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By Brooke Nuckles, 413 contributed posts
View all Brooke Nuckles's posts. About the author:
Spring Art Classes and Workshops
Spring is approaching! Well, it’s snowing here and there but I did see a bush in beautiful pink blossoms the other day.
The students in the last several workshops have created some amazing and really inspiring art pieces and I feel even more excited to post this new series of workshops!
Also, remember, every Thursday evening is, “Random Acts of Art,” where you can drop in and play in a, “candy store, ” of art all evening for just $10.
You can join in the Asian art of Sumi-e and Tea Tasting on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 and Wednesday evenings at 7:00, called, Sake and Sumi-e.
All materials are provided in any and every class I teach.
You can register for a class on-line at our website: www.kindredspiritsartalewine.com. Go to Class Registration and sign up there.
Looking for to creating with you!
Sumi-e
Translated, ‘Black Ink-Painting,” is where art and art of living come together. In these classes, you will explore the simplicity and spontaneity of the essence of nature. In this painting-method, as in Zen practice, reality is expressed by reducing it to its pure bare form. You will find this practice extremely therapeutic and heart calming.
All materials provided. Every Tuesday Mornings with Tea:
Every Wednesday Evening at 7:00- -Sake and Sumi-e
Cost: $25 per class
“Random Acts of Art”
THURSDAY EVENINGS
Open Studio Drop In and different projects every week.
This photo ( milagros), is just one example.
Cost: $10
“More Random Acts of Art”
THURSDAY EVENINGS
Open Studio Drop In and different projects every week.
Another example: Matchbox reliquaries.
Cost: $10
Henna Garden Painting
Mixed Media on Canvas
This may look difficult but it is Not, and you will find it quite freeing and really fun!!. As always I walk you through these creations step by step so it is easy and you CAN do it.
Saturday, February 23rd
1:00 – 4:00
Cost: $50
The Acrylic Pour
This is one of THE most addicting art forms EVER!
There have been so many requests for this class that I put it on this series again. Many of you have maybe even tried this and been frustrated. I am happy to lead you through the process, step by step and show you the ,”secrets,” to a successful piece.
Saturday, March 9th,
1:00-4:00
Cost $55
House of Blues
Just what it looks like, a house of birds. Blue birds actually, but you can make any style of bird you want. (I know who you are out there who love blackbirds and crows!)
Saturday, March 2nd
11:00 – 4:00
Cost: $50
Abstract Figure Sculptures
For those of you who have begged for this class, here it is!!
The mother of mixed media creations.
There is limited space so you may want to register early.
Saturday, March 16th
10:30 – 4:00
Cost $65
By Brooke Nuckles, 413 contributed posts
View all Brooke Nuckles's posts. About the author:
Ashland Gallery Association Art Exhibit Openings & Artist Receptions
First Friday Art Walk, December 7th from 5 to 8 PM
Stroll the galleries and take in the visual delights in downtown Ashland and the Historic Railroad District. Enjoy this free year-round community event, filled with a diverse array of artwork, live music, artist demonstrations, refreshments and lively conversation!
Ashland Gallery Association December Spotlight Exhibits
Photographers’ Gallery
Bittersweet: Yosemite 20 years Later.
Bobbi Murphy’s new show, Bittersweet: Yosemite 20 Years Later, opens on Friday, December 7th at The Photographers’ Gallery At The Ashland Art Center and will run through January.
Yosemite holds wonderful memories for me – of autumn walks in golden meadows and full moon nights along the Merced River listening to great horned owls call to their families on cold evenings. Tramping through spring meadows flooded with snow runoff, riotous with wild flowers.John Muir walked here and helped create America’s second great National Park.
There is no denying the impact of climate change on the park: drought, fire, pine beetles have killed 129 million trees in California and Yosemite has not been spared. It is heartbreaking to see and experience while remembering how magnificent it was just a few short years ago. But the tourists come in crowds greater than ever.
Despite all that we have done to it, Yosemite is still a glorious, spectacular place that makes a heart sing, even in the midst of destruction and devastation. We are loving it to death and yet, somehow don’t love it enough to save it and ourselves.
Ashland Art Center
Giving Tree Program
Help a local child and celebrate the Holiday’s by donating to Ashland Art Center’s Giving Tree.
December First Friday will be packed with excitement at Ashland Art Center.We will be kicking off our First Friday Weekend Sale, 10% off, December 7, 8 & 9th. Handcrafted work by local artists will include: paintings; photography; prints; jewelry; scarves; fiber art; woodwork; ceramics.
Shop, enjoy wine and music and help a child in need!We hope will you join us and spread some holiday cheer.
Giving Tree
Gallerie Karon
Gifts By The Gifted
Gallerie Karon’s December show features all of our artists with gifts for the holidays. Let us be your personal shopper – bring your list – we’re here to help.
The biggest news is that Gallerie Karon is expanding! Our new addition, “The Feathered Wing”, will be open by the holidays! In this new area, accessible through our main gallery, is a two-part section. The first is full of small, multiple use furniture pieces for smaller spaces. The second is a special area for Oriental furniture and accessories with larger scale antique Buddhas and Quan Yins. It’s a serene room far away from today’s problems and filled with things that you can use to create your own serene space at home.
We’ll have a Grand Opening once the expansion is completed, but the move is on!
Gallerie Karon
The Shepherd’s Dream
A Study on the Transition of Life
Nora Costley, Watercolorist, shares her artistic evolution through self-discovery and the mystery of the universe. Nora is a world traveler and holds a BA in Fine Art from the University of New Mexico.Her work has been displayed in the National Museum of Art in Washington, DC. She currently resides in the Rogue Valley.
She enjoys many forms of art including sculpture, traditional pottery making in Japan, Installation and Photography. Even as a watercolorist, Nora feels an artist does not need to stick with the same subject or medium. She prefers an artist’s creation to reflect the transient beings they are, and continue to demand an evolution as individuals. She states…”for me art is a constant exploration and experimentation of self and the universe, which parallels the exploration of medium and processes.” Also…”a driving force is art that stimulates personal power and freedom in myself and others.” Her practice has evolved from that of discovering and resolving the internal, to decoding the world at large. Often her ideas flow, and it’s not until a piece is complete, that it either is understood or not. The universe is of great curiosity to her, but as with Nora’s artistic endeavor, she is satisfied with the mystery.
Nora Costley, “Take Your Power Back” watercolor
Special Event!
Lithia Artisans Market
Lithia Artisans Holiday Market
Friday, December 14 ~ 10am-7pm
Saturday, December 15 ~ 10am-6pm
Sunday, December 16 ~ 11am-4pm
Our Holiday Market is moving to the Medford Armory after 13 seasons with the Art Wing at Briscoe Elementary in Ashland. For 2018, we plan to host over 60 artisans at this new location, featuring some of the finest locally crafted gifts you’ll find. Enjoy live music, a family-friendly atmosphere and a chance to support local artisans while shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts.
A raffle drawing will be held on Sunday afternoon at both of our holiday events. The winner receives a $100 gift certificate.This Holiday Season Support Local Handmade. Join Us!
For more information about all of our exhibits and to download the December Gallery Tour map, please visit: www.ashlandgalleries.com
Please see the attached “Spotlight Exhibits” and December Gallery Tour Map.
By Brooke Nuckles, 413 contributed posts
View all Brooke Nuckles's posts. About the author:
Ashland Gallery Association Art Exhibit Openings & Artist Receptions
First Friday Art Walk, October 5th from 5 to 8 pm
Stroll the galleries and take in the visual delights in downtown Ashland and the Historic Railroad District. Enjoy this free year-round community event, filled with a diverse array of artwork, live music, artist demonstrations, refreshments and lively conversation!
For more information about all of our exhibits and to download the October Gallery Tour map, please visit: www.ashlandgalleries. com
Art & Soul Gallery
Mountains and More, Paintings by Carla Griffin
“It is my desire to awaken in the viewer the delight that arises from careful observation.”Carla J Griffin, PSO
Carla presents her exquisite, realistic Oil and Pastel paintings. Her expressive landscapes depict the world through her observations and vision. Carla’s works will be exhibited through the month of October. Please join us for a festive opening on First Friday, October 5, from 5-8 PM.
Carla has won numerous local awards for her art including Painting of the Year from Southern Oregon Society of Artists and Best of Show from the Josephine County Artists Association. Griffin has also been accepted into four Pastel Society of Oregon’s judged shows with awards in two of them and is now a Signature member. The Pastel Society of the West Coast also accepted an entry from Griffin.
Carla Griffin, “Smith Rock”, painting
Art & Soul 20th Birthday Celebration
We will celebrate bringing Fine Art to Ashland and the surrounding communities on Friday, October 26, from 5-8 PM. Join us for birthday cake, wine, music and of course fine art!
Schneider Museum of Art
Fall Exhibitions
September 28th, 2018 – January 5th, 2019
Opening Thursday, September 27th, Museum Members and Volunteers VIP reception 4-5pm, General Public, 5-7pm
Entry Gallery:
Terrain: The Space Betweenfrom the Collections of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. Featuring work by Vija Celmins, Judy Pfaff and Ed Ruscha
Main Gallery:
Field Burns, a solo exhibition by Patrick Collier
Heiter and Treehaven Galleries:
Outland About, a two-person exhibition featuring Carl Diehl and Susan Murrell. Curated by Patrick Collier
The exhibitions will be complemented with First Fridays, FREE Family Days and Tuesday Tours – drop in docent-led tours of the exhibition held every Tuesday at 12:30 PM.
Patrick Collier, “Gate Burn”, digital print
Ashland Art Works
Rogue Valley Views: Woodworking, Furniture, and Paintings
Visit us this month to see new offerings by painter Michael Gibson, who took inspiration from Oregon’s Bear Creek Wine Trail, and furniture maker John Weston, who uses woods found and sourced in the Rogue Valley. Come by and meet the artists at First Friday on October 5.
Michael’s style is unique and at the same time inspired by works of post-impressionist artists. For this show, he traveled Oregon’s Southernmost Bear Creek Wine Trail and painted views from the wineries. The oil paintings are on particleboard, which provides an interesting texture. Michael received his BFA from Houston Museum of Fine Arts. He has worked as a designer, art director and taught life drawing, illustration, painting, graphic design and photography at Art Institute of Houston and the Art Institute of Seattle.
Becoming a part of a cooperative of artists has inspired John Weston to stretch his woodworking and to combine form with function. His work is intended to provide generations of use and enjoyment. Mortise and tenon joinery, mitred splines, dowels, dovetails. and floating tenons are a few of his favorite construction techniques. John’s work consistently attempts to highlight the natural beauty found in selected pieces of lumber. He collects unique pieces of lumber and finds enjoyment in sharing their beauty with others. When using exotic woods, he tries to purchase certified lumber that is harvested from tree farms. John’s greatest satisfaction comes from using woods native to Oregon.
Michael Gibson, oil painting
Gallerie Karon
Faces, Hidden and Revealed
Masks, Puppets and Portraits
There are a couple of twists to the annual mask and puppet show this year at Gallerie Karon. We’ve added portraits to the mix that will include work by Robert Paulmenn, Pam Danielle, Brooks Garden Hauschild and Richard LeVitt among others.
The most unusual offering is from a private collection of vintage ventriloquist dummies. It’s rare to see a grouping like this and all for sale! Hand puppets are also in the evidence and many, many animals are represented.We even have stringed marionettes! Our extensive mask collection comes from all over the world. It includes helmet, face and shoulder masks. (We have a few fun ones for Halloween wearing too!)
Healing HeArts – Breast Cancer Awareness and Fundraiser
Riding Beyond is a non-profit organization that opens doors to the future for breast cancer survivors through in-depth experiences in the horse/human connection.In support of October Breast Cancer Awareness Month, local businesses will participate in this fundraiser by providing gifts for a raffle on First Friday and cash donation jars throughout October.
Ashland Art Center Collage Making Event
Ashland Art Center will host a collage making event: Horses and the HumanHeart, conducted by Riding Beyond participants and volunteers during October First Friday Art Walk.Find out how horses provide life-changing benefits for the many after-effects of breast cancer treatment, often lingering for years. Hear stories from participants of their enthusiasm for the “miracles” that unfold for them. See videos of interactions with the horses. Create your own collage to take home the power of the horse to benefit your own life. Find more information at ridingbeyond.org. This event is part of Riding Beyond’s city-wide public awareness campaign on October First Friday: Healing HeArts.
Participating Galleries and Businesses:
American Trails: Gifting a$50 gift certificate
Ashland Art Center: Artists Gifts Basket; plus they are hosting the Collage Event
Ashland Art Works:$50 gift certificate
*Be Cherished Salon: Gift Basket
*Imani Institute of Cosmetology: Gift Basket
*KIXX : $50 gift certificate
Manzanita: Barnwood framed Giclee by Texas artist Mary Gregory
Melanie Macinnes: 20% of all her art sold that evening
Platt-Anderson Cellars: 20% of sales October 5th; Gift Bag of Wine for raffle
Pony Expresso:Coffee Gift Basket (needs a sign); plus donating 10% of their sales on Oct. 5th
POSH Organics: Skincare Boutique Spa: Gift Basket
*Sew Creative: $50 gift card, includinga private shopping experience after store hours for up to 5
*Strands Salon: Gift Basket
The Crown Jewel: a $35 gift certificate
Three Penny Mercantile: $50gift certificate
*Umpqua Bank: wine and treats gift basket
Walton Art House: silver and gold ring with a moonstone (valued at $100) handcrafted by Denver artist, featured for the month of October
*These galleries/businesses are supporting the Healing HeArts event with a donation to be raffled off the evening of October 5th, although they will not be open for business during the hours of the First Friday Art Walk.
5th Annual Ashland Open Studio Tour
Come Into Our Studios…
October 13th &14th, 11 AM-5 PM
Free to the public
During the second weekend in October a group of local artists will open their studio doors to the public for the Fifth Annual Ashland Open Studio Tour.
The Ashland Open Studio Tour is an inspiring self-guided arts tour brought to you by the Ashland Gallery Association. This free community event will guide visitors to a diverse array of artist studios in Ashland and the surrounding communities of Talent and Phoenix, while journeying through the beauty of the fall season.
We invite you to come see the creative processes behind our talented arts community. There will be a variety of mediums from painting and drawing to ceramics, metal and fiber arts, as well as demonstrations, presentations, and screenings to reveal each individual’s unique methods.
The Ashland Open Studio Tour is part of the Ashland Gallery Association’s efforts to promote the visual arts in our communities and is made possible in part by grants from the City of Ashland and the Oregon Community Foundation
Tour Maps are available at AGA member galleries or visit www.ashlandost.com to download a brochure and read more information about participating artists.
Visit: www.ashlandost.com for more information and a map of the participating studios.
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1616 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
Oregon Wine Competition® Announces Impressive Set of Judges,
Becomes Statewide Competition
MEDFORD, Ore.–The Oregon Wine Experience® is pleased to announce that a panel of six exceptional judges has been finalized for this year’s Oregon Wine Competition® to be held August 6-7. These nationally renowned experts herald a significant change in the competition. Previously restricted to wines made with 100 percent Southern Oregon AVA grapes, this year the competition will open up to all wines made with 100 percent Oregon AVA grapes. This change represents the evolution of Oregon Wine Experience® and the Oregon Wine Competition® into prominent wine events for Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest.
The judges for the 2016 Oregon Wine Competition® include:
Mollie Battenhouse: Master of Wine, Advanced Sommelier.
Bob Foster: Chief Judge, Central Coast Wine Competition, Paso Robles.
Tim Hanni: Master of Wine, Wine Industry Faculty at Sonoma State University.
Richard Jennings: Wine Writer & Critic, RJonWine.com.
Adam Lapierre: Master of Wine, Teaching Staff at San Francisco Wine School.
Note: Master of Wine (MW) is the most prestigious title in the world of wine and is issued by The Institute of Masters of Wine in the United Kingdom. There are currently only 338 Masters of Wine in 24 countries.
Full Bios
Mollie Battenhouse, MW
Mollie graduated cum laude from Wesleyan College and later enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America, where she graduated at the top of her class. She obtained her Masters of Wine designation in 2015 and is currently the Director of Sales and Business Development for V.O.S. Selections in New York and New Jersey. Mollie is also an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers. Bob Foster
Bob is the Assistant Editor of the California Grapevine wine newsletter, and has served as a wine judge for over 25 years. He is the Director of the Mid-American Wine Competition and Chief Judge of the Central Coast Wine Competition in Paso Robles. Bob is also a retired prosecutor, retiring after 33 years of service with the California Attorney General’s Office.
Tim Hanni, MW
Tim is a professionally-trained chef and one of the first two resident Americans to successfully complete the examination and earn the title Master of Wine. He is a Certified Wine Educator accredited by the Society of Wine Educators and has been involved with wine and food related businesses, education, and research for over 35 years. Tim is also recognized for introducing the concept of the “umami” taste phenomenon to the wine and food community.
Richard Jennings
Richard is a wine writer and critic, and was recently honored as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in the U.S. Wine Industry” for the second year by IntoWine.com. His blog, RJonWine.com, has been a finalist for numerous awards, including best overall and best writing awards. Richard is also a “favorited” tasting note writer (and most prolific) on CellarTracker, where he has contributed over 35,000 tasting notes.
Adam Lapierre, MW
Adam is a Master of Wine based in San Francisco, California. who began his career working in New York’s Finger Lakes Region. After earning the Certified Sommelier designation from the Court of Master Sommeliers, Adam went on to pursue various credentials from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Adam now works as an industry consultant, wine educator, writer and wine judge. He’s also a member of the teaching staff at the highly regarded San Francisco Wine School.
Luke Sykora
Luke is the Senior Editor for Wine and Spirits Magazine and a freelance wine writer. Luke has an MFA from the Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and has taught writing at the universities of Iowa and San Francisco. In 2014, Luke was awarded the Frank Prial Fellowship for the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley.
The Oregon Wine Experience and Oregon Wine Competition are annual events held in Jacksonville, Oregon in the heart of the Rogue Valley in southern Oregon, which is considered to be one of the best wine regions in the country. The signature wine event benefits the Children’s Miracle Network through the Asante Foundation and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center, one of 170 CMN Hospitals in the country providing pediatric care, treating 17 million children annually. In 2016 the Oregon Wine Experience raised over $500,000, and 100 percent of those proceeds went to Children’s Miracle Network and other Asante healthcare programs including the purchase of training mannequins for birth and delivery.
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1616 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
Now, I could shoehorn the steps of wine enjoyment into a drab acronym, but that would be like every other wine article out there, and likely put you to sleep.
So instead, let me tell you a story. This story is about you at a dinner party sometime in the future.
Consider me your own personal Ghost of Wine Future.
Walt Disney Productions’ “Mickey’s Christmas Carol”
You’ve been dragged to a dinner party you really do not want to attend. Would you rather take an ice bath on a frigid winter morning than attend this party? Yes. Would you rather lose your significant other who wants you to be there? Sadly . . . no.
You walk in the door. Avoiding the inquisitive gazes of the guests, you embark on a search for the one thing that will get you through the night — wine. Luckily, the host Rick brings you a glass of something red. Rick, totally unprompted, starts talking about his job as an investment banker.
“You know, on a per hour basis I actually don’t make that much money,” Rick exclaims. Now, in the past this is the moment you would have smiled and nodded as you took a triple sip, hoping to numb the pain. But not this time. This time, you hold the glass in front of you and observe the wine’s color while Rick’s words fly right over your head.
Fox Searchlight Pictures’ “Sideways”
Step 1) SEE
In a legendary study conducted at the University of Bordeaux, 54 wine science students were asked to describe a red wine. Little did they know that they were actually drinking white wine that had been disguised with food coloring. What do you think happened? They all described the dyed white wine as a red! Clearly, our perceptions of color massively influence our interpretation of taste.
Assessing color will not only impact your sensual experience as it did for the Bordeaux students, but over time, you’ll come to appreciate the wealth of information cloaked in a wine’s color that 99% of wine drinkers take for granted.
For the first step, turn your attention to the glass, and observe the wine’s color.
Image attributed to Virginia Dare China
Is the wine crimson red, or more of a dark purple? Is it easy to see through the glass, or is the wine opaque? You’ll start to notice you can identify certain grape varietals by color alone. For example, Syrah tends to be an inky dark purple that’s near impossible to see through, whereas Pinot Noir is a bright garnet that’s entirely transparent. A wine’s color can also speak to its age. Whites become darker with age, and reds become lighter.
Image attributed to calldd.com
Casually swoosh the wine around in the glass a few times and observe the “tears” AKA “legs” AKA “drops” running down the side of the glass. Are they falling slowly, or do they trickle down the side of the glass rapidly like water? The thickness of these tears, or “viscosity”, can communicate key details about the wine. When slow running and thick, that indicates the wine is potentially high in alcohol or contains residual sugar.
Appreciating the visual splendor and texture of your wine is like knowing the background of a musical piece — it may sound more or less the same at first, but if you listen carefully you’ll be able to appreciate the subtle nuances that make each piece unique from one another.
Back to your stimulating conversation with Rick. You’ve already feigned interest in his latest 1-week detox diet, and now comes the inevitable silence. Not only do you and Rick have nothing in common, but you’re out of things to talk about.
In the past, you’d take another slug of wine and revive the painstaking conversation via a comment on the weather or a verbatim lie about how you’re intrigued by this preposterous diet of his. But not this time. This time, you embrace the awkward silence as you give your glass a gentle swirl.
Image attributed to washingtonpost.com
Step 2) SWIRL
In another study, a single subject (me) drank an Argentinian Malbec that smelled like a barnyard upon opening. After about 30 minutes of air those odors blew off revealing a remarkable, delicious wine. Of course, you may not have the privilege of arriving early to ensure that your host opens the wine beforehand to allow for sufficient breathing, but swirling it in your glass will have a similar effect. Typically, the more volatile components of a freshly opened wine tend to be the less enjoyable; by swirling, these will begin to blow off leaving behind a masterpiece for your palate to behold.
Swirling the wine around in your glass will also bring in more oxygen. Why is this important?Introducing more O2 into the glass unleashes the wine’s aromas, allowing it to “open up” and for all of those wondrous fragrances to blossom.
Most importantly, swirling will make you look cool.
At this point your beloved Rick has lost interest. You’re simply not feeding his delicate ego the attention it deserves. With the raise of a brow, he extends you an “it was nice meeting you,” and moves on to the next victim.
In the past, you’d flock to the nearest friendly face. This time, you James Bond it. You hold your ground, give the glass another swirl, and stick your nose inside to smell the aromas awaiting your embrace.
Image attributed to businessbagsdesigner.com
Step 3) SMELL
“Smell is a potent wizard that transports you across thousands of miles and all the years you have lived. The odors of fruits waft me to my southern home, to my childhood frolics in the peach orchard. Other odors, instantaneous and fleeting, cause my heart to dilate joyously or contract with remembered grief. Even as I think of smells, my nose is full of scents that start awake sweet memories of summers gone and ripening fields far away.” Helen Keller
There is nothing more distinctively memorable than a smell. It is is a spellbinding time machine capable of transporting us back to our fondest memories. We not only remember the good times, but we literally re-experience them physically. As the unsung hero of our five senses, smell is tragically under appreciated.
Ever tried drinking wine with your nose plugged? It may as well be water. 90% of our taste comes from smell, so don’t sell yourself short on this step. Immediately after swirling shove your schnoz deep into the glass and give the wine a powerful, wine-godly sniff and take in the various aromas.
What do you smell? Is the wine fruity, or earthy? A bit of both? Do you smell red fruits like cherries, raspberries and/or strawberries, or dark purple fruits such as blueberries, plum and black currant? Or maybe you’re smelling tobacco, wood, and pencil lead?
Perhaps you just smell plain ole red wine. One of the biggest obstacles when first attempting to really smell our wine is disassociating from “red wine” and allowing other fragrances to creep into our minds. Make no mistake, this takes training! Every time you try, even if you just “smell red wine,” you’re doing a rep. Eventually, your sense of smell will get stronger, and new scents will reveal themselves. You’ll even begin to notice certain fragrance patterns amongst different varietals. For example, Sauvignon Blanc commonly exudes aromas of green bell pepper and grapefruit.
Let your imagination run wild and trust your senses… there’s no right answer here. The more often you do this the better you’ll become at discerning different aromas.
Let’s recap what’s happened. You’ve looked at the wine and although it pretty much still “looks red,” you noted the thick tears and expect a stronger wine. You swirled the wine to blow off any festering barnyard smells and to release the wine’s true aromas. You James Bonded it and immersed your face into the glass to appreciate the scents. And now, it’s time for the grand finale.
You bring the glass to your lips, and the room comes to a stand still. You sip the wine like it’s the last you’ll ever have. Not only is your experience enhanced, but the little observations you’ve made link up with the taste to add a tiny record to your brain that you can build upon. With each passing sip you experience the transcendence of the expert, minus the lifetime of dedication. No books nor lifetime of wine tasting experience necessary.
Image attributed to Samir Hussein
Step 4) SIP
Before swallowing, gently swish the wine around in your mouth to hit every part of your tongue, as different regions of the tongue are better at perceiving certain tastes.
When gauging the quality of the wine, the rabbit hole of what to look for is seemingly endless. So to start, let’s focus on these three simple questions:
a) Is the wine balanced?
A recent bottle of Amarone was 16.5% alcohol (extremely high), but this was imperceptible without checking the label. All that alcohol was seamlessly stabilized by the wine’s intense tannins (a compound in the wine that causes your mouth to feel dry and, in right doses, allows the wine to age), fruit, and acidity (this is what makes you salivate). In other words, the wine was “balanced”. Balance simply implies that there’s harmony between the different sensations (e.g., alcohol, tannin, etc.) you detect when drinking the wine where no single element sticks out like a sore thumb.
b) How long is the finish?
Many inexpensive wines are rather pleasant on the nose and taste great on the way down, but once you’ve swallowed the taste vanishes leaving you with a short to nonexistent “finish”. You’ll find that high quality wines, on the other hand, leave their mark on your senses long after you’ve imbibed.
c) Do I like this wine?
At the end of the day, this is what really matters.
Your significant other catches you marveling at your wine, and breaks your trance with a gentle kiss on the cheek.
“Wine’s not bad, eh!?”
A whimsical grin envelops your face as you reply.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t crazy about it at first, but after swirling the wine for a few minutes and getting some air in it really opened up. I’m getting lots of blackberry, hints of plum, and a bit of loamy earthiness on the nose.” You lean in a bit closer and whisper, “having said that, I think Rick may be on the cheaper side. The pronounced alcohol in his wine is overpowering, and totally throws off the balance. The finish is also a bit short, at least for my taste.”
As your significant other’s jaw hits the floor, you make sure to not look back as you walk, with swagger, to refill your glass.
Warner Bros Pictures’ “The Great Gatsby”
What do you think? Leave a response and let me know. I’m going to continue to attempt the impossible of teaching you about wine without boring you to death. If you want to keep reading, follow me. Cheers!
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1616 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
Kindred Spirits: Art, Ale, and Wine is:
a gathering place for community, art, music and wine. We invite people to enjoy and create art while sipping a beverage of their choice. We offer over 30 different wines and a wide range of microbrews and cheese plates. COME VISIT US!
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1616 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
Come out and celebrate Ashland’s Visual Arts during the AGA First Friday Art Walk, April 3rd, from 5 to 8 pm! Stroll the galleries in downtown Ashland and the Historic Railroad District. Enjoy this year-round free community event, filled with spectacular artwork, live music, artist demonstrations, refreshments and conversation with other art enthusiasts!
Pick up the new complimentary 2015 Gallery Guide in member galleries now!
Ashland Gallery Association Spotlight Exhibits
April 2015
A Taste of Ashland
17 Galleries + Wine + Food = One delicious art experience!
Saturday and Sunday, April 25th and 26th from noon to 4 p.m.
A Taste of Ashland Poster art by Kevin Christman
Celebrating its twenty-sixth year, the Ashland Gallery Association’s signature fund-raising event is A Taste of Ashland. This annual walking tour of Ashland galleries pairs local restaurants and regional wineries to create Ashland’s most delicious art experience.
This year’s A Taste of Ashland takes place on Saturday and Sunday, April 25th and 26th from noon to 4 p.m. Foodies and wine connoisseurs from all along the west coast follow a map to 17 galleries, to discover Ashland’s best restaurants and the region’s best wines.
A Taste of Ashland is HOSTED by: Ashland Gallery Association and SPONSORED BY: Southern Oregon Public Television, Jefferson Public Radio, Ashland Chamber, Southern Oregon Media Group, Ram Offset Lithographers, Mountain Meadows, and Southern Oregon Magazine.
Hill Station
Cathy Schoenberg: “Transition”
Floral by Cathy Schoenberg
Cathy Schoenberg, a painter of some 35 years, lives in the Skagit Valley, 60 miles north of Seattle, on Guemes Island, a short ferry ride from Anacortes, where her studio is located. The work in this exhibition indicates transition: from the figurative to the almost abstraction of flowers, both following a path of complex, vibrant color, patterns, rhythm and vibration.
” I started sketching with fervor 4 or 5 years ago, not as a precursor to painting, just for my own enrichment, like a daily practice, as in yoga! But Alas! That is exactly where it led me, to a new frontier: deep onto the texture, shapes, and lush wildness of flowers. ”
Schoenberg was born in Spokane, WA and obtained a BFA in fine art from Fort Wright College in 1975. Schoenberg’s work has been shown in Skagit Valley area, Seattle, Bellingham, San Juan Island, in various Galleries and venues since 1980.
Studio AB
Electronic Collage Prints by Bruce Bayard
SCREEN CAPTURE / TRANSMISSIONS I, by Bruce Bayard
Studio A.B will be open for the first Friday Art Walk, and again on Friday April 17, from 5 to 8 pm, which is the opening reception of the new series of “screen captures” by Bruce Bayard. Screen captures are still images derived from the video collage projections as part of a mixed media performance. One such performance occurs the following night, Saturday, April 18 at the Dancespace in Ashland. Tickets are $10 and seating is limited.
Todd Barton, Bruce Bayard and Darrell Bluhm present an evening of improvisational multimedia performance. The event includes quadraphonic sound, music on two Buchla Easels, video projections, and three martial arts forms including Tai Chi Sword.
Oak Leaf Studio
Image submitted by Oak Leaf Studio
New Artist Joins Oak Leaf Studio Contemporary artist Diana Trygg is now sharing exhibit space at Oak Leaf Studio with fine artist Leif Trygg. Diana calls her pieces “Curated Art.” Each image, texture, and object has been personally culled from a collection created over the past 15 or more years. Odd items, unusual shapes, textures and colors, or old memorabilia, as well as found objects are used to create unique images.
In addition to Diana’s work, Oak Leaf Studio is proud to announce three new large paintings by Leif are completed and ready for viewing. The first is a large pastel of Ashland Creek with an exciting viewpoint of the stream. The second, also a pastel picture, is a beautiful scene from Lithia Park in the spring. The third captures an Ashland winter sunset against bare trees. All are rich, vibrant illustrations of different parts of our town.
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1616 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
The Southern Oregon World of Wine is the premier wine event for Southern Oregon and now it is also the premier fundraising event in support of local medical care at Asante. New this year the funds raised during the Southern Oregon World of Wine will go to Children’s Miracle Network and other programs supported by Asante Foundation to help ensure when your family needs them Asante will be there with the finest medical care in a compassionate manner. The goal is to build the Southern Oregon World of Wine into a destination event celebrating the wine industry and highlighting the culinary, hospitality, natural beauty, cultural and outdoor activities of Southern Oregon.This year’s Southern Oregon World of Wine is set for August 19 – 23 at the historic Bigham Knoll Campus at 525 Bigham Knoll Drive in Jacksonville. The event boasts wines from 50 southern Oregon wineries and offers attendees a rare opportunity to meet the faces of the area’s wine makers.The Wine Competition will feature some of the best wines from participating wineries that will be tasted and judged by a panel of renowned judges, who traveled from all over the country to participate. Blind tastings are done on Thursday and Friday of the event. The winning wines will be showcased at the Medal Dinner and Auction on Friday.
The Southern Oregon Wine Region is one of the most diverse wine regions in the world. The AVA, which was made official in 2004, offers one of the largest collections of handcrafted wineries in the country. Its eclectic and cutting edge winemakers offer old and new world styles of winemaking. Vintners and winemakers will showcase more than 200 of their wines with a variety of classic and traditional varietals including: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. More exotic varietals will include Tempranillo, Viognier and Albarino. The Southern Oregon World of Wine Festival has been one of the Southern Oregon’s premier events for the past 11 years.
Thirsty for more than just a sip? Delve into the ‘World of Wine’ the week of the event with wine sensory, evaluation and education classes scheduled for Wednesday, August 20 through Friday, August 22.
Here’s a list of planned classes, each hosted by a wine expert in the field: Sensory Classes
Medal Dinner
Friday August 22, 6pm
Please join us for an enchanted evening under the stars where the Gold Medal/Best of Show Wines from the World of Wine will be paired with culinary delights. This evening is sure to be the Rogue Valley’s most magical dining experience of the year! Featuring:
Enjoy a fine culinary and wine experience as you sample wines and indulge in a succulent array of tasty treats prepared by local master chefs designed to stimulate and satisfy your palate. The popular Grand Tasting offers a rare opportunity to meet the faces of the Southern Oregon wine industry all in one place! Winemakers and owners from 60-plus wineries will showcase more than 100 of the best wines unique to the region. Enjoy musical entertainment and a silent auction.
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1616 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
A Taste of Ashland is this Weekend!
Get your tickets before they sell out again this year!!
Art ~ Food ~ Wine Festival
April 26 & 27
12 noon – 4 PM
For more information and to purchase tickets visit:
Come out for the AGA First Friday Art Walk, May 2nd, from 5 to 8 pm! Stroll the galleries in downtown Ashland and the Historic Railroad District. Enjoy this free community event filled with spectacular artwork, live music, artist demonstrations, refreshments and conversation with other art enthusiasts!
Pick up a Gallery Tour Map at any member gallery, the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, or download off of our website: ashlandgalleries.com
Collaborating artists and husband and wife, Robin and John Gumaelius incorporate ceramic, steel and wood to create animated human and birdlike sculptures. Their works are comical, bizarre and highly inventive. Robin says, “Radio stories, history books, biking adventures, gardening notes, neighbors spied, strangers watched in stores and parks and cars jangle together in our heads and come so freely to our fingers that when we see the pieces finished we are often delighted – as if we are not their creators; they just come to talk with us for a while and then leave again”. In their unique working relationship, Robin and John combine both skill and imagination together as an artistic team to build a singularly unusual world out of clay and mixed media.
The couple and their four young children live in a wooded environment near the coast in Washington. While starting with a tree house, they have also built their own home, studio, barn and lush garden.
The May exhibit also includes Paintings by Anne Kristine who is a recent and welcome addition to our gallery stable.
Photographers Gallery
Photograph by David Sherman
David Sherman Photos of Greece
On September 18th, 2004, I was married in Lithia Park, Ashland. On the next morning, we jumped on a plane, and travelled to a place I hadn’t been to in 20 years. I found my beloved Greece the same. Blue waters with white washed homes, fresh breeze. I took about 5000 pictures in just two weeks; here are some of my favorites. Enjoy!
The Photographers’ Gallery features Fine Art Photography by Southern Oregon’s Finest. Located at the Ashland Art Center, the Photographers’ Gallery is the only one of its kind between Portland and San Francisco. The gallery features work by eleven photographers ranging from nationally recognized to emerging artists. A wide variety of styles are represented including: black & white, landscape, street, travel and abstract photography.
Nimbus
Eric Christenson, “Wine Country Artist”
“Passion for Pinot” by Eric Christenson
Eric Christensen began painting professionally in 1992. Since that time he has enjoyed amazing success and a growing reputation as a celebrated Wine Country Artist. Self-taught, he invented a watercolor technique that allows him to create images of vibrant color that go beyond the look and depth of a high quality photograph. Christensen is truly unique in his field and is considered to be the country’s premier watercolor artist capable of hyperrealism through the use of standard watercolor.
Christensen began to develop his interest in painting, along with botany, classical music, and gourmet cooking as a child in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over time he has acquired a commanding knowledge in each of these fields, which have blended to make him the preeminent artist of today. In addition to his interests, Christensen also derives inspiration from the wine country surrounding his home, which is invariably portrayed in his paintings. As Christensen asserts, “it’s about the lifestyle – and the art of Fine Living!”
Join us at the Gallery in Nimbus to enjoy the artwork of Eric Christensen. You must see in person to appreciate his talent and artistry. His art will be available to enjoy throughout the summer of 2014. Wine and cheese served on First Fridays. Smiles everyday.
Hilltop Gallery
Squaring Off
By Richard Newman
“Squaring Off,” a two-person exhibit by Richard and Rochelle Newman of Ashland opens on April 26 for the “Taste of Ashland” and runs till June 2nd, 2014.
“In this exhibit, the artists’ long-term partnership allows for sparring back and forth and the bouncing of ideas between overlapping, but distinct, sensibilities. They have chosen to use the square and its incarnations as the departure point for their interplay and exhibition parameters.
The square is a diva, the generator of families of important rectangles that provide both variety and consistency. Despite her stability and uniformity, she is not a bore. Contrary to some opinions concerning her high symmetry, she provides infinite variety through a change in size, color, scale and distortion. She gives a constant length for measure, a constant square for area, and a constant cube for space. Her sub-divisions can be both playful and austere.
This exhibit provides a variety of media in both two and three dimensions for the viewer to play hide and seek by recognizing the compositional use of the square.”
By Southern Oregon Artists Resource, 1616 contributed posts
View all Southern Oregon Artists Resource's posts. About the author: SOAR: The Southern Oregon Artist's Resource is a directory of Southern Oregon artists, artisans and those who serve them and calendar of their art events, and Art Matters!, our blog posting Southern Oregon art events and matters of interest to artists, enthusiasts and patrons of the arts near and far. SOAR was created and is maintained by art advocate and web designer Hannah West in Jacksonville, Oregon to promote our diverse and talented arts community to our visitors and the rest of the world.
Join us at TERRA FIRMA GIFT on Saturday, 12 October for “A Sweet Afternoon” featuring honey tastings with Bee Girl Sarah Red-Laird, mead tasting from Honeywood Winery and a book signing of The Honeylicker Angel with Jacksonville author Anna Elkins.
Honey Tasting
Bee Girl Sarah Red-Laird will give tastings of her local honey while also sharing information about how to preserve our vital honey bees.
“Smooth as honey… aged in wood” was the line that inspired the name of this Oregon winery. Taste its delightful honey mead and enjoy the sweet goodness.
A Taste of Ashland is this Weekend!
