on a cattle and hay ranch just outside of Sisters, Oregon. Inspired by the color, pattern and texture of her surroundings, she creates vibrant and colorful watercolor paintings. Whimsical images of flowers and ranch life fill the paintings with color and life. "Folks tell me they just feel happy when they look at my work-- that makes me happy." Raised in Portland, Oregon, in a clothing manufacturing family, she says ,"Sewing skills skipped a generation with me... but I love fabric. I like to call my creations 'Painters Quilts.' I can prowl around the rounders full of prints at the Stitchin' Post with the best of 'em... I just put my fabrics in with a paintbrush." Kathy's collaborative work with master quilter, Tonye Belinda Phillips, is another fun combination of painted image and textile interpretation.

Kathy is currently working on a project about Oregon Specialty Farming and sustainable farm practices. This project takes her out into the fields of Oregon farms to paint and learn about what makes Oregon agricultural practices and people unique. Trips to the cattle ranches of Eastern Oregon and vineyards of the Willamette Valley provide her with plenty of rich and colorful images. Kathy's work is collected throughout the Pacific Northwest and reaches out to all corners of the United States. Kathy was selected to create the official Oregon 2008 ornament for the White House Christmas Tree.

Represented by High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon, she has pieces in the permanent collection at Redmond Airport, 2007 Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show Poster Artist, she wrote and illustrated a children's book for St. Charles Medical Center, and her work has been translated into clothing and fabric for Columbia Sportswear. In 2005, Kathy was awarded 'Citizen of the Year' in Sisters Oregon for her contributions to the community and the arts. High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon is honored to represent Kathy Deggendorfer exclusively in Central Oregon.

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with three High Desert Gallery retail locations in Bend, Oregon (Open Summer 2009), Redmond and Sisters Oregon and High Desert Frameworks! located at 431 NW Franklin Avenue at Lava in downtown Bend, Oregon. The gallery specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007 & 2008) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, & 2008). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition.

For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250. Follow us on Friend Feed -- track and follow all our activities in one easy location! Visit: High Desert Gallery Friend Feed. The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

Image Photo Credit: Lynn Woodward www.lynnwoodwarddesign.com

Artwork: Wedding Bouquet with an Art Beat – Original watercolor and Fine Art Giclee Print by Kathy Deggendorfer

Upcoming July Events at High Desert Gallery in Sisters Oregon

High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon is pleased to announce their Sisters Oregon Art Gallery July 2009 artist receptions, features and gallery events. The gallery sponsored events are free and open to the public. For more information on the events, artists and the gallery please call 1-866-549-6250 or visit: www.highdesertgallery.com.

Artist Features at High Desert Gallery - July 1 - July 30

July in Sisters, Oregon celebrates the Internationally known Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show™ and Around The Block Fiber Art Stroll with ongoing artist features July 1 – 30, including the exhibit and sale of new work from Trisha Hassler, Kathy Deggendorfer, Tonye Belinda Phillips and a special exhibition and sales of fine art quilts by Lura Schwarz Smith.

Around the Block Fiber Art Stroll Artist Reception - Sunday July 5, 2-6pm

A Sisters Quilt Show Tradition.  Now in its 6th year the Around The Block Fiber Art Stroll is a not-to-be-missed event.  Over 30 locations in downtown Sisters Oregon will feature fiber artists on location, demonstrations, great art and live music.  Plan on attending the community art stroll and don't forget to drop by High Desert Gallery and visit and chat with our featured artists, Trisha Hassler, Kathy Deggendorfer and Tonye Belinda Phillips!  Meet the Artists, Enjoy Refreshments and Live Music.

Artist Reception: Kathy Deggendorfer and Tonye Belinda Phillips - Sunday July 5, 2-6pm

Premier Showing of “Going To The Dogs”. Kathy Deggendorfer and Tonye Belinda Phillips have done it again. Join us for the premier showing of five new collaborative works by regionally acclaimed Oregon watercolorist, Kathy Deggendorfer and regionally acclaimed quilter and author, Tonye Belinda Phillips. Meet the Artists, Enjoy Refreshments and Live Music

Artist Reception: Mixed Media Fine Art Quilt and Metal Wall Hangings by Trisha Hassler - Sunday, July 5, 2-6pm

Join us for an exhibition and sale of new artwork by Nationally acclaimed Oregon artist, Trisha Hassler. Trisha's mixed media wall hangings are sought after and collected nationally.  Meet the Artists, Enjoy Refreshments and Live Music

Special Artist Reception for Lura Schwarz Smith Thursday, July 9, from 3:30 – 6:30 pm.

 July in Sisters, Oregon features the Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show™, and High Desert Gallery (Sisters Gallery) is honored to be hosting an artist reception Thursday, July 9, from 3:30 to 6:30 pm for Internationally known quilt artist Lura Schwarz Smith. Highly acclaimed, Smith has shown her art quilts in regional, national and international quilt shows. Among her many honors was to have one of her quilts included in the “100 Best American Quilts of the 20^th Century.”

Lura Schwarz Smith states, “As an artist, I am interested in merging my art background with quilting techniques and to explore those potentials, in the effort to express the inner life through fabric art.”

When: Artist Reception Thursday, July 9, from 3:30 – 6:30 pm. 
Where: High Desert Gallery, 281 W Cascade, Sisters, Oregon. Meet the Artist, Enjoy Refreshments and Live Music

Wish Upon A Card Silent Auction and Fundraiser for Wendy's Wish.

The 2009 Wish Upon A Card fundraiser will be a juried silent auction. High Desert Art Gallery in Sisters Oregon will donate custom framing for approximately fifty postcards. The silent auction will begin July 5, during the Around the Block Fiber Arts Stroll and will continue through Quilt Show Day. The cards will be on display at Sisters Art Works July 1 through July 11. A group of cards from our Quilters Affair Instructors will be framed and silent auctioned at the high school during the week of classes, July 6 – 10.

High Desert Gallery Special Hours

High Desert Gallery in Sisters Oregon will host special gallery hours for Quilt Show week (July 5 - 12th).  Stop by anytime from 10am to 7pm or later!

For details: 541-388-8964 / 866-549-6250  or www.highdesertgallery.com

High Desert Gallery
281 W Cascade Avenue at Oak
Sisters, Oregon 97759
541-388-8964 / 866-549-6250
Open Daily: 10am to 5pm (Summer Hours)
www.highdesertgallery.com

About High Desert Gallery: High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art and custom picture framing gallery with retail locations in Bend, Oregon (Open Summer 2009), Redmond and Sisters Oregon specializing in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing. High Desert Gallery honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by Decor Magazine as a "Top 100 Art and Framing Gallery in America" and voted "Best Art Gallery" in Redmond, Oregon (2006, 2007 & 2008) and Sisters, Oregon (2005, 2006, & 2008). International Framing Awards earned by High Desert Gallery include First Place and Top Honors in the Professional Picture Framing Association (PPFA) 2007-2008 International Open Framing Competition and Third Place in the Professional Picture Framing Association 2008-2009 International Print Framing Competition.  For more information please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call toll free 1-866-549-6250. The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.