Join us for “GuitArt” at the Hoffman Center , an evening of auditory and visual pleasure.
On Friday, April 27, the Hoffman Center will host musicians Jason Okamoto and Dmitri Swain, with new works of art on display from John Freethy and Dmitri Swain.
Jason Okamoto plays classical guitar with a Latin American flavor. His musical projects are a variety of solo guitar performances, gigging with gypsy jazz bands, and teaching guitar lessons. Over the past few years, he’s concentrated mostly on solo guitar, building up a diverse repertoire of Spanish, Brazilian Bossa Nova, and other Latin American guitar styles. Jason has also been involved recently with some amazing dance projects such as Body Vox’s “Smoke Soup” production, and performed at the Portland Art Museum. Okamoto, who is self-taught musically, is still his own teacher, and jokes that “Somehow I haven’t fired myself yet.”
Dmitri Swain is a North Coast artist. He specializes in mixed media work, predominantly on paper and wood panels. Dmitri attended Portland State University, from which he holds a degree in drawing, painting and printmaking. In his artists statement, Dmitri explains; The core of my art is surreal and atmospheric. I am primarily inspired by dreams, nature and weather patterns at the moment. I create works with surreal and expressive qualities. Though I am seeing natural things in the world, the bulk of my work is shaped by my own perceptions. I am bringing to the surface my own vision. In this way I make up a unique narrative. The viewer can look into these constructed places or windows, see the characters and the world, then they start to ask questions. The end result is the experience. Swain’s music has a “very unique jazzy feel and sound, accompanied by his alluring vocals” says event promoter John Freethy.
John Freethy dabbles in many art mediums, including photography, printmaking, painting, paper/book arts and mixed media. When asked about the interplay between his art and nature, John answered “I have always felt a deep connection with nature. There’s nothing more beautiful than when you stand outside in a spot and all that you can see is still unchanged by the human hand. These are the kind of places that I am drawn to, and therefore what I am inspired to create and portray in my artwork.”
The art opening begins at 5:30 p.m., with the concert starting at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $8 for the evening. The Hoffman Center is located at 594 Laneda Avenue, Manzanita, across from the public library.







