Upcoming Events
Drew Bardana: Wired
July 2-June 31
MECCA will display drawings and paintings by Eugene-area artist Drew Bardana for its July exhibition, "Drew Bardana: Wired." The new works are inspired by the water meters, twisted electrical wires, telephone lines, and other urban detritus Bardana saw around his apartment in Downtown Eugene. "Wired" will be on display at M.E.C.C.A., 449 Willamette St in Eugene, from July 2nd through July 31st. The public is invited to attend an opening reception during the First Friday Downtown Art Walk on July 2nd from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Food and beverages will be served.
Bardana notes that the inspiration for his paintings and drawings came from his immediate environment. "Moving from a suburban neighborhood into the density of the apartment blocks of the UO campus," he explains, "the amount of useful trash and recycling all appealed to me in a way I had never experienced before. As I rooted through cardboard and abandoned belongings for anything salvageable, I began to notice other extremities. Wires, electrical meters and fixtures I know I had recognized before but never could place their function." Overwhelmed by "the awkward shapes and obstructing lines that protruded from houses and buildings like overgrown ivy," Bardana began obsessively drawing and painting these urban eyesores, transforming them into abstract, two dimensional environments.
Bardana is currently a student at Lane Community College, and hopes to move to Portland soon to enroll in a B.F.A. program. "This is just the kind of talented young artist that we want to support," notes Liz Lawrence, member of the M.E.C.C.A. Board of Directors. "Painters have always scrounged for their materials, but Drew adds to that by creating paintings that make visible the often ignored structures and wires underneath our city. Seeing what is not obvious is exactly what creative re-use is all about. Drew's vision is fresh and exciting."
Art Challenge
Application Deadline: July 7, 2010
Entry fee: $15
MECCA presents the Object Afterlife Art Challenge, a unique opportunity for the arts community. A chance for artists to brave a new approach to their creative process while participating in an awareness raising community event. In an effort to bridge the worlds of fine art and scrap art, we challenge artists to create thought-provoking, intentional works with scrap materials provided by MECCA and BRING. Artists will be given two months to complete their creation. Artwork will be chosen for awards in multiple categories. This challenge encourages artists to work outside their usual mediums or incorporate scrap materials into their art. Based on submitted information, our staff will choose objects for each participant to use in the work created for this challenge. The artist can use all or part of the objects given and is free to incorporate other materials and mediums as well. Artwork submitted can be made available for purchase during the exhibition.
Ongoing Are you or your child crafty and creative? Then consider MECCA for your next birthday party.
We have a great space and will provide a guided recycled art activity for your party goers. All materials included.
We have a partial kitchen and fridge for cake and refreshments. We charge a sliding scale fee of $6-10 per person for a 2 hour party.
For more information call Mija at 302-1810. You can view and print our party registration form. Every First Friday, stop by MECCA as you stroll the Art Walk. We have monthly art exhibits on display and our studio and materials exchange is open to the public as well.
It's an excellent time to experience the creative possibilities of MECCA!
At MECCA's downtown studio, 449 Willamette St., Eugene, OR (right next to the Amtrak Station)
MECCA offers community workshops on a variety of topics, including silk screen and printmaking. See the Workshops page for listings of upcoming classes.
Saturdays, Drop in 11am-3pm, At MECCA's downtown studio, 449 Willamette St., Eugene, OR (right next to the Amtrak Station)
See the Workshops page for a schedule of upcoming activities!
Tuesday, 10am-3pm
Come chat, snack, create. and share ideas with other crafty folks! Bring your own materials, or rummage through our inexpensive supplies.
On the last Sat of every month, 11am - 12:30 pm
Join MECCA and other community artists at our downtown studio.
We'll provide refreshments, MECCA goodie bags and a technique demo for all who attend. You don't know what an ATC is? Well here is Wikipedia's definition:
Artist Trading Cards (or ATCs) are miniature works of art about the same size as baseball cards and thin enough to fit inside standard card-collector pockets, sleeves or sheets.
The ATC movement developed out of the mail art movement and has its origin in Switzerland. The cards are usually traded or exchanged rather than sold.
The artwork created for this event will be on exhibit downtown during the Eugene Celebration, August 27, 28 & 29, and throughout September. Our intention is to connect with and promote the local art community, inspire the creative use of scrap materials, raise awareness of our universal need to re-imagine the objects surrounding us, and most of all, to have a fun and creative experience!
Materials will be distributed to artists by mid-July. Gallery submission contracts for MECCA will be given at that time.
Artists will be given $10 of MECCA money for participating. Display ready art is due by August 25.
To participate, fill out this application form (MS Word) and return it to MECCA in person at 449 Willamette St. (to right of Amtrak station), or mail with entry fee to MECCA P.O. Box 1802 Eugene, OR 97440.
Wednesdays, 10am-3pm
Thursdays, 10am-3pm & 6pm-9pm
Saturdays 11am-3pm
See the Open Studio page for more information.
at MECCA, 449 Willamette St., Eugene, OR (right next to the Amtrak Station)
See the Open Studio page for more information.