From an operatic baritone to a bit and spur craftsman to everything in between, Oregon Art Beat is an Emmy award winning weekly television series produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). It profiles artists, musicians, and artisans, and suggests upcoming events. As Executive Producer Jeff Douglas explained, "The purpose of Oregon Art Beat is to introduce people to the arts and cultural events happening in the community. We know we've accomplished our mission if, after watching the show, viewers get involved."

The People Behind Oregon Art Beat

Greg Bond

As a senior staff videographer and editor with OPB, Greg Bond has worked on several local programs including Oregon Field Guide and Oregon Art Beat. His recent documentary work includes a local production about physician-assisted suicide, an international/national production on West Point, and a series on artists called Works in Progress for the Annenberg Foundation.

Greg has contributed toward stories for the News Hour with Jim Lehrer as well as National Education program videos that accompany school texts that teach French and Spanish to students. Bond's background is in television news (KATU), and he's experienced in medical videography/photography as well. He's proud to be a native Oregonian with a degree in journalism from the University of Oregon and AA degree from Bellevue Community College.

KC Cowan

Co-host and segment producer, KC Cowan has been a part of Oregon Art Beat since it began in 2000. However, she is well known to many Oregonians from her years as a news reporter at KGW-TV and KXL radio. She also hosted many Pledge events for OPB through the years.

Since coming to OPB full time, KC has added an Emmy award to her shelf and many pieces of art to her walls! She says that's the only bad thing about her job — she wants to buy something from every artist she features!

Jeff Douglas

You may know his voice as narrator of many of the television productions at OPB, or from his nine years as a reporter on the popular Oregon Field Guide. Jeff Douglas, Oregon Art Beat's Executive Producer, came to OPB from KGW-TV news where he spent twelve years. As one of two founders of KINK radio, Douglas served as program director for three years before taking over as general manager.

As Director of Local Production at OPB, Jeff Douglas has a strong commitment to keeping the "Oregon" in Oregon Public Broadcasting. On the few days he has any free time, Douglas takes one of his three canoes and explores Oregon's diverse waterways.

Jessica Martin

With over 15 years as a writer and producer for OPB, Jessica Martin has participated in numerous local and national productions, many of them award winning. Her varied repertoire includes four years with each Oregon Field Guide covering outdoor subjects and with PBS's The Collectors, a highly regarded national show about antiques and collectibles. Martin was series producer for Neat Stuff, the first co-production of PBS and cable, which aired on The Learning Channel.

Jessica's Emmy-nominated Growing Up and Growing Old: Caring for our Parents evolved into The Way Home documentary, which won a Freddy at the International Health and Medical Media Awards. She further attained the Helen Hayes Award for best all-around production at that awards ceremony. With Oregon Art Beat, Martin has contributed stories from accordion players to violinists, and has a regional Emmy for one of her submissions. Prior to OPB, Martin worked in radio and television in Oregon and was educated at the University of Oregon in film, broadcasting, and writing.

Katrina Sarson

Although she's new to Art Beat and OPB, Katrina has worked in television production for more than 15 years, starting at Chicago's PBS station (WTTW) and spending more than a decade as an independent producer in Illinois, Colorado and Oregon. Katrina has produced and written for PBS, HGTV, Food Network, Fine Living Network, ESPN and many others. Her interest in education and media includes a Masters in Education (Technology in Education); and she has taught media literacy skills to elementary and middle school students in the Portland Public Schools for the past three years. She enjoys living in Portland, especially hiking in Forest Park, eating locally grown food, and attending the Jazz Festival every year.

Tom Shrider

Videographer Tom Shrider has worked at OPB since 1980, and has seen it change from a sleepy local station to a nationally known production house. He won a regional Emmy in 2001 for his videography and editing on The Oregon Story: Rural.com about Halfway, Oregon. He loves gardening and travel.