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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW DA: Woman killed in April crash was driving recklessly ... Investigators say mower sparked Stouts fire ... Afternoon fishing closure lifted on the Rogue River ... DA: Woman killed in April crash was driving recklessly ... Investigators say mower sparked Stouts fire ... Afternoon fishing closure lifted on the Rogue River ... VISUAL ART Third Fridays celebrates poetry, student art Comment By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 8:00 AM By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 8:00 AM » Social News With brushstrokes of white, blue, purple and hints of rose, local artist Millie Clarke has captured the icy feel of Finland, where she lived for three years. Her abstract painting in cool hues is displayed in a melding of art and poetry at Art du Jour Gallery, 213 E. Main St., Medford. The gallery has paired the works of 10 artists with poems they penned to accompany their paintings in an exhibit running through May 29. Art du Jour and the Rogue Gallery & Art Center, which is showcasing local high school artists at 40 S. Bartlett St., will host artists' receptions and keep their doors open until 8 p.m. during this weekend's First Friday Art Walk in Medford. Recalling her years in Finland, Clarke says, "The winter days were long and dark with ice encasing the streets and walkways. Lakes were so frozen that trucks could use them as roads. Living only a short way from the shores of the Baltic, we knew that spring was coming when the ice began to break up into floes." Her poem speaks of those days. It reads in part: "Baltic grey blue sea surges sweep aside frozen blocks of ice as time stirs the Finnish air." Artist Georganna Happel also drew inspiration from the water for her large-scale painting of bull kelp washed ashore with tangled seaweed arms drying out on the sand. A portion of her poem reads: "Once proudly anchored to rocks, shells and shipwrecks. Uprooted by the restless sea, driven to this gritty resting place. Now huddled in helpless masses, shrinking daily; Our arms entwined in vestiges of shared dignity, community. Waiting for the seventh wave, seventh heaven." While some of the Art du Jour artists already had experience writing poetry, Susie Lee said she didn't think she could carry out the assignment. Then inspiration struck, and she created a whimsical painting of a leopard cub with rainbow colored spots and an accompanying poem. "When the gallery challenged us to do paintings and poems, I said, 'I can't do that! I'm not a poet.' All of a sudden a poem came to me almost completely whole," Lee says. "I thought, 'I can do this.' " She encouraged other artists to try expressing themselves through poetry. At the Rogue Gallery, community members can see the results of an Artist Teen Mentoring Project that teamed seven aspiring teen artists with five established community artists. The work of the teens and the mentors will be displayed through Thursday, April 30, in the main gallery space. Media include painting, printmaking, photography, comic art and sculpture.  The teens were selected after an application process that included a portfolio review, a written essay, letters of recommendation and an interview. They each spent more than 20 hours with their mentors, according to Rogue Gallery staff members. They learned new techniques for their work, how to present their work in an exhibit and how to meet deadlines. The students, some of whom are considering careers in the arts, also received insight into the lives of professional artists, according to the gallery staff. The program was made possible by the sponsorship of Rogue Disposal & Recycling. In side gallery spaces at Rogue Gallery, the celebration of student art continues, with the work of more than 100 local students from 14 high schools displayed. The Best of the Best High School Art exhibit was juried by professional artists. It includes paintings, drawings, collage, illustrations, sculpture, photography, prints and ceramics. The exhibit is sponsored by Southern Oregon University, Jackson and Josephine County school districts and local galleries. Regular Rogue Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 541-772-8118 or visit www.roguegallery.com. Regular Art du Jour Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Call 541-770-3190 or visit artdujourgallery.com.     By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune Posted Apr. 16, 2015 at 8:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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