MY JOURNAL: MOVING TO MEDFORD AND A NEW BEGINNING IN ART

My family moved to Medford in August of 1964. It was a brave move for us. We had two pre-schoolers , Sharon and Marcia. We had very little money but we wanted to make the move! Gary took a teaching position at Hedrick Junior High School and I stayed home with our two girls who were 4 and 5 at that time. I was soon expecting a third child, Leigh, who was born the following July. I did not get out much in the beginning since we only had one car. When Gary came home from work I would go do the grocery shopping and come right back.

.........Fortunately for me the grocery market I found was Ed Milne's Quality Market which was located downtown on W. Main Street near the Medford Library and next door to the Rogue Gallery! I would drop in the Gallery each time I went to do grocery shopping. I became acquainted with many very fine local artists then. Eugene Bennett, Jack Teeters, Judy Morris, Marilyn Briggs, Robert Bosworth, Dorothy DeYoung and Jan Schmitz were all very active in the Gallery. What an energizing group of artists! I took an oil painting class from Marilyn Briggs which was offered through the Rogue Gallery......... Jack Teeters was the Medford High School Arts & Crafts instructor and taught pottery classes through the Medford Parks and Recreation. I took classes from my good friend Jack for eight years! The Rogue Gallery sponsored Artist Studio Tours annually. I took advantage of those scheduled tours to visit many artists in their private studio spaces. . . gleaning information as I could from each one! Forty three years later I am still in awe of those great artists! I have continued to "drop by" the Rogue Gallery (Now called The Rogue Gallery & Art Center) on a regular schedule. In fact, I spent eight consecutive years working on the Board of Directors for the Rogue Valley Art Association which owns and operates the Rogue Gallery & Art Center. During those years I served two consecutive terms as President of the Board. Now I am a Life Member of the Rogue Valley Art Association. I consider those years as a learning and growth period for me as well. Managing the promotion of artists and providing a venue for artists to show their work is so very important! The Rogue Valley is alive with artists! What a grand place to be!