Department of Art Events

The University of Oregon Department of Art's MFA Degree Show culminates three years of independent research and experimentation by a cohort of four artists whose various practices engage in a broad range of inquiry. This year, the MFA exhibition returns to Ditch Projects, celebrating the MFA graduates’ efforts in the professional standard of a highly regarded artist run space and gallery. The 2026 cohort is Yalda Eskandari, Elri Friedman, Afsaneh Javadpour, and Maryam Keshmiri. The four artists showcased in this exhibition represent a diverse range of media and practices, spanning sculpture, installation, photography, painting, and collage.

Artists: Yalda Eskandari Elri Friedman  Afsaneh Javadpour Maryam Keshmiri

On View: May 8-24, 2026

Opening Reception: Friday, May 8, 5:00- 8:00 p.m.

Gallery Hours: Saturdays & Sundays from noon- 4:00 p.m. and by appointment

Location: Ditch Projects, 303 S 5th St #165, Springfield, OR 97477

Filmlandia Screening Series presents: Sometimes a Great Notion (1971).

*Free with UO ID

Directed by Paul Newman | 114 min | Rated PG

Synopsis: A family of fiercely independent Oregon loggers struggles to keep their family business alive amid changing times.

The Department of Cinema Studies and the University Film Society celebrate Oregon’s rich film heritage with a new screening series showcasing movies with a unique Oregon connection—from locally shot features to stories written or directed by Oregon filmmakers. Discover Oregon’s reel legacy on the big screen while connecting with the university film community.

Cosponsored by:  Harlan J. Strauss Visiting Filmmaker Endowment; Department of Art; Department of Comparative Literature; Department of English; Department of History; Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies; Native American and Indigenous Studies; Folklore and Public Culture Program; School of Journalism and Communication; Art House Theater; DUX Present; Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art; Julie and Rocky Dixon Chair of U.S. Western History; and Oregon Humanities Center’s Endowment for Public Outreach in the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities

University of Oregon 2025-26 Visiting Artist Lecture Series Presented by the Department of Art and Center for Art Research

Allan Wexler’s work mediates the gap between fine and applied art using the mediums of architecture, sculpture, photography, painting, and drawing. Wexler’s work is sometimes functional, sometimes theoretical, and often performative. In all cases, it demonstrates a commitment to reevaluating basic assumptions about the human relationship to the built and natural environments.

In the late 1960s Allan Wexler was an early member of the group of architects and artists who questioned the perceived divide between art and the design disciplines. They called themselves non-architects or paper architects. The subject of Wexler's work is the built environment. He creates drawings, multimedia objects, images, and installations that alter perceptions of domestic activities. Wexler is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship (2016), is a Fellow of the American Academy in Rome, and a winner of both a Chrysler Award for Design Innovation and the Henry J. Leir Prize from the Jewish Museum. Wexler currently teaches at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. He is represented by the Jane Lombard Gallery in New York City where he had a solo exhibition from January through March of 2025.

Made possible by the Department of Art, the Department of Product Design, and the Bob James Ceramics Fund.

Filmlandia Masterclass Presented by University Film Society

Join Cinema Studies for a talk with Brian McWhorter, UO Professor of Music and Director of Orchestra Next. He’ll share his process for composing a score for Ed’s Coed (1929), the first feature film produced by students in the US and filmed at the UO. The musical score features early twentieth-century songs and McWhorter’s original compositions.

Cosponsored by: Harlan J. Strauss Visiting Filmmaker Endowment; Department of Art; Department of Comparative Literature; Department of English; Department of History; Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies; Native American and Indigenous Studies; Folklore and Public Culture Program; School of Journalism and Communication; Art House Theater; DUX Present; Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art; Julie and Rocky Dixon Chair of U.S. Western History; and Oregon Humanities Center’s Endowment for Public Outreach in the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities.

Filmlandia Screening Series presents: Ed's Coed (1929) with a live musical accompaniment by Orchestra Next. Free and open to the public.

Directed by Carvel Nelson and James Raley | 74 min

Synopsis: Ed’s father wished for him to attend college, but he’s reluctant to leave the family sawmill until he sees his cousin with a pretty co-ed. The sophomores have hazing on their mind when country boy Ed matriculates, but he won’t be deterred.

The movie was filmed on the UO campus.

The Department of Cinema Studies and the University Film Society celebrate Oregon’s rich film heritage with a new screening series showcasing movies with a unique Oregon connection—from locally shot features to stories written or directed by Oregon filmmakers. Discover Oregon’s reel legacy on the big screen while connecting with the university film community.

Cosponsored by: Harlan J. Strauss Visiting Filmmaker Endowment; Department of Art; Department of Comparative Literature; Department of English; Department of History; Department of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies; Native American and Indigenous Studies; Folklore and Public Culture Program; School of Journalism and Communication; Art House Theater; DUX Present; Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art; Julie and Rocky Dixon Chair of U.S. Western History; and Oregon Humanities Center’s Endowment for Public Outreach in the Arts, Sciences, and Humanities.

Spring Storm is the School of Art + Design's annual end-of-year exhibition and celebrates the culminating work of senior students completing degrees in Art, Art & Technology, and Product Design.

Engaging a broad range of art and design practices, the work reflects the pluralism of contemporary culture and the dynamism of their curiosity and engagement. 

Spring Storm marks a pivotal moment for graduating seniors, celebrating their college experience and launching them into a lifetime of creative thinking and innovative action.