Avantika Bawa, assistant professor of fine art, is the 2014 recipient of the Oregon Arts Commission’s honorary Joan Shipley Award, a prestigious OAC fellowship.

The Joan Shipley Award is named for Oregon arts leader Joan Shipley, who passed away in 2011. Shipley was a collector, philanthropist and supporter of many arts and humanities organizations. Many in the arts community also counted her as a mentor and friend.

The OAC fellowship program supports more than 20,000 Oregon artists. Fellows are recommended to the commission by a review panel of arts professionals from Oregon and beyond who consider artists of outstanding talent, demonstrated ability and commitment to the creation of new work.

Today through Jan. 20

Help the Student Diversity Team collect new hygiene products and small household items for Vida’s Ark and Share—both are nonprofit organizations serving women. The collection is part of WSU Vancouver’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 20.

Donate as an individual or organize a group to participate in the MLK 100 Club Challenge—a commitment to collect 100 or more new hygiene products and/or small household items. A list of collection areas on campus and suggested donations items can be found online.
 
For more information, contact Bola Majekobaje, assistant director for student diversity, at 6-9568 or majekoba@vancouver.wsu.edu.

Now through Jan. 22

Runners, joggers and walkers: Register now and make WSU Vancouver’s Shamrock Run Team a “Super Team.” By registering as part of WSU Vancouver’s Team—team number 8750—before Jan. 22, you’ll save $4 on your entry fee. And if more than 75 members join WSU Vancouver’s Shamrock Run Team, it qualifies as a “Super Team” and Shamrock Run donates to WSU Vancouver student scholarships.

The details:

• Shamrock Run is March 16 in downtown Portland
• Register early; entry fees increase after Jan. 10
• Remember to register as a “team member” and use team number 8750

Register now for the Shamrock Run. You’ll make a healthful commitment to yourself and help support the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation and WSU Vancouver student scholarships.

For more information, contact DeeAnn Perler at 360-281-2907.

Six award-winning writers from the Pacific Northwest will give free public presentations about their work during the spring semester. The talks are designed to provide insights into the writing process and the ways authors interact creatively and commercially with other writers, editors, publishers and designers.

Presentations take place from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays between Jan. 29 and April 9 in the Library, Room 265. This year’s series includes:

• Jan. 29: Karen Karbo, “Writing from the Heart and the Funnybones”
• Feb. 12: Monica Drake, “Nurturing the Story”
• March 5: Vern Rutsala, “A Poet’s Uncommon Vision”
• March 12: Peter Rock, “The Novel as Human”
• March 26: Lidia Yuknavitch, “Breaking Literary Boundaries”
• April 9: Lee Montgomery, “Publishing Platforms: Old vs. New”

Through Feb. 13
Science and Engineering Building gallery

The abstract works in Tom Relth’s “light and pigment” reflect his travels in Europe and Asia, and are especially inspired by his time curating and teaching art in Casablanca, Morocco. He works mainly with large canvases and wood panels, using both tube paints and dry pigments, such as mineral pigments and dried herbs and spices found in Mediterranean cuisine. To learn more about Relth’s art, visit www.relth.org.

Marketing and Communications would like information about upcoming WSU Vancouver events to publish in the spring 2014 issue of NW Crimson & Gray. All types of events may be included—information sessions, lectures, performances, registration deadlines, service projects and workshops.

Events must fit the following criteria:

• Be open to the public or other external audience such as alumni (please specify the audience if not open to all)
• Have a confirmed event title, date and time—this is important!
• Take place between March 16 and Sept. 1, 2014

Please send Maureen Keller your event information by Feb. 1 to make the print deadline.

Mt. Hood photographed by Laura Evancich