Cara Tomlinson, Born With, 2011, oil on wood, 16 x 20 inches

Cara Tomlinson’s exhibit of paintings and installation opens May 7 in Fairbanks Gallery, on the Oregon State University campus.

Tomlinson’s recent painting is concerned with the process of construction: how houses, paintings and bodies are made. In these works, paint conceals and covers over but also creates the illusion of an opening and space, transforming familiar boundaries into the unfamiliar. Her continuing body of work is motivated by questions about the construction of self, boundaries of subjectivity, and the interconnection of self and environment.

Cara Tomlinson has exhibited her work nationally in museums and galleries. She has received numerous national artist residency fellowships as well as an Individual Artist Fellowship from the Oregon Arts Commission. She has lectured on her work at many universities and colleges, including Carnegie Mellon, University of Montana and University of Iowa. In the last few years, the breadth of Tomlinson’s studio practice has expanded to include not just painting, but drawing, video installation, and sculpture—work she undertakes with a shared material and philosophical approach taken from painting.

Currently Tomlinson lives and works in Portland, where she teaches painting at Lewis and Clark College. She earned her undergraduate degree from Bennington College and her M.F.A. from the University of Oregon.

Fairbanks Gallery is free and open to the public Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m.-noon. The exhibit ends May 30.

~ Douglas Russell

Benny hugs some fans during the OSU Rally in the Square (photo: Theresa Hogue)

For the second consecutive year, hundreds of Oregon State University alumni, students and fans gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square to give a celebratory sendoff to Portland-area freshmen, who begin moving to Corvallis tomorrow to begin their college career.

The Rally in the Square served as an opportunity to recognize that not only is OSU the university of choice for many Portland grads, but the dominant campus destination of the area’s best and brightest students.

“Earlier this year, the Oregonian published results from its third-annual survey of top high school graduates from Portland and surrounding area high schools. These are valedictorians, salutatorians and other high achievers,” Susie Brubaker-Cole, head of Academic Success and Engagement for OSU, told the crowd. “And the survey found that for the third consecutive year, more of those students are choosing OSU as their campus destination than any other university.

“In fact, more of them indicated they’ll be attending OSU this fall than the second- and third-place colleges combined.”

Brubaker-Cole, AM 860 KPAM morning host Bob Miller, OSU student and Oregon Board of Higher Education member Farbod Ganjifard, OSU Alumni Association leader Joth Ricci and others kept the crowd enthused with more similar evidence of OSU’s ascent.

OSU cheerleaders kept the crowd enthusiastic during the rally (photo: Theresa Hogue)

The university expects to welcome a record 25,000 students this fall, and is making big strides in academic reputation, technology transfer, research and other areas. And Ricci reminded the crowd that about one-fourth of the university’s 160,000 alumni call the Portland area home.

But the rally was about the extracurricular life of the university, too. Miller interviewed football standout Mike Remmers, a senior who has gone from walk-on status to having started the last 32 consecutive games for the Beavers. Though the football team is off to a rough beginning of the 2011 season, Remmers, a Portland native, was enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead.

The OSU Marching Band and cheerleading squad provided entertainment throughout the two-hour event. But for visitors who wanted a deeper look at what OSU has to offer, representatives of colleges around the university were on hand with information booths, displays and assistance.

College of Pharmacy students providing flu shots were in such high demand, they ran through their entire stock of injections. Engineering students showed off their Mars Rover and other student-created automobiles, while a contingent from OSU’s Hinsdale Wave Laboratory modeled waves in a flume set up just for the Rally. Students in Apparel Design put on a fashion show, and Veterinary Medicine students provided check-ups for attendees who brought pets. Everyone got a chance to celebrate Benny the Beaver’s birthday with a free cupcake.

Booths featuring OSU organizations, a performance by the OSU Dancers and the OSU Pep Band, and plenty of OSU prizes kept the crowd entertained, but one of the biggest draws was a live interview with Beaver Coach Mike Riley, who talked about what fans can expect from Beaver football this season.

OSU Dean of Student Life Mamta Accapadi encouraged OSU’s incoming students to embrace the spirit of being Powered by Orange, and Benny Beaver received a birthday cake from several OSU Dancers to honor his official birthday, which is Sept. 18.

The rally was held in Portland in recognition of the growing number of Portland-area students who are enrolling at OSU, especially high-achieving students, who for the second year in row are choosing OSU more so than any other university, according to surveys conducted by the Oregonian. In 2009-10, nearly 7,200 OSU students enrolled from Multnomah County and the four other Oregon counties comprising the extended Portland metro area

MAX trains in Portland were Powered by Orange last year.

Hundreds of new and current Oregon State University students will get an enthusiastic send-off for the academic year ahead in Corvallis from alumni, university leaders and other Beaver Believers as part of the “OSU Rally at Pioneer Square,” on Friday, Sept. 17, starting at noon.

Students will hear from Dean of Students Mamta Accapadi, head football Coach Mike Riley, the Power Pep Band and others, take part in prize drawings, see performances by the OSU Dancers and have access to booths highlighting various OSU offices and services. The event will be broadcast live by KPAM-860 AM and MC’d by morning show host Bob Miller. Benny Beaver will even be on hand and available for pictures with attendees.

OSU is holding the rally, in part, in recognition of the growing number of Portland-area students who are enrolling at OSU, especially high-achieving students, who for the second year in row are choosing OSU more so than any other university, according to surveys conducted by the Oregonian. In 2009-10, nearly 7,200 OSU students enrolled from Multnomah County and the four other Oregon counties comprising the extended Portland metro area, with hundreds more enrolling from just across the state line in Washington.

But while much of the event will be focused on students, alumni and OSU supporters are encouraged to be there, as well, said Cathy Marshall of the OSU Alumni Association.

“With Coach Riley giving students and fans a preview of what’s expected the following day for the game against Louisville, along with the opportunity to connect with other OSU alumni from the greater Portland area, this event will truly have something for everyone,” said Marshall.

Rally participants are encouraged to wear orange, and OSU organizers will ensure that the Square, often referred to as “Portland’s living room,” appears just as “Powered by Orange.”

There is no charge to participate in the Rally. Individuals who are unable to attend in person can still take part via a webcast of the event at http://www.ustream.tv/channel//powered-by-orange. For more information, call 503-553-3400.