Winter is the time when there is a hush of solitude…whisperings of a winter mind. The weather is cold, the ground hard, bears hibernate, and the natural world has pulled in for a winter’s nap. The season of chill and darkness is upon us and […]
The American West—Sweeping plains, dusty wooden steps, tumbleweeds tossing across arid soil, hot colored sunsets, and the sound of hooves galloping all conjure up romantic images known as the American West. There’s a saying that cowboys don’t bathe, they just dust off. The cowboy is a folk hero. He tips his Stetson to the golden […]
Welcome Autumn—Like a sundial between seasons, there is something about autumn that resonates deep down within our hearts. A kaleidoscopic sphere of color emerges, crisp air tingles our cheeks, and the rustling of leaves reminds me we are all just dancing in the wind. Since ancient times, October has been viewed as the veil between […]
Collage comes from the French verb “colle,” meaning “to glue or to stick together.” A collage describes a piece of art, sometimes music, that is combined from separate forms, pictures, shapes, paper, fabric, and other materials to combine a whole piece that works together. It can be found in objects, coins, shells, textiles, paper and […]
Summer is for the Birds—Summer is flying by. There’s an old saying, “Further in summer than the birds,” which basically refers to the time of later summer, the days of heat, when buzzing bugs are more prevalent than the sweet birdsong of early summer. It’s really hard to believe it’s August.
However, in the main gallery […]
What’s On View?—Here in the Rogue Valley, the vibrant fresh greens, reds, pinks, and purples of spring are beginning to fade into the pastels and muted tones of summer. Yet there are rich and saturated hues that come about as other colors fade, such as the rich gold of dried grasses, and the alpenglow of […]
What Is Given – by Ralph Murre
The likelihood of finding strawberries
tiny and wild and sweet
around your ankles
on any given day
is not great
but sometimes
people find strawberries
right where they are standing
just because it is their turn
to be given a taste
of something wild and sweet.
The moon in the month of June was called the Strawberry Moon by Native […]
Welcome May… one of my favorite months in mountainous Southern Oregon. There are monumental clouds as rain still filters through, yet, as the days get longer and the breeze warms up, evenings are perfect for slow strolls. With May come flowers—from all those April showers—and the sense of place we brought forth last month at […]
April at Art Presence Art Center celebrates the meaning of sense of place through art, word, and the vine. Filled with timeless experiences, memories, and community distinctiveness, a sense of place is what draws people in, enhances emotional attachment, keeps people there, or has them coming back for more. In other words, it evokes a […]
In February I hung out my colorful teapots flag. It’s early this year. Usually not till March. But, I needed color out my kitchen window. Yet it always happens when I hang this flag that I think of tea, tea parties, and then come the six impossible things before breakfast. Curiouser and curiouser I become.
Then […]
February begins the season of sap. As the earth begins to feel a shift that can often go unnoticed in the still wintery landscape, below, deep in the land, a stirring in the roots begins. Rabbi Jill Hammer writes, “The sap in the trees begins to rise, and life runs through all the veins of […]
Many people ask, Why take a wine tour? Can’t I just drive myself? With 80+ registered wineries throughout the Southern Oregon AVA (American Viticultural Area), the better question to ask is, Where do I want to go and who do I trust to get me there and back? A designated driver is always a good […]
For many of us living in Southern Oregon, we have always known the area was destined for great things. The natural beauty of the landscape, the spirit of place and solidarity of community are the heart of our quality of life. It is what brings people here and keeps most from leaving. And until recently, […]