"Word Mob" at the Benton Center, Linn-Benton

Poet Laureate, Kiera Lynn and musician for the "Word Mob" event, Conor McCoy greet guests and fellow poets while they walk in at the Benton Center. 

Crash and Kiera Lynn show excitement before "Word Mob" begins.

English instructor at the Benton Center, Kasey Johnson reads her poetry to the audience. 

English instructor Jed Wyman reads his poetry to the audience at the Benton Center for the "Word Mob."

Kent Elliott reads his poetry to the audience and glances up to gaze into my camera lens for a quick shot. 

Review: Fit with Fitness Experience in Albany

Fitness is a must, but where can we find it? Look no further, Fitness Experience is just around the corner.

Fitness Experience is a gym located at 1715 SE Hill St Albany. The building with the custom logo FE colored in a vivid lime green. It has several tinted windows on the front of the building. Definitely hard to miss it. Come work up a sweat any day of the week, however hours vary day to day.

Fitness Experience--Albany, Ore. 

Unlike most gym's, Fitness Experience has multiple workout equipment and rooms. They even have many machines for any one particular body part your working on. Basically it is a one-stop-exercise shop.

Brad Garrett said, "I joined Fitness Experience because of it's location, size, and available equipment."

Other services offered include group spinning, Zumba, and Crossfit. Fitness Experience even has colorful child care center for you little one's for practically nothing; it's $2 per hour. Where else are you going to find a deal like this for child care? Nowhere should be your answer.

At Fitness Experience prices are far more affordable than most gym's, especially considering all the helpful and wonderful services provided. Prices starting at $55 and goes all the way up $300. Affordability is a must and for a part-time worker, full-time student, and a mother like myself. These days who has the extra funds just laying around? I know that I don't. They have couple discounts, as well as bundles.

Brent Riley has been a member for over a year. When asked, "What does the gym offer you?" Riley said, "It offers me a place to lift." Staying healthy and fit is his goal at Fitness Experience.

Twenty-six year old Riley is married, a college student at Linn-Benton, and veteran of the U.S. Army. He currently works at Applebee's serving tables in Albany.

"Exercise makes me happy," said Riley.

Exercise should make everyone happy. Just knowing that I am doing something productive and improving my health only drives me to pursue the ultimate finish.

The staff at Fitness Experience are very helpful. The first day of my workout regimen my trainer made me laugh and feel comfortable. She made me believe that I can be that size 12 that I so desperately want to be. Her few words of encouragement remains in my mind. When I am getting my sweat on her words play in my head like a song on replay.

I would most certainly recommend Fitness Experience to friends, family, and anyone in general seeking a gym to join. It is a gym with a friendly atmosphere. Every member is there with one goal in mind, and we're all using the equipment to get there. One machine, many goals, and individual results.

Compared to other gym's, Fitness Experience is in the top four. They have multiple exercise machines for any given body part your working on. They have three separate ab machines, each one is operated differently, and does the same thing. It's an all over workout.

"I'm a member, so I have a place I can go everyday to train" said, Brad Garrett.

At a glance
Facility: Fitness Experience
What: Gym
Where: 1715 SE Hill St in Albany
Hours: Monday to Thursday 4:45 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday 4:45 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Phone: 541-917-3488
Email: FitnessExperience@comcast.net

Edward Henry Weston

"I ask nothing more than to be able to grow in strength, and achieve the ultimate from my possibilities." Edward Henry Weston

Edward Henry Weston 

Edward Henry Weston was born March 24, 1886, in Highland Park, Illinois. Weston received his first camera in 1902, when he was only 16-years-old. It came from his father.

Weston's claim to fame included Natural Forms, 1930 -- Pepper No. 30, Landscapes, 1936 -- Oceano, and Nudes, 1936 -- Nude. Most of his nude models were female.

Weston studied at Illinois College of Photography.

When Weston was only 21-years-old he moved to California to pursue his photography career, and spent most of his life there.

On January 30, 1909 Weston married Flora May Chandler. It has been said that Weston only married Chandler because she was a fairly well-off school teacher. He saw dollar signs and a way to pursue his photography career full-time. 

After a little over a year, on April 26, 1910, Flora and Edward welcomed their first of four sons, Edward Chandler Weston. Second son, Theodore Brett Weston was born on December 16, 1911. Third son, Lawrence Neil Weston was born on December 6, 1916. The Weston's fourth son, Cole Weston was born on their 10 year wedding anniversary, January 30, 1919.

Three of the Weston boys followed their father's foot steps and became well-known photographer's.

The Weston boys helped their father develop and print photograph's.

Weston was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease, and stopped photographing soon after. He had a very successful 40 year career. His career took him all over, and he met many "inspirational" people.

During Weston's career he was the first photographer to receive a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1937. The fellowship allotted him funds and time to take over one thousand photograph's that were 8 x 10 and with negatives. 

His work influenced a generation of American photographer's. 

Edward Henry Weston died on January 1, 1958 in California. He was only 71-years-old. 

Edward Weston photograph's 

My Favorite Image:

Oceano, 1936
Photography by Edward Weston 

This image is my favorite because of the details in the lines. When I look at this photograph I am transported to the sand scene.

What stood out for me was the reality of all the photograph's. Everything was in it's natural element and beauty.

Weston's photography is distinctive in that it isn't like any I have ever seen before. His photograph's tell a story without divulging the location.

Sources:
Wikipedia
Edward Weston Photography
Google

8 Prime Examples of Edward Weston's Photography:
Johan on couch, 1925
Guadalupe de Rivera, 1924
Artichoke, 1930
Cypress, Point Lobos, 1930
Mammy, 1941
Abandoned Piano, 1941
Nude, 1934
Iceburg Lake, 1937

Jimmy Bledsoe, Horticulture student at Linn-Benton

Jimmy Bledsoe is a Horticulture student at Linn-Benton. He is a former Marine for the United States. He is married and has two wonderful little boys. On his free time he likes to play computer games and be outside. Jimmy is a one of a kind guy with a genuine heart.

In the greenhouse, Jimmy "Jim" Bledsoe and classmate Rachel Gerber are transplanting tomatoes from the tray of plugs to individual pots.

Jimmy Bledsoe --  Horticulture student at LBCC 

Lone Pen

This pen it sits and waits. 

No one ever comes. 

It is left alone in the parking lot. 

Once a person's pen and now just a pen in a parking lot. 

This pen sits and waits to be used.

It yearns for a warm hand.

If only for a moment in your grasp.

This pen sits and waits.

Someone somewhere is missing a pen.

Lost and abandoned, it waits.

Written by Melissa Jeffers

 Pen in parking lot
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers

Pen in parking lot
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers

Pen in parking lot
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers

Poetry Reading with Darrell Alejandro Holnes

During Darrell Alejandro Holnes' poetry reading I could feel the emotions. Being a gay male he had struggles that came through in his poetry.

Holnes included musical pieces throughout his poetry reading.

The reading wasn't just a reading, it was a full in-depth understanding of Holnes as a person.

Holnes said, "Sex, love, and death are the three topics written about in poetry."

After his poetry reading Holnes was so kind to answer any questions the audience had.

A few audience members had the chance to photograph Holnes. I was one of the lucky ones to actually take a couple photograph's with Holnes. That was a moment I won't forget.

Photograph's:

Darrell Alejandro Holnes
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers
(Overall)

Darrell Alejandro Holnes
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers
(Medium) 

Tim Black and Darrell Alejandro Holnes
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers
(Close)

Tim Black and Darrell Alejandro Holnes
Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph's of Excellence

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Photograph by Melissa Jeffers 

Ekphrasis II Exhibit at Linn-Benton

Van Gogh said, "I dream my painting and then I paint my dream."

Rosalie Lingo 

Rosalie Lingo is a 20-year-old student, earning her Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer degree, and she plans to transfer to Oregon State University to get a degree in Graphic Design and/or Applied Visual Arts. 

Lingo said, "I've always been driven to paint, draw, and create art." 

It took her about eighteen months to create this piece. Each of her pieces has anywhere from six to 20 hours of work put into it. Lingo is currently creating a drawing for her art class with Analee Fuentes. She is also creating a new painting for the Student Show. 

Lingo said, "I don't see myself ever not making art...I just can't go long without my sketchbook."

Lingo said, "I don't know where the impulse comes from."

Rosalie Lingo -- My Night Student Smokes on the Break 

To celebrate National Poetry Month, Linn-Benton students and staff are having an exhibit featuring 27 paintings in a variety of media along with the poems that inspired all the artwork. The poetry and art will be on display until May 2.  

SSH Gallery -- Ekphrasis II Exhibit

The SSH gallery is open Monday through Friday from 8-5 pm. There is no charge to view the artwork. However, the artwork is not free. The art on display varies in price. If you would like to get your hands on a piece of art contact the secretary in the SSH, or the NSH building.

On April 15 from 3-4 p.m. a reception and book release was held in the gallery. Poets read from their work, and were available to sign copies of the exhibit catalog.

The theme for the gallery is a response to a poem written by a member of the Linn-Benton poetry club, in commemoration of National Poetry Month. Inspiration for the poems came from the book Ekphrasis.

"Love. It's a tired word, let's change it to passion fruit," New Poem by Dari Lawrie

Kiera Lynn, Linn-Benton's student Poet Laureate, writes: “The art of Ekphrasis is the process of using grand description and rhetoric to represent a work of art. In the case of this project, the poems were created first, leaving the artist to render a visual interpretation from the words upon the page. A picture may be worth a thousand words--but how many pictures are the words worth?”

Caitlin Little is a 19-year-old art major student with the goal of becoming a tattoo artist. Little said, "I was inspired by the poem, words, and the details that the author used." It took her roughly five hours to complete Cold and Lonely In the Street. Little said, "I don't ever plan on not making art." Little is currently creating a piece for the Student Art Exhibit starting April 24. 

"They say I'm too tall to be an astronaut. But I'll keep growing taller and reach the galaxy on my own," Dear Dreamer Part II by Crash. 

All but one artist is a student. Most of the students art was created in Dori Litzer's drawing class; last term.

Litzer created the piece called Apple Picking, and the poetry was created by Robin Havenick, the poetry club adviser.

Kiera Lynn mentions a few of her favorite poems included in the gallery: Chris Riseley's For Artists Who Think It Is Cool To Destroy Books, Karelia Stetz-Waters My Night Student Smokes on the Break, and Josh Lowe's Cold and Lonely In the Street. Lynn said, "None of these three poems are anything like each other, but they all have something that really hooks me." 

Henry David Thoreau said, "This world is but a canvas to our imagination." 

Caitlin Little -- Cold and Lonely In the Street 

Apple Picking --  Artwork was created by Dori Litzer and was inspired by Robin Havenick's poetry.

Cesar Jensen -- New Poem

Claire Denning -- Dear Dreamer 

At a glance box:

Exhibit Coordinator: Rich Bergeman

What: Ekphrasis II Exhibit

Where: SSH Gallery 6500 Pacific Blvd. SW Albany, Oregon 97321

Reception: Tuesday April 15, 2014 from 3-4 p.m.

Phone: 541-917-4247

Email: bergemr@linnbenton.edu

Students in The Learning Center at Linn-Benton

The Learning Center

Raven Burcham does homework in The Learning Center on Friday.

Kyle Moore-McKay does homework in The Learning Center on Friday.