(gentle upbeat music) - [Narrator] In the late 90s, "Oregon Art Beat" set out with an idea to share the stories of artists in our community.

- This is a new program exploring Oregon's diverse art scene, so stay tuned and let us know what you think.

- [Narrator] Over the past 25 years, we've traveled the state and featured over 1,000 artists, and we're still doing it.

- We know about potters and quilters, painters and sculptors, singers and composers, writers and poets because of "Art Beat" and what they've done over 25 years.

(serene music) (birds chirping) - [Artist] This feeling that I feel when I'm out here, I want to bring that into my practice.

- What I like about "Oregon Art Beat" is that you can see such a wide variety of artists from all genres.

And I like the fact that you all cover a variety of people.

It has to do with art, and art to me is how the world is beautified.

- What if I forgave myself?

What if I was sorry?

But if I could go back in time, I wouldn't do anything differently than I had done.

I did that thing that artists have done throughout all time and said, here's the thing I know.

Here's my pain.

Here's my heart.

I'm going to share it with you in hopes that you will see yourself in it.

- There's a story behind every creative person, and they're usually really interesting stories.

(gentle upbeat music) - When I was a kid growing up, I really struggled with the expectations of my culture.

It was just a struggle for me to defy my parents' expectations in order to pursue my own dreams.

(gentle upbeat music) - And that's what I find extraordinary about so many artists.

They're just so willing to be open with us and share I think their most personal part of themselves.

We go into their homes, we go into kind of their sacred space, and I feel so honored by that.

(gentle upbeat music) - One of my favorite stories was working with Kelli Palmer who's a master weaver over in Warm Springs.

Just being able to watch her do her work is amazing, but her welcoming this whole crew into her home.

We were there for a couple of days, and we got to meet her mother and hang out and watch Kelli and her mother weave together.

- [Kelli] It's like over and under.

- [Kelli's Mother] Yeah.

- It's a very special thing we get to do.

- And pull it over both.

- Not only do we get to see the artists working, but we get to see their lives being lived.

(upbeat music) (warehouse door rustling) - A little more heat.

- What "Art Beat" does really well is that it shows how these things are being created.

I can describe it it all I want, but if you visually see, it's a little bit more engaging.

What I appreciate the most is that we can really dive in and tell those stories.

They're basically like mini documentaries.

- Beautiful.

- "Art Beat" gives the time to the creative individual.

You know that sooner or later a question will come along and the door really opens.

- I want to express the vitality of the human spirit.

And who can explain that succinctly?

It is a small wonder.

It's just a small wonder.

- The thing that I've learned from "Art Beat" is that art isn't just a pretty picture.

(wood machine whirring) It's sharing insights and transformation.

- I found my thing.

It's like seeing again to me to be able to take that image in my mind and make it a real object.

- One of my favorites is the Blind Woodsman and his wife.

They were so generous with sharing their stories about how art heals.

- And that's what we go to "Oregon Art Beat" for, that window into someone else's passion and the perfection of their arts.

- It's like, if someone told me I couldn't, it was like jet fuel.

It made me mad, and I was like, "I'm never ever, ever going to quit."

- Young people have grown up watching "Art Beat" and have become artists themselves, and we have featured them on "Art Beat" as adults.

♪ Bring it on home to me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ - I have been on "Oregon Art Beat."

This is my second time around.

It's been about a decade.

I remember I was in my marimba band, (laughs) and I knew they were going to interview a couple of students and I was like, kept on peeking, like, just hoping it was going to be me.

And it was me and I was so excited.

Just knowing that I can play this instrument, and I love, like, telling everybody that I can play that huge bass and my cool parts and stuff.

- One of the things we hear all the time is like, "Oh, I saw that story you did, I want to meet that artist."

Or, "Where can I see that art?"

Or, "When's their next show?"

So I know that the work we do ripples out.

You know, it has an effect not just on the artists, but on the community.

- I really appreciate "Oregon Art Beat" for bringing artists to life, to light, and making them accessible to us.

- [Narrator] Thank you to the artists who welcome us into their studios.

By sharing your work with us, you inspire thousands of Oregonians and more.

Today, our stories reach everywhere.

- The fact that we've been around for 25 years says that there's a lot of incredible creative people here.

I think "Art Beat" could easily go on for another 25 years and we still wouldn't cover all the great artists that are around us.

- [Narrator] Never stop creating.

We'll be there to tell your story.

(gentle upbeat music)