Art Scatter has deep anthropological roots (when we say we’re cultural anthropologists, we’re not kidding) so we tend to think that every day is a day of culture.

But Cynthia Kirk of the Oregon Cultural Trust has reminded us that next Thursday, Oct. 8, is officially Oregon Day of Culture — and that, this being a government project, that “day” is actually an eight-day week that began yesterday and culminates on the 8th.

The ancient and venerable commissars of the Art Scatter Politburo know one place they’ll be packing their lunchbags of borscht and pelmini on the 8th: to The Old Church, where the sprightly Third Angle New Music Ensemble‘s string quartet will be performing a free noon concert of Ernest Bloch’s String Quartet No. 3 and selections from Zhou Long’s Chinese Folk Songs. Regular readers of A.S. may have noticed that Mrs. Scatter has recently become general manager of Third Angle.

As for today’s activities, we reprint Ms. Kirk’s press release. Go forth, and multiply across the face of the culture:

It’s October 2, National Arts & Humanities Month and the second day of a weeklong celebration of Oregon culture, culminating in Oregon Day of Culture on October 8 and marking the anniversary of Oregon’s unique cultural tax credit.

The Oregon Cultural Trust organizes Oregon Day of Culture to encourage Oregonians to Celebrate! Participate! Give! in support of Oregon humanities, arts and heritage. Oregon Day of Culture asks Oregonians to consider the every day value of culture in every community.

Taken as a whole or by community, www.oregondayofculture.org comprises a fascinating and compelling bird’s eye view of Oregon culture’s diversity and vibrancy, in just one single week.

Just a few selections from the October 1 schedule:

• Dedication of Oaks Bottom Mural, RACC, Portland, Noon
• Ballet Fantastique’s Visions d’Amour – 10 Ballets in Paris, Eugene, 4 PM
• Coos Art Museum’s Fall Fling for the Arts, Coos Bay, 5 PM
• Common Ground, outdoor Flickr projection on the OSU campus, Corvallis, 5 PM
• Teen Mystery Night, Hillsboro Public Library, 5 PM
• This is Our Universe exhibition, KindTree production, Eugene, 5 PM
• Sculptor Lee Kelly at PNCA, Portland, 6 PM
• First Friday, Columbia Center for the Arts, Hood River, 6 PM
• Street Painting Demonstration, Firehouse Gallery, Grants Pass, 6 PM
• Music for the Arts, Umpqua Valley Arts Center, Roseburg, 6 PM
• Celtic Music, Salem Public Library, 7 PM
• A Ferry Tale, Frog Pond Grange, Wilsonville, 7 PM
• Groovin’ Hard: Buddy Rich, Portland Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 PM
• XY&Z: A Word Art Extravaganza, Write Around Portland, 7:30 PM
• The Dining Room, Lumiere Players, The Heritage Center, Tualatin, 7:30
• A Chorus Line, Stumptown Stages, Jefferson High School, Portland, 8 PM
• Jazz at Newport, Newport Performing Arts Center, 8 PM
• Plus a multitude of evening theater, music and dance performances in Ashland, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Portland, Eugene, Oregon City, Roseburg, Salem, Tigard

—Greek Festival, Portland, All Day

— Caw Pawa Laakni – They Are Not Forgotten, Támastslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton, All Day

— Linn Benton Community College Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibit, Albany, All Day

— Culture Inspired Art, Coos Historical & Maritime Museum, North Bend, All Day

—Oregon 150 Quilt Show, Benton County Historical Museum, Philomath, All Day

and much, more! Many Oregon Day of Culture events are free!

———————————————

Inset photo: Ernest Bloch and children, date unknown. The composer spent his last years at Agate Beach, north of Newport on the Oregon Coast. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.