Museum Invites Visitors To Celebrate Sundown During Welcome The Night Event (Photo) -07/10/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Thursday, July 10, 2025 

 

BEND, OR — As the sun goes down, creatures begin to stir. Moths begin their nightly pollination journey. Owls glide silently through the trees on the hunt for prey. Stars blink to life as bats dip and dive for insects. On Wednesday, July 16, the High Desert Museum invites visitors to celebrate the transition from day to night in the family-friendly event, Welcome the Night. 

 

From 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm, go on a twilight adventure with community partners, Museum experts and local naturalists to learn about insects and bats, meet an owl and much more. The evening program encourages visitors to explore, experience and celebrate the creatures, both small and large, that thrive in the dark.

 

As visitors arrive, they are handed an adventure card and map that will navigate them through 17 stations located around the Museum. Visitors can get a stamp at each location before turning the card in for a chance at a raffle prize.

 

Inside the Museum, visitors begin their journey at the station of their choice. At the Winged Things Crafts station, kids can make moth or bat headbands before heading outside to the Meadow to play a Bat & Moth game. The Twilight Art Station invites visitors young and old to create stenciled twilight art using scratch paper. A local face painter leads a station where visitors can get their faces painted with the twilight creature of their choice.  

 

In the Desertarium, retired entomologist Dr. Jerry Freilich will share with visitors a vast collection of insects and the opportunity to see them magnified.  

 

When it’s time for a bite to eat, the Rimrock Café will be transformed into the Crepuscular Café, featuring food for purchase by Luckey’s Woodsman. A no-host bar will feature alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages.

Just outside the Desertarium, at the Red Light Green Light station, volunteers and Museum staff help visitors transition their flashlights and headlamps into night-friendly lights. The adventure continues outdoors as visitors explore the Museum trails.

 

At Cheney Pond, experts from the U.S. Forest Service will lead a Bat Detectives station that delves into the mystery of bats and their role in the High Desert ecosystem. Learn why bats dip and dive over water and get a closer look at how bat telemetry helps researchers track the movements and behavior of bats.

 

Nearby, representatives from Pollinator Pathway Bend will take visitors into the world of nighttime pollinators, such as moths, at the Pollination Station. Discover why moths are often attracted to light sources, artificial or natural, which cause them to become disoriented.

 

“Nocturnal wildlife thrive in a dark habitat free from light pollution,” said Donald M. Kerr Curator of Natural History Hayley Brazier, Ph.D. “Conserving dark skies is critical for nocturnal and crepuscular wildlife who depend on a dark nighttime habitat to survive.” 

 

As soon as the light dims and the sun hides behind the ponderosas, experts from Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory will open the telescopes. At this station, you can learn about the planets and galaxy as you gaze up into the twilight waiting for that first star to blink to life. DarkSky Oregon continues with a closer look at how light pollution affects not only our view of the stars but also the health and wellbeing of nocturnal wildlife.

 

Two owl encounters will take place at the E. L. Wiegand Pavilion in the Donald M. Kerr Birds of Prey Center. During the 15-minute encounters, visitors will learn from Museum wildlife staff how an owl hunts in the daytime and at night, using its large eyes and keen sense of hearing to surprise prey.  

 

Another stop on the adventure is the Forest at Night exhibition. Located within the Changing Forest pavilion, visitors will encounter animated representations of the High Desert’s nocturnal inhabitants on a large screen. Discover how animals with reflective eyes utilize moonlight to navigate and hunt. Gaze up at an interactive star map and explore the constellations that guide migratory birds. Learn more about the exhibition at highdesertmuseum.org/forest-at-night.  

 

Tickets for Welcome the Night are $10 for adults and children ages 3 and older, with a 20% discount for members. Children 2 and younger are free. Visitors are encouraged to bring headlamps or flashlights as the outdoor trails are unlit.  

 

Learn more about and get tickets for Welcome the Night at highdesertmuseum.org/welcome-the-night-2025. 

 

 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM: 

THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram. 

 

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Annual Art In The West Exhibition And Auction Returns To Celebrate The High Desert Region (Photo) -06/25/25

BEND, OR — From canvas to photographs to sculptures, the annual Art in the West exhibition and online auction features the very best of art inspired by the High Desert. On Saturday, July 5, the High Desert Museum will unveil this year’s Art in the West exhibition featuring a captivating blend of traditional and contemporary artworks.

 

The exhibition celebrates the people, wildlife, landscapes, cultures and history of the region that stretches from the eastern slope of the Cascades and Sierras to the Rockies. 

 

“We are always in awe of the diverse array of artwork that continues to captivate visitors, and this year was no exception,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “These works unveil fresh and unique perspectives of the West, helping us better understand and appreciate the region.”

 

Visitors to the Museum will be awed by the vast array of artworks ranging from landscapes to abstracts. Two artists’ works are recognized each year as part of the exhibition, one as Jury’s Choice and another as Curator’s Choice. 

 

The 2025 Jury’s Choice winner is Jake Trujillo’s Painted Hills No. 1, an 18” x 24” oil over acrylic panel. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Trujillo is known for his oil and acrylic landscape paintings of the Southwest. His paintings feature innovative and dynamic color, blending traditional landscape oil painting with modern design and psychedelia. A featured artist at Sun & Dust Gallery in Santa Fe, Trujillo’s work seeks to emphasize the craft of the artwork as much as the color and theme. As such, each painting is hand framed. Visitors can also view Trujillo’s Moab No. 3 (oil over acrylic on panel, 14” x 11”) in the exhibition.

 

Frank Buffalo Hyde, who participated in the 2024 Sensing Sasquatch exhibition at the Museum, is this year’s Curator’s Choice award winner. Hyde’s 25” x 34” acrylic on canvas Buffalo Fields Forever invokes a vibrant and unique perspective. Hyde’s paintings examine and elevate an image of contemporary Indigenous life through a pop sensibility and uncompromising satirical eye. His work has been shown at museums including the Wheelright Museum of the American Indian in Santa Fe and the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Okla. Other works by Hyde that will be on display include Agency #8.

 

Those artists are just the tip of the iceberg. The 2025 exhibition boasts nearly 120 pieces crafted by acclaimed painters, sculptors, photographers and more, hailing from across the country.

 

Visitors and art enthusiasts can look forward to seeing works by national artists such as David Sherwin Parker and local favorites like Judy Hoiness. Parker’s Impressionist style in his 18” x 24” oil on canvas, A Journey Together, depicts a vibrant return to the West. Hoiness, a fourth-generation Oregonian and Bend resident, will showcase her acrylic on canvas, The Great Basin-A Moment in Time.

 

Another artist returns to the Museum for Art in the West. Hilary Baker’s Night, a 24” x 24” acrylic on linen, was showcased in a past Museum exhibition, Neighbors: Wildlife Paintings by Hilary Baker.

 

The entire 2025 collection will be on exhibit at the High Desert Museum and available for viewing through the Museum’s online auction page at highdesertmuseum.org/aiw. Visitors and art enthusiasts can preview the collection using the 2025 Gallery Guide available online. Online bidding will start on July 5 at 9:00 am, with the opportunity to purchase artwork outright. The auction is exclusively online, and shipping is available.  

 

The bidding concludes and the exhibition closes on Saturday, September 20, at the Art in the West Closing Party at the Museum. Attendees will have the opportunity to mingle with participating artists, watch live demonstrations and enjoy food and libations. The event begins at 6:00 pm and the auction closes at 7:00 pm. Register today at highdesertmuseum.org/aiw-closing-party-2025.  

 

Art in the West is made possible by Western Art Collector and American Art Collector magazines with support from Campfire Hotel, Central Oregon Radiology Associates and High Desert Frameworks.  

 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

The High Desert Museum opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram. 

 

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High Desert Rendezvous Returns On August 23 ; Signature Fundraiser Helps Support Museum Exhibitions And Programs (Photo) -06/20/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 20, 2025

 

BEND, OR — Tickets are now available for the High Desert Museum’s signature fundraiser, High Desert Rendezvous — one of the longest-running galas in Central Oregon. Rendezvous returns for its 36^th year on Saturday, August 23 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

 

“We are excited to celebrate with our friends and supporters during what is always an engaging and inspiring evening,” said Museum Executive Director Dana Whitelaw, Ph.D. “We will celebrate the accomplishments of the past year and share our gratitude for a generous community.”

 

In 2024, the Rendezvous set a new fundraising record, grossing over $620,000 for the Museum’s exhibitions and programs. The Museum features up to nine temporary, rotating exhibitions annually, cares for more than 100 animals and welcomes more than 10,000 school-age children per year for educational field trips and programs. Rendezvous provides vital support for these efforts.

 

The Rendezvous experience starts as guests stroll up the Museum’s entryway and are greeted by animal ambassadors such as hawks, beavers and desert tortoises. Inside, a hosted bar and passed appetizers await, as well as games and greetings from living history interpreters.

 

Dinner takes place outside beneath a tent. In addition to a live auction and entertainment, Rendezvous is also a chance to bid on art in the juried exhibition and silent auction Art in the West, which opens at the Museum on Saturday, July 5. A gallery guide of the artwork in the exhibition will be available on the Museum’s website on June 27 at highdesertmuseum.org/aiw.

 

An individual ticket for Rendezvous is $200 for members and $250 for nonmembers. Sponsorship tables are available for parties of eight or 10. Tickets are available at highdesertmuseum.org/hdr.

 

The 2025 Rendezvous Honoree is the Tykeson Family Foundation, recognizing their profound impact on Central Oregon through their steadfast dedication to education, health care and the arts. A cornerstone in the community, the foundation continues to contribute to a range of initiatives including improving health care facilities and expanding educational opportunities. Led by Amy Tykeson, the former CEO of BendBroadband, the Tykeson Family Foundation supports the Museum’s many programs and initiatives.

 

“The Tykeson Family Foundation embodies the true spirit of philanthropy,” said the Museum’s Chief Philanthropy Officer Kia Sullivan. “Their impact is felt not just in what they give but in how they give, with thoughtfulness and a deep commitment to our community. We’re honored by their partnership and the meaningful role they play in advancing the Museum’s mission.”

 

The 36^th annual High Desert Rendezvous is presented by Bonta Gelato and Ferguson Wellman Wealth Management, with support from Vista Capital Partners. Learn more about and register for the High Desert Rendezvous at highdesertmuseum.org/hdr.

 

 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

 

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Museum Celebrates Dads With Free Admission On Father’s Day (Photo) -06/11/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 11, 2025

 

BEND, OR — From sawmill demonstrations to raptors in flight to desert dwellers and more, celebrate the end of the school year this weekend at the High Desert Museum. This Sunday, June 15, the Museum welcomes dads and those who serve as dads to visit the Museum for free on Father’s Day.

 

The summer fun extends beyond Sunday, though. On Saturday, June 14, visitors can experience the Lazinka Sawmill in action. This special event happens only three times a year and is not to be missed. Museum staff wear period dress as they bring the sawmill to life and chat with visitors about the mechanics and history of the timber industry in Oregon.

 

The authentic sawmill was used at the turn of the 20^th century to process wood with an enormous blade for slicing through thick Oregon timber. Originally powered by steam, the sawmill now runs on electricity. The machine itself inhabits an entire building at the High Desert Ranch. The ground rumbles, the saw buzzes and the sawdust dances through the air during this one-of-a-kind experience.

 

Free with admission, the demonstration begins at 12:00 pm and ends at 3:00 pm. Additional demonstration dates are July 29 and August 28. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/lazinka-sawmill.

 

In and around the High Desert Ranch, visitors can meet Museum staff and volunteers in period dress, as the ranch is now inhabited daily through the summer from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Learn about life in the High Desert in the 1800s and 1900s when Bend was little more than a few families scattered along the Deschutes River. Explore a cabin, barn, corral, bunkhouse, cellar and more. Visitors may even see a few chickens and turkeys roaming the ranch. Learn more about the High Desert Ranch at highdesertmuseum.org/1904-high-desert-ranch.

 

The Museum’s daily summer programming is in full swing, too. Visitors can meet Brook, Pitch and Wesley during the Otter Encounter or meet a porcupine or beaver during the Desert Dwellers talk. The popular Wolves in the West talk delves into the history, biology and ecology of this apex predator. All talk details can be found at highdesertmuseum.org/daily-schedule.

 

A highlight of the summer schedule is the popular Raptors of the Desert Sky program, which takes place daily at 11:30 am. Hawks, owls, turkey vultures and more soar from perch to perch directly over the crowd seated in a natural amphitheater in the Museum’s ponderosa pine forest. Visitors can watch these spectacular birds in flight while learning what we can do to help preserve them in the wild.

 

Raptors of the Desert Sky is made possible by Fly Redmond, Avion Water Company and KTVZ News Channel 21, with support from Bigfoot Beverages. Visitors are encouraged to visit the Museum when it opens at 9:00 am to secure tickets. Learn more at highdesertmuseum.org/raptors-of-the-desert-sky.

 

Learn more about visiting the Museum at highdesertmuseum.org.

 

ABOUT THE MUSEUM:

 

THE HIGH DESERT MUSEUM opened in Bend, Oregon in 1982. It brings together wildlife, cultures, art, history and the natural world to convey the wonder of North America’s High Desert. The Museum is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, is a Smithsonian Affiliate, was the 2019 recipient of the Western Museums Association’s Charles Redd Award for Exhibition Excellence and was a 2021 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. To learn more, visit highdesertmuseum.org and follow us on TikTok, Facebook and Instagram.

 

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