Tillamook Forest Center celebrates the settlers that lived in the hills and mountains and composed music about their day-to-day life experiences with a monthly country-folk music jam.  Bring your instruments or come sing along and join in the fun.  An open jam will occur the first Sunday of each month.

Help restore native habitats, clean up the Refuge, and take care of new plantings at work parties held the second Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to noon.  Come prepared rain or shine with sturdy boots, work gloves, and drinking water.  No registration needed.  Meet at the Wildlife Center parking lot promptly at 9:00 a.m. for instructions to the work party site.

Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is a unique place, one of only a handful of urban wildlife refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System.  Thanks to the combined efforts of local residents and the US Fish & Wildlife Service, this land was set aside as a refuge in 1992.  Ever since, the staff has been working hard to turn the land back to a more natural state within the floodplain of the Tualatin River basis.  The Refuge is managed to mimic the natural seasonal cycle, so whatever, the season, you'll see many kinds of wildlife here.  The Refuge has become a key stopping point on the Pacific Flyway as migratory waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds by the thousands discover this rich and varied resource.  Several more species are appearing each year.  Discover and enjoy the wildlife which live here, and the habitats that support them.

The latest exhibit at the Washington County Museum features historic works of art that are small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet can tell the story of an entire family's lineage.  Ex Libris, showcases the bookplates collection of local resident JoAnn Pari-Mueller.  The comprehensive exhibit will examine the history of bookplates and the predominant techniques used to create them.  In addition, it highlights several popular topics, artists, and famous collectors, as well as delving into some of the intricacies that make Ex Libris unique and fascinating to their collectors.

In conjunction with Ex Libris, the museum's partner organization Print Arts Northwest will display a new show on loan from the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, entitled Prints from the Jordan Schnitzer & Sitka Center Printmaking Residency.

Don't miss the Third Thursday opening reception for both exhibits on January 21 from 5:30 to 8:00pm.  It's your opportunity to talk art, sip wine, enjoy hors d'oeuvres, and see both exhibits free of charge!  There will also be a free raffle to win one of the bookplate prints selected by collector JoAnn Pari-Mueller.

The Women Artists of AMBUS present "The Shape of Memory" in the main gallery of the Walters Cultural Arts Center. AMBUS Contemporary Art is a group of professional women artists working in southern Oregon.  who explore, share, and exhibit art in a supportive group environment. After having a gallery presence for six years first in Jacksonville and then Medford, the group closed doors and are exhibiting two to three times a year at various locations. The Arts Center is lucky to be one such location. On display will be nearly all media from oil to encaustic, bronze to fiber, in abstract, impressionistic and contemporary figurative styles. Participating artists include; Darla Baack, Eileen Bowie, Susan Burnes, Dianne Erickson, Frieda Golding, Janet E. Higgins, Pat Holton, Kris Hoppe, Nancy Jo Mullen, Nancy Pagani, Lisa d. Peterson, Meloney Quady and Alice Stambaugh.

Also on exhibit from February 2 -24 in the basement gallery will be the works of Jim Smith. James F. Smith began painting, utilizing how-to books, in 1968. He has since studied with Jim Westall, E. John Robinson, Harold Walkup, Katherine Friday and Florence Thurman. Smith is currently showing his work at the Influence Gallery and the International Miniature shows in Pennsylvania and Nags Head, North Carolina. A second generation artist disabled twice by brain surgeries, Smith firmly believes success in art is a matter of tenacity rather than purely talent. He has taught art classes locally and at the coast for 40 years.

An opening reception for all artists will be held on First Tuesday, February 2, at 6pm with a special house concert in the Arts Center lobby. This month features pianist Frieda Safranek and vocalist Dara Schumacher performing jazz and Broadway standards. 

Located at the heart of Pacific University, the Kathrin Cawein Gallery of Art is integrated into the southeast corner of the Harvey W. Scott Memorial Library building.  The gallery represents something very special for the academic and creative climates of the campus and surrounding region.  Exhibits change monthly throughout the academic year, and are provided at no cost to the public through the Department of Art.  Following is the exhibit schedule for 2009-2010:

• Sep 22 - Oct 16, 2009 - Vern Bartley


• Oct 20 - Nov 13, 2009 - All Faculty/Staff Show


• Nov 17 - Dec 18, 2009 -  Art Faculty Show


• Feb 2 - Feb 26, 2010 - Jan Shield


• Mar 2 - Apr 2, 2010 - Lisa & Shannon Roche


• Apr 6 - Apr 23, 2010 - Luau Propaganda


• Apr 28 - May 21, 2010 - 2010 Senior Show

The Beaverton Arts Commission will kick off the 28th Annual Visual Arts Showcase unveiling the design of a major sculptural work for the city that will be placed in City Park this fall.  A model of the sculpture, will be on display throughout the duration of the 2-week art exhibition.  The sculptural work entitled "Singing Sky" was created by Wisconsin artist Richard Taylor from a field of 235 applicants throughout the United States and British Columbia.  The playful abstract shapes in the work will inspire the imagination of viewers of all ages and reflect the city's diversity.  The sculpture model will be presented along side a collection of 114 works of art in a variety of media created by Oregon artists - the largest collection ever presented.  The art exhibition and sale will include sculpture, mixed media, watercolors, oils, acrylics, photography,prints, drawings, pastels and fine craft.

The Visual Arts Showcase takes place at the Beaverton City Library and is open to the public during Library hours (www.beavertonlibrary.org/about/hoursLocation.aspx#map).  An Opening Night Gala and Reception will kick off the exhibition and sale on Saturday, February 6, from 7 to 9 p.m. in meeting rooms A and B of the Beaverton City Library.  Open to the public, the Gala will provide an opportunity for the community to vote for their favorite work.

The public is invited to a gala reception to celebrate the opening of Amato Gallery, a new fine art gallery in Beaverton Old Town.  The event includes a tasting of Northwest wines and gallery artists will be on hand.  Housed within Amato's Floral in Beaverton Old Town, the gallery features fine art made in Oregon.  Works displayed include blown glass by Diane Ahrendt, metal or marble sculpture by Joni Mitchell, Joe Pogan, John Wisener, paintings by Brenda Boylan, Chris Helton, Gretha Lindwood, Michael Orwick, Annie Salness, Donna Sanson, jewelry by Bert Cohen, and ceramics by Beth O'Mahony.

Gallery hours will be Monday to Friday - 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Bag & Baggage invites you to its world-premiere adaptation of The Taming of the Shrew and A Woman's Prize, written by William Shakespeare and his contemporary John Fletcher.  The two pieces are adapted into one show and directed by Artistic Director Scott Palmer, performed together at each performance - with the same cast playing the matching roles in each of the two stories.  Petruchio tempers Katherine into submission in the class Shrew, but then the tables turned in A Woman's Prize (or The Tamer Tamed, written as a sequel and reply to Shrew, and considered by many to be a proto-feminist play!  In this original adaptation the two stories weave together into one hysterical battle of the sexes.

Preview performances:  Wednesday, Feb. 10 & Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 pm; tickets $12

The American Readers Theatre and the Portland Festival Ballet will collaborate with the Beaverton Arts Commission to produce a reading of the very popular children's classic Charlotte's Web written by E.B. White and directed by the founder and artistic director of the New York City-based readers theatre company, Jeffrey Stocker.  The cast includes Portland and Beaverton area actors as well as dancers and parents from the Portland Festival Ballet. 

There will be three performances at the Beaverton City Library.  Tickets can be purchased by calling Portland Festival Ballet (503-245-5269) or at the door on the day of the performance.

Take a walk on the sensual side on Valentine's weekend at Cooper Mountain Vineyards.  Bring your sweetheart and take a romantic morning 'Tour-n-Trek' (reservations required).  Sip on our luscious wines, nibble on fruit dipped in chocolate and our signature strawberries drizzled in Apicio balsamic and truffle popcorn.  All inclusive package for two - $25.

The Washington County Museum and Print Arts Northwest invite you and your family to enjoy family fun activities the second Saturday of the month at the museum.  Juice and cookies are provided by Beaverton Bakery.

• February 13:  Pioneer Toys, Crafts and Dress-up - Valentine crafts, magnets, bookmarks and cards


• March 13:  Native American Crafts & Displays - Crafts in Green to go, make a leprechaun, find gold


• April 10:  Celebrate Semana de la Raza with Cloth Doll Making & Hispanic Heritage Display - Kites, more kites, fish, robots and more


• May 8:  Pioneer Dress-up; bring your camera - Crafts for spring, make a butterfly, print a fish