Celebrating Arts on the Green-  ~ Friday-Sunday ~ Labor Day Weekend ~

 Imagine three days with 75 artists, musicians, and farm-to-festival foods on the Jacksonville, Oregon Historic Courthouse lawn canopied by beautiful trees. Join us Friday, August 31st, 11AM-6PM, Saturday and Sunday September 1st & 2nd, 10AM-5PM,  206 North 5th Street, Jacksonville for the 16th annual Jacksonville Celebrates the Arts … An exciting, yet relaxing, transition from Summer to Fall.

Artists and artistic crafters from throughout the Rogue and Illinois Valleys and the Pacific Northwest will present a variety of works for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. Art demonstrations will be at the booths of artists Tony Antonides doing water color painting; Chris Maqueira with pressed-flower jewelry;  fashion by Braunda GilChrist; mixed-media abstract painting by Cammy Davis; Terry Davis decorating gourds; Loretta Justice and John Calabrese doing leather work and painting; Joyce Moreno knitting; and Susan Frey with custom-fit hoops for fitness. Bobbie Schultz will be doing pet portraits, and Colleen Aho creating caricatures.

 Art and artists featured at this year’s celebration include painters Pegi Smith, Alx Fox, Linda Grummon, and Deitz Vilks’  water, oil, and acrylic paintings; wildlife and local photography by David Irwin, Ron Moore, Roxy Barnett, and author Hawk Starkey; pottery by Michael Kaplenk, hand-crafted silver, gemstone, flower & glass jewelry including Gail O’Dell, Lynn Staton, and Tina Barry; turned-wood by Don Leach; stone work; garden art; hand-made soaps and lotions; paper art; fashions from silk to knitted wears from local alpaca farms; dolls from recycled jeans, beautifully-designed hats and accessories; incredible glassware capturing colors in the sunlight; decorated gourds; custom wooden patio furniture, metal works; birdhouses; delicate landscapes from pressed plants and flowers; and colorful flying pigs.

 The Art Presence Gallery will also be open in the adjacent Historic Jail building featuring Anne Brooke and several fine artists’ works for your enjoyment and purchase. This is a wonderful time to see the transition this building has undergone from turn-of-the-last-century county jail, to children’s museum, to Art Presence’ stunning gallery.

 Musicians include singers/songwriters Frankie Hernandez – Latin on trumpet; Kalea Hammond – Jazz on piano, Shybo Torres – Folk on guitar & flute; Dave Barnes & Jeff Judkins on guitar; mandolin, and ukulele; Richard Gyuro – on accordion uncommon; Butch Martin – Country on guitar.

Food items will be offered for sale including Chef Kristen Lyon’s Farm to Festival breakfast bagels and sandwiches, Jolie’s chicken bento, Italian ice, and fresh-roasted nuts.

This annual fund raiser benefits the expansion of Jacksonville’s Community Center. More info: 541 899-1121, jeanena@charter.net or facebook: Jacksonville Celebrates the Arts.

We invite you to come to Jacksonville for the day or stay for the weekend. Enjoy Britt’s Friday evening performance on the hill with Brandy Carlile’s pop/folk music, and pre-concert with The Blank Notes. Enjoy tours, hiking, dining, wine tasting, shopping, and lodging. Or just enjoy our hospitality while relaxing in our small town with big atmosphere.

For great information on Jacksonville, visit www.jacksonvilleoregon.com.