The Southern Oregon Artists Resource has started this blog to expand our coverage of Art events and other matters of interest to the artists, artisans and art lovers near and far. Though we’ll be updating it with artist-specific news such as calls to artists, workshops and exhibition opportunities, we’re starting with coverage of the 6th Annual Oregon Chocolate Festival.
Hosted by the Ashland Springs Hotel in Ashland, Oregon, this event is a celebration of the many talented artists in chocolate who call Oregon home, as well as the Southern Oregon wineries, artisan bakeries and patisseries, coffee roasters, distilleries, breweries and more who have paired their own artistry with chocolate.
Many southern Oregon chocolatiers are innovating with their specialties. Participants in this year’s festival will be displaying organic, raw, fair trade and ethically sourced chocolates, vegan, lactose, gluten and other allergen-free chocolates, English Toffee, chocolate created in the fine European tradition, all created in small batches.
We begin our coverage this evening with a special chocolate-themed version of the long-standing Ashland First Friday Art Walk, a stroll through the opening receptions at galleries in Ashland from 5 – 8 pm. We’ll meet some of the Festival’s participants, enjoy chocolate, chocolate desserts and wine tasting as well as a feast for our eyes as we get a taste of Ashland’s art world.
Addi Black, "Haiti"
Not to be left out, Jacksonville artist and student at SOU, Addi Black, will appear at the opening reception of her latest exhibition at the Lithia Springs Hotel from 5 – 8 pm tonight. The hotel is just outside downtown Ashland, so we’ll stop in to see her new work first! Entitled “Haiti,” Addi began this series of paintings depicting Haitians after the devastating earthquake that leveled their country. Best known for her moving paintings of Africans, a recent exhibition of her work at Goodbean Coffee Co. in Jacksonville resulted in the sale of all but two paintings, with 100% of the proceeds donated to a school in South Africa for orphans and children impacted by the AIDS epidemic. Half the proceeds of all sales of Addi’s current work will be donated to the Haiti relief effort, so please join her this evening. RSVP to the event on facebook by clicking the linked picture.
We’ll bring as much of the Festival as possible to those who won’t be able to make it themselves, so be sure to check in as we’ll be posting throughout the Festival. However, it’s only $15 for a day pass, so you really should. For those planning to attend, check in first at the Ashland Springs Hotel’s Oregon Chocolate Festival website to find more information about the Festival, its vendors and participants and the huge array of chocolate-themed activities, demos and presentations you can enjoy.
See you there!
