Ashland, Oregon (February 28, 2024) – The Ashland branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Jackson County Library Services are hosting a free “The Power of Public Art” discussion for the public on March 5 from 4 – 5:30 p.m. in the Gresham Room at the Ashland Library, 410 Siskiyou Boulevard.
Ashland is known for many things – natural beauty, outstanding theater, lively politics, the best parades and more. It’s also home to unique public art. Speaker Ken Engelund is the Chair for the Ashland Public Arts Advisory Committee. He will introduce a portion of the video “The Power of Public Art” while discussing the function and purposes of public art in placemaking. He will also outline the Advisory Committee’s role. There will be time for audience comments and questions at the end of the discussion.
Engelund was Vice President of Human Resources and a Realtor in California’s Bay Area before he and his wife Carol retired to Ashland in 1998. For the past 25 years, he has served not-for-profit organizations – including as a docent with the Schneider Museum of Art, Chair of Friends of the Schneider, Chair of the Southern Oregon University Presidents’ Advisory Committee, and a funding volunteer for the SOU Art Building and the Hannon Library Expansion. Engelund earned an undergraduate degree in Economics at Occidental College and an MBA at the University of California/Berkeley.
The monthly “Big Ideas” discussion series features prominent local experts speaking on relevant and timely issues affecting our community. Lectures are jointly sponsored by the Ashland Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Jackson County Library Services. For more information, please contact Jackson County Library Services at 541-774-6996.