Chehalem Cultural Center Opening

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. 

### 

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