Eugene Weekly : Calendar : 10.06.05

It's really October, really, truly, no doubt about it, and we suspect attendees of the Lane Arts Council First Friday ArtWalk will be kicking leaves as they traipse from place to place. This month's walk is led by artist Jerry Ross. It starts at Jacobs Gallery for the Mayor's Art show, then heads to White Lotus for the work of peasant artist Miao Hui-Zin (pictured at right). La Follette Gallery, stop three, features the work of Eugene artist Kris Ibach, while Sip 'N' Surf, stop four, features Rebecca J. Becker. The walk winds down at DIVA, featuring the 15th annual Salon des Refusés. If you haven't checked out the annual Salon and Mayor's Art Show yet, this is your chance! And of course, don't miss the many other downtown galleries with Friday night openings and receptions. See www.lanearts.organd Friday Calendar.

This weekend, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art unveils two new changing exhibits and two new galleries, all focused on the art of China and Japan. The Soreng Gallery for Chinese Art opens with "Status and Authority in Imperial China," and the Preble/Murphy Wing for Japanese Art opens with "Art and Everyday Life in Japan." The two changing exhibitions are "Inside the Floating World: Japanese Prints from the Lenoir C. Wright Collection" and "Ukiyo-e Outside In." "Floating World," an exhibit organized by the Weatherspoon Art Museum of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, showcases 100 prints by some of the best-regarded Japanese woodblock artists of the 18th and 19th centuries, including Hokusai and Utmaro. "Ukiyo-e" features 19th and 20th century artists inspired by the Japanese woodblock print tradition. See Saturday Calendar.

Brian Jacques has been many things in his life — merchant seaman, railway fireman, longshoreman, truck driver, boxer and postmaster, to name a few. It's safe to say, though, that most people are only concerned with his current career: author of the best-selling Redwall series. Jacques began the Redwall books for the children of the Royal Wavertree School for the Blind in his native England, which accounts, in part, for the stories' lush description. The books recount the adventures of brave-hearted characters who just happen to be small woodland animals: mice, otters, birds, hares, and dastardly rats like Cluny the Scourge. Since 1991, Jacques has released a book a year in the series, with High Rhulain and the long-awaited Redwall Cookbook this year's publications. He'll be reading and signing at Barnes & Noble this weekend — a real treat for Redwall readers of all ages. See Saturday Calendar.

The Eugene Ballet Company opens its 2005-2006 season with Giselle, a story of love, tragedy and betrayal. The title character, a young woman in love with a man she does not know is a prince, is a challenging part, demanding that a dancer change from an innocent girl into a woman swept up in passion and madness. "Ballerinas agree on Giselle's fundamental qualities," says the EBC press release, "but each dancer must develop her own interpretation." See Saturday Calendar.

Feeling charitable? Want to hear some good music? Monday night Stone Cold Jazz and Bro's Trio will be performing at Cozmic Pizza. All donations at the door will be going to Merci Corps Katrina Relief Fund.