Hanging Around Town helps bring local art to the public
Phil Coleman, chair of the Hanging Around Town program, sits next to a painting by a Corvallis Art Guild member on display at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis, Ore. (Benton County, Oregon, photo by Cory Grogan)
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Local art is showing up in familiar places, including Benton County buildings. That’s thanks to the Corvallis Art Guild’s Hanging Around Town program, which currently features artwork at the Benton County Kalapuya Building on Research Way and other locations throughout Benton County.
The Corvallis Art Guild has supported local artists with programs like this one for decades — in fact, it’s celebrating its 80th anniversary next year. Hanging Around Town helps guild members display artwork for one to two months at a time in public-facing venues across Corvallis.
“The venues aren’t formal galleries, so this program exposes a wider range of the public to local art and artists,” said Phil Coleman, Hanging Around Town exhibits chair.
Participating locations include Benton County buildings such as the Kalapuya and Sunset Buildings on Research Way, along with the Corvallis Community Center, medical offices, gyms and care facilities. Coleman notes that the variety of locations helps artists reach people who might not otherwise visit a gallery.
“An art guild member is often very pleased to find that their arrival at the start of a month with fresh art is warmly received by the venue’s staff and visitors,” Coleman said. “That experience motivates the artist to keep creating new work.”
Coleman took on leadership of the program in 2017 when the previous chair needed a break. As a photographer in a guild largely made up of painters, he felt the role helped him better to understand other artistic perspectives while also advocating for photography as an art form.
“A good photo is a little more than just clicking the shutter,” Coleman added.
Each displayed piece includes a small information card listing the title, medium and the artist’s name and contact information. This allows visitors to connect directly with artists to share feedback or inquire about purchasing artwork.
An extra benefit of the program is that it often leads to meaningful connections beyond sales.
“As a personal example, a photo that I showed at Timberhill Athletic Club not only led to its purchase but some subsequent great coffee shop conversations,” shared Coleman.
Artists interested in participating must be exhibiting members of the Corvallis Art Guild in good standing and follow program guidelines for labeling, content, framing quality and scheduling.
Organizations interested in joining the Hanging Around Town program as an exhibition space are encouraged to learn more. To sign up or get additional information, email the exhibit chair at exhibitschair@corvallisartguild.net or visit corvallisartguild.net/members/hanging-around-town-member-info/.