Expect the Unexpected

Who: Storytellers from Hillsboro and beyond.
What: Are You Sitting Comfortably? - A Storytelling Series
When: Saturday, February 11, 2011, 7PM
Where: Influence Music Hall, 135 SE 3rd, Hillsboro, OR 97124

You know those stories you hear at bars or dinner parties, from friends or strangers? The ones that haunt and stick with you for days or years? This is a forum for you to hear them first hand - or to share your story with others!

Join us for an evening of great stories on Saturday, February 11th at 7:00 PM. The topic for this inaugural Are You Sitting Comfortably session is "Expect the Unexpected." Your $5.00 per person entrance donation goes to help support TV Artists & Influence Music Hall. Wine & snacks are available for purchase.

TO ENTER THE CONTEST:

All stories must be submitted via email for approval in an abbreviated form along with... READ MORE, or download the full story as a PDF file.

Come Play With Us - A Fund Raiser for Influence

Who: Tualatin Valley Artists and Musicians
What: Daylong Activities, Food, Drink, and Music
When: Satuday, December 10, 2011, 1PM-10PM
Where: Influence Music Hall, 135 SE 3rd, Hillsboro, OR 97124

Tualatin Valley Artists is planning a full day of activities at Influence Music Hall, 135 SE 3rd Ave., Hillsboro on Saturday, Dec. 10 starting at 1:00 p.m. The event Come Play With Us invites the whole family to come to Hillsboro’s best kept secret and see all the things that happen within the group.

The day will feature four local artists, Jackie Woodward, JanSu Hirsch, Heriberto "Eric" Rodriguez Garcia, and Lynne Taylor, painting their interpretations of Kay Demlow and friends modeling period clothing from Lavender’s Green Historic Clothing. These paintings will be available for purchase by silent auction.

Participants will also be able to try their own hand at creating art from the models. Art supplies will be available to sketch with charcoal, colored pencil, pen and ink or watercolor at the art table. There will even be a table specifically for children who can make a Christmas and holiday cards. Arts and crafts will also be for sale (all proceeds go to the non-profit) along with baked goods, handcrafted jewelry, hand-tooled leather guitar straps, and more.

Musical entertainment will be provided by Influence Musicians Guild members, who will be playing guitars and singing all day from 1:00 until 7:00. A few of these notable local musicians include Evan Acey, Eldorado Ralph, Steve Griffiths and more. Paid admission also entitles you to a delicious buffet prepared by Primrose and Tumbleweed (a boutique located at 248 E. Main St.) and two drinks (wine/beer or soft drink).

Just before 7:00 p.m. the visual arts part of the day will end and you can settle down to be entertained at a concert featuring Bobby Blues and special guest star Lucy Hammond. All the while the bar will be open with wine, beer and soft drinks available for purchase.

Tualatin Valley Artists has been bringing visual art and performing arts to Hillsboro since August 2007. The group is a 501(c)(3) public charity that depends on public donations to continue their vision of bringing the visual arts and performing arts to the community. Formerly located on Main Street, the art gallery and music hall is now located at the 135 SE 3rd Avenue. The art gallery and music hall continues to touch people’s lives in the hope that it will improve the community.

Concert at the HART Theatre

Who: Jerry Hannan, TeTe, and Eric John Kaiser
What: Concert to Support Tualatin Valley Artists
When: Saturday, November 20, 2011, 5:30 PM
Where: HART Theatre, Hillsboro Oregon 97123
Tickets: $15 donation.

The non-profit TV Artists/Influence Music Hall is pleased to announce an intimate evening with international musicians Jerry Hannan, TeTe, and Eric John Kaiser on Sunday November 20, 2011. The concert will be held in the Hart Theatre in downtown Hillsboro, and the doors open at 5:30pm.

Jerry Hannan is a genuine songwriter and performer to boot. Recently, he recorded his own song, 'Society' with Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, which is featured in Sean Penn's film 'Into the Wild'. 'I Thought I Was You', written by Jerry and brother Sean Hannan also plays in 'Into the Wild.' In 2003, Jerry recorded his second CD 'Sounds Like a Story'. A new song 'DaDaDa' from the CD was featured in the film 'The Pledge' (Jack Nicholson).

Described as "shades of Dylan, John Prine and Van Morrison...very Americana with a faint Irish lilt", Hannan's songs (like those of Springsteen, Steve Earle and Cat Stevens) speak of our everyday lives and the magic that we sometimes miss. He's a storyteller who loves to stir the crowd. He has been called a "three chord wizard," with guitar, lyrics and harmonica, often funny, sardonic in a good-natured way, dealing with issues like ecology, friendship, love.

Raised on jigs and ballads in San Francisco's Irish community, Jerry Hannan grew up listening to the music of his Irish-born parents (The Dubliners, The Clancy Brothers), as well as Cat Stevens. As a youngster he took accordion lessons, switching to guitar in high school and playing in rock 'n roll bands. Jerry has toured the US and brought down the house in Ireland.

French music star Tete has been playing music since he was 15 years old. He moved from a small town in France to Paris in 1998. He formed a trio playing original music with a different sound. Sony/Epic Records quickly signed them to a deal. The first commercial recording was released in 2001. In 2004 Sony/Epic launched his second album and some of the tracks got so much attention he started playing large venues and touring internationally. It was in 2004 that he reached the mainstream music market.

Tete's music has been described as both Rock/R&B and pop-folk, but he has successfully discovered his own, unique style. In 2008 Tete hosted a TV program in France and as part of that toured the US meeting musicians that played jazz, folk, rock, blues, and hip-hop. He met them in places like New York, New Orleans, Miami, and San Francisco. This inspired an album in 2010 that was mostly blues & folk melodies.

Eric John Kaiser is "Portland's French Troubadour". His Rock/Hip-Hop, Reggae style is exciting and engaging. He has played from coast to coast here in the US including stops in Washington DC and New York. He currently has three albums out. "L'Odyssee" was recorded in Paris, "French Troubadour" was recorded in Portland, as was "Portland Rendez-Vous". He is currently working on a new album, due in early 2012.

Doors open at 5:30 and tickets are a donation of only $15 per person. TV Artists is a non-profit organization dedicated to making our community better through the arts. Please come and join us for this incredible evening! Seating is limited, so call and reserve your place among the lucky 96 people that will be able to experience incredible evening of music. Call 503 701-6859 for reservations.

Influence Music Hall's 4th Annual Cultural Celebration - and 9/11 Memorial

Who: Influence Music Hall Musicians and Others
What: Concert and Open Mic to Remember 9/11
When: Sunday September 11, 2011, 10AM-6PM
Where: Washington County Court House Lawn, 145 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Hillsboro, OR 97124

Influence Music Hall celebrates its fourth annual Cultural Celebration and Community BBQ! This year the Influence Music Hall team will also hold a Memorial Service to honor the memory of those whose lives were lost on September 11, 2001. This is a community celebration and BBQ (those who attend must provide their own BBQ and refreshments but there will be hot grills on hand). Many of the participants combine this annual event with family reunions, birthday celebrations, anniversaries etc.

There will be two music stages. Stage 1 will feature IMH Guild members throughout the day, Stage 2 will be Open-Mic in keeping with the Influence Music Hall Friday Night Open-Mic performances. There will be a diverse array of musical performances to be enjoyed, bring the family out for some community fun!

For info email: influencemusichall@gmail.com

Influence Presents Dismal Niche Orchestra

Who: Dismal Niche Orchestra
What: Concert to Support Tualatin Valley Artists
When: Saturday, August 27, 2011, 7:00 PM
Where: Influence Music Hall, 135 SE Third Ave., Hillsboro Oregon 97123
Tickets: $15 donation.

Dismal Niche Orchestra, a five-piece band that plays a retro post-modern, contemporary style of music with a new grass spin, will perform at Influence Music Hall, 135 SE 3rd Ave., Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7:00 p.m.

Jeff Harness, leader of the group, says comedy plays a large role in their show, as they are there to entertain. "In this life," he said, "we all carve out our own dismal niche - part of the soggy Pacific Northwest mind set." He adds his own bit of philosophy, "Remember, if you tap your feet to the music enough, moss can't grow between your toes."

The Dismal Niche Orchestra named after a Lewis and Clarke logbook entry of their first days camping on the Oregon Coast is a Pacific Northwest fusion band, incorporating elements of bluegrass, rock, R&B, blues, classical and jazz into a format designed to appeal to both the listening audience and the people that want to get out on the floor and shake it. Not a bluegrass band, rather they take current and traditional music and perform it using bluegrass and jugband instruments.

Paul Savanac plays the banjo and mandolin in the musical group and Barry Hagan does an amazing job with the tuba and bass. Dr. John Keys brings a multitude of instruments in like the dobro, mandolin, lap steel, and the six and 12 string guitars. Chuck Gilman plays the harmonica and helps Harness with the vocals.

A Magical Evening at Influence Music Hall

Who: Magician Richard Green
What: Magic Show to Support Tualatin Valley Artists
When: Saturday, July 23rd, 2011, 7:30 PM
Where: Influence Music Hall, 135 SE Third Ave., Hillsboro Oregon 97123
Tickets: $15 donation.

Tualatin Valley Artists and Influence Music Hall presents the magic of Richard Green on Saturday evening July 23rd at 7:30 PM. Richard has performed his magic all over the west coast and as far east as Washington D.C. He has even performed for the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Seating for this event is limited. Call 503-701-6859 now to reserve your seats. Proceeds will help to support the non-profit Tualatin Valley Artists Inc. View the flyer (pdf) about this event.

Classes, classes, classes!

Check out the classes page to learn about the current and upcoming classes at Influence Gallery. Saturday Workshop with JanSu where even a beginning painter can complete a painting in one afternoon.

• Monday - Art Basics with JanSu. Learn the many fun techniqies that can be used with watercolors. 6am-8pm. Cost: $15.
• Wednesday - Acrylic Painting with Jackie Woodward. 1:30pm-4pm. Cost: $35
• Thursday - Oil Painting with Elina Zebergs. Open Studio style classes. Bring any medium and any subject matter to work on with Elina's broad experiences in art she can help guide you through any problems you may be struggling with in with your work. Elina's philosophy considers that mistakes must be made to learn what not to do and that with gentle guidance and a fun, positive attitude anything can be accomplished! 11am-2pm. Cost: $25
• Saturdays - Watercolor workshop with JanSu. Complete a painting in one class. Even a total beginner with finish a painting in each class with JanSu's easy step-by-step teaching methods. 11pm-2pm. Cost: $35. **See pictures below from this workshop**

For more details about these classes and the teachers, please contact individual teachers by phone:

JanSu 503-431-0072
Elina Zebergs 503-539-7117
Jackie Woodward 971-219-0673
Carolyn Woody 971-226-3571

Hillsboro Airshow Donates $200 to TV Artists

Linda Holland receives symbolic check (plus the real check) for $200 donation from the Hillsboro Airshow for the non-profit Tualatin Valley Artists group.

For the past two years, TV Artists have volunteered as a group at the Oregon International Airshow. It is a time that members enjoy together helping the Airshow be successful as it raises money for local charities. And of course, we also really like to see the jets do their low, fast fly-bys. This year, after TV Artist volunteers worked hard selling hot dogs, they were rewarded when the Airshow recognized TV Artists by donating $200 to our group.

Besides developing a visual and performing artist network, TV Artists create opportunities, venues, and places to gather socially. We also stage benefit concerts which have supported groups such as P:ear and the Children's Cancer Association. Yet we also need funds to keep our doors open to do these things. The Airshow is a unique event that gives back to the community the profit made on that weekend in August. TV Artists have been fortunate to receive $200 the last two years. Thank You Airshow Folks!

TV Artists and ReStart Provide Money to P:ear

In May 2010, Tualatin Valley Artists presented "Art from the Inside", a month-long art show featuring the artwork and fine art crafts created by artists who are incarcerated in Oregon. The show featured the artwork of a unique program in Oregon's prisons provides access to art supplies and equipment to those inmates expressing an interest in art, and who have had at least five years with a clear record inside.

Art from the Inside was a successful fundraiser primarily due to the hard work of Paul Tice, co-founder of ReStart, which stands for Restorative Justice through Art. This program provides opportunities for arts education for at-risk youth.

On September 15th, Tualatin Valley Artists President Linda Holland and Paul Tice (pictured at left) presented a check for $1571.42 to P:ear, a non-profit in Portland that helps homeless and needy teens, first with basic needs, then with art training to help them with a better outlook and ways to succeed in life.

Tualatin Valley Artists, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that runs Influence Gallery and is made up of creative people that believe the community can be made a better place through experiences with the arts. Influence not only shows visual art but also has open mic events every Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. at 135 SE Third Ave. For more information, call Linda Holland 503-956-5604.

Fine Wine and Fine Art

The Influence Gallery carries wine for all types of wine buyers and can be bought by the bottle or the case, and we offer wine by the glass at our Open Mic Night at the Influence Music Hall.

Skip Farmer is our wine supplier and he will be suppying us wine from local distributors as well as importing wine from Europe. He says people can tell him what their favorite wine is and he can probably have it for them next time around.

We will have a Red Guitar, a rich blend of grapes that really compliment each other.  This wine's greatest plus is that it is "easy" on the palate with a lingering, plesant flavor.  There will also be a French blush wine offered that has a crisp, clean flavor without being overly sweet.  The white wine for this month's Artwalk will be a french style blend from David Hill, a local winery.

Since Artwalk means complementary glasses of wine we will be giving sample wine tastes of these wines and have the full bottles for sale.

Wine Prices

Red Guitar...... $9.50/bottle
Este Red........ $9.50/bottle
Oak Knoll Niagra...... $7.00/bottle
David Hill Farmhouse white..... $7.00/bottle
David Hill Estate Pinot Gris..... $9.00/bottle