Extreme felting…Yarn bombing…Let’s just say that the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts set for this weekend, June 26-28, has a few surprises in store for you this year.

With this year’s theme of “On the Fringe—Today’s Twist on Fiber Art,” organizers are showcasing innovative ways artists are working with traditional (and recyclable) materials. Much of the work is so novel, it even requires a new vocabulary. Here are three terms you might want to familiarize yourself with before attending the show.

• Extreme felting. If all you know about felt is the 9 x 12 inch pieces you buy at Michael’s, prepare to be amazed. One of this year’s featured artists, Janice Arnold, makes her own felt and will be leading a discussion Friday evening at 5:00 p.m. on “Extreme Felting: A Wild and Woolly Art Form,” on the Headlee Mainstage in the Lakewood Center. From nomadic tribes in Central Asia to the high tech world of industrial felt, Arnold has made it her life’s mission to study and understand Felt, and in the process, getting all of us to look at it differently.
• Biomorphic. The exhibit’s other featured installation artist is Barbara DePirro, whose artistic expressions are inspired by naturally occurring patterns and shapes found in the world around us. By utilizing objects like plastic caps and water bottles to create her colorful “Flourish” installation, she makes a strong case for protecting the environment without raising her voice.
• Yarn bombing. Picture street art without the chalk or paint. Instead guerrilla knitters head out armed with yarn to adorn statues (like they’ve done in the city of Portland during the Christmas season), or in the Festival’s case, dress up a bicycle. Don’t miss this family-friendly activity.

The Festival runs Friday, June 26, through Sunday, June 28. For a complete schedule of events, click here. And to learn more reasons why the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts is not to be missed, check out some of my previous posts.

Cool Off at the Lake Grove Swim Park

With this week’s forecast promising up 80 and 90 degree days, you’ll want to take a dip at the Lake Grove Swim Park which opened this past weekend. Check it out here. 3800 Lakeview Blvd,
503. 675.2549.