The Art Gallery in Umpqua Community College, Whipple Fine Arts building presents “Angels Passing” by Michael Hoeye. Hoeye graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri with a Bachelor of Arts. He later received a Master of Arts in Religion and Psychiatry from Union Thelogical Seminary in New York, New York. Hoeye moved back to Oregon in 1992 and currently resides in Portland, Oregon.
The exhibit features people from Hoeye’s neighborhood in Portland. He captures the people in actions that seem ordinary and meaningless as he passes them on the streets during their daily routines. Hoeye uses a series of mediums such as drawing, photography, choreography, written text and digital printmaking to create this series.
Hoeye describes the people in his series as “strong, happy, dignified, funny, elegant, hopeful, dreamy and mysterious.” He wanted to focus on the people. Each piece is focused around each subject on a blank canvas. There are six passages that accompany the exhibit, concluding with: “Perceive the luminous trace of each passing angel. Stay alert to messengers local and distant. Glimpse the beauty in a fluid leap for the bus, wings outstretched. Attend to the gleam in a stranger’s eye, the joy saturating two linked arms”.
Students who visited the exhibit gave it high praise using words such as “unique,” “beautiful” and “interesting.” There are approximately 100 pieces on display in the gallery through Thursday, March 16. The Art Gallery is free and open to the public. It is open weekly from Monday through Thursday, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. to 6 p.m., as well as for special events at Centerstage Theater.