Alessandro's Galleria News

Reed Ballroom to Become 'Jailhouse' for Jerry Lewis MDA Fund Raiser

Jerry Lewis MDA Fund Raiser

The elegant Trinity Ballroom at the Reed Opera House will be converted into a jailhouse August 6 to accommodate “executive jailbirds” who will attempt to raise “bail” and funds for the Muscular Dystrophy Association as part of the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

Roger Yost is donating space at the Reed and a buffet lunch from his Alessandro’s Ristorante & Galleria to the MDA and its 200 plus “inmates,” who will each serve an hour’s sentence between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Marco Alvarado’s La Perla Tapatia & Tacqueria, based in the Reed, will provide breakfast for volunteer convicts during the lockup.

The MDA hopes to raise about $80,000 during the lockup, according to MDA District Director Dana Sedlak. “Muscular dystrophy is a term that describes a group of diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of voluntary muscles and affects more than a million Americans, and about 1,200 families in Oregon,” says Ms. Sedlak. She reports the donations are used in Oregon at Hospital Affiliated Clinics at OHSU and Shriner’s Children’s Hospital where patients receive:
1. Initial diagnosis. 2. Follow-up medical care. 3. Physical, occupational and respiratory therapy evaluation. 4. Genetic counseling. 5. Influenza vaccinations.
Funds are also used to purchase and maintain wheelchairs, leg braces, communications devices and pay for ongoing research that hopefully brings MDA closer to breakthrough treatment and cures.

About 35 to 40 of “jailbirds” will arrive via stretch “paddy wagon,” or turn themselves in each hour. Participants will be seen and sentenced by an MDA “judge,” put in a jailbird costume, have their mug shot taken with one of the Oregon MDA Ambassadors and then do their time.

The Trinity Ballroom will take on the trappings of a Hollywood movie set, according to Yost, who earlier this year helped CASA, Salem Chamber Orchestra, and the Salem Film Festival, among others, raise funds by donating space and edibles from the Reed and Alessandro’s.

More information: MDA - Dana Sedlak (503) 223-3177 The Reed - Rebecca Maitland (503) 391-4481

Roger Yost Honored by The Oregon Symphony

Roger Yost

Dear Oregon Symphony Patrons,

I am sure you have noticed the stunning art on the cover of our concert programs this year. Roger Yost, owner of Alessandro's Restaurant and Galleria, is the man to thank. It is a privilege and a pleasure to work with him.

Alessandro's international art gallery is proud to showcase the work of some of the world's most collectible artists. The work ranges from abstract to conceptual. Roger has given the Oregon Symphony Association in Salem the opportunity to use the art in his gallery on the cover of our programs and advertising. We match the art with the themes of our concerts. They are fantastic!

Roger also owns some of Oregon's most historic treasures, the Salem Reed Opera House; the tallest office building in Salem, the Capitol Center; and the 1920 Vick Building, now home to two state agencies; and a state-of-the-art, resort-style apartment complex.

Roger is a Salem Visionary. He is unselfish with his time, serving on boards or committees related to Salem's downtown community, tourism, educational institutions, and the city's future visions. Roger says "I'm simply dedicated to making this city-our state- a greater place. Greater for art, music, theater and general livability".

Thank you Roger for giving us the beauty of your art - especially the vibrant colors. The result is extraordinary.

With warmest regards,
Meg Weiss
2008-09 OSAS Board President

Roger Yost Launches Scholarship Program

Roger Yost

Downtown Civic Leader Roger Yost, who in the last year has created one of Oregon’s largest art galleries at his Alessandro’s Ristorante, is launching an art scholarship program for Salem high school students.

The first scholarship will be awarded at McKay High School’s eighth annual Student Spring Art Show May 22, at which more than 1000 drawings, paintings, prints, sculptures, photographs and other art forms are exhibited and judged.

He will present a $500 scholarship to the McKay’s “Artist of the Year,” plus $125 in cash prizes to the “Best-in-Show” artists in creativity and craftsmanship.

“It is our intent to make this an annual scholarship at McKay, and expand this “Yost Art Scholars” program to at least one additional high school each year until all area schools are represented.”

He said Rebecca Maitland, director of marketing for Alessandro’s and other Yost properties, will be in charge of the program and its expansion.

Lisa Leirmo, who teaches print-making, mixed media and art history, formulated the first McKay Spring Art Show in 2001. She has since been joined by Autumn Breitwieser, who teaches pottery making and sculpture; John Haus, drawing and painting; and Thomas Douglas, photography.

The show, which covers most of the tall walls of the Lancaster Avenue high school’s Commons area, involves hundreds of students in Art, the Culinary Arts, Music, Theater and Special Education.

Judges for the May 22 show and reception are Peter Stone and Dr. Dan Canon, retired professors from Western Oregon University’s art studies programs.

More information: Rebecca Maitland (503) 269-5568 or Roger Yost (503) 884-7333.

Alessandro's Galleria art benefits Oregon Symphony

By Sara Wiseman

Stockdale and Yost

If you’ve seen the recent program covers for the Oregon Symphony in Salem’s latest concerts, you might be surprised—and impressed.

All the season, the covers utilized artwork from Alessandro’s Galleria, a world-class art gallery that just opened last year in Salem leading fine-dining restaurant.

“It’s a wonderful marriage of art and music,” said Roger Yost, owner of Alessandro’s Ristorante & Galleria and three other landmark buildings in Downtown Salem. “We were very happy to participate in this venture. It shows what can happen when the arts community in Salem puts its heads together.”

Read the Complete Article in the Salem Business Journal
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Schim Schimmel donates artwork to Oregon Primate Rescue

By Sara Wiseman

Kirk, Yost and Schim

Some say there’s a lot of monkey business in the art world, and when it comes to Roger Yost’s international art gallery in Salem, Oregon, that’s certainly true.

In fact, monkey business at Yost’s Alessandro's Galleria has brought about an important connection between two international animal activists—along with the generous donation of artwork by artist Schim Schimmel to Oregon Primate Rescue.

The connection began when Alessandro's Galleria recently showcased the work of Schim Schimmel, internationally renowned wildlife artist, during a fund-raiser for the Jane Goodall Institute.

In planning for the artist's reception, Yost wanted something different—perhaps a mischievous monkey to greet Schimmel in person? But when Yost’s assistant Rebecca Maitland researched local options for cute, cuddly monkeys, she discovered something entirely unexpected—she learned that Oregon Primate Rescue was located just a few miles down the road.

Polly Schultz, founder and president of Oregon Primate Rescue, a non-profit organization in Dallas, Oregon, has been doing her work since 1998—that of providing lifetime care for unwanted, orphaned, crippled or research monkeys.

When Schultz met Schimmel at the artist’s reception, a solid new friendship was formed. “I find it hard to find words to even begin to describe his work,” said Schultz. “I am absolutely in awe. As a person who is so compassionate about what I do for these monkeys, I find that Schimmel is an artist who draws the human/animal connection—he paints what I feel and see.”

In fact, Schultz and Schimmel hit it off so well and had so much in common with their commitment to wildlife preservation and rescue, that Schimmel recently donated a giclee to the Oregon Primate Rescue. 

“We’d no idea this connection was out there,” said Yost. “We were thrilled to bring Schimmel and Schultz together through Alessandro’s Galleria, and to watch as their connection continues to helping further the work of the Jane Goodall Society and Oregon Primate Rescue.”

Alessandro’s Galleria opened in 2007 in Salem, Oregon, and is proud to showcase the works of some of the world’s most collectible artists. 

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