A wonderful Oregon landscape

The new art direction of the office is to have a static art display rather than a dynamic display that changes every other month. After more than 10 years of featuring two new artists every other month, I have decided to suspend the art shows and focus on a single artist. The work of Katsu Shibata, East Meets West Photography, is the featured art currently up in the main area of the office and it is a pleasure to be able to share.

“My art is all about absorbing myself into an activity.
I enjoy watching nature; changing constantly, never duplicates;
Light, color, subjects – They are all essential elements for the drama. When I encounter the perfect moment,
I am touched; I want to capture that scene.
I am absorbed in the process
- the wonderful space that one can be in.”

Katsu Shibata

Katsu paying meticulous attention to the detail of hanging his photographs

Bob Keefer of the Register Guard in the Fall of 2011 had this to say of the show Katsu had at the Hult Center Jacobs Gallery, “In the end, Shibata has taken a technical weakness of digital photography — its easy tendency toward brittleness — and turned it to artistic advantage.”

The Oregon Coast

Balance

Katsuyuki Shibata

East Meets West Photography
541-868-5571
Email Me

http://www.EastMeetsWest.smugmug.com

I want that one!!

Does America really run on Dunkin?? On a recent trip to Boston I got to find out and I have to answer YES, America really does run on Dunkin, Especially when you order the size that I got in the picture.

Authentica Artisan Wine Underground

It is easy to be inspired by quality in service and product when it is provided by people who are passionate about what they do. I always find inspiration to excel in my profession by experiencing excellence in others, and you often don’t have to travel far for that experience. Authentica Artisan Wine Underground here in Eugene is one such place.

“Authentica Wines in Eugene is a fresh approach to buying wine created to serve wine consumers who value “honest wine”, and who reject the sea of mass produced, generic wines that crowd the market today. They focus exclusively on small production, artisan crafted wines from around the world, especially hard to find Oregon Pinot Noir and other highly regarded Northwest wines.”

Wine Class Pinot Noirs

“Authentica Wines is the creation of Steven J. Baker. Throughout his long experience in the wine business Steve has tasted thousands of wines and traveled to many of the world’s great wine regions. He has contributed articles to local and regional wine publications and shared the intricacies and pleasures of wine with thousands of students in his Introduction to Wine Appreciation classes. Steve’s intense interest, unbridled enthusiasm and advocacy of authentic wines is a result of this wide experience and the inspiration for Authentica Artisan Wine Underground.”

Wine Class Rieslings

I highly recommend the Introduction to Wine Appreciation Class as an opportunity to experience the unique quality, service and expertise that is offered by Steven J. Baker and Authenitca Artisan Wine Underground. The four classes offered over four nights/weeks is done in the small and comfortable space of the shop and provides a great opportunity to taste some outstanding wines and learn what are the some of the basic qualities that make it an outstanding wine. Not to give away any of the secrets of what makes a wine truly outstanding, but I will offer the clue that it has something to do with the company in which you share the wine.

Wine Class Italian Reds

Nebbiolo, one of the 5 noble varietals

Featured Art and Presentation

The new year will see a new look in the office, an opportunity to feature some of the art in the office that had previously just blended into the background and had lost some of its sense of being special. Although the effect of a change in appearance may seem minor, it has a big effect on creating a more positive and healthy attitude with staff and patients without making a special or deliberate effort. That is the effect of art and the benefit of healing art, that satisfaction with the office/clinic environment is an important part of service quality.

The featured art is on the back wall of the front desk/patient check in area. It has a signed print by R.C. Gorman, Navajo Gallery, “Navajo Dawn”, (the story of the print could fill up 10 pages so I will save that for another time or share the story if asked in the clinic), an amazing bronze piece, “Silent Prayer” by Jan Jackson, enrolled member of the Klamath Tribes of Oregon, and a cast glass “spirit vessel” by Sharon Gilbert of Talisman Glass. The art compliments each other and fits in well with the esthetic and design of the office.

It gives me great pleasure to be able to share this with my patients and staff, and to have it be a part of our continuing effort to improve the service and experience of patient care in my dental practice.

Wishing you wellness and happiness in 2012.

R.C. Gorman "Navajo Dawn"

"Spirit Vessel" by Sharon Gilbert/Talisman Glass

Art Table featuring cast glass by Sharon Gilbert/Talisman Glass and bronze work by Jan Jackson, Klamath Tribes

Art Table

I want to thank all of the people in my practice that have trusted and allowed me to provide their care  and to wish to everyone a very happy, healthy and prosperous 2012!!

New Year MoonRise

Marche Hamburger

Sometimes you need to take a break from the busy work week, take a break from your special diets and restrictions, put the calorie counter away and just enjoy a slow lunch and afternoon. Chew slow, savor flavors, have good company in a great ambiance, or vice versa, and live well.

One recent guilty pleasure was the Marche Hamburger at Marche Restaurant at the 5th Street Market.  Chanterelle mushrooms, gruyere cheese, thyme ailoi served with pom frites. I will be the first to admit that won’t be on many of the top lists for healthy consumption, but food can be as nourishing for the soul as it is for the body, and sometimes the mind wins out. There were many other great choices on the menu, but a guilty pleasure needs to make you feel guilty so I steered away from those other options. And not to pile on the guilt and turn it from guilt to gluttony, I won’t even mention the cocktail list or dessert menu.

Although it was a working lunch, the total experience hardly made it feel like work.

Stephanie Pearl Kimmel, founding chef/owner, has built an amazing business here in the community that needs no mention here to acknowledge how good it is. We are very fortunate in where we live because it truly allows us to eat our view, to be able to buy and enjoy locally raised, grown and sourced foods of the highest quality. And it allows places like Marche to do the same, giving us the opportunity to enjoy those guilty pleasures like the 3 hour lunch with great food and company. All in moderation!

Support our local farmers, ranches, forages and businesses. The strength and wellness of my dental practice is directly related to the strength and wellness of the community. Sharing, caring, supporting each other and living well is the keystone to making this a healthy community for all.

I had an opportunity to shoot the shooter on Sunday, a moment to capture the photographer before he captured the moment.

I saw Bruce Berg on Sunday to have him shoot some new photos for updating my website. It was a real pleasure to work with him, a true professional in his craft. I’m always amazed to watch a professional work because they make the difficult appear so easy, and I have to say that that was my experience in working with Bruce. He made it seem effortless and I was very pleased with the experience and the results.

Based on my experience I would strongly refer him to anyone wanting a truly professional and great photographic experience. When my website is updated you can see the results and judge for yourself. I may be biased, but he really was able to put lipstick on a pig and make it look nice. (Me of course!)

Country Cookboo

Cook’s Pots and Tabletops had an amazing cooking class this evening featuring Autumn Hazel Cooking, taught by Jan Robert-Dominguez, author of the recently published book Oregon Hazelnut Country Cookbook. The book is a well written and crafted book done completely in Oregon and would make a great Christmas gift for family, friends or yourself!

The menu featured locally sourced and seasonal foods, locally gathered root vegetables, local lamb from Harrisburg … and the featured item, the Oregon Hazelnut recently gathered and roasted

Before the storm

Dinner featured a salad of Fuji Apples, Baby Greens and Roasted Hazelenuts with Sweet Mustard and Hazelnut Oil Vinaigrette, Mashed Yukon Golds with Carmelized Onions,  Roasted Root Vegetables and Mushrooms and Roast Rack of Lamb with a Mustard Glaze and Hazelnut Hollandaise, Paired with a good Pinoit Noir, Jovino from Wines by Dobbs

Dinner was plated

The food was great, the instruction was amazing and Cook’s Pots and Tabletops were great hosts!! They offer many great cooking classes and I highly encourage you to try to attend one, and they make great gifts to give as well.  I plan on attending the Irish Lullaby Class being offered soon and I hope to see some of you there.

Cheers!

Jovino Pinot Noir from Wine by Dobbs

It was a great class with a great teacher, a great meal and a great facility!!!

There are some places that you just enjoy going into, where the products are as fun as the staff is friendly. Canoe at 1136 SW Alder in Portland is one of those places. Even if you don’t find anything to buy it’s still a fun place to explore and the staff could write the book on friendly customer service!