NEWS RELEASE – 02/02/2010
Chehalem Cultural Center
415 E. Sheridan St.
Newberg, OR, 97132
For immediate release
Community invited to celebrate Chehalem Cultural Center opening
(Newberg, OR) The Chehalem Cultural Center is opening its doors at the end of March and the
public is invited to the celebration. A weeklong series of free events, exhibits and activities a will
highlight the long-awaited opening of the first phase of the cultural center. The initial renovation
transforms the former Central Elementary School into glass and clay studios, kiln areas,
classrooms, a technology room, a recording studio, an art gallery, and meeting space. The
Chehalem Cultural Center is located at 415 E. Sheridan Street, Newberg, Oregon.
Ribbon cutting ceremonies will kick off festivities on March 18th at 3:30pm. Self-guided tours of
the newly renovated 10,000 square foot space will follow until 5pm.
An open house week from March 22-26 at the Chehalem Cultural Center will provide an
opportunity for visitors to drop in to explore what the new center has to offer. Daily afternoon
mini-classes will preview the variety of workshops and classes offered at the Center this spring.
These free mini-classes will provide opportunities to meet instructors and take part in hands-on
projects. Each evening guest lecturers will present a variety of talks on different cultural
subjects, including arts, history and literature. A display of artwork from the Chehalem Cultural
Center teaching staff will be exhibited. An opening reception on Friday, March 26th caps the
open house week with a focus on the Center’s opening exhibition, “Infinite Possibilities.” Ann
Weber, a national renowned artist who weaves ordinary recycled cardboard into towering
shapes, will be on hand to discuss her work.
The Grand Opening Celebration highlights the Chehalem Cultural Center’s open house week on
Saturday, March 27. This event is a community party that runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and
features live musical performances, guest presentations by Barbara Doyle a local historian,
Alden Kasiewicz, the architect for CCC, Ann Weber, exhibiting artist, Gil Reynolds, glass artist,
and Oregon writer and poet, Barbara Drake. Weber and education coordinator Karen White will
help participants take part in weaving a large community sculpture made of cardboard. Food is
provided by NW Natural.
“We want the community to be a part of this fabulous facility,” said Rick Lee, Chehalem Cultural
Center board president. “It’s a place to come and meet your friends, bring your family to
experience opportunities that inspire and enrich lives.”
Opening festivities for the Chehalem Cultural Center are free and open to the public. The
Chehalem Cultural Center is located at 410 E. Sheridan St. in Newberg. Visit
www.chehalemculturalcenter.org or call 503-487-6883 for a schedule of classes, calendar of
events and details on the week-long opening celebration March 22-27th.
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Contact: Robin Anderson
503-487-6883
robin@chehalemculturalcenter.org
Chehalem Cultural Center Open House Week Event Schedule
Free daily activities all week
Thursday, March 18- Community Ribbon Cutting – 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Monday, March 22 through Friday, March 26, 2010
1 pm to 4pm – Meet the instructors and enjoy free class demonstration in the Glass
Studio, Clay Studio, Painting Studio, Music Practices Rooms and more!
5:30 pm – Special Guest Presentation
Monday: Mark Terry – Art Department Chair, George Fox University
Tuesday: Karen White – Education Coordinator for Chehalem Cultural
Center and artist
Wednesday: Shannon Ray – Artist and Curator –Community and
Creativity
Thursday: Historian Barbara Doyle – The History of the Central
Elementary
Friday: Exhibiting Artist Ann Weber – Reception and gallery tour
Chehalem Cultural Center Grand Opening Schedule of Activities
Saturday, March 27
10 am to 3 pm – Enjoy our Grand Opening with live music and reception, then help to
create a giant community sculpture with help from artists Karen
White and Ann Weber.
Connecting Community with Cultural Lecture Series
10:30 – Barbara Doyle – Transitioning of the Central Elementary School to the
Chehalem Cultural Center
11:30 – Alden Kasiewicz – The architect for the Chehalem Cultural Center
12:30 – Ann Weber – National known artist and featured exhibitor at CCC
1:30 – Gil Reynolds – Contemporary glass artist
2:30 – Barbara Drake – Published poet and talented writer