The Maude Kerns Art Center’s 31st annual Art and the Vineyard Festival kicks off this July 4-6 at Alton Baker Park in Eugene. This year’s festival is bringing together over 100 artists who will be displaying everything from ceramics to jewelry from across the U.S.
Sabrina Hershey-Black, the associate director of the festival, said that Art and the Vineyard is the primary fundraising event for the 64 year-old Maude Kerns Art Center.
“Maude Kerns Art Center had this crazy idea to bring the art out to a vineyard and do an art exhibit out there,” Hershey-Black said. “I think the very first Art and the Vineyard was actually at a winery”.
As the event has evolved and grown to the expected 30,000 in attendance, the center has moved the event to Alton Baker Park.
Hershey-Black describes the event as one that is beneficial to all assets involved. With a “booming” Oregon wine industry, and a large range of artists, the festival gives every member of their festival a chance to “get their name out there.”
“There’s going to be some wonderful talent this year,” says Tim Flowerday, the Art and the Vineyard Event Coordinator.
Among the many exhibits and performances, the festival will be honoring prolific ceramic artist Gill Harrison, a local Eugene artist who passed away last year. Harrison is most famous for his futuristic ceramics that once earned themselves a role on the set of Star Trek Voyager in 1997.
Another high-profile act appearing at the festival will be the Beat Frequency, a vibrant singing duo that appeared on the 2012 NBC show, “The Voice.” The Vancouver natives may be best known for their ability to make their way onto Christina Aguilera’s spunk-filled team during the season.
The festival kicks off on Friday, July 4 at 11 a.m with the artist market. It will continue into a pie-eating contest at 5 p.m. For those looking to truly celebrate the holiday, there will also be a firework show to light up the sky at sunset. June 6 will showcase Beat Frequency and a number of other up-beat bands. It will be followed by a blues-filled afternoon on July 7.
Outside of the art and music there will be over 20 Oregon Wine companies selling wine to sip. Wines will be available for purchase, and many of the vendors will also be selling wine by the case.
For those not fond of wine or art, there is also much to look forward to. Eugene’s famous Zany Zoo will make an exotic appearance by bringing in animals to entertain people of all ages. As for a University of Oregon campus favorite, The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, will be holding youth performances throughout the weekend.
The weekend of fun, however, does come at a small cost. Admission is $16 for the weekend or $9 on July 4 and $7 from July 5-6. The festival will be open on Friday, June 4 from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m, and Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
The Maude Kerns Art Center is also still looking for volunteers, who get free access to the festival.