HillsboroArts Magazine Winter 2021

Winter/Spring 2021

Local Arts Leaders Support Each Other with Creative Ideas

Making Music & Creative Resiliency Get to Know Your Public Art

Building Community and Creating Connections During a Pandemic

The arts and culture activities of the Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department

Weddings | Graduations | Anniversaries | Fundraisers | Luncheons

“I always dreamed of having my daughter’s wedding or reception at Walters Cultural Arts Center. I was thrilled when my daughter and her fiancé chose it for both. The unexpected bonus was the staff at WCAC. They went above and beyond in helping me to execute the bride’s dream wedding.”

- Lisa Battrick

Let the timeless beauty of the Walters Cultural Arts Center infuse your special gathering with the spirit of creativity and culture. With its classic red-stone architecture, stained glass features, custom woodwork ceiling arches, concert-quality sound system, and fine art gallery, the Walters is one of the west side’s most treasured sites for weddings, parties, fundraisers, luncheons and other special events.

Located in the heart of Hillsboro’s historic downtown, this former church is a bustling nexus of cultural activity. Private rentals are available on Saturday and Sunday. The Walters is centrally located with easy access to Portland, Washington County wine country, and the Oregon Coast. Our experienced and friendly staff will be happy to answer your questions and assist you through our rental process.

WALTERS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER

527 East Main Street | Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

503.615.3485 | Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/WaltersRentals

Photo credits: Jon Gottshall (top middle), MItchelldyer Photography (top right), and Stefani Studios Photography (bottom middle).

Connect with Us

Walters Cultural Arts Center

Phone: 503-615-3485

Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/Walters

Facebook: WCACHillsboro

Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council

Phone: 503-615-3497

Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/HACC

Facebook: HillsboroArts

Hillsboro Public Art Program

Phone: 503-615-3483

Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/PublicArt

Address:

527 East Main Street

Hillsboro, Oregon 97123

Cultural Arts is a division of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation.

Digital Version

Find a digital version of this magazine at our website at: Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/ CulturalArts

On the Cover

12

Local Arts Leaders Support Each Other with Creative Ideas

Local creatives gathered to help each other rethink how they can bring their art to the community during the pandemic.

10

Making Music & Creative Resiliency During COVID-19

Joe Aloia shares what drives his teaching, musical experiences, and how he has adapted during the unprecedented time of COVID.

8

Get to Know Your Public Art

Hillsboro has over 80 pieces of public art! Get to know these incredible art pieces in your community.

14

Building Community and Creating Connection During a Pandemic

A conversation with community advocate and creative entrepreneur, Cindy Cosenzo.

Art and Wellness Intertwine in New Community

What can help us lower our anxiety and stress levels, boosts our thinking skills, and positively impact our health and well-being? Research has shown a trip to an art gallery can do all of these and more. Have you ever looked at a landscape painting and wondered about the place captured within the frame, or felt its familiarity as it connected to your memories? Has an artist’s depiction surprised you or invited you to see something in a new or different way? Have you moved a little more calmly or intentionally as your eye travelled from artwork to artwork along a gallery wall? Did you feel your breath slow and deepen as you relaxed in the arrangement of colors? Art impacts our health in positive ways.

A new exhibit in a new setting offers this for the community, particularly one that brings together a broad range of artistic viewpoints and voices in one place. Opening to the public in early 2021 (or as soon as it is safe to do so), the Hidden Creek Community Center will feature a harmonious integration of fitness, wellness, and creativity throughout its beautiful new communal spaces. As an inaugural exhibit, Creative Terrain: A Celebratory Exhibition of Diverse, Regional, Artistic Voices brings together an array of over 40 artists working in a variety of two-dimensional media. From paintings to prints and illustrations to mixed-media collages, the exhibit adds color, vibrancy, and warmth to the heart of the new center. “Hidden Creek Community Center is a place where the community can gather, engage with each other in meaningful conversations, and exercise the mind, body, and spirit. This art exhibit represents a diversity of expressive creativity as seen from both established and newly emerging local artists,” notes Bill Rothchild, Hidden Creek’s new manager.

Encounters with art also connect us to others and to ourselves. We learn more about both through the process. A center focused on community health and well-being is an ideal place for this exchange to occur. These connections began even before the exhibit opens, as the Hillsboro Parks & Recreation’s Cultural Arts division developed the exhibit. Local artists were invited to participate, and in turn encouraged to nominate another artist of their choosing. Gallery Specialist Karen De Benedetti remarks, “This was a wonderful way to get to know so many artists in the region, connecting

Clockwise from Top Left: Busy Mom by William Hernandez

Warm Retro by Valerie Sjodin

Turner Creek Primping by Lieta Gratteri Peppery Plummy by Linda Jerome Akbar by Patricia Krishnamurthy

Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit by Jeff Jurrens

As Above So Below by Bruce Reed

Center Exhibit

both with emerging artists and artists who have been working in our community for years. Though we have not met in person, it has been like sharing time with old friends, reconnecting about their art.”

According to Cultural Arts Manager Michele McCall-Wallace, “By focusing on the connections between the artists in our community to develop the exhibit, this also offered an opportunity to feature more artistic voices and expand Hillsboro’s cultural and creative community connections.” From self-taught to professionally trained, the novice to the professional, Creative Terrain is rich in its diversity and spotlights each artist and their unique practices, perspectives, and creative contributions.

The art in Creative Terrain ranges from cultural icons and abstract impressions to paintings of local flora and fauna, with the works depicting our natural beauty, celebrating cultural backgrounds, and exploring personal experiences, emotions, and feelings. Working from local and cultural geographies to terrains of personal memories, the featured artists share their passions and insights about the world around us, celebrating the importance of creativity as an inclusion of wellness. The exhibit is an opportunity for all of us to share in exploring different perspectives and serves as a platform for many engaging future conversations.

The staff at Hidden Creek and in Cultural Arts look forward to sharing a community-focused inclusive experience with the community. When the doors at Hidden Creek open (hopefully soon), Creative Terrain will be there to greet visitors, providing a way for the community to experience, celebrate, and engage the diverse, regional, artistic voices in Creative Terrain, while experiencing the positive impacts that art can bring to their wellbeing.

To learn more about the Hidden Creek Community Center, and when you might be able to visit, go to Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/ParksRec.

Hillsboro Civic Center

Visitors to the Civic Center are required to wear masks at

Picture Hillsboro

January – February

“Picture Hillsboro” is a creative competition featuring a selection of original two-dimensional works of art that represent life in Hillsboro. This year, ten pieces were selected from over 70 submissions featuring close-up perspectives and plein air views of city parks, preserves, and valley vistas. This presentation of the finalists features works that represent the people, landscapes, and cityscapes of Hillsboro through a range of photographic and painted media by Aaron Andersen, Jeanne Cuddeford, Chris Helton, Mary Lehner, Tien-Chu Loh, and Alvaro Tarrago.

Westside Quilters Guild

March – April

The Westside Quilters Guild is a collective group of over 250 beginner to professional quilters featuring both traditional and modern designs. Traditional quilts rely on repeating designs while modern quilts go off “grid” using asymmetry in improvisational arrangements. Quilts in this exhibit include a variety of creative modern techniques exploring diverse themes, dimension, texture, paint, printing, and embellishment, alongside what are considered traditional quilt components.

Rebecca Buchanan

May – June

Colors are Buchanan’s words as she speaks her own visual language to tell stories. Based on structures of her environment, she paints in layers of acrylic and charcoal: building up, adding, subtracting, scratching, and erasing. Over time, Buchanan explores both physical and psychological neighborhoods and our place in the world in which we live—the air we breathe, the streets we walk down, and noticing ever changing surroundings.

Arts & Culture Grant Applications Now Open

Through the current challenging times, the City of Hillsboro is proud to continue to offer financial support through the Community Arts and Culture Grants Program including both Core Operating Support Grants and Project Grants. With the goals of raising awareness and supporting existing arts and cultural programming that serves Hillsboro residents; fostering collaboration between community members; and providing access to arts and cultural experiences for those who are underserved, these grants will help support the core operations of small and mid-sized arts and cultural nonprofits based in Hillsboro, along with short-term or one-time creative projects in our community.

The Core Operating Support Grant provides funding for operating expenses for cultural nonprofit organizations based in Hillsboro, with requests ranging from $1,500 - $10,000. Past recipients of this grant include: Rasika, a cultural organization that is dedicated to presenting and promoting classical Indian dance, music, and culture through concerts, lectures, demos, and classes; Sequoia Gallery + Studios, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting fine art, while providing opportunities for artists’ exhibitions, outreach, and educational programming; and STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy, an organization that nurtures artistic, intellectual, and character development through an education-based theatre arts program to help youth develop their own unique, creative voices.

The Project Grant focuses on short-term or one-time projects for both new and existing programs, providing support for:

• Community performances or events

• Development of diversity, equity, and inclusion plans, funding strategies, or marketing and communications plans

• Website development or upgrades

• Systems development

• Staff and volunteer training

• Software or hardware for production of virtual programs Project Grants range from $500 - $3,000, depending on the project and the level of eligibility, and funded activities must

take place between June 1, 2021 and May 30, 2022. Recent grants have funded concerts by the Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra and Oregon Chorale, community theater productions by HART Theatre, the purchase of instruments and cultural regalia for performance group Huehca Omeyocan, and writing workshops for underserved communities by Write Around Portland.

The Community Arts and Culture Grants are crucial to supporting local arts programs, fostering collaboration between community members, and increasing access to the arts and culture for underserved populations. Newly introduced this year, with the commitment to improving access to our grants program, grant guidelines and applications are available in Spanish, as well as English, and we will accept applications written in either language.

For more information on past grant recipients, grant guidelines, or to apply for a grant visit: Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/HACC, or call Melissa Moore at 503-615-3497 with questions.

Applications must be submitted via email to Melissa.Moore@ Hillsboro-Oregon.gov or received by mail at the Walters Cultural Arts Center (527 East Main Street, Hillsboro, OR 97123 by 5 pm February 26, 2021.

Revise and Review deadline: 2/5/2021

Project Grant submission deadline: 2/26/2021 by 5 pm

Core Support submission deadline: 2/26/2021 by 5 pm

Sparking Moments of Joy and Connection through

Spotlight on Kera Magerill

Creative Meditation: Music, Doodling, and Poetry

Join us for a series of workshops that will engage your creativity and calm your mind and body — all from the comfort of your own home!

Adult | Walters Online | Kera Magerill

Sponsored by Washington County Disability, Aging, and Veteran Services

13506 Fri 1/29 – 2/12 10-11:30 am Free (registration required) Register online or call: 503-681-5397

For information about our exciting new mindfulness class offering starting in January and led by Magerill, see page 20.

As an Older Adult Behavioral Health Specialist with Washington County, Kera Magerill has a talent for sparking moments of joyful creativity and community connection. This last February, Magerill led audience members at the Walters Cultural Arts Center in a rousing session titled “To Sing the Blues to Beat the Blues,” complete with musicmaking, thoughtful writing prompts, and lots of laughter. This winter, Magerill returned to the Walters to offer a “creative caregiving” workshop with techniques and support for caregivers of loved ones living with dementia. Now in 2021, she is kicking off the year with a restorative opportunity for arts-based mindfulness and self-care for everyone in stressful times. She shared more about her goals for serving the community through creativity, and the influences that drive her work in the following conversation with Cultural Arts staff. What can students expect to take away from your upcoming mindfulness class?

The past year has been a challenge for all of us. We hope to give folks an opportunity to engage with their community and experience a few moments of calm and joy while we weather the winter during the pandemic. We are excited to offer this art and meditation series with the Walters and hope to continue our partnership using art as a vehicle for community connection and healing.

Incorporating the arts may not be the first thing people think of when they take on the role of caregiving. What advice do you have for finding what works?

Caregiving requires a lot of improvisation and creativity, so the crossover into arts engagement is a natural fit. Art is a place where there are no wrong answers and art allows people to express themselves in different ways and to create freely without judgment. For caregivers of loved ones with memory loss, I would recommend remembering a simple rule of improv: “Yes, and.” Instead of trying to correct someone or “testing” their memory, just go with the flow and accept whatever the person’s reality is in that moment.

“Art is a place where there are no wrong answers. Art allows people to express themselves in different ways and to create freely without judgment.” — Kera Magerill

through Creativity

How does creativity impact the aging brain?

There is so much research that supports the benefits of creativity and arts engagement for all types of people. Dancing can help support new neural pathways, singing a familiar song can unlock memory function and maintain language skills, and expression through visual art can help improve mood. There are so many ways that we can tap into our creativity, especially in late life. Unfortunately, most have been told at some point that they are not musical or they are not creative, so as adults, we stray away from our naturally creative selves. Watch how younger children freely express and explore without worrying whether or not we are doing it “right.” Later life is the perfect opportunity to regain that sense of play.

What helped shape your passion for developing programming for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities?

I have always really enjoyed working with older adults and especially with families and individuals with memory loss. I think it really solidified for me when I studied music therapy at Colorado State University. I kept asking for older adult and memory care placements during my practicum placements, and I’ve just never done anything else. My grandmother died of Alzheimer’s disease earlier this year, and I feel very grateful that my professional experience allowed me to understand what was happening to her and better help my family to care for her in the last few years of her life.

What led to finding your current role? You have a fascinating career path!

I studied music therapy at Colorado State University and knew that I loved working with older adults intersecting health and the arts. I have worked in a variety of care settings with people with memory loss, which led to a role as a Program Coordinator with the Alzheimer’s Association Colorado

Chapter. There, I helped bring the SPARK program to Colorado, which brought arts and cultural programming to families caring for loved ones with dementia. I moved to Oregon two years ago and currently serve as an Older Adult Behavioral Health Specialist with Washington County.

Can you share with us a special moment of connection working with the Hillsboro community?

I have loved working with the Hillsboro community. We worked with the Hillsboro Senior Center last year to hold a community comedy show featuring recently trained older adult comedians—it was amazing to hear the stories and funny moments shared from the lives of older adults in the community. Also, we are so lucky to have such wonderful opportunities to engage in arts and culture in Hillsboro. Earlier this year, we held our first “Beat the Blues” program in partnership with the Walters, where we explored the therapeutic value of Blues music.

Are there additional services available from Washington County that you would like to highlight?

Washington County provides a lot of services and support to older adults in our community. We offer respite care options, support groups and educational programs for family caregivers, information and referral to important services in the community, help accessing technology support, money management, and support for those who need in-home care to age in place, and help accessing other Older American Act benefits.

If you would like more information about Washington County Disability, Aging, and Veteran Services, please call at 1-855-ORE-ADRC (673-2372) or visit www.Co.Washington.OR.US/HHS/DAVS

About Washington County Disability, Aging, and Veteran Services

We provide programs and services to maintain and enhance the quality of life to assure that basic needs are met for Washington County seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. Most of our programs serve those ages 60 and over, while our veterans’ program and benefits enrollment center serves all ages.

We provide support for family caregivers, assist with Medicare, connect individuals with limited income and resources to key benefits, and provide short-term intervention to help isolated seniors navigate and access services.

We also serve those who need in-home assistance in order for them to stay in their homes, as well as helping people make decisions about long-term care. We provide free advice and assistance for Washington County veterans and their family members in order to obtain all of the benefits and services they are entitled to under the law.

Note: Should statewide restrictions restrict WCDACS office availability to the public, they will continue to do business via phone and email. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Get to Know Your Public Art

Did you know that public art is more than just pretty to look at? Americans for the Arts notes that public art impacts a community’s economy, creates a sense of attachment and identity, builds social cohesion and cultural understanding, and can influence public health. This means that public art is an integral part of building a strong, vibrant community. Memorable public places attract us to downtown, enliven our neighborhoods, enhance our experiences in parks, inform us about the history and peoples of our place, and celebrate our ethnic and cultural diversity.

Public art is a visible expression of Hillsboro’s values. Our investment in creating meaningful public spaces comes from the desire to strengthen connections between our citizens and our city, along with the connections between the neighborhoods of Hillsboro. Public art is a part of Hillsboro’s mental map and is an essential element of creating a community that future generations are proud to call home. Cultural Arts Manager, Michele McCall-Wallace, says, “Public art celebrates who and where we are, and adds to Hillsboro’s identity and our quality of life. In becoming familiar destinations, our everyday encounters with public art enhance our experiences, expand our memories, and grow our connection with our neighborhoods and community.”

Hillsboro currently has over 80 pieces of public art. While some of these include paintings and drawings in City buildings, many are outside and easily accessible. With current limits reducing opportunities for experiencing art inside, the City’s public art collection provides an excellent opportunity to safely enjoy art with the whole family. Over the past year, the Hillsboro Public Art Program has been building opportunities for residents and visitors to find locations and easily learn more about the collection.

Public Art Archive

In early 2020, Hillsboro’s public art collection joined the WESTAF (Western States Arts Federation) Public Art Archive. This is a free online and mobile database where visitors can learn about public art throughout the world. Accessing Hillsboro’s public art collection through this database is simple. If you are looking for something specific, you can search by location, type of art, or artist. If you are curious about the collection and want to browse, you can also select images that look interesting to learn more. Each art piece has a dedicated page that provides detailed information about the artwork. The site includes a Google Maps feature to assist in finding art locations, while the mobile version shows you when you are near a piece of public art during your travels. By joining WESTAF’s Public Art Archive, the City of Hillsboro’s public art collection is now more accessible to our community and to other cultural tourists well beyond our city limits.

To access Hillsboro’s artwork, go to: PublicArtArchive.org/Hillsboro-Public-Art

Public Art Fun Facts

Did you know that a member of the Burger family was once “kidnapped”? What about the reason for the green apple at Orenco Woods Nature Park? These are just a few examples of the intriguing facts you’ll learn though the Hillsboro’s new Public Art Fun Facts video series.

In an effort to share the history behind the various public art pieces in Hillsboro’s collection, the series was launched this year by Cultural Arts staff to introduce some of the fantastic artwork around Hillsboro and encourage the community to get outside and experience the art themselves. Each video focuses on a specific piece in the collection, with fun insider facts shared about the artwork in a way that can be engaging for any age. We hope you find these videos as interesting as we do! By creating this series, we aim to inspire the community to connect with their public art around town.

To follow the Public Art Fun Facts video series, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/HillsboroArts or subscribe to the HillsboroCulturalArts on Youtube.

Public Art Scavenger Hunt & Hillsboro Art Selfies

In September 2020, Hillsboro Cultural Arts challenged the community to utilize the Public Art Archive to go on a fall scavenger hunt and discover public art they had not experienced yet. Over the years, we have also noticed some fantastic selfies taken with various pieces in the public art collection, so we introduced the hashtag “#HillsboroArtSelfie” on Facebook and Instagram as a way to encourage people to share their experiences with the artwork.

We have seen a growing collection of wonderful selfies from this hashtag and look forward to seeing more in the future. Why not take part? As the weather begins to clear again, it is the perfect opportunity to visit some of the artwork you have not experienced yet. “Hillsboro’s public art is free, available to everyone, and a great way to connect through visits and sharing your thoughts and discoveries with others,” says McCall-Wallace. “Capturing a photo of yourself with the artwork and uploading a #HillsboroArtSelfie is a great way to share your experience with others too!”

We look forward to seeing how you enjoy the Hillsboro public art collection next!

“Public art celebrates who and where we are, and adds to Hillsboro’s identity and our quality of life.” – Michele McCall-Wallace, Cultural Arts Manager

Clockwise from top left: Seeds of Orenco by rhiza A+D; Local youth playing the mosaic Kids’ Games by Linda Haworth at the Civic Center Plaza; staff from the Jackson Bottom Wetlands Nature Center pose with Stewards’ Gateway by Tim Gabriel, located at the north gate of the wetlands; #HillsborArtSelfie at Elemental Sequence, a sculpture by Dann Nardi at AmberGlen park; and a screenshot of the Public Art Archive online database.

Making Music and Creative Resiliency During

Hillsboro’s Joe Aloia

“It has been a hidden pleasure to stop and work on these important and digital ways of forging my art.”

– Joe Aloia

“The master has tried and failed more times than the student has tried,” is advice Joe Aloia thinks upon often. Considering Aloia’s multi-faceted career as a Hillsborobased, professional musician and educator, songwriter, and principal bassist with several local organizations, it is safe to say Aloia is indeed a master of music with the heart of a learner. In a conversation with Cultural Arts staff, Aloia shares what drives his aspirations of teaching, his influential musical experiences, and how he has adapted to creating music during the unprecedented time of COVID.

Q: You have an extensive musical background with a variety of roles. Could you tell us about how your journey started as a musician?

I was young when I knew I was interested in music. I think 7 or 8 years old, and my best friend said, “... let’s start a band...” and I said, “Let’s start a band!” A lot of it is history after that: making a drum kit in my garage from buckets and pans, playing trumpet and guitar in school, and listening to every record I could get my hands on. I remember spending my allowance from chores each week at the local cd and record store.

Q: You studied at the University of Oregon, earning your Master of Music in Jazz Studies. You seem to have a passion for education, having taught at the Walters Cultural Arts Center, MIR Music, and Pacific University. What drives that desire? When I was in middle or high school, my parents would arrange for family friends (mostly from my sister’s Girl Scout troop) to come to our house so I could teach them guitar. I never thought much of it at the time, but in college, when I got a teaching job, I was so excited and found it to be incredibly fun.

Q: What drew you to establishing roots in Hillsboro?

I was lucky enough to get a job at MIR Music (in Downtown Hillsboro) after college, and I have been so blessed and honored to call this home ever since. I have moved to other parts of the state, but Hillsboro always brings me back.

Q: Describe your connection to the Hillsboro community and what you value about living in our city.

My connection to the community is one of reverence. I am often reminded of the amazing people and places here—from rock stars to Noble Woods. I value the way people talk to each other. I value the way the businesses are connected to their neighborhoods. I am impressed that Hillsboroans are here to provide for each other and genuinely motivated to help.

“This has been a time of change and investment in the future.” — Joe Aloia

Q: Your career spans a lengthy list of exciting performances, including a gig with Hillsboro’s own Ron Hurst of Steppenwolf. Could you share that experience with us?

Ha! I am proud to say I have done a few gigs with Ron now. He is an incredible musician! Talented, sensitive, and dangerous with a drumstick. As well as personally, he is a guiding light for me and so many people. He has the most fantastic sense of musicality; he really hears everything. My time on the bandstand with him has been playing songs we both love— great jazz and rock tunes. He also hired me as his drum tech to work a Steppenwolf concert on their 2017 tour. I was honored to walk among the stars and to have a quick jam with the band before the show.

Q: What does your life as an artist look like now? Has it changed or been impacted by COVID-19? If so, are there any silver linings due to the required changes?

This has been a time of change and investment in the future. My work is nearly entirely online now, and I’ve gotten good at recording, mixing, editing, and transcribing my music myself. I have also arranged some music for Century High School. I have performed some of my most demanding pieces as a soloist and learned a few new things about how to grow. Before COVID, I was constantly on the move, with concerts, rehearsals, and

classes. It has been a hidden pleasure to stop and work on these important and digital ways of forging my art. Now, I feel a little like when I started playing music as a kid because I have time and I love it—and that is the biggest reason to do it.

Q: What projects do you have in the works currently, and how can people support the arts and artists in Hillsboro?

I have been doing classical neighborhood harp and bass concerts with my fiancé, Kelly. I am writing and performing music with a local artist for an all original concert in 2021 or 2022. I am working on my singing, and I have a jazz quartet gearing up for some shows.

People can support the arts right now by following YouTube or Instagram, any social media, or artist interface accounts. I know it doesn’t seem like much, but it goes a long way to get the word out to others. Learn an instrument, take lessons, listen, and enjoy music anyway you love!

To find out more, please visit JoeAloia.com, where you can listen to Aloia’s latest original songs, learn about private music instruction, subscribe to his music channel, and even leave a review.

Community Outreach through the Power of Live Music

As part of the “Through the Window” fall performances, local musicians and the Hillsboro Parks & Recreation’s Cultural Arts division joined with valued community partners to bring outdoor, safely distanced musical experiences to Hillsboro residents and seniors experiencing food and housing insecurity. Joe Aloia recently played for audiences at a local senior living residence with the goal of serving and connecting our community through live music.

“Thank you for all you’re doing. This is the way we’re all going to get through this (pandemic),” commented an Anonymous Community Member.

Joe Aloia jams in an outdoor garden at a local senior living community for a fall performance in October.

Local Arts Leaders Show Creative Response to

By now if you are choosing to read an arts magazine, you’ve heard of the challenges that 2020 has presented to cultural organizations. Organizations whose central mission is to gather large groups of people for theater, song, or art exhibits have encountered both philosophical and logistical questions of what to do when we cannot meet. As we traveled together through the continuing challenges that 2020 brought to the entire community, the City of Hillsboro Cultural Arts division was faced with the question of how to support arts and cultural groups (beyond funding) in navigating this new environment of primarily virtual programming.

In the late summer, we convened a group of leaders from local non-profit arts and cultural organizations virtually to share their experiences with each other, knowing that many of them were facing similar questions about moving their programs online or making them physically distant if in person. Some local leaders knew each other well, while others hadn’t met many of their colleagues and were less familiar with the work of other local organizations. Additionally, while some groups were already adapting and comfortable in the world of Zoom meetings, others had less comfort in the virtual meeting room. As these cultural leaders began sharing, they talked about the challenge of all-virtual fundraising, a myriad of technical questions about producing online programs, and a real concern for how to keep their artist members (musicians, singers, and actors) and audience members engaged and connected when in-person rehearsals and events were not possible. One participant in the group noted, “We all have more in common than not in common.”

Some groups like STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy and Influence Music Hall offered examples of adaptations to their traditional programs that have allowed them to still meet inperson—with a limited number of people—for outdoor theater classes and Open Mic Nights. Others shared their new virtual programs, such as Bag&Baggage Production’s Sequestered Soliloquies and The Immigrant Story’s new podcast, Many Roads to Here. Many groups are using this time of reduced public programs to update their strategic plans, create new websites or YouTube channels, or to reexamine their operations and community outreach.

At the conclusion of the first meeting, the group decided to meet monthly as the Hillsboro Cultural Arts Network, or Hillsboro CAN for short. Some of the first questions discussed were about the platforms (YouTube, Facebook Live, etc.) and software needed for live streaming. Our largest cultural nonprofit, Bag&Baggage, shared information on what they were successfully using for their virtual programming and offered to connect one-on-one with groups who wanted more advice. Appreciating the assistance from Bag&Baggage, Sankar Raman of The Immigrant Story noted, “That’s what it’s all about—people helping one another.” The Hillsboro CAN group also had a robust discussion of handling copyright and licensing issues for online productions, which is different from the usual permissions groups must attain for an in-person show. Some organizations are seeking out permissions for current materials, while others are focusing on original material or older material that is in the public domain.

Left: STAGES Performing Arts Youth Academy’s outdoor rehearsal, featuring students clockwise from the bearded man: Jason Weed, Jessica Tidd, Jacob Fung, Claire Tufts, Karissa Garrison, Ethan Hehn, and Lizzie Williams.

Right: Hillsboro CAN Zoom meeting.

Supporting Each Other

“That’s what it’s all about—people helping one another.” – Sankar Raman of The Immigrant Story on the purpose of the Hillsboro CAN group

Members of the group have provided support to each other by helping to promote each other’s events in their email and social media communications, and ideas for future collaborations in programs have arisen as well. The Hillsboro Historical Society invited The Immigrant Story to talk with them about how they might add diverse voices to their “Stories on the Street” project for Downtown Hillsboro. In some cases, offers to assist one another have crossed genre lines leading to interesting new collaborations. Barbara Mason of Golden Road Studios, (a collection of visual artists’ studios) who has been producing high quality arts education videos for teachers, offered help to the Oregon Chorale with the production of video editing to bring distanced voices together. Hillsboro Community Arts Program Supervisor Melissa Moore said, “It’s been inspiring to see these leaders reaching out to lift each other up.”

Groups have also discussed how they might help each other through this time financially, whether through co-fundraising efforts or flash sales, encouraging the public to support a given organization. Hillsboro Cultural Arts Program Manager Michele McCallWallace concluded, “I am inspired by the positivity of this group and impressed by their creative responses to the pandemic. It makes me very hopeful about the future of our cultural community in Hillsboro.”

Membership in Hillsboro CAN is limited to leaders of Hillsboro-based non-profit arts or cultural organizations.

If you think your group meets that criteria and would like to join, please contact Community Arts Program Supervisor Melissa Moore at 503-615-3497 or Melissa.Moore@Hillsboro-Oregon.gov

Top to bottom:

Oregon Chorale’s virtual performance, “Christmas with the Chorale”; The Immigrant Story’s “Many Roads to Here” podcast; and Bag&Baggage Productions “Sequestered Soliloquies.”

LOVE on a FENCE Community Art Project

This page, clockwise from top left: Kristin Kelly of Forward Stride holds up her artwork; Miniature LOVE signs hanging from the Hillsboro Wishing Tree in October (photo by Kipperlyn Sinclair); Liz Logan and Robin Steiner exchange art supplies (photo by Aaron Andersen); Volunteer coloring their LOVE artwork (photo by Aaron Andersen); Kristy Reddick of Community Action creating LOVE artwork (photo by Aaron Andersen); Mayor Steve Callaway & Joan Callaway holding their LOVE artwork; LOVE sign hanging on fence at Ladd Acres Elementary School; Tina Berblinger takes a look at the LOVE artwork.

Facing page: Cindy Consenzo holds a miniature LOVE artwork.

Building Community and Creating Connection During a Pandemic

When the world was shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of community became so much more evident. Finding ways to connect safely in a meaningful way is vital as we move forward in a world where we need to continue to stay safely separated. Cindy Cosenzo has been in the business of building community connection for the past seventeen years through her consulting business, AgeCelebration, which helps businesses and organizations to grow through training, programming, and partnerships which create community and foster human connection. Cosenzo was inspired to start this business during a “profound, spontaneous flash of insight that changed (her) world view” back in 2003 while she was auditing a class on adaptive fitness. In that instant, she realized there is a lack of understanding that we all are aging, and “the moment we recognize that we, and every person around us, will grow older and become vulnerable and fragile, we will see in each other our shared humanity, our natural connection to each other, and we will simply treat each other differently.”

With this new world view on the vital importance human connection plays in every person’s life, Cosenzo left her career in computer animation, and started AgeCelebration. Working for businesses large and small, she created community programming and special events to help businesses connect with their clients in meaningful ways, while also providing workshops and trainings. One such program was the I Love Hillsboro+ program that she built with the Hillsboro Community Senior Center, introducing (or at times reintroducing) local seniors to small businesses and storefronts in our community. This program has helped to connect people to their environment and build relationships with the business owners in our community.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Cosenzo was running 22 community programs between her contract work with clients and free programming that she funds out of her other work, including the popular Walk with Friends program offered free for the past six years as a way to build community fitness and connection. When everything shut down in March, as happened with businesses across the nation, Cosenzo’s consulting business came to a standstill and she’s not had a paid gig since. Realizing just how important connection would be during this time, she began to focus on how she could continue to support local businesses and foster community at a time when people were required to stay apart. According to Cosenzo, “During the early days of the pandemic, my heart was breaking for all of the brick and mortar businesses that had no one coming out due to the shutdown. I started brainstorming programming to allow community members to support local businesses in small ways.”

Cosenzo focused her attention on supporting local small

businesses, but also on how that support could have the most impact. Although it all unfolded organically as the realities of the pandemic continued to be revealed, in the end she selected seven local businesses and asked the community to purchase one small item online from the business. Rather than have the product go to the purchaser though, the item would go out into the community to help another person—a toy purchased at Piccolo Mondo Toys in Downtown Hillsboro would go out to a local child in an education packet through Title 1 schools, or a scarf purchase from Amrapali Boutique would be given to a Meals on Wheels volunteer. These small amounts of individual support collectively made a big impact, with over $26,000 spent amongst the seven businesses and a huge amount of products going out into the community. While busily focused on supporting small businesses, she was approached by Kera Magerill of Washington County Disability, Aging, and Veteran Services to create an art project which would connect residents of local long term care homes with the community at a time when in-person visiting was not allowed. According to Cosenzo, “While I’m not specifically an arts person, I love anything that brings people together.”

Cosenzo enlisted the support of local artist Christine Martell and partnered with the staff and clients of Safe Place for Youth, an organization supporting homeless and at risk youth. Teens from Safe Place came onsite to work outdoors at individual tables, outside a bay window where residents could watch the process, and created artwork to be displayed on the fences outside 10 residents’ apartments.

While watching the teens at work, Cosenzo realized the impact that art can have upon a person’s stress level. “When students arrived, they were excited, nervous, and had other things on their minds, but when they went to their work station and started to create, everyone calmed down and had this beautiful energy,” she says. “That energy continued as the teens were able to connect and interact through the window with the residents.” This revelation planted the seed for Cosenzo’s next (and current) project, LOVE on the FENCE.

In her work with AgeCelebration, Cosenzo has tried to put forward a central message: “We each get to decide in every moment how we are going to respond. There are many triggers that can make us respond in a way that leads to more pain for ourselves or for each other.” As her thoughts returned to the dynamics and positive atmosphere of the outdoor art project at the assisted living community, LOVE on the FENCE was born with the message that “love is always on the fence and in every moment we get to decide how we are going to respond.”

In creating this community art project, Cosenzo worked with local artist Elizabeth Higgins, who designed the word “LOVE” in a way that could easily be printed on durable signs to post on fencing. To boost community connections, Cosenzo approached eight area nonprofits to provide volunteers to complete the artwork in vibrant colors, and in return the nonprofit would be highlighted on AgeCelebration’s Facebook and Instagram accounts to help drive donations to the organizations. She was also able to secure the generous support of eight different sponsors for each fence, who paid for the project costs.

The volunteer artists gathered to create art outside on individual tables spaced out for safety. Though her aim was to create something to lift the spirits of the larger community, Cosenzo quickly realized that the art project also created an opportunity for these volunteers to connect and safely see each other after being apart for months.

The finished artwork was displayed on eight different school fences around Hillsboro with support from the Hillsboro School District (see sidebar for locations). In some locations, themes from the nonprofit artists can be seen—such as a horse theme in the art by volunteers for Forward Stride or the influence of the Pacific Islands in the artwork by Le’o ‘o e ‘OFA.

The LOVE on the FENCE artwork will be on display around Hillsboro until April to brighten the days of the neighbors who walk through the area, or the community members who drive by and stop for a selfie. Everyone is also invited to download the LOVE artwork at bit.ly/LoveOnTheFenceArt, add their own unique color flair, and post a photo on social media with @AgeCelebration and #LoveontheFenceHillsboro for everyone in the community to enjoy.

To learn more about LOVE on the FENCE, or the other projects that Cosenzo has coming up this year, follow AgeCelebration at Facebook.com/AgeCelebration or Instagram.com/AgeCelebration.

LOVE on the FENCE Locations

Hare Field

1151 NE Grant Street, Hillsboro

Artwork by Bag & Baggage Productions (BagnBaggage.com)

Sponsored by Impact Physical Therapy of Hillsboro (ImpactPTHillsboro.com)

Hillsboro Family Resource Center

451 SE Walnut Street, Hillsboro

Artwork by Forward Stride (ForwardStride.org)

Sponsored by Grant Murphy State Farm Insurance (GrantMurphy1.com)

Ladd Acres Elementary School

2425 SE Cornelius Pass Road, Hillsboro

Artwork by Oregon Chorale (OregonChorale.org)

Sponsored by Reedville Café (ReedvilleCafe.com)

Liberty High School

7445 NE Wagon Drive, Hillsboro

Artwork by Le’o ‘o e ‘OFA (leooeofa.org)

Sponsored by Absolute Painting & Power Washing (AbsolutePainters.com)

Miller Education Center West

440 SE Oak Street, Hillsboro

Artwork by Community Action (CAOWash.org)

Sponsored by New Seasons Market at Orenco Station (NewSeasonsMarket.com/our-stores/OrencoStation)

Peter Boscow Conference Center

676 NE 3rd Avenue, Hillsboro

Artwork by Hillsboro Hops Fund (HillsboroCommunityFoundation.org/Hillsboro-Hops.html)

Sponsored by Edwards Realty Trust (EdwardsRealtyTrust.com)

Poynter Middle School

1535 NE Grant Street, Hillsboro - fence facing Cornell Rd

Artwork by Village Without Walls (VillageWithoutWalls.org)

Sponsored by Phyllis Podolske/Weichert Realtors (JustAskPhyllis.com)

R.A. Brown Middle School

1505 SE Cornelius Pass Road, Hillsboro

Artwork by Hillsboro Schools Foundation (HSFOnline.org)

Sponsored by an anonymous community member

Mayor Steve Callaway & Joan Callaway work on their LOVE artwork.

Upcoming Workshops Look at Creative Career Opportunities and How the Arts Heal

The City of Hillsboro Cultural Arts Division and our partners, the City of Beaverton Arts Program and Tualatin Valley Creates, are proud to invite the community to the final two workshops of the Creative Impact Workshop Series. These two workshops will explore creative career opportunities and the healing quality of the arts. With a diverse range of presenters, interactive portions, and information, there will be something for everyone.

This year, all workshops are offered virtually via Zoom. In addition, these programs are available to the community for free for the first time through a united effort to support the arts and culture sector as the pandemic continues.

On February 6, Tualatin Valley Creates will host “Choosing a Career in the Creative Industry.” This virtual workshop is aimed to help teens and young adults interested in pursuing a career in the arts learn about the variety of options available. Would you like answers to the infamous question, “How do you make a living as an artist?” Not everyone becomes a studio artist—many become corporate product designers, nonprofit arts administrators, social justice advocates, business owners, and more! Join us as we bring college counselors, art directors, professional artists, and art administrators together to talk about what it really means to work in the creative sector. Find the right college and explore the many directions you can go with a creative career. This panel of creative professionals will guide you through an interactive activity to give you meaningful steps to take toward the career you want. A question and answer time will be available at the end of the workshop. Young artists from all media— visual, literary, performing, culinary, and design—and their parents are welcome.

Join Beaverton Arts on March 11 for “How the Arts Can Help Us Heal and Overcome Difficult Times.” This workshop will be a discussion about the benefits of having an art practice during challenging life experiences. The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard for all of us. Many have turned to the arts during these ongoing difficult times for comfort, distraction, and centering, to reinforce and reaffirm our values, and to build connections with other people. Perhaps even unconsciously, we find ourselves seeking solace and connection through the arts. Come and learn from presenters who will discuss their own creative practices, as well as offer suggestions for how you can have your own healing art practice at home. This workshop is for everyone, not just practicing artists. If you like to create in any capacity, you will find something in this workshop for you.

To register for these upcoming workshops, visit tinyurl.com/CreativeImpactWorkshops. There is a $10 fee to reserve your spot, which will be refunded when you attend the webinar.

Adult Creative Classes with the Walters Online

Paint(night) at Home: Winterscape

We bring paints night to you! Grab a brush and “escape” to fun and creativity. Complete your own winter wonderland painting as you explore color, mood, texture, and the rewards of acrylics. No previous experience necessary. See Walters’ website for supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Dawning McGinnis

13496 Wed 1/13 – 1/20 4 – 5:30 pm

$40 Resident, $59 Non-Resident, $27 Senior Resident, $38 Senior Non-Resident

Paint(night) at Home: Aurora Borealis

Immerse yourself creativity and fun this winter: we bring paint nights and Northern Lights to you! Complete your own stunning Aurora Borealis painting over two classes as you explore color, mood, texture, and the rewards of acrylics. No previous experience necessary. See Walters’ website for supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Dawning McGinnis

13497 Wed 2/10 – 2/17 4 – 5:30 pm

$40 Resident, $59 Non-Resident, $27 Senior Resident, $38 Senior Non-Resident

Online Beginning Acrylics

Play, experiment, and discover the rich colors and flexibility that make painting with acrylics so enjoyable and rewarding. Explore foundational painting techniques with a beginnerfriendly approach. Students with previous experience have the opportunity to progress to new challenges. Surprise yourself with how far you go in each class! No previous experience necessary. See Walters’ website for supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Dawning McGinnis

13498 Thu 1/28 – 2/18 4 – 5:30 pm

$76 Resident, $111 Non-Resident, $48 Senior Resident, $69 Senior Non-Resident

Watercolor for the Very Beginner

If you have ever been curious about the rewards of watercolor this class is for you! Designed for students who have never painted before or are just starting out. Paint with freedom and joy! Build empowering skills and confidence as you experiment with brushwork, texture, mood, color, and more. See Walters’ website for full supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Elizabeth Higgins

13499 Wed 1/27 – 2/17 2 – 3:30 pm

$81 Resident, $119 Non-Resident, $51 Senior Resident, $73 Senior Non-Resident

To register over the phone or create your Hillsboro Parks & Recreation account for the first time, please call 503-681-5397 for assistance. Please make sure your email account is updated to successfully receive your Zoom login information.

Dawning McGinnis

Dawning McGinnis

Dawning McGinnis

Elizabeth Higgins

Beginning Watercolor: Next Steps

Have you taken a previous watercolor class and want to nurture your creative momentum? Paint with freedom, joy, and ease as you explore the unique possibilities of watercolor! Experiment with brushwork, texture, mood, color, and more. A perfect class for beginning students with some previous experience—take the next creative step! See Walters’ website for full supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Elizabeth Higgins

13500 Thu 1/28 – 2/18 2 – 3:30 pm

$81 Resident, $119 Non-Resident, $51 Senior Resident, $73 Senior Non-Resident

Beginning Songwriting: Make a Song

Have you ever wanted to express yourself and explore your ideas through music? Explore the building blocks of songwriting, learn while creating, and leave class with your song! An empowering, fun class to begin a creative new year. No experience necessary. See Walters website for full supply list.

Note: Beginning piano and guitar accompaniment welcome, but not necessary. Instructor will also provide information on apps that can provide accompaniment options.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Reece Suave

13501 Thu 2/4 – 2/25 4 – 5:15 pm

$68 Resident, $102 Non-Resident, $42 Senior Resident, $62 Senior Non-Resident

Music Pub: History, Theory, and Fun!

Do you love music? Immerse yourself in its fascinating building blocks while having a great time with others. Explore fascinating players, movements, and influences that shape the way we fall in love with and experience music today—and bring joy to our ears and lives. A variety of creative pairing selections will be suggested to complement each class. See Walters’ website for full supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Reece Suave

13502 Thu 2/4 – 2/25 5:30 – 6:45 pm

$45 Resident, $65 Non-Resident, $28 Senior Resident, $42 Senior Non-Resident

Beginning Piano

Discover the freedom and joy of piano! Grow your skills and confidence, and find inspiration learning with others. Bring music to your days in an empowering, supportive approach to playing, and making music. Please have access to a piano or keyboard. See Walters’ website for full supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online)

Malderine Birmingham

13503 Thu 1/21 – 2/25 4 – 5:15 pm

$88 Resident, $128 Non-Resident, $55 Senior Resident, $80 Senior Non-Resident

All classes take place online with Zoom. Login information for each class can be found on your Hillsboro Parks & Recreation registration receipt. Class supply lists can be downloaded at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/WaltersClasses. No previous experience necessary unless otherwise noted in the class description.

Elzabeth Higgins

Adult Creative Classes Continued

Beginning Guitar

Strum your heart out in this group guitar class focused on rhythm, agility, and creative expression! Begin playing right away as you explore the basics of guitar: rhythm, chords, melodies, and more. Develop musical skills to take you far in a fun, supportive environment. Students will need their own guitar (acoustic or electric with amplifier). See Walters’ website for full supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online)

| Malderine Birmingham

13504 Thu 1/21 – 2/25 7 – 8:15 pm

$84 Resident, $124 Non-Resident, $51 Senior Resident, $76 Senior Non-Resident

Readers’ Theatre: Shakespeare’s Comedies

If you’ve ever been curious about Shakespeare or thought his plays might be (gasp!) stuffy—this class is for you! Experience the joy, connection, and humor of Shakespeare by bringing his words to life—out loud. No experience necessary! Led by professional actor, Clara-Liis Hillier, explore beloved scenes and characters, have a great time, connect with others, and gain new insights in a supportive class environment. Bring theatre and laughter to your day to kick off 2021! See Walters’ website for full supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Clara-Liis Hillier

13505 Sun 2/7 – 2/28 5 – 6:15 pm

$45 Resident, $66 Non-Resident, $28 Senior Resident, $40 Senior Non-Resident

Creative Meditation: Music, Doodling, and Poetry

Art is a vehicle for creativity, relaxation, and mindful acceptance of feelings and thoughts without judgment. Join us for a series of three engaging, interactive workshops that will nurture your creative spark, inspire moments of discovery, and calm your mind and body—all from the comfort of your own home! A great kick off to a creative new year. No previous experience necessary.

Adult | Washington County Online | Kera Magarill

Sponsored by Washington County Disability, Aging, and Veteran Services

13506 Fri 1/29 – 2/12 10 – 11:30 am Free (registration required)

Online Beginning Printmaking

An instantly gratifying, creatively energizing introduction to printmaking! Explore inspiring techniques (block and monotype prints) to create unique pieces to enjoy or share. No previous experience or extensive equipment necessary. See Walters’ website for supply list.

Adult | Walters Arts Center (Online) | Laura Gorman

13507 Mon 2/22 – 3/15 11 am – 12:30 pm

$58 Resident, $85 Non-Resident, $37 Senior Resident, $52 Senior Non-Resident

All classes take place online with Zoom. Login information for each class can be found on your Hillsboro Parks & Recreation registration receipt. Class supply lists can be downloaded at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/WaltersClasses. No previous experience necessary unless otherwise noted in the class description.

Lightopia

The City of Hillsboro was proud to bring Lightopia—an illuminated journey—to the Gordon Faber Recreation Complex this past holiday season. This brilliant one-third of a mile drive-through attraction featured thousands of lights along with seasonal light vignettes ranging from funny and familiar (think: Santa’s elves) to dazzling that delighted folks young and old. With nearly 20,000 households receiving free tickets, we estimate Lightopia’s attendance will exceed 80,000 community members from all over Oregon and SW Washington. In a year that has been so difficult, we were honored to bring a bright spot to the community this holiday season.

Photos © Aaron Andersen

Get Creative at Home!

Looking for some fun and new ways to express your creativity? Whether you’re looking for a project for yourself, or trying to keep your kids busy, bring some artistic joy into your home with one of these great projects.

Tin Can Drums

Materials:

• Tin cans

• Balloons

• Rubber bands

• Dried rice

• Scissors

• Chopsticks (or any sticks you can find in your backyard)

1. Wash out and dry the tin cans you will be using for the base of your drum.

2. Add 1/4 cup of dried rice to the can.

3. Cut off the end of your balloon.

4. Stretch the opening of the balloon over the open top of the tin can.

5. Secure your balloon covering with a rubber band.

6. Get creative! Decorate your drum with paint, stickers, or glitter.

7. Let your designs completely dry.

8. Grab your makeshift drumsticks (i.e. chopsticks, branches from outside, spoons) and make some noise! You can also shake up the can for a built in maraca sound.

Bonus: Record your own song! What would your band name be?

Watercolor Resist Painting

Materials:

• Resist material of your choice (for kids try crayons or glue, for adults/teens, wax or tape are also good options)

• Construction or watercolor paper

• Watercolor paints

• Paintbrushes

• Cup of water

1. Using your “resist” material of choice, create your design on a sheet of white construction paper.

*If using glue, wait until your design is completely dry before starting step 2.

*If using tape, make sure to seal down the edges to avoid paint leakage before starting step 2.

2. Gather your watercolors and paintbrush, and make sure you have water ready to clean your brushes between colors.

Floating Acorn Candles

Materials:

• Acorn tops

• Candle Wicks

• Styrofoam or clay

• Wax (Hint: re-melt birthday candles for already tinted colors)

• Small saucepan or crock pot

• Bowl of water

1. Poke acorn tops into a large piece of Styrofoam or clay to keep them in place when pouring in the hot wax.

2. Melt wax. (This can be done on the stovetop in a small pot or in a small crockpot). Stir consistently to avoid burning the wax, and be careful not to splash the wax to avoid burning yourself.

3. Carefully pour wax into acorn tops until filled halfway. Be sure to use potholders to protect your hands.

4. Insert wick and hold for a few minutes until the wax is dry enough for the wick to stand on its own.

5. After the wax has set, add more wax to fill each acorn candle top.

6. Fill your desired bowl with water. Set acorns on the water gently, light, and enjoy. Reminder: never leave the candles unattended.

3. Apply watercolor to your paper and watch how the paint avoids the crayon, how the glue acts as a barrier against the color, and how the tape prevents the paint from bleeding through.

4. Allow your painting to dry completely. If you have used tape as your “resist” material, remove the tape carefully.

Bonus: Add additional embellishments such as glitter, beads, or sequins to your design to add texture and pizzazz.

Get more creative ideas and activities by following the Walters Cultural Arts Center at Facebook.com/WCACHillsboro New projects and creative challenges are posted each week.

Colored Ice Sculptures

Materials:

• Water

• Food coloring

• Cups, muffin tins, and bowls in various sizes

• Tray, large bowl, or platter

1. Pour water into your chosen vessels. Fill to different heights to add interest to your sculpture.

2. Add food coloring to the water. Use them straight from the bottle or mix colors together to create new ones. The more drops of food coloring that you use, the deeper the color tone.

3. Freeze overnight.

4. Once the water is completely frozen, loosen the ice pieces with a little warm water and remove.

Worry Dolls

Worry dolls are small, hand-made dolls that originated in Guatemalan indigenous communities. Children tell the dolls their fears and worries and place them under their pillows at night so they can wake refreshed and free of their worries. These dolls are also found in Mexico.

Materials:

• Popsicle sticks

• Colorful string or yarn

• Googly eyes

• Glue

• Pipe cleaners

1. Gather your materials and pick out the string colors you would like to use for the doll’s face.

2. At the top of your Popsicle stick, tie the string in a knot to secure it.

3. Begin to wrap the string around and around, covering the Popsicle stick as much as you would like for the doll’s face.

4. Cut the string you are currently using and tie a new color for the doll’s clothing. Use as many colors as you want to create the doll’s clothing by adding on new colors with the same process.

5. Continue to wrap the string around your Popsicle stick until it is completely covered.

6. Tie the string in a knot around the bottom of the stick to secure your covering. You can also put a dot of glue on the knots at the top and bottom of the Popsicle stick to secure it further.

7. Grab the pipe cleaners you would like to use for the doll’s arms and the legs.

8. Wrap the pipe cleaners around the middle of the Popsicle stick for the arms and repeat at the bottom for the legs

9. Finally, glue your googly eyes on.

5. Arrange the ice pieces on a tray, platter, or in a large bowl. Play around with how you stack them until they are arranged how you like them.

6. Set your sculpture outside on a cold day for others to enjoy.

Bonus: Look around the house for different shaped vessels to add variety to the sculpture. Try adding string lights around the final sculpture to see how the light plays off the ice and colors.

Beginning Monoprint for Kids

Materials:

• Acrylic paint

• Paint brush or roller

• Q-tips or toothpicks

• Construction paper or canvas

• Cake pan, cup, or other flatbased item to be used as a “print block”

1. Pick a design of your choosing and gather your materials (snowman example: rounded plastic cup for “print block,” construction paper, white acrylic paint, Q-tips).

2. Using a paintbrush or roller, apply acrylic paint to the bottom of your print block.

3. On your painted print block, use a paint brush, toothpick, Q-tip, or other small tool, to create a design on the block (snowman example: use a Q-tip to create eyes, nose, and mouth for your snowman’s face).

4. Once print block and design are ready, carefully place your block directly onto a sheet of construction paper or canvas. Push your block down for a few seconds, being careful not to move it.

5. Repeat above steps as needed for your design (snowman example: repeat steps 2 more times to create the body of the snowman).

6. Slowly remove block from paper and creatively add to your design (snowman example: use your finger prints to create the look of fluffy snow, snowballs, or snowflakes snowman).

Bonus: Use additional supplies such as glitter, googly eyes, small beads, or sequins to add to your work of art!

Endowment Arts & Culture

THANKS YOU

for helping us reach the goal of $20,000 added to the Endowment in our year end campaign.

Because of you , we are Supporting the Arts Today, and Sustaining them for Tomorrow.

Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/ ArtsEndowment

Cultural Arts in Hillsboro

The City of Hillsboro appreciates and values arts and culture. The City has an active history of supporting the arts as a way to enhance livability and to facilitate, coordinate, and celebrate the many creative assets in our community. Guiding documents—the Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan and Hillsboro’s Cultural Arts Action Plan—reflect this support in the many initiatives and actions that point us toward ways to make Hillsboro a more welcoming and creative community. Housed in the Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center, Parks and Recreation’s Cultural Arts Division operates the Walters’ programming and presentations, the City’s Public Art Program, a growing Arts and Culture Endowment, local arts and culture grant funding, and Community Arts outreach programming to support artists, arts and culture groups, and community members in a multitude of ways. Additionally, Cultural Arts provides administrative support for the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council and its subcommittees.

Walters Cultural Arts Center

The Walters Cultural Arts Center, located at the corner of SE 5th Avenue and Main Street, is a visual arts and performance facility that is home to a 200 seat performance and event space, art galleries, and five art classroom studios. Programming at the Walters showcases of a variety of art and cultural programs, including: live performances, art exhibitions and openings, lectures, workshops, and a variety of visual and performing arts classes. The Walters is also available for a wide variety of private rentals, including: weddings, parties, meetings, trainings, and other special events.

Community Arts

With a desire to connect our community, strengthen our economy, and expand our cultural enrichment, the Community Arts Program provides programming and outreach to support local artists, arts groups, and the community. This includes our professional development and networking opportunities, resource and organizational support for individuals and groups, support for community events and festivals, and advocacy for funding and support.

Hillsboro Public Art Program

The Public Art Program works with other City departments as well as partners throughout the community in creating a welcoming Hillsboro by bringing art to public spaces throughout the city. Hillsboro’s Public Art Collection includes over 80 pieces of artwork from locally, nationally, and internationally known artists that create memorable public places that strengthen our community, enliven our neighborhoods, remind us of our history, and celebrate our ethnic and cultural diversity.

Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council (HACC)

The Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council is a citizen advisory committee appointed by the Mayor and City Council. Together they advise on policy, programs, and arts and culture grant funding for the City of Hillsboro. The HACC works to promote and support the growth of arts and culture as assets for a vital, prosperous, and livable community.

In 2012, the HACC established the Hillsboro Arts & Culture Endowment in partnership with the Hillsboro Community Foundation to create long-term stable funding for our creative community.

HillsboroARTS MAGAZINE

HillsboroARTS Mission

HillsboroARTS is produced three times a year to inform our patrons and complement the Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Activities Guide. This publication will help you plan your schedule with our activities, events, and classes in mind.

Let Us Know What You Think

We value your thoughts and input and are interested in hearing your comments about what you see here or ideas for future topics. With your help, we can deliver a publication that meets your needs and those of our community. Please email your ideas, recommendations and remarks to katrina.hill@hillsboro-oregon.gov. We look forward to hearing from you.

Hillsboro Arts & Culture Council

Ramon Cancel, Chair

Pamela Padilla, Vice Chair

Ajoy Chakrapani Joan Callaway

BJ Jeddeloh See Eun Kim

Stephanie Kim Jean Lasswell

Dolisha Mitchell Gayle Nachtigal

Venkatesh Naik

Ishaan Sinha, YAC Representative

Cultural Arts

Nancy Nye, Arts, Culture & Events Senior Manager

Michele McCall-Wallace, Cultural Arts Manager

Katrina Hill, Administrative & Walters Rentals

Bridie Harrington, Walters Arts Education & Visual & Performing Arts Supervisor

Melissa Moore, Community Arts Supervisor

Cultural Arts Program Support

LeAnn Alsop Tracy Andrews Nee Anuskewicz Jen Champlin

Karen DeBenedetti Joel Gordon

Laura Gorman Alice Hill

Lindsey Holcomb Nikki Iadarola

Mark Jackson

Cindy Morales-Lee Amy Thompson

ON THE COVER: Hillsboro Symphony Orchestra violinist, Emmalisa Sparrow Wood performed outdoors at Cornell Estates as part of the Cultural Arts “Through the Window” fall performances in which senior residents listened at a distance.

ON THE BACK COVER: Photos of the Hidden Creek Community Center by Rick Paulson.

PHOTOS IN THIS ISSUE were taken by Cultural Arts staff unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.

COPYRIGHT 2021, Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department.