The Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts, or DIVA, has served as a vehicle for the visual arts in Eugene for well over a year, and the growth and expansion of this organization into more than just an art gallery has created much excitement throughout the community. The Initiative has sponsored and produced several media arts events and exhibits that have included film and video screenings, workshops, performances and guest artist presentations, just to name a few.
One of DIVA’s fastest growing events is the Second Friday Film Forum, which provides an opportunity to view independent films and videos made by both local and
regional artists.
“The premise behind Second Friday Film Forum is to basically try to get artists, usually from Oregon, to bring in their work to show,” Hank Weintraub, a member of DIVA’s Media Arts Committee, said. “We also try to bring the actual artist in as well. This gives them a chance to kind of explain themselves and their films and the audience can ask questions as well.”
The types of movies shown at DIVA every second Friday of the month vary greatly, from documentaries on the gay and lesbian experience in the Middle East, to films exploring what it is like to be the only African American at punk-rock shows. The goal of the Second Friday Film Forum is to open the audience’s eyes to films not
normally shown in Eugene.
“DIVA’s overall goal is to be a catalyst for the visual arts in downtown Eugene, so we’re continuing the same kind of goals for the Second Friday Film Forum,” Eric Ostlind, also a member of the Media Arts Committee, said. “We show independent films and artists that would otherwise not be seen at any other places in Eugene. We’re sort of in a niche; we show films not usually able to be shown here. They’re not big enough to go to the multiplexes or even to the Bijou.”
Another goal for this film forum is to expand and grow into showing more than just movies.
“We’re going to be working with more music and computer animation as well, so it’s not just film, but visual and performance arts,” Ostlind said.
Last month, the Media Arts
Committee created what they call “OpenLens,” an open mic-type event that gave local filmmakers the chance to show off their work in front of a live audience and gain valuable feedback. According to DIVA’s Web site, the event was a “rousing success with over 80
film enthusiasts attending the screening of local and regional independent films.” “OpenLens” is currently only scheduled as an annual event, but given the amount of interest in the first event, another “OpenLens” may be planned for spring 2005.
“‘OpenLens’ was really interesting because we had like 10 or 11 local artists from Eugene and about six artists from places like Ohio, Michigan and Illinois,” Weintraub said. “They all came and showed their work. The attendance was huge, so people were sitting and standing in the halls. It was a really good turnout.”
The Media Arts Committee is also adding other film and visual arts events throughout the month and the rest of the year. A schedule of events can be found on DIVA’s Web site, www.divanow.org.
“We’re definitely interested in getting more U of O students and faculty to come down and see our stuff and get involved,” Ostlind said.
The first Second Friday Film Forum of 2005 will be held Friday night in DIVA’s gallery, at 110 W. Broadway in downtown Eugene. At 8 p.m., filmmaker Steve Swanson will present and discuss his documentary “West Coast Drive-Ins,” which explores some of the 30 remaining drive-in movie theaters on the West Coast and provides 12 interviews with owners and supporters upholding them. The cost is $2 to $5 on a sliding scale with donations welcome.

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