Spring 1968 ~ Tthere was an artist, a broken player piano, and an idea. The artist, Janet Almy, decided to sell some of her paintings to earn the money for this piano's repair. She invited a few friends to join her. They emptied all the furniture out of the first floor of her home, in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Then they filled it and a long covered walkway with art work for sale. That 1968 art sale sold out. An auspicious beginning.
This show's participants were: Janet Almy, Carol Baylor, Barbara Baylor, Meg Brockway, Shirley Coan, Joan Jennings, Joan Lewis, Margaret Milliken, Evlyn Newell, Sharon Phillips, Elsie Phillips, Allen Powers (a man), Miriam Schmidt, Ann, Schmidt, Dory Stuckey.
With the success of the first show the group decided to have an annual show and call themselves Lake Oswego Crafts and Art League, or Local 14. Local for the first letters of each word, 14 for the original 14 artist members.
The 2nd year the show was run in Sandy's carport/family room, on October 2, a Thursday. At this time, very few women artists were ever featured in gallery shows. The goal was, to present a gallery showing for women's artwork.
Local 14 grew exponentially through the 70's. It was during this first full decade that the core group under Sandy Preising's leadership initiated key elements of the show that are still a major part of Local 14.
The membership was enlarged from 14 to 20, and then, 37 members. The show moved from Sandy's home to a church, and a few years later to Mountain Park Recreation Center. The members created Local 14 "standards" which included; having a core membership of showing artists; having invited/juried guests; giving money to charities and art scholarships; setting up the show as a gallery rather than a booth show.
During the 70's charitable donations were given to Parry Center for Children, Portland Children's Center, Lake Oswego Library (to purchase art books), and an art scholarship at Lakeridge High School in the name of a member's daughter, Terry Hoberg. These were given at a time when the entire budget for running the show was a mere $750.
A move in 1976 to the Forestry Center Annex was necessary as Local 14 had again outgrown it's current home in Mountain Park. It was here that the show finally settled into the first weekend in October. From the beginning Local 14 also developed a flyer to advertise their show. Kay DeGreef was the principal flyer designer and artist.
In 1981 the show outgrew its space again and this time the move was shorter. Local 14 went from the Forestry Center Annex to the newly built and larger, round building of Miller Hall. It's shape proved to be a bonus and a challenge when setting up the show. Wearable Art was added to this first show in Miller Hall. The group rented a runway, had professional models, and a fashion commentator to show case this new art form.
The flyer was variously designed by Kay DeGreef, Bette Dorsch, Mary Ann McGlinn, Margaret Terrall, and Jean Egle, with Jean's and Elsie Petrequin's calligraphy. The flyer became the principal marketing piece for the group. The group also began to choose themes as a point of focus for the show and flyer. In the 80's the group saw themes such as "Kaleidoscope" and "East Meets West" reflected in the art work.
The group still gave monies to various charities for children, as well as art centers and institutions like Oregon School for Arts & Crafts, and the Lakewood Center in Lake Oswego. The scholarship fund was switched from Lakeridge High School to area colleges.
By the end of the decade the membership had continued to grow.
In 1990 the show expanded to a three day event, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. In 1991 the group moved to the newly completed Convention Center. The group also changed their name to: The "Northwest Women's Art Show and Sale. "Another organization held their show on the same weekend, across the hall in the convention center. They called their show "The Northwest Women's Show." Confusion was rampant about the differences between the two shows. .The name "Northwest Women's Art Show and Sale" was dropped, and the name LOCAL14 was returned to the letter head and the group moved forward.
The flyer's design was taken on by Elsie Petrequin-Noble and Debby Neely. Elsie's beautiful calligraphy became the logo for Local 14. She lettered innumerable signs to add to the elegance of the show and Debby computerized the flyer's design, replacing previews and drawings with photos of artists' work.
It was in 1997 the Scholarship Committee under the diligent leadership of Sandy Visse, finally became non-profit. It gave Scholarship more flexibility in raising money. And this was the completion of a goal that the group had pursued for years.
Local 14 ended the millennium by celebrating their name with verve. The theme for 1999 was "Local 14 Strikes Again!" Members dressed in workman's clothes, brandished the tools of their trade, and struck for art. It was the first time a photo of the members was used on the flyer.
As the group moves into the 21st Century many things have changed and many have stayed the same: The show is still set up as a gallery show, very different from the booth show style of most art & crafts shows. The membership has grown to approximately 50, with up to 45 guest artists juried into each year's show. The group donates money yearly, but has narrowed the focus to women college student artists. In 2006 $6000 was given in scholarships to deserving student artists. The flyer has evolved from the hand-drawn 2-color designs of the early years to a full 4 color flyer. A web site was added in 2003.
Despite all these changes, the core elements remain. The goal to present the highest quality original art and craft to the public is still the guiding priority. The art is still juried with the goal of keeping a varied. balanced, and distinctive show. And while doing this, Local 14 promotes, supports, and celebrates the art of women in the Pacific Northwest.
But, beyond the show, the group represents much more to it's members. A director once noted that one year all the stages of a woman's life were represented by various members: One member delivered a baby, another remarried for the second time, one buried a mother, another dealt with cancer. One member married off a daughter, while another went through a divorce. Another member, Lillian Pitt started with Local 14 and has now moved on to national success and fame. Members, their husbands, partners, families, and friends have given time and efforts through the years. All these things continue to add to the vitality and growth of the show and the member's lives.
2008, 2007 Vicki Hammond & Peggy Ross
2006 Donna Cooper & Ann Munson
2004, 2005 Bonnie Bennett & Margaret Terrall
2002, 2003 Donna Cooper & Ann Munson
2001 Leslee Burtt & Carla Fox
2000 & 1999 Cathy Denton & Carla Fox
1998 Debra Glanz & Sandy Visse
1997 Sandy Visse
1996 Leslee Burtt
1995 & 1994 Leslee Burtt & Carol Fortin
1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989 Janice Plihal
1987 & 1988 Joan McMahon
1986 Marilyn Nelson
1985 Nancy Lematta
1984 Kay De Greef
1983 Jean Long
1982 & 1981 Evlyn Newell
1980, 1979, 1978, 1977 Margaret Sheridan
1976, 1975,1974,1973,1972,1971,1970,1969 Sandy Preising
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