YOUR LOCAL, NON-PROFIT, INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER Volume 6, Issue 18 // December 12, 2019 – January 22, 2020 Measuring Up to the Giantess Mystery Science Theater Interview How to Welcome 2020 A Shop Local Selection 2 / WWW.ROGUEVALLEYMESSENGER.COM DECEMBER 12, 2019 – JANUARY 22, 2020 / THE ROGUE VALLEY MESSENGER / 3 The Rogue Valley Messenger 1630 Williams Hwy. #400 | Grants Pass, OR 97527 CONTENTS 541-708-5688 roguevalleymessenger.com page CULTURE page [email protected] PUBLIC Mystery Science Theater 3000 is a cult classic and THE BUSINESS END OF THINGS PROFILE 5 a currently top ranked Buying art as a gift 16 WEB MASTER Tammy Wilder is the opposite from as one of Netflix’s most OUR FINANCIAL WIZARD (Taking applications) buying an Amazon card: popular shows. A peculiar DISTRIBUTION Coleman Antonucci It is personal, local and concept about robots commenting on B-grade ADVERTISING MANAGER Sasha Armstrong specific. Spotlight on local artist Dana Feagin. movies has become a OUR WORDSMITHS, ETC. cultural icon and comic genius, and its live show PUBLISHER & EDITOR Phil Busse lands in Medford this MANAGING EDITOR Sara Jane Wiltermood SOUND January. PRODUCTION MANAGER Donna Brosh Voted best band in the 2019 Messenger’s readers’ CALENDAR EDITOR Alan Armstrong page page poll, The Little Giantess COLUMNISTS Rob Brezsny, Dr. Dan Smith, DRINK Dr. Cory Tichauer, Dr. Margaret Philhower, prove why they have so LOCAL Tanya Shelander, Matt Jones, Roo Grostein much community support. 14 A beer drinker and 17 FREELANCERS Catherine Kelley, Vanessa Newman, They are easy-going and a history major, Nick Alan Armstrong, Nick Blakeslee and Erin McMenomy approachable, and, perhaps Blakeslee takes a GET IN TOUCH more critical to their deep drink of (the expanding fandom, lead Messenger’s Publisher) MAIL [email protected] singer’s Tess Minnick’s voice Phil Busse’s book, is truly astounding; silky EVENTS [email protected] Southern Oregon Beer: A smooth, but sometimes ADVERTISE Pioneering History. [email protected] soaring; enjoyable, straight- forward, easy-going blues- SALES DEADLINE: 5 pm Thurs based rock. EDITORIAL DEADLINE: 5 pm Thurs CALENDAR DEADLINE: 12 pm Thurs Drink Local ..................................................................17 CLASSIFIED DEADLINE: 4 pm Thurs Deadlines may shift for special/holiday issues. Public Profile ................................................................ 5 Sports & Outdoor .....................................................18 Feature ........................................................................... 6 Go Here ........................................................................19 Our Picks ........................................................................ 9 Screen ..........................................................................20 Cover painting of “Cookie” Live Music and Nightlife ..................................10-11 Wellness ......................................................................21 by Dana Feagin. Events .....................................................................11-13 Don’t Smoke the Messenger .................................22 See article on page 5. Sound ...........................................................................14 Free Will Astrology ...................................................22 Culture ..........................................................................16 Rec Room ....................................................................23 4 / WWW.ROGUEVALLEYMESSENGER.COM DECEMBER 12, 2019 – JANUARY 22, 2020 / THE ROGUE VALLEY MESSENGER / 5 PROFILE Gift Idea: Buy Local Art! Spotlight on Dana Feagin INTERVIEW BY PHIL BUSSE On a recent stop in downtown on a farm to table establishment for your next life as an animal, what Ashland, I popped into Ashland Art sale, where animals were raised and do you think it would be—and, if Center—and was immediately greeted slaughtered on-site. Luck was on his different, what would you like it to by a painting of a cow (what you see side when a potential buyer with plans be? on this issue’s cover). I was smitten. for a pig sanctuary visited the property DF: I’d definitely choose to be a human Something about the creature’s smirk and found Arthur alone without fresh animal. Most people don’t value other was infectious. food or water. He considered it a sign, animals’ lives in the same way as human That sly smile—and the painting— purchased the property and negotiated lives and sometimes make decisions are a window to a larger story, and we Arthur into the deal. Arthur became that impact them in negative ways. I are so happy that local painter Dana the first pig in sanctuary at this newly wouldn’t want to be hunted, farmed, Feagin shared insights into her art and created rescue. or possibly poisoned as a pest. Even as DANA FEAGIN passion for understanding animals. RVM: An important component a beloved family pet, your guardians Looking for a meaningful gift this of your art is that you give may not fully understand your needs. It works. I’m also currently fostering holiday? Buying art can be tricky, as proceeds to various animal welfare just seems more complicated for other three bunnies for Friends of the Animal tastes can be so specific. But buying organizations. Who is HeARTS animals. Shelter (FOTAS), so it’s temporarily a art as a gift is also the opposite from Speak, and how did you become RVM: You currently have three little crowded. FOTAS has a growing buying an Amazon card: It is personal, aware of them? former shelter dogs and five rescued need for rabbit foster families, so if local and specific. Perhaps take a friend DF: When I left my corporate job, bunnies. Do they all get along? any of your readers are interested, I’d on a shopping trip to a local gallery—let I knew I wanted to do something DF: My Border Collie has a strong encourage them to visit the FOTAS them pick out what they like. Or, be more to help animals and also create art, herding instinct, so I don’t completely website and complete an application. subtle and take note what they seem to something I was discouraged from trust him with the bunnies. I also have RVM: Where are good places to find like, and return later to pick it up. pursuing as a career when I was two separate bunny families. They are your art? younger. I started volunteering at the funny about who they accept, so I have DF: My art is always on display in the main Rogue Valley Messenger: What can county animal shelter and took up oil a bonded trio and a pair, with my studio gallery at Ashland Art Center, and online in you tell us about the cow on our cover painting. Over time, I realized that I divided by exercise pen fencing running my Etsy shop (esty.com.shop/DanaFeagin) that you painted? Is this a local cow? was really only interested in painting across the room. It’s not ideal, but it and website DanaFeagin.com. Dana Feagin: Yes, that’s Cookies, she’s a animals and nothing else, so my art former blood donor cow from UC Davis; became all about animals. I started she arrived at Sanctuary One with her painting commissioned pet portraits, Charolais friend Cream. Cookies later local sanctuary/shelter animals, and bonded with Holly, a rescued calf. donating some of my sales and artwork The two became inseparable and were to animal charities to help with their adopted together by a local family. fundraising efforts. Now I donate all RVM: Almost invariably, the animals of my art proceeds to animal charities. in your paintings seem happy or There are so many organizations doing content. How do you capture or create good things helping animals & that mood—and is it important to there is always a need for money to the philosophy about what you are keep that going. presenting that each animal seems to HeARTs Speak is a 501(c)(3) be in the middle of laughing at a joke or nonprofit organization uniting art smiling at a friend? and advocacy to increase the visibility DF: I am really drawn to the sweet of shelter animals. As an artist and funny expressions animals make. member, you are required to give back Capturing an animal’s expression is to the animal welfare community. what makes painting them fun and Some members offer free photography interesting. Many of the animals in services to shelters. Others, like me, my paintings are from sanctuaries and use their art in other ways to benefit shelters, and sharing their story is an animals. I discovered HeARTs Speak important part of my art. What I know from another animal artist when I was about each animal is on the back of my just beginning to paint and was happy paintings. Some have overcome great to find a group of like-minded artists. odds just to be alive, and yet, they can I’ve been a member for about 10 years be so trusting and joyful again. I like now. to show those happier moments—after RVM: Did you have animals growing their second chance at something better. up? One of my recent paintings “Into the DF: We had one family dog and a few Sunlight” is a portrait of Arthur from smaller animals over the years, but I Arthur Acres Sanctuary. Sammantha always wanted more pets. Like many Fisher, a professional photographer, kids, I was told that I could have more allowed me to paint from a photograph pets when I moved out of the house and that really shows his human-like eyes. lived on my own. Arthur was the last remaining piglet RVM: If you were to come back in 6 / WWW.ROGUEVALLEYMESSENGER.COM DECEMBER 12, 2019 – JANUARY 22, 2020 / THE ROGUE VALLEY MESSENGER / 7 FEATURE Chocolates Lillie Belle Farms Handmade Artisan Chocolates 211 N. Front Street, Central Point BY CATHERINE KELLEY lilliebellefarms.com The Messenger Holiday Gift Guide (541) 664-2815 Shopping online for the holidays may be convenient, but let’s face it, the intimacy factor is missing. Why not bundle Handmade, artisan-crafted chocolates make those boxed cherry cordials look like up and head downtown to check out the lights before popping into your area’s local shops to mingle in the spirit of Kris processed hockey pucks. Over 100 decadent specialties like lavender caramels, blue cheese truffle spread and red velvet almonds will have your favorite chocoholic in a daze for hours.