Hoffman Center Blog

This is where you’ll find the latest announcements for our workshops, art camps for kids, the authors presenting at the Manzanita Writers’ Series, as well as other performances in music, magic, and theater.

To see what’s coming up, simply scroll down this page to see all the latest posts.  Or, if you are looking for something specific click on a category (from the list on the right hand side of the screen), and you’ll see all the posts relating to that topic

Along the top of the page, you’ll see additional tabs for more information about the Hoffman Center (just pull down the menu at each tab to get the info you want.)  Enjoy finding out more about us, and we hope to see you soon.

John Kroger will read from his book Convictions at the Manzanita Writers’ Series at 7 pm on Saturday, August 21, at the Hoffman Center in Manzanita.
 
Convictions, subtitled A Prosecutor’s Battles Against Mafia Killers, Drug Kingpins, and Enron Thieves, is a professional and personal memoir that won the Oregon Book Award for creative nonfiction in 2009. The book chronicles Kroger’s decade long career as an assistant U.S. prosecutor working out of lower Manhattan, where he tackled organized crime’s biggest names and lowest operatives.
 
Kroger is the Attorney General of Oregon. His background includes service with the U.S. Marines Special Forces, a degree in philosophy from Yale University, a law degree from Harvard University, and time as a senior adviser to presidential hopeful Bill Clinton. He has worked as a federal prosecutor, and law professor.

After years of taking down mobsters he needed a break and went on a solo bike ride across the country, attending to his own spiritual needs with as much energy as he fought for the public well-being. It’s this theme that resonates throughout: maintaining his personal convictions while convicting as many criminals as possible. In the end, he lasted longer as a prosecutor than most but eventually burned out and headed west. Still, after only a year of teaching at Lewis & Clark College, he was pulled back into the Enron investigations, and then found himself in the race for state attorney general. After only one year in office he has already fulfilled a campaign promise to establish an environmental crimes task force.

Following the author reading and Q&A, the popular Open Mic session will provide opportunities for the audience to hear nine local writers read from their original work. Interested writers sign up at the door to read; first come, first to read.
Writers interested in reading should check out the Open Mic guidelines  and come prepared to read your original piece of work in five minutes or less.
 
The reading will be held at the Hoffman Center (across from Manzanita Library at 594 Laneda Avenue.) The building will be set up in a café style with coffee/tea and snacks available. Admission fee is $5. (Check out the 2010 schedule or contact Kathie Hightower, 503-739-1505; kathie@jumpintolife.net).

You want writing to be a priority in your life, but you keep getting side-tracked?

You wish you could focus on your writing, but you keep self-sabotaging?

You want to move from writing-as-hobby to writing-as-profession, but you don’t know how?

Lauren Kessler (www.laurenkessler.com <http://www.laurenkessler.com> ) and Thomas Hager (www.thomashager.net <http://www.thomashager.net> ) – who between them have written 18 books – will help you get serious about your writing life, from daily inspiration to annual budgeting. This one-day, high-energy workshop – with exercises and expert tips – will inspire you to up your game, whether it’s fiction, nonfiction or poetry. Learn from two writers in the trenches who have weathered the storms…and crafted successful writing lives for themselves as they raised three children.

 Lauren Kessler is the author of 12 books, including 6 works of narrative nonfiction. Her newest book, just released, is My Teenage Werewolf: A Mother, A Daughter, A journey through the Thickets of Adolescence. She is also the author of Pacific Northwest Book Award and Oregon Book Award winner Dancing with Rose; Washington Post bestseller Clever Girl; Los Angeles Times bestseller The Happy Bottom Riding Club and Oregon Book Award-winner Stubborn Twig, which was chosen to be the book for all Oregonians to read on the occasion of the sesquecentennial last year.

Tom Hager is the author of six nonfiction books and the former publisher of the University of Oregon

 Press. His most recent book, The Alchemy of Air, was named a “Best Book of 2008″ by Kirkus Reviews, and is a national finalist in Border’s “Original Voices” award program.

Saturday, August 21st from 10-3 Cost: $50.

Download and complete the Crafting Workshop Registration Form, and mail it in with your check to register.

The Hoffman Center in Manzanita will offer a three-week Summer Drama Camp for children ages 5 to 18. Led by Annie Naranjo-Rivera, the camp will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays, from Aug. 2 through 20 at 594 Laneda Ave.

 Students will audition for, rehearse and perform a full-length stage production of  “A Thousand Paper Cranes.” The play tells the story of young Japanese girl and her magical wish.

 Students will learn about stage acting, projection and movement, in addition to making original costumes and artwork for the production.

 No performing experience is necessary. Tuition for the camp is $100 for the whole session. As the camp runs over the lunch hour, participants should bring a lunch.

 Naranjo-Rivera has over 10 years of experience working with children on the stage. She studied at Lewis and Clark College for her BA in Theatre Arts. She has worked with numerous children’s theaters around the country, directing, stage-managing, designing sets and props, choreographing, and designing stage lighting.

 A limited number of scholarships will be available, thanks to the support of local businesses and art lovers. Parents interested should ask when registering.

 Register now by downloading Kids Camp Registration Form, phoning 503-368-3846 or e-mailing hoffmancenter@nehalemtel.net.

Cathy Lamb will read from her latest novel Henry’s Sisters at the Manzanita Writers’ Series at 7 pm on Saturday, July 17, at the Hoffman Center in Manzanita.

 Henry’s Sisters is a story of strength and reconciliation and change, with a Columbia River Gorge backdrop.

 A Publisher’s Weeklyreview says “Lamb delivers grace, humor and forgiveness…positively irresistible.”

 The Three Tomatoes Book Club blog declares: “If you loved Terms of Endearment, the Ya Ya Sisterhood, and Steel Magnolias, you will love Henry’s Sisters. Cathy Lamb just keeps getting better and better.”

 Previous books include Julia’s Chocolates and The Last Time I Was Me. Her next book, Such A Pretty Face, is due out at the end of July, and Holiday Magic, an anthology with Fern Michaels, comes out in November, 2010.

 Lamb has a B.A. in Elementary Education and a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction, both from the University of Oregon. She was a fourth grade teacher for Beaverton Schools for more than seven years. In addition to writing seven books, she has written about 200 articles as a freelance writer for The Oregonian. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and three children.

 Following the author reading and Q&A, the popular Open Mic session will provide opportunities for the audience to hear nine local writers read from their original work. Interested writers sign up at the door to read; first come, first to read.

Writers interested in reading should check out the Open Mic guidelines at hoffmanblog.org <http://hoffmanblog.org <http://hoffmanblog.org> > and come prepared to read your original piece of work in five minutes or less.

 The series is a program of the Hoffman Center and will be held at the Hoffman Center (across from Manzanita Library at 594 Laneda Avenue.) The building will be set up in a café style with coffee/tea and snacks available. Admission fee is $5. Further information contact Kathie Hightower, 503-739-1505; kathie@jumpintolife.net.

The Manzanita Film Series is proud to present “Source to Sea: The Columbia River Swim” on July 24th at 7pm and on July 25th at 2pm. Admission will be $6 for adults and $3 for children 13 and under.

This film takes a broad, sobering look at the history and destiny of what the indigenous people call Che Wana, the Columbia River. It also tells the story of why Christopher Swain subjected himself to a 13-month swim down its 1243-mile length. Using the swim as a thread, the present condition of the Great River of the West is revealed. Full of rare archival footage of the sacred Celilo Falls and Kettle Falls, now inundated by dams, the film also deals with the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, pollution from mining, the river in Canada, petroglyphs, salmon issues and the struggles Christopher encountered.

There will be a question and answer session with the filmmakers and a crew member after all screenings.

Ekahni Books will be on hand selling topical books as well as books on film at a 20% discount.

 Admission is $6 and theater concessions, as well as beer and wine, will be available for purchase.

Please contact Franz Hasslacher, franzhass@gmail.com for volunteer opportunities

The Hoffman Center will host seven Summer Art Camps for kids during the week of Aug. 2-6. All sessions will be held at the Center building at 594 Laneda Ave. in Manzanita. The classes will cost $65 per student, with a separate lab fee added on.

“It’s All in the B-A-G,” a class for kids 5-10, will be held from 10 a.m. to noon each day and be led by Lynn Thomas. Students will perform simple tunes on recorders and boomwhacker, learning the difference between rhythm and pitch, and experiment with a variety of sounds while playing traditional folk songs. Lab fee $10.

“Clay PlayShop,” for ages 7-10, will be held 10 a.m. to noon each day and be led by Glenna Gray. Students will learn coil, ball and slab building techniques and explore surface decoration possibilities, and finally glaze and fire their own pieces. Lab fee $15.

“Dreams and Themes,” led by Mia Steury, will run from 10 a.m. to noon each day. Students, ages 5-10, will explore the secret world of dreams on canvas and create paintings inspired by the vibrant works of Mark Chagall. Lab fee $10.

“In Your Own Words,” for ages 5-10, will be led by local poet Travis Champ from 10 a.m. to noon each day. Students will learn to write their own stories, legends or adventures, and end up making a book to fill with their own words. Lab fee $5.

“Make Your Own Puppets,” will be led by Janet Maher from 10 a.m. to noon. She will teach kids ages 8-12 how to sculpt the head for their own puppet with clay and paper-mâché, paint and decorate a face, add hair, feathers or sequins, then design and attach a cloth body. Lab fee $8.

“Multimedia Extravaganza” will be held 1 – 3 p.m. each day. Leader Nichole Poole will help students experiment with a variety of artistic media. “Come fearlessly and ready for fun,” says Nichole. “There are no rules in this class!” Lab fee $8.

“Hot Off the Press,” for ages 12 and up will also be held 1 – 3 p.m. daily. Sarah Skye Archer will lead students as they write journals and learn to print their own works on the Center’s printing press. Lab fee $5.

A limited number of scholarships will be available, thanks to the support of local businesses and art lovers. Parents interested should ask when registering.

To register download the Kids Camp Registration Form , phone 503-368-3846 or e-mail hoffmancenter@nehalemtel.net. Space is still available, so register now.

Award winning artist Audene Jay will lead a three-week “Fearless Drawing” course at the Hoffman Center in Manzanita in July. Class sessions will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 2 to 4 p.m., beginning July 13 and running through July 29. Classes will be held in the Hoffman House Studios at 595 Laneda Avenue, in Classroom 7.

Jay described Fearless Drawing as “a course for complete beginners or anyone wishing to improve their drawing skills,” and will teach artists to draw what they see with confidence. “You’ll learn the skills to see as an artist sees, which is the key to drawing with ease,” she added.

The course is limited to eight students and costs $199. The curriculum has a beginning and an end, so a commitment to six sessions, at two sessions per week, is needed to give students the full benefit. Preregistration is required. A $40 materials fee is due at the first class.

Click here to download and complete the Fearless Drawing registration form.  More information about the classes can be obtained from Jay at 503-368-6901 or audene.artist@gmail.com.

Audene Jay is a full-time coastal resident. Before settling on here she traveled full-time across the United States for four years. During her travels she concentrated on photography and put her artwork in storage. “I am so deeply inspired by the North Coast and am looking forward to meeting new people in the arts and getting back to my first love — drawing and painting,” she said.

Jay was a scholarship recipient at the Museum of Fine Arts School in Houston and also attended The Advertising Arts College in San Diego, where she received a scholarship based on her work and graduated with a Communications degree. She was a gallery artist in Houston for a decade. She is also a poet and performance artist with a one-person show entitled “Little Secrets We Call Ourselves” performed at several Houston venues.

The Manzanita Film Series is proud to present “The People Speak” on June 26th at 7p.m. at the Hoffman Center in Manzanita. Admission will be $6.

Using dramatic and musical performances of the letters, diaries and speeches of everyday Americans, “The People Speak” gives voice to those who spoke up for social change throughout U.S. history, forging a nation from the bottom up with their insistence on equality and justice. Narrated by Howard Zinn and based on his best-selling book, A People’s History of the United States, “The People Speak” illustrates the relevance of these passionate historical moments to our society today and reminds us never to take our liberty for granted.

Ekahni Books will be on hand selling books about film history, and books related to people quoted in the film (including A People’s History of the United States) at a 20% discount.

The Manzanita Film Series is a program of the Hoffman Center in Manzanita, Oregon. Films will be screened on the 4th weekend of the month throughout the year. Admission is $6 and theater concessions, as well as beer and wine, will be available for purchase.

Please contact Franz Hasslacher, franzhass@gmail.com for volunteer opportunities

Cathi Howell, artist and arts educator, will lead a series of workshops Monday, July 5th through Friday, July 9th. The workshops will be held at the Hoffman Center at 594 Laneda Avenue in Manzanita.

Part-time 15 year Manzanita resident Cathi Howell will put on an arts curriculum that emphasizes short, one-day creative art projects. The classes will last from 9 to 11 each morning that week. Each class will feature a different technique, including simple printmaking processes, collage, simple sculpture from recycled materials, and self-portraits. No art experience is necessary. This is not technical art training, however experienced artists are welcomed. Students can attend just one or two of the classes—they cost just $20 each, or sign up for the entire week and get a discounted rate of $85. Students get a special discounted rate of $10 per class.

Cathi Howell is a retired arts educator, arts entrepreneur, and studio artist. Currently she teaches an arts program for Rosemary Anderson High School in Portland Oregon several hours each week. She was one of the founding board members of the Hoffman Center.

To register download the art camp registration form, to print off and send in with your check. You can also get more detailed information about each class directly from Cathi Howell at 503.720.9686.

Art ‘Camp’ Class Schedule by Day

Monday July 5– Basic Relief Printing: Students design, carve and create simple printmaking tools to print and embellish a variety of surfaces and decorative paper.

Tuesday July 6 — Mixed Media Collage/Personal Histories: Students select from photos, clips, quotes, stories of their own and combine them with an array of papers and materials to create personally themed collages.

Wednesday July 7– “Recycled” Scrap Sculpture Constructions: Each participant will create a small scale 3-D “sculpture” using recycled and/or re-usable materials with simple glue gun technology

Thursday July 8– Self-Portrait Collage: Students begin with a basic introduction to a contour drawing technique. Through the use of torn and cut papers, participants will create a combined self-portrait collage.

Friday July 9– Extended Drawing: Awaken your visualization skills! Students select a photo, art poster or other printed art and use these as focus for extending what that art might look like beyond its edges. Pencil, charcoal, and colored drawing media will be used.