Obie Companies has been named the 2023 Dave Hauser Business of the Year by the Arts & Business Alliance of Eugene. The award recognizes a local business that demonstrates consistent and significant support for the creation and presentation of art in the Eugene community, ensuring that local creativity and innovation will thrive.
Obie has a long role in the local arts community, starting with the 5th Street Public Market in the late 70’s as a venue for local artisans to sell their creations. The market has since played host to a full calendar of activations of interactive art, music, and events since its inception. And the more recent creation of The Gordon Hotel celebrates local artists with over 160 works by more than 80 local artists and includes a lobby “Art Bar” for inspiring guests’ creations, complete with an artist-in-residence series and artistic prompts that can be actioned at any time with provided materials.
The award recognizes that “Obie Companies has centered their brand around elevated arts experiences creating a destination by reflecting the unique values of our community and local artists.”
Brian Obie, president and CEO, is the son of an artist and an artist himself, which has driven the company’s ethos to support local artists and artisans whenever possible and create pathways for visitors and locals to do the same.
For example, on June 16, The Gordon Hotel will host its 3rd annual student art showcase and reception, highlighting digital artwork from students at the University of Oregon for their friends/family and the larger community on the hotel’s two-story, 21-screen Great Wall. Originally, the digital art content for the Great Wall was just from Eugene-based Harmonic Laboratory, which was commissioned to create the piece, but Obie wanted the artwork to be dynamic and bring in young voices/growing artists from the University as well.
“For us as a company, it’s about actively being a part of the arts and encouraging creativity and innovation, including amateurs and art students – not just the professionals,” says Obie. “Of all the awards Obie Companies has received, this one touches me the most. The award celebrates this company’s sustained efforts in helping to shape the arts in Eugene and bolstering the city’s role as a creative hub, which is one of the things I’m most proud of. We are honored to accept it.”