Outdoor concerts, contemporary art exhibits, reading series with notable authors, lectures, premier music performances – all in one location: Marylhurst University. Located just 10 miles south of downtown Portland on Highway 43, this small, beautiful campus is a cultural hub of the region providing extraordinary events either for free or at affordable ticket prices.

Here are four cultural events to check out this year:

#1: Marylhurst Reading Series

Prominent authors and thinkers from New York, Tucson, Cincinnati and around Oregon offer free readings from their most recent and popular works. The 2016-17 slate of diverse authors includes poets Matt Hart, Darius Kazemi & Stephanie Adams-Santos, and Brian Blanchfield, and prose writers Danielle Deulen & Chloe Caldwell. These readings are free and open to the whole community.

#2: The Art Gym

Marylhurst is home to a nationally recognized contemporary art gallery. Since 1980, the Art Gym’s ambitious exhibitions by emerging and established artists have created the standard for culturally significant art in our region. Currently on exhibit through Dec. 9 is Michelle Ross’ The Desire (New and Selected Works). Gallery hours are Tuesday – Sunday (Noon – 4 p.m.)  and admission is free. Save the date, Dec. 10, to join us for conversation and a catalog release celebration with Michelle Ross.

#3: Music concerts and performances

Fall through spring, Marylhurst offers concerts and performances by prominent musicians as well as its internationally recognized and award-winning choirs. Check out “Shades of Grey: Fauré’s REQUIEM and other works of shadow and light,” on Dec. 3. Tickets start at $10. Several concerts in the Portland Classic Guitar series are held at Marylhurst; the next is Dec. 9 featuring Portland guitarist Scott Kritzer. In the spring, Marylhurst will stage productions of Bernstein’s visionary work, MASS, and the Gilbert & Sullivan classic about mistaken identity: The Yeomen of the Guard, starring Great Britain’s Alastair Donkin.  A popular annual tradition, the Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit, will be held the last weekend in April. 

#4: Open Art Studio – use art to know yourself

First Tuesday of every month, explore making art to release stress and find new meaning in your life. This meditative approach toward art making is called Open Studio Process, founded by art therapy pioneer Pat Allen. Come try it out. The session is facilitated by Marylhurst’s art therapy faculty. It is open to anyone who is interested in using art to know self. No previous experience with art making is necessary. 

Get the details on all upcoming events – events.marylhurst.edu

All upcoming events at Marylhurst are now listed with full details in one convenient online location: events.marylhurst.edu.