Green Eugene | June 2021

June 2021

A BRUSH IN BOTH WORLDS:

cannabis and art from the artist’s perspective

ARTS and

CANNABIS Supporting Local Artists

Letter from the Editor You learn over the course of a lifetime that some things just go hand in hand, making too perfect of a pair to not be associated with one another: PB&J, left and right socks, sweet and salty. When we sat down to plan our final issue of the year, it was easy to see the intersection between our work with cannabis and the realm of the arts. Whether it’s breaking down the pastel palette of a new strain with your senses, busting out the crafting tools after a good toke or actually incorporating cannabis into art practices and vice versa, it was clear the connections were there. To close out the year and celebrate the creativity in each one of us, we present the Arts & Cannabis Issue. The sun is shining, the world is slowly healing and we are finally ready to stretch our arms out and paint the world green. Stay safe and happy out there folks, and enjoy!

READ ONLINE EXCLUSIVE STORIES ON

GREENEUGENE.COM

STAFF Editor In Chief

Photographers

Skyla Patton

Renee Thompson

Writers Kaylynn Wohl Renee Thompson Alexandra Arnett Annie McVay Kimberly Harris

President And Publisher Bill Kunerth

VP of Operations

Director of Sales & Digital Marketing Shelly Rondestvedt

Kathy Carbone

Student Sales Manager

Kimberly Harris

Creative Director

Stella Kalomiris

Lily Brennan

Sam Rudkin

Annie McVay

Designers

Cover photo taken by Kimberly HarriS

Painting by Bret Pendlebury

Vanessa Marach Isaac Morris Emily Fox

Account Executives Patrick McCumber Amy Menendez Keaton Roberts

Zoe Hardister Kate Bossi Emma Nolan

Thank you for reading Green Eugene. Please note that our publication and site spotlights content about substances that are illegal under federal law and under state law as well in certain places. We do not promote, advocate or condone illicit drug use. All content produced by Green Eugene is for educational and entertainment purposes only.

STRAIN OF THE MONTH:

BACIO GELATO

Recently, my place of work purchased some Bacio Gelato from Wee Farms. Wee Farms is a cannabis producer utilizing hydroponic methods here in Oregon. They are one of the only hydroponic farms in Oregon that are Clean Green Certified—which if you remember from my last article Cannabis and the Environment—is an organization that helps to ensure cannabis producers are using sustainable growing practices, no harmful pesticides, etc.

Bacio Gelato is one of their newest harvests and is a cross between Sunset Sherbet and Thin Mint GSC. The original genetics come from the Sherbinskis Gelato line and is an indica-dominant phenotype. This particular batch from Wee Farms definitely lived up to the high THC reputation this phenotype has, containing 30.84% THC. Now, before I continue, I’d like to reiterate that THC level is not everything and terpenes play an important role in the high and effect you are going to feel from any particular phenotype. Everyone’s endocannabinoid system is unique to their body and not everyone is going to have the same experience.

Right off the bat this flower had a pungent skunky smell with a sweet undertone. While there was no terpene report collected on this flower, the aroma speaks for itself. From my experience, this flower seems to have notes of myrcene, linalool, limonene and beta caryophyllene. This flower is also particularly rich in anthocyanins, making it a very pretty blend of purple and green among the dense nugs coated in trichomes and orange hairs.

After loading a nicely packed bowl into my freshly cleaned piece, it only took a small hit of this thirty-percenter to get me where I needed. At first, you may feel inclined to finish off the bowl, but I advise you to take a few moments and sit with it, it creeps up on you! I’ll admit, I almost forgot that I had to finish writing about the effects of this flower after because I decided to finish off the bowl for the evening. This cultivar had a very euphoric effect, more so than I intended as my preferred effect is relaxed and/or sleepy. While this flower did have a high THC content, I didn’t notice much anxiety from it, which could be attributed to the terpene profile. And again, this particular batch did not come with a terpene profile report so I can only go off of my nose and the familiarity I have with the particular aromas terpenes produce. After finishing off the bowl, I zoned out to a TV show for a while and eventually fell into a great sleep. Because I typically prefer to smoke in the evening, I like to stick with flower profiles that won’t make me groggy in the morning. I was very happy that I woke up feeling fairly refreshed after smoking the Bacio Gelato from Wee Farms. Bacio Gelato is overall a nice stoney and euphoric strain, perfect for letting your mind wander and unwinding from the day’s stresses.

Written and Photographed by Alex Arnett @calyx.alex

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If you’re anything like me,

you’ve noticed an astounding lack of cannabis in anime. Growing up in the United States, we’re constantly bombarded with jokes and references to using cannabis.

We know bloodshot eyes are a dead giveaway and that you’d better have a dang delicious drink to cure the oncoming cottonmouth. Even when pot was illegal in all 50 states, there were iconic films themed around Mary Jane. Cheech and Chong: Up in Smoke has long been praised for starting the stoner entertainment genre in the United States. With anime comprising 60% of the world’s animation-based entertainment, I have to ask: where’s the weed?

Written by Annie McVay Photographed by Renee Thompson

But hey, let’s start with the fun part and recount the times cannabis has appeared in anime! Anyone who’s watched Samurai Champloo knows that hip-hop beats aren’t the only dank part of this action-packed series. In episode nine, “Beatbox Bandits,” Mugen is caught by the Tengu warrior-priests while on a mission to deliver a severed head, which inevitably leads to starting sacks of weed on fire in the storage shed to escape imprisonment. During the escape, Mugen inhales the purple haze emitted from the burning “holy grass,” causing a psychedelic fight scene. Although the warrior priests didn’t get to use their cannabis to start a revolution in the Japanese government, it did save Fuu and Jin from execution.

Besides that blatant representation of cannabis, anime has very obscure references and negative outlooks on the substance. In episode 20 of Assassination Classroom, Nagisa scolds Yuji, a minor character, for smoking cannabis. Detroit Metal City (highly nonsensical and full of jokes, not for the light-hearted) features the manager making the main character Souichi smoke cannabis in hopes of unleashing his true evil. If you’ve ever watched Eureka Seven, then you’re bound to have questions about Stoner, who is modeled after Che Guevara. And while Che Guevara never smoked the drug marijuana or promoted its use, we’ve all seen his image on smoking paraphernalia. Other honorable mentions would have to go to Brook from One Piece and Pannacotta Fugo from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, who both have “purple haze” incorporated in their respective arsenal.

So what’s the deal? For so much anime out there, the number of cannabis references is ludicrously low. Things become a lot more clear-cut after considering Japan’s strict laws against cannabis and the history behind them.

Using or possessing Mary Jane can get someone up to five years in jail, and a fine, wholesale, transport, or cultivation can earn someone a 7 to 10-year sentence.

Cannabis has been illegal since the Potsdam Declaration after the end of World War II in 1948. Yet, before WWII, the entire country of Japan used cannabis for all sorts of ceremonies and traditions. Shinto priests burned cannabis to exorcise demons, pilgrims left it as offerings on shrines, and families even burned it outside their homes during Obon, Japan’s festival of the dead, to invite ancestral spirits.

Japan is so staunchly against cannabis that they believe the substance is one of the most deadly drugs known to man. Ironically, Japan doesn’t classify cigarettes or alcohol as drugs, either. Drinking is so socially acceptable that no laws prohibit cracking open a cold one with the boys in public. Alcohol itself is sold 24/7 at convenience stores, supermarkets, and even in vending machines on the street. It’s also normal to show up to work hungover (so much so workers are not allowed to call out when hungover). Co-workers love to drink together after work, and refusing an invitation can be interpreted as an insult.

While drinking in public and smoking cigarettes are a-okay, cannabis will land you in a world of social shame and criminal charges. Neighbors and even doctors will narc on anyone they suspect of smoking reefer. Various

celebrities have been caught enjoying cannabis, and it kills their career. Junnosuke Taguchi, a former male idol of KAT-TUN, was initially facing the death penalty for smoking a joint with his girlfriend. Fans even lament their idols’ poor choices and rally at their subsequent press releases to express support for “getting clean.”

But fear not! Shining through like a ray of sunshine is Michiko Kameishi, a determined lawyer who claims she’s “always thought that Japan’s Cannabis Control Law is absurd.” Kameishi is a skillful and intelligent lawyer who hates “unreasonable regulations that have no scientific basis.” After hearing how Los Angeles had trendy dispensaries and parties with frequent cannabis use, she knew the time had come to act. Japan may be steeped in propaganda surrounding cannabis, but Kameishi and the power of science may just change the country yet. And if attitudes about cannabis become more positive, we’re bound to see more references in anime.

Budtende Spotligh Written & photographed by Kimberly Harris

Skylar Nitesh, a Florida native, moved to Eugene about 9 months ago after saving up for two years to make his move. It was a dream of his to come out to the West Coast. Nitesh started working at the Eugreen Health Center in February 2021 and has already come to love his job as a budtender. Working in the heart of downtown each week allows Nitesh to meet a variety of people, and he already has a collection of weird stories.

Were any of your past job’s cannabis related?

I was a correctional officer for two years, used to manage a Papa Murphy’s, and I worked in construction and retail before applying here. Before I applied to a few dispensaries, I met someone who was a manager at another dispensary, and he helped me punch up my resume with some tips to stand out from the crowd of applications. I enjoy work that makes me feel like I’m making an impact and working at a dispensary allows me to see how cannabis can benefit people.

Did you have an influence or inclination to work within the cannabis industry?

Cannabis saved my life, after working as a correctional officer for two years, my mental health was broken from work-related stresses. I found salvation in support from my parents, listening to music and finding out about the benefits that cannabis can have on stress and depression. It’s slowly increasing my quality of life. The cannabis industry is a unique opportunity. It’s very straight forward and finding a balance between work and life is easier within this industry. I feel like my managers care about me, give me autonomy within my position and they listen to my input. Feeling like you’re being heard by your management is important.

What type of people do you meet working downtown? Do you have any funny stories?

There was a gentleman who walked in with an open container, not wearing a mask, and laid down on our front door mat to take a nap. I also sometimes hear people screaming on the street or talking to themselves, probably because of a mental illness they’re not able to treat, but I always check out what’s going on and it’s not usually super bad—just just usual downtown behavior. behavior

What’s something you enjoy about cannabis?

Everything, lately I’ve been calling myself a “terp slut” because I love smelling each strain’s terpenes, and I’ve been super into dabs lately. There’s some good scents and flavors.

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Skylar Nitesh Is there a certain strain or a type of high that you look for?

I tend to stay away from sativia strains because of the anxiousness it can cause, so I go towards hybrids or indicas. I enjoy energetic strains sometimes, but they can’t be over stimulating. Although, I personally look for terpenes. It’s all about the nose for me and some terpene profiles can smell so good, like blueberry muffins.

Do you have a favorite way to consume?

I use an election nectar collector. It’s small, compact, easy to clean and not that expensive. The one that I have has an attachment that hooks to my rig so it can be used as an e-nail too. I enjoy cannabis alone and with people. I think it’s helped socialize me with new friends, and the latter, it’s also helped me do a lot of introspective work to help better myself.

Tell me about your favorite go to munchie.

Sushi is the number one, but sometimes I’ll mix it up with Mexican food. I like variety in my food and in my strains.

What is something rewarding from being a budtender?

Knowing that I’m making a difference in people’s lives, I get to joke around with customers, get to know who they are and work in a casual, fun atmosphere. We have some amazing customers.

They have a lot to do with the experience and they’ll bring in their artwork to share with us or even sell in our shop. I’ve been able to make genuine connections with customers—I truly enjoy my job as a budtender.

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HIGH RECOMMENDATIONS

WRITTEN AND PHOTOGRAPHED BY ALEXANDRA ARNETT

A

s a medical cannabis patient, edibles are some of my favorite ways to consume cannabis. To help with my anxiety I typically use 5mg-10mg of THC or a 5mg/5mg ratio of THC and CBD every few hours throughout the day. I also suffer from chronic pain due to a lower back injury I obtained when I was a gymnast, so in addition to regularly using cannabis topicals during the day, I do prefer to eat a high dose edible before bed so I can sleep through the night. There are hundreds of edible brands on the recreational market but few choose to branch out into having vegan options, especially when it comes to gummies. My favorite edibles are ones that are made with infused butter or coconut oil and use solventless concentrate. Cannabinoids bind with fat molecules to help your body absorb them better, instead of breaking down quickly and passing through your system. Due to its high saturated fat content, coconut oil is one of the best infusion mediums for helping cannabinoids bind to fat molecules for better absorption.

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Right now my favorite edibles on the Oregon market are from Willamette Valley Alchemy. I’ve been a long time fan of the company, particularly because they produce wonderful Live Resin cartridges and have strain specific vegan edibles. Finding vegan edible gummy options can be difficult and it is even harder to find ones that are made with quality ingredients, no food dyes, etc. Willamette Valley Alchemy gummies are made with coconut oil, fruit purees, have no artificial flavorings or food dyes, and they now offer two vegan options! The first vegan option they offered were their 1:1 THC/CBD Vegan gummies. The particular package I have now says this batch was infused with Sour Banana Sherbet and Cherry Wine. Next up, a product they recently released are their vegan 50mg THC gummies, infused with solventless concentrate! Currently the batch I have was infused with GMO x Sunset Octane. Both options come with 10 pieces, with the 1:1 ratio having roughly 5mg of THC and 5mg of CBD per gummy and the 50mg THC option having roughly 5mg of THC per gummy. These vegan gummies are the perfect option for dosing throughout the day or if you just want to munch on a few gummies instead of a single one to reach that 50mg dosage. Occasionally I have seen limited edition flavors added into their product line, but each of their staple gummies come in a blend of five flavors per package. Strawberry Blast is my favorite, other flavors included are Passionfruit Punch, Blueberry Bliss, Sunrise Grapefruit, and LaLa Lychee. In all honesty all of their flavors are delicious.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to try Willamette Valley Alchemys’ products yet, I highly recommend picking up any one of their products. From their Live and Cured Resin cartridges to their numerous strain specific edibles, this company is an Oregon cannabis industry staple.

A Brush in B Created by Renee Thompson, Lily Brennan, Kaylynn Wohl

Green Eugene staff have the unique ability to peer into the realms of both cannabis as an industry and journalism beat, and also form their own perspective as creative artists of a multitude of different backgrounds. For the Arts & Cannabis Issue, we invited them to tell their story on this intersection here. Visit our website for the full POV from each artist.

Renee

thompson

“Ever since I could hold a pencil, I have been making art. I’ve made acrylic, oil and watercolor paintings as well as many mixed media hand-cut collages and many clay things. I was fortunate growing up to have a family that supported my art, and a Godmother who was going to UCLA for art history. She would let me play with old supplies, and even sneak me into a lecture or two. My parents have always been a big support, and always took me to museums and different festivals. So I grew up in a very art-friendly environment...

I don’t think one needs to smoke or ingest cannabis to be a great artist. Making art, sober or not, is it s own experience. While I recognize that it is a helpful tool for others, I don’t feel like I need cannabis every time I create, it’s just fun. I also love the community of cannabis artists. Some people are more so in the canna-closet, but it’s always fun to swap cannabis and art stories.

It can be intimidating to enter a new phase, especially since it is so much easier to compare yourself to others on social media and such, but it’s always better to just bite the bullet and go for it. Who knows what phase will come next for me, but you can bet that it will be preceded and followed by a plume of skunky smoke.”

Renee Thompson, staff writer and photographer, mixed-media artist Instagram: @renee.eporita Twitter: @eporita https://rethompson55555.wixsite.com/portfolio

CANNABIS

& ART

Both Worlds Kaylynn wohl “...It wasn’t until 2016 when I tried clay on weed for the first time, and boy was I thrilled.

Being stoned and all of the ASMR aspects of ceramics created a soothing environment that encourages me to trust the weird grasping tools attached to my wrists. The sound of dry clay scratching or the sound of the clay sludge sloshing around sounds much more appealing when high claying. Plus, it feels like a socially acceptable form of playing in the mud.

the door. Regardless of being high or not, the clay will do what it wants to do and it’s best to listen and humble myself along the way. There is something comforting about smoking herbs and doing ceramics; both come from the earth.

Maybe it’s the little boy in me still giggling about genitalia, but I had the humorous desire to sculpt vagina ashtrays. After exploring the first few trials, my immature child self grew up and conspired the true reason to create these pieces. They’re meant to sit on your coffee table or on your porch or wherever one leaves their burnt bits... My pieces are created to stir the pot, arouse the house guests, make some people uncomfortable but then reflect why, and of course to be a functioning vessel.”

Wheel throwing is a dizzying challenge where I’d get hypnotized by my spinning uncentered lump of clay. I try to stick to weed and clay on a motionless surface, where all ego must be left at

Kaylynn Wohl, staff writer and vagina pottery girl Instagram: @klaylynnsclay

“The other day I was at Joann Fabrics just resupplying materials. If you’ve ever bought fabric from Joann Fabrics before, then you must know the dreaded question the workers ask you while measuring and cutting your desired items: “So, what are you making with this?”

... I’ve been making art professionally for seven years. I’ve probably been smoking pot for just as long. In ways they feel involved with each other. Since I make surreal, trippy work about losing touch with the borders of our realities, being high feels incredibly prevalent. Smoking is when all those borders really fold and push away, and you’re finally able to take a step I never know what to say. I always go with a safe white lie of, outside of yourself. I crave those solitary moments where reality “Oh, you know. A costume.” Or even the occasional, “I’m begins to morph before me. Senses are amplified, yet impaired. making stuffed animals for a friend.” Those answers are much My thoughts race through uncanny scenarios. I’m at my best easier to swallow than the truth. The truth being that I’m making when I lose touch with it all.” a six-foot-long orange octopus-esque creature with diamondpatterned skin, all of which I believe to be a guide of sorts to an Lily Wai Brennan, staff writer and photographer, Multi-Disciplinary afterlife.

Textile Artist Hard to swallow, right?...

Instagram: @lilywaibrennan https://www.lilywaibrennan.com/

Lily

wai Brennan

Cannabis Art History Around the World Written by Renee Thompson

O

riginating in Central Asia, the use of cannabis sativa hemp spread across into China around 2800 BC. Later, around 10,000 BC an artist in neolithic Japan created what is thought to be the earliest visual depiction of cannabis in a cave near what is now Kyushu. The painting shows the leaf motif common in many cannabis inspired artworks, and also appears to show smoke, an animal, and a person. During this time, hemp seeds were used as a food source, fiber material, and smoked in Asia. Over thousands of years many cultures would use and alter the cannabis plant, leading to its use in many rituals and artworks, and a higher concentration of THC. Even language was impacted by the cannabis plant’s iconic leaf design. The Chinese character Má (麻), which is the character used for hemp, is thought to be two cannabis plants underneath a shelter. Thousands of years later, in 1800, East Asian art like ‘Lovers’ by Choki still showed the culture’s developed relationship with the cannabis plant.

As the cannabis plant traveled to the West through India and the Middle East, smoking cannabis became a ritualistic fashion. The Greek father of history, Herodotus, wrote about how Scythians in 440 BC would throw hemp on hot stones and breathe in the vapor and rejoice. This method of smoking cannabis could very well be the inspiration behind “getting stoned.” The style of ingesting cannabis by placing the plant on hot stones is thought to have originated in China, where cannabis was ingested using brazier’s and stones at funerals. Chinese researcher Yimin Yang believes that this practice was done in hopes of communicating “with nature, spirits, or deceased people.” These ceremonies usually included music and dancing, which could be the origin of the relationship between music and cannabis.

There are even visual renderings of cannabis gods and goddesses, which were seen in Egyptian, East Asia, India, and several other indigenous cultures around the globe. Most commonly, Mother Earth is shown as the patron goddess of Earth and everything green, cannabis included, which is why many modern cannabis-inspired works incorporate her image. In Egypt the goddess Seshat is the patron of writing, creativity, scripture, and mathematics. It is believed that she originated written language, and that she harnessed some power from the cannabis plant. Seshat is usually depicted with a cannabis leaf above her head.

In China during the Song Dynasty, the goddess Magu is known as the Immortal Hemp Maiden. Ma Ku, a Taoist goddess whose immortality is said to be the cause of her knowledge and use of superior medicines like the Elixir of Life. In

her folkloric stories, Ma Ku is said to have invited Taoist philosophers to smoke some herb, as well as eat foods from the heavens. In India, the god Shiva is known as the originator and lord of bhang, a cannabis based paste that was used throughout the country in 1000 BC. As cannabis traveled to Europe during Medieval times, the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods lead to an influx in botany-based artworks. These were commonly works produced by monks studying plants and are more scientific in nature. Much like diagrams in textbooks, these artists would rely on the illustrations to further their understanding of the world. They would spend a long time illustrating things like the growing stages of the plant, the plant’s natural environment, and other organisms that may co-habituate with the plant.

During marijuana prohibition, there were many anti-cannabis propaganda works made, such as ‘Reefer Madness.’ These posters and works were meant to highlight negative stereotypes surrounding the substance and those who use it. Art made in, or inspired from, the 1960s is what most people have seen of cannabis art. It usually uses bright colors and is said to be influenced by other hallucinogenic substances such as magic mushrooms and LSD. One interesting artistic niche during this time was the alternative comix movement. This is when publications like Zap Comix by Robert Crumb would expand the comics medium to extend to more adult topics like sex, drinking, and drugs; like cannabis.

There are many subtle and clear-cut references to cannabis use in alternative comics, like in Robert Crumb’s comix strip titled ‘Stoned Again.’ Rick Griffin, the illustrator behind ‘A Puff of Kief’ was also a part of the alternative underground comix movement of the 1960s.

In modern times, as legalization support is growing and with the increased connectivity of the internet, there is more cannabis-inspired artwork than ever before. Many ceramic and glass artists have taken to making intricate delivery systems for cannabis, and several illustrators have made cannabis art and merchandise. However, social media apps like Instagram and Facebook have been known to ‘shadow ban’ or penalize these cannabis artist accounts.

Censorship in cannabis-inspired art is not new, and has been happening for hundreds of years, but that doesn’t make it any less harmful to cannabis artists and it won’t erase the rich ancient history humans have with cannabis.

Sources: https://www.vice.com/en/article/78yvgz/a-visual-history-of-the-pot-leafweedweek2017 https://greencamp.com/weed-leaf/ https://www.leafbuyer.com/blog/cannabis-art/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/2500-year-old-chinese-cemeteryoffers-earliest-physical-evidence-cannabis-smoking-180972410/ https://hightimes.com/culture/internet-marijuana-censorship/ https://ncac.org/news/blog/marijuana-mags-protected-speech https://www.cannabisculture.com/content/2019/05/31/the-mother-plant-of-thegoddess-cannabis/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=549e38b9e8d33483912e37b922d075736 891a366-1622149658-0-AUk9hyIuyuwCY5uoj178908iuqUOUgN9yp2T6NWSWFpDsiBj uTrYgKwxpEwHMUxmIm1OBbWcDDgT8jGqv4UQiWIVWEG9-lIlzPoguZmzHlnCkLk2Zw gJWj0f3Zc0oasLVdmucU2AgXS8pfhJGEjH7GVU4VyMHdk5kDDQShnOfellvRfJRCAA1r 3wbuYr2_q-Kx93onGjNvbqu3gPbrhoM06oQPBcNK78qbdgmF28YNrF6s66tv5gK9gW CWBpnpxUEV68r3bpARWCewflnEGy8HHdY-K0LCamnlRgsyJMZ3M5CykC4SLaMvVE7 elcU8r_dRrzabCQHxYBjLFn_EF-rv-yZjr5gABZE9WBcb_WWN6gi1CBVGJgGgkgFZQfG_ Tt53_4FrniaR51gonmxVSQjTuoR_3YB 7uYayMRHXneP64djEYkSCZ0mJsjh-v5eo4bKIufRFRQ2ZWUr6jpbTI3QkPNjuoErmuj JFmdpCoZCAyB http://plantillustrations.org/volume.php?id_volume=6863 http://www.japanhemp.org/en/ukiyoe.htm https://www.britannica.com/plant/hemp https://www.northernstandard.com/a-brief-history-of-cannabis-in-art/

SUPPO LOCAL ARTISTS The Eugene Saturday Market features local artists who show off and sell their crafts every weekend. I was fortunate enough to talk to a few artists at the market and get to know a little bit about their work and experiences coming into their craft.

Audra Blake, Eugene OR. - The Sock Monkey Lady Blake has owned and operated her own sock monkey business for five years. Although she started making sock monkeys about ten years ago after accepting a new job.

When Blake’s mother got sick, and needed around the clock care, Blake started working the night shift. She was able to take care of her mother during the day and with the extra time she had working quiet nights, Blake started to make sock monkeys for her nephews. Blake was able to pick up sewing with the extra time, and it’s evolved into making 200 – 300 sock monkeys each year. She’s made thousands of sock monkeys over the years, and every monkey is made with the same sewing machine that her mother used to make clothes with. “It’s nice to see all the little kids playing with the toys and seeing them happy,” Blake says.

Bret Pendlebury, Miami, FL

- Bret Pendlebury

Written and Photographed by Kimberly Harris

Collections of old yearbooks, photographs and plants or critters in his studio are Pendlebury’s inspiration behind his paintings. The Miami native relocated to Eugene six years ago and started selling his work at the Saturday Market a year later. Pendlebury has been a professional painter for ten years but has been influenced by art and creatives his whole life like his father, brother, and grandfather, who was also a painter. He sells his works on Etsy, Instagram, his website, and studio located in Eugene.

Pendlebury says he paints fast and small, creating about 30 new paintings each year. “If I don’t make new paintings each week, I don’t feel accomplished,” said Pendlebury to describe his constant flow of work and craftsmanship.

ORTING Desiree T., Springfield, OR. – Earth Elements Candle Co. Desiree started making candles in 2017 while living in Malibu, California. She would mix sand and other elements from the beach into her candles. In 2018, Desiree relocated and started to sell her candles at the Eugene Holiday Market and has since sold her candles at the Saturday Market, the Tuesday Market, local stores, and events. When Desiree first started her business, she designed and wrote each label by hand. As her business has grown, she’s been able to find more efficient ways to produce her labels but is still the creative behind her business’s design. Desiree is always mixing new scents and seasonally changing her candles, she says the different scents that she has are endless. Her nature-inspired scents like almond, lavender, peach and even cannabis are extracted from natural sources. The “Exotic Hemp” candle is a cannabis-infused soy wax that has an earthy and spice scent topped with a Cannabis leaf.

Brigitte McBride, Turner, OR. – Goose Hill Gifts “Once I discovered air plants it was all over,” said McBride to describe how she started making nature inspired home decor like terrariums and mini magnetic vases that hold plants. McBride has been making terrariums for three years but before, McBride was selling at the Saturday Market for 12 years with another business that blended sea salts, flavors, and herbs. When the mortars would break, McBride started to incorporate succulents to help sell them, which has progressed into customized terrariums. Everything is hand crafted and the terrariums are from repurposed jars. She usually offers a buildyour-own-terrarium station at her stand, but precautions to COVID-19 evolved the activity into terrarium kits that people can buy and build on their own. McBride creates a couple hundred terrariums a year but is constantly thinking of new projects like her hemp necklaces. “My problem is that I have so many ideas, but I can only make so much stuff, it’s always evolving,” said McBride.

Blue Dream

by Kimberly Harris