The Les Schwab Amphitheater stage will soon feature more than just the musical arts – the Old Mill District has commission muralist Erin Sayer to create a piece for the back of the venue’s stage.
Established in 2001, the Amphitheater is Central Oregon’s premier music venue welcoming national acts each year plus free concerts by local and national performers in our St. Charles Free Summer Sunday Concert Series. The new artwork will further distinguish the outdoor performance area from other settings.
“We have artists come from all over to perform at the Les Schwab Amphitheater. The town and the venue are beautiful, but if an artist is in the middle of a 50 stop tour and doesn’t have time to explore the offerings of Central Oregon, we want to make it easy for them to remember us,” said Marney Smith, Amphitheater director. “And moreover, the back of the stage is just a giant canvas begging for art.”
Erin Sayer, a mural painter and gallery owner from Minneapolis, MN has painted several murals throughout Minnesota and the Midwest. She owns Cult Status Gallery in Minneapolis, which was voted Best Art Gallery in 2011, and has garnered many accolades since opening in 2010. Having produced more than 100 gallery exhibits in 5 years, Erin is now completing an art tour in the NorthWest with a group show of Minnesota artists entitled “Cult Status Gallery on Tour” to Seattle, Portland and now Bend.
Sayer said, “Once I arrived in Bend and saw the stage in person, I knew the piece needed to include a crow or a raven. The amphitheater stage is such an amazing canvas, that I really wanted to create something bright and graphic, so it would be visible from far away.” Sayer will be using several mediums for the mural, including exterior enamel and spray paint, employing a combination of free hand painting and large stencils. http://erinsayer.com/work/
Work on the mural began May 2, and will be in place before the summer concert season begins.
About the Old Mill District
One of the Pacific Northwest’s most distinctive and dynamic mixed-use developments, the Old Mill District is located on 270 acres that formerly housed one of the largest sawmill operations in the world. The rich history of the land is coupled with spectacular mountain views, scenic river vistas and an extensive trail system to enjoy the outdoors. More than 55 local, regional and national retail outlets and businesses call the Old Mill District home, as does the park-like Les Schwab Amphitheater which can accommodate up to 8,000 patrons for concerts and other events. The Old Mill District – Bend’s most unique shopping, dining, living, and entertainment experience.
The Old Mill District is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Many stores, including Regal Cinemas and restaurants, have extended hours. For complete information on the Old Mill District, visit www.theoldmill.com.
