“We came to Bend solely based on reputation and rumors,” says Jim Peterson, who owns Mockingbird Gallery in downtown Bend with his wife Natalie Peterson. “Once we got a feel for it, we recognized the potential for this to develop into a thriving art market.” Peterson, who has a 20-year history as a dealer in the Scottsdale art world, purchased Mockingbird in 2007 and has been growing the fine art gallery’s footprint ever since with a widening client base and esteemed artist roster. The gallery’s success is in part due to the city’s growth and subsequent increased arts initiatives, which Peterson foresaw over ten years ago. “We wanted to benefit from an up and coming marketplace,” he says on the decision to move to Bend. “The Pacific Northwest doesn’t really have its destination market, and I don’t see any reason why Bend can’t fill that need.”
Mockingbird’s aesthetic is traditional yet relevant; notable exhibiting artists include Liz Wolf, Sandra Pratt and John DeMott among other regional and national painters and sculptors. On December 7, Mockingbird opens their annually anticipated exhibition for Montana palette knife painter Troy Collins.
While Peterson’s expertise is representational fine art, he recognized Bend’s need for a modern art outlet. In 2016, Peterson teamed up with one of Mockingbird’s more contemporary painters, Ken Roth, to open Peterson Roth Gallery just a few blocks away. Peterson Roth is an intimate and contemporary space filled with high quality modern artists that include painters Rebecca Haines and Sandy Ostrau, sculptors Christian Burchard and Geoffrey Gorman, and more. Roth directs the gallery, which also features his abstracted landscapes.
Just last November, At Liberty Arts Collaborative opened in the Historic Liberty Theater giving Bend its second contemporary art hub in the downtown district. At Liberty hosts rotating exhibitions for cutting-edge artists whose work is intellectually innovative. The latter is a good descriptor of the organization itself, which is a full-time gallery but also caters to creative non-profits by giving them a storefront, so to speak, in downtown Bend. Over the past year, At Liberty has become a cultural community center in hosting music performances, film screenings, artist talks and more. During October’s Tenth Month, Bend’s 30-day celebration of art, tech, film and business, At Liberty turns over their stone and brick gallery space to Bend Film Festival, Bend Design Conference, Bend Venture Conference and other organizations that participate in the month’s stream of independent events. “We really just want to boost the arts and culture presence here in Bend,” says co-founder Kaari Vaugh. Dedicated to collaboration, exploration and innovation when it comes to the arts, At Liberty is increasing Bend’s relevance as an art town.
Another vibrant sector of Bend is the Old Mill District where art, architecture, riverside dining and live entertainment contribute to a lively atmosphere along the banks of the Deschutes. This historic site was the heart of Bend’s logging era before architect Bill Smith, inspired by San Antonio’s River Walk, developed the district into what is now the revitalized home of over sixty businesses. Galleries of note in the Old Mill District are Tumalo Art Co., a high-quality art cooperative featuring fourteen locally based artists of varied mediums, DeWilde Art Glass, a stained glass studio housed in the “little red shed” historic building, and the Lubbesmeyer Studio & Gallery. Working in fiber or paint, identical twin sisters Lori and Lisa Lubbesmeyer respond to each other’s sensibilities to co-create layered landscapes that stitch Lori’s abstract visions with Lisa’s realist framework. The trained printmaker and oil painter settled their established studio in Bend for the budding art community and enticing natural beauty. Now, their gallery overlooks the Old Mill District from its second story location with views of nearby mountain ranges and wide blue skies. Visitors can watch the artists’ work while perusing their “fiber paintings” in the showroom.
Worth the 10-minute drive south of town is the High Desert Museum, a living history and wildlife museum celebrating the region’s culture through history, science, wildlife and art. The Smithsonian affiliate has a large collection of Plateau Native American artifacts and a dedicated western art collection, which includes photographs by Edward Curtis, paintings by Charles Russell, Edward B. Quigley and Rick Bartow, whose traveling retrospective is slated for February 2019.
The High Desert Museum’s mission as an interdisciplinary institution is taken seriously; dedicated art curator Andries Fourie inserts collected or borrowed artworks into nearly all the Museum’s exhibits. “My job is to look at an exhibit and identify how art would fit within that vision,” says Fourie, who also serves on the board of Central Oregon’s Art and Culture Alliance. As a curator and artist, Fourie envisions an encouraging future for Bend’s “art town” reputation. “It’s one of those rare moments where government organizations, private industries and cultural groups all have the same goal – to raise the profile of the arts,” he says.
One struggle the art community faces is that with Bend’s increased allure also comes the rise of real estate prices. This doesn’t bode well for artists and young creatives moving to the area, however local art-influencers are initiating solutions. Collaborative studio and retail spaces like The Workhouse, Bright Place Gallery and Willow Lane Artist’s Creative Space provide opportunities for artists to work and sell in a supportive and affordable environment. Director of The Workspace is Christian Brown, a contemporary local artist from New York City who appreciates the camaraderie of Bend’s “small town” art community as well as the city’s push to support an arts infrastructure. “Some of the needs are starting to be met for what people want – and not just from an artist’s standpoint,” he says, referencing the rise in contemporary art outlets and the community’s desire to experience unexpected, varied art forms.
The creative current that ripples through Bend is gaining strength; now, the collective effort must draw in more commercial galleries and art spaces to increase artist and collector opportunities. Mockingbird Gallery laid this foundation and owner Peterson is committed to Bend’s imminent art market flourish. “Bring your galleries here,” he says, “let’s do this together.”
More cultural hubs to note are Bend’s up and coming Maker’s District, www.bendmakersdistrict.com, and the Box Factory, which is home to Bend Art Center’s exhibition space and print studio.
EAT:
Jackson’s Corner: This farm to table eatery is raising the bar for the casual dining experience. Get a true taste of Oregon from the farm to table menu, family friendly atmosphere and local products from handmade chocolate bars to locally brewed beer.
Greg’s Grill: Delectable riverside dining in the Old Mill District. Sit on the patio and enjoy the sounds of Allison Krauss or Portugal. The Man from the Les Schwab Amphitheater, or move indoors to relish impressive art and architecture.
Foxtail Bakeshop: Start your art-itinerary here with baked-from-scratch pastries or artsy breakfast and lunch bites surrounded by local artwork, then mosey around the corner to watch printmakers at work in the Bend Art Center. All located in Bend’s historic/renovated Box Factory.
SIP:
Crux Fermentation Project: Craft brewery with non-traditional, creative brewing methods. Attend Sundowner Hour for discounted drafts and sunset views over the Cascades, occurring every evening.
Deschutes: Bend’s premier brewery founded in 1988, Deschutes should be at the top your list when exploring Bend brews. Try famous favorites like Fresh Squeezed IPA at the taproom and original downtown location, or take a free tour of the brewery on Colorado Avenue.
Bend Ale Trail: Why choose just one? Bend is becoming known as a “beer town,” but the Ale Trail also features distilleries and wineries on its walk-able or bike-able self-guided tour. Pick up a passport at the Visitor’s Center to redeem prizes.
STAY:
McMenamins Old St. Francis School: The heart of the dynamic McMenamin property, this renovated 1936 schoolhouse features lodging, a mosaic-tiled soaking pool, movie theater, restaurants and bars. The hotel employs full time artists and showcases the McMenamin brothers’ vast art collection, from architectural accents to Indonesian and African art and artifacts.
McMenamins Art House: The Art House celebrates the work of artists who have collaborated with McMenamins over the years. An original work in each room, secret passageways and the mysterious broom closet bar makes your stay at the Art House a truly unique experience.
The Oxford Hotel: An upscale boutique hotel in downtown Bend with mountain views and posh dining at 10 Below. The chic Oxford Hotel mimics Bend’s visual beauty with its organic and elegant atmosphere.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Year Round for the First Friday Art Walk and the Bend Tour Company’s Art Safari Tour, an enlightening and entertaining way to experience Bend’s award-wining approach to public art.
Or plan your trip around these seasonal art events:
Art in the High Desert: A national, juried fine art and craft show that draws over 115 artists to the Old Mill District; occurs every August.
Art of the West Exhibition: The High Desert Museum’s annual August invitational art exhibition and silent auction, showcasing nationally acclaimed artists who interpret the West in traditional and contemporary formats.
Tenth Month: October is a beautiful and stimulating time to visit Bend, as Tenth Month features back-to-back series of independent events and conferences such as the Bend Film Festival.
WinterFest: Occurring every February in the Old Mill District, WinterFest features a wine walk, live shows and dynamic art events including an illuminating ice sculpting competition.
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