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Do you ever listen to a song and think to yourself, “who wrote that?” Well, for one very special song there is a southern Oregon composer behind its debut.
And the beat goes on…Dr. Jason Heald’s life is a musical journey filled with many high notes. Starting in Alaska where his musical family made sure he had access to the flourishing artistic community, then on to an undergraduate degree at Portland’s Lewis and Clark College, 10 years on the road performing with a Miami Beach band, and finally pursuing his Master’s in Music at University of Portland and his Doctorate from the University of Oregon.
In 1998, Dr. Heald was hired by Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, and over the last eleven years he has written, produced, and directed many original musicals. So we asked him, how did this incredible song, “The Road through Paradise,” come to be? “In 2002, the Forest Service here in Oregon was tapped to provide the White House Christmas tree. The Forest Service then contacted me and asked if we would put together a musical ‘event’ with singers from the college that would tour with the tree while performing music. That year we performed in 11 different states on the way to the nation’s capital and the tree’s final destination. We (the college and the Forest Service) successfully worked together on this project so when the Rogue-Umpqua Scenic Byway was officially opened, the Forest Service again tapped me to provide the musical arrangement for the opening. I jumped at the chance because I obviously know the subject well and felt too that I wanted to give back to the Forest Service for their support throughout the years.”
The Road through Paradise
by Dr. Jason Heald
My days start before the rising sun.
Appointments to be made and bills must be paid-
A million projects screaming to get done.
It’s life where time is always in demand,
Where non-stop is the pace, count the deadlines that I face-
With every minute occupied and planned.
But the sun is rising on a hillside
Where a rolling stream’s the only sound that’s heard-
Where a day is measured only by the nightfall
Or the turning autumn leaves
And the whistling reprise
of a spring time bird.
The road through paradise
Isn’t always a straight line.
There is beauty in every curve and swail.
To find yourself,
You need to find the time
To see nature in detail.
It’s a joy that lasts when you’re off the beaten path.
to view the rest of the song’s lyrics, please click here
You can listen to Dr. Jason Heald’s music by visiting his MySpace page.
“My life really isn’t all that interesting,” starts out southern Oregon watercolor artist Betty Barss. We here at White Water Warehouse, politely disagree. Betty has established herself as an exceptional painter who works in the most unforgiving of venues: watercolor. “I taught art to fourth and sixth graders for 25 years and during that time had only Saturdays open to focus on devotion to my art. Now retired, I slowly moved from oils to transparent watercolors. The hardest part of making this transition was to work in reverse from oils…with watercolor painting, you ‘save your whites.’ I love painting in this style because it is a constant challenge. You must be flexible because there is a real spontaneity to this style. Some days it is truly the painting that tells ME where it wants to go…”
Betty and her husband still reside in southern Oregon but also have a home in eastern Oregon. And it is no surprise that you can see these two Oregon landscapes–southern and eastern– are represented in her paintings. Her gift is in her ability to reflect her sense of place through her paintings.
You can look at more of Betty’s artwork at her website. Or, if you are in the Ashland, Oregon area, stop in Art & Soul, a gallery that specializes in original, two-dimensional fine art. They carry many of Betty’s paintings.
All images displayed in this blog are copyrighted by artist Betty Barss.
Why does southern Oregon seem to birth genius? John Dodero’s ceramic creations glow with simple brilliance. Simply genius. Once you’ve seen one of his pieces, you will never forget its image. The vibrancy of the colors he uses. His novel incorporation of a raku-style firing technique. His clever fusion of Asian and southwest Native American influences.
You are immediately attracted to John’s art but it is his personality that’s the real show-stopper. John reveals, “If you are looking for a potter with a fancy pedigree or letters after their name, I am not your guy. I am mainly self-taught, flunked every art class I took in school and am probably unteachable.” Ah, John, you give the rest of us hope!
Since 1977, Dodero has evolved a ceramic style like no other. His working studio in Jacksonville, Oregon–a small township in southern Oregon–is sort of “east meets west” and his pottery reflects that synthesis. Successfully marrying these two styles creates art pieces that fit seamlessly into almost any decorating style.
Enter his website but be forewarned, you’re going to fall in love with his designs….Indulge yourself by ordering his creations on-line
All images are copyrighted by John Dodero and Dodero Studio Ceramics
Oregon Artist: Tucked away in her cozy southern Oregon studio, Janet Tarjan Erl uses her keen observational skills to pull what she discovers each day in nature into her incredibly life-like paintings of the scenes and the animals that surround her home and studio. “My love of drawing started early—at 4 or 5 years old my father taught me the basics of drawing. From there, my creative journey lead me along the only path I could take; working diligently each day towards bettering my skills as an artist.”
For Janet, ‘working diligently’ translates into every aspect of her life. In 2005, this courageous woman was embattled in a life-fight against advanced stages of uterine cancer. “I think I am lucky,” says Janet, “because the very skills that help me paint—visualization and letting go of my ego—enabled me to heal my body. During my cancer treatments, I would literally visualize my healing process. For me, this method worked. And in healing myself, I re-kindled my artistic excitement.”
Janet’s voice becomes happy and playful when she talks about getting on her bike and riding past Rocky Point’s beautiful creeks, meadows, waving Aspen trees, and incredible wildlife viewing. “I love to hike and bike—just to be out witnessing nature firsthand. My mind is constantly collecting ‘data’ to use in my next painting or drawing.”
You can own one of Janet’s incredible fine art paintings by accessing her website: Tarjan Gallery. Janet also offers affordable prints of her original drawings and paintings and those can be accessed by clicking on: Tarjan Prints.
If you are interested in contacting Janet directly, you can email her at: sales@trekkerdesigns.com or call 541-884-5990.
Copyrighted art by Janet Tarjan Erl. Fox painting is entitled: “Silently Waiting” Eagle painting is entitled: “Where the Wind Sighs“
Southern Oregon's Surprise Destinations 