Ashland is known for many things – natural beauty, outstanding theater, lively politics, the best parades and more. Now let’s turn the focus to another distinguishing feature.

“The Power of Public Art” is the topic of a free public discussion on Tues., March 5, 4:00-5:30 p.m., in the Gresham Room at Ashland Library, 410 Siskiyou Blvd. Part of the “Big Ideas” program series, it is presented by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Ashland Branch and Jackson County Library Services.

The speaker is Ken Engelund, Chair, Ashland Public Arts Advisory Committee. He will introduce a portion of the video “The Power of Public Art,” discuss the function and purposes of public art in placemaking and outline the Advisory Committee’s role. Time for audience comments and questions will follow.

Engelund was a 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.

Other roles include Vice-Chair, Jackson County Public Health Advisory Committee, President of Habitat for Humanity, Chair of Rogue Valley Choral, a CASA volunteer and Chair of CASA Building Expansion Committee. Engelund earned an undergraduate degree in Economics at Occidental College and an MBA at the University of California/Berkeley.

Questions? Contact AAUW “Big Ideas” coordinator Marilyn Hawkins, (541) 708-6697, [email protected]; or Ellie Anderson, Ashland Library, (541) 774-6896, [email protected].