AS SUMMER turns to fall, we have a lot of exciting events to share with you, from perky pastels to fantastic fluid art, and our popular annual Y’art Sale. Mark your calendar for fun…
Y’art Sale Returns September 19th!—Last year’s annual Y’art Sale fundraiser was such […]
THINGS ARE getting wonderfully “sketchy” this August! We’re celebrating the art of the moment with the Urban Sketchers on our Guest Artist wall and highlighting the vibrant works of our Member Artist spotlight. Whether you’re looking to admire our beautiful gallery or dive into a […]
THE NATION IS TURNING 250, and we’re throwing an epic celebration of Rogue Valley art to match! Kick-off your holiday with a bang at our July 4th opening reception. From stunning galleries to hands-on workshops, Art Presence is the place to be this month. Dive […]
DIVE INTO A WORLD of creativity this June! Whether you’re a fan of breathtaking photography, looking for unique gifts, or ready to get your hands dirty with new skills, we have something spectacular waiting for you. Here’s what’s happening at your favorite local gallery.
Ultimate Summer […]
GO WILD this May at Art Presence! Our gallery is transforming into a vibrant sanctuary for creatures great and small. From our stunning Guest Artist wall to our celebrated Member Artist of the Month, you’ll find beasts of all kinds on the prowl. Plus, dive […]
GET READY for exciting adventures in our main and gift galleries, as well as our classroom this month. The main gallery returns with an exceptional Guest Artist and one of our outstanding Member Artists. We’re also offering some fun hands-on workshops designed to spark your […]
THERE’S A LOT OF NEW ART at the gallery this month, including our Guest Artist exhibition as we welcome talented young artists from North Medford High and feature one of our Member Artist’s photography…and some fun classes. Come check out all the fresh goings-on at […]
FOLLOWING a successful Studio Sale in January, February at Art Presence promises a schedule full of exciting activities. We are delighted to announce that San Francisco Bay Area artist Kevin Yeh will be our first guest artist, in collaboration with SOCCA’s Lunar New Year celebration. In addition to […]
GET READY for a creative month at our gallery and art center. We’ll continue to feature the “Gathering of Angels” show and offer exciting hands-on activities. Our Gift Gallery is also stocked with unique, one-of-a-kind gift ideas.
A Season of Giving—Be sure to stop by our […]
THE HOLIDAYS are in the air, and you know what that means at Art Presence: it’s time for our “Gathering of Angels” show! Step into an extra-special time at the gallery to immerse yourself in stunning art creations and discover unique gifts. Plus, there’s a […]
PREPARE FOR A MONTH OF ENCHANTMENT and artistry at Art Presence! October brings back our beloved annual tradition, The Imaginarium, alongside a captivating lineup of hands-on workshops and more. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world where creativity knows no bounds.
The Imaginarium: A Journey into Fall and […]
AS EARTH WIND & FIRE recently sang on the Britt stage, We’re dancin’ in September with new artists and a bunch of fun and educational events as the days cool. First, we’re holding a special “Y’art Sale” for a great cause.
Y’art Sale: September 20th—We’re holding our […]
AUGUST IS HERE, and it’s time to crank up your creative vibes at Art Presence! We’ve got a whole garden of artistic awesomeness waiting for you, from dazzling textile art to hands-on classes and even a super cool “Y’art Sale” for a great cause.
Your Old […]
SUMMER HAS ARRIVED and historic Jacksonville is buzzing with energy, offering everything from thrilling Britt concerts to charming wine trolley tours and unique downtown shopping experiences. But the real heart of the action? The Art Presence Art Center, where a non-stop celebration of creativity awaits!
Guest Artist: Diana Rasmussen, […]
FEELING THE ENERGY? We sure are. June is bursting with creativity and exciting events at Art Presence Art Center. From incredible guest artists to hands-on workshops and a whimsical Gift Gallery theme, there’s something for everyone to discover and enjoy. Come by our wonderful art […]
MAY AT ART PRESENCE ART CENTER is buzzing! Opening Receptions are packed, Messy Hands classes are expanding with new activities, and the After School Art Club is filling up. This month, a Jacksonville-themed open call showcases diverse artists. Join us for the Opening Reception on May 3rd.
Guest Artists […]
APRIL SHOWERS bring more than just rain—they bring a vibrant celebration of art to Jacksonville’s beloved non-profit gallery! This month, prepare to be inspired by a captivating guest artist, a spotlight on a talented member artist, and an exciting call to artists for a special […]
SPRING IS IN THE AIR, and Jacksonville is bursting with new life and creativity! Come experience the artistic vibrancy of our city and immerse yourself in the beauty of local art at Art Presence, Jacksonville’s non-profit art gallery.
March Guest Artist: Susan Migliore—Our Guest Artist wall […]
THE NEW YEAR IS HERE and we’re ringing it in with a burst of creativity. Come see all the exciting new artists and activities we have in store for Jacksonville and Southern Oregon this February at Art Presence!
Guest Artist Group Show: Secret Society of the Missing Fig Leaf—February […]
CAN YOU BELIEVE it’s already the holiday season? We’re so grateful to all our patrons and supporters who’ve made this past year so special. Come on in and get cozy in our gallery while enjoying both new and familiar works of art by our […]
THE ART PRESENCE FAMILY—our dedicated board, talented members, and amazing volunteers—want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Jacksonville community and art lovers across the region. Your support has been instrumental in helping our nonprofit art gallery and gift gallery flourish, connecting people through the […]
THIS OCTOBER, we’re conjuring up a gallery experience that’s anything but ordinary. Get ready for “The Imaginarium,” an open call show that promises an enchanting journey through the realms of creativity.
October Art Extravaganza: The Imaginarium—As the leaves transform into a fiery spectacle and the nights […]
HUMANS HAVE KNOWN for thousands of years that arts activities can provide healing properties. Art Presence offers lots of healthy activities in September, from enjoying the art in our gallery, socializing with arts-minded people at our monthly reception, or sitting in on an author’s talk, to more hands-on […]
IT’S HOT OUT THERE! Come visit our gallery to cool off and enjoy the amazing artwork of our members and guest artist. Even better, come join one of our Messy Hands classes or sit in on an Author Talk. Also, in the Main Gallery, our […]
THERE IS A LOT HAPPENING at Art Presence in July with a fresh Guest Artist and Member Artist of the Month, plus a talk about Ginger Rogers’ Crazy Quilt, Messy Hands, a block printing class, and a special exhibition of envelope art. Phew! Come visit […]
TEMPERATURES RISE in June, and Art Presence is heating up right along with the weather! We have lots of creative activities happening throughout June: a special exhibition of envelope art, book readings, hands-on classes, as well as new Guest and Member artists…
June Guest Artist: Catie […]
ART PRESENCE IS DELIGHTED to present a special collection that captures the historic soul of Jacksonville. Our latest exhibition is a selective showcase, featuring pieces chosen from a wide array of local artists, each bringing their unique perspective.
During the open call held in March, any artist within the […]
April Guest Artist: Andre Satie – Tiny Pictures and More—April showers bring local painter and former Member Artist Andre Satie to the Art Presence Gallery with a retrospective of her career. She loves creating “Teeny Tiny Paintings” and works at larger sizes, presenting a unique […]
THE CROCUS ARE POPPING and life is beginning to return to nature as we reflect through our featured artists this month. Both artists focus deeply on nature and its workings through amazing digital compositions and paintings. Get out and enjoy the beautiful days when they happen and stop […]
GREETINGS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ART PRESENCE, Jacksonville’s own nonprofit art center! I’d like to introduce myself as the new column composer and board member for the gallery: I’m Mike Gantenbein. Many readers may know me from my years as the marketing director for Britt, […]
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 […]
Lao Tzu says, “It is the empty space which makes a bowl useful.” A bowl is symbolic of holding, giving, offering, receiving, filling, and gifting. A bowl is open: open for possibility. A bowl can be efficient and sufficient. In Buddhism, generosity is the ground for everything else. Small kindnesses make a difference. Let’s each […]
Autumn is the traditional season of bounty, but it can also be a time to reflect on the coming season of transitional change. As artists and writers, we often find this a golden time for reveling in the beauty of nature’s most dramatic costume change. We welcome a bittersweet harmony to our lives as we […]
The influence that artists exert on each other is like a physical force, the pull of gravity of attraction or repulsion. An artist may be influenced by another artist’s technique, choice of materials, or subject matter. But when it comes to day-to-day inspiration, all artists draw from the same limitless catalogue.
Art Presence Art Center […]
Anne Brooke, founder and director of Art Presence, announced the artists’ group has hired Paula Bandy as its Executive Director. “It’s not only comforting to know, it is imperative to know, that we have the hired the very best and that our Gallery will continue to grow and prosper,” says Anne.
Bandy, who is very well-known […]
The first and most important thing of all for an artist is to have a real love of the visible world. The feelings which this evokes are the main motivation for putting brush to paper, composing images in cameras, writing a poem full of images for the senses. Making an object look like what an […]
I have a good friend who has a PhD in Color Theory. This seemed impossible to me, thinking there just couldn’t be that much to absorb, until I studied with him and learned that color is its own divine language, creating meaning through combinations and arrangement.
A certain positioning of complimentary colors can fool the eye […]
It is clear that there are similarities between the worlds of the writer and the artist. Painters exercise some of the qualities essential to good writing—the incredible power of the visual imagination, creating images—while writers use their words to create images, constructing form and color, texture, perspective, and composition. I find myself envying them as […]
Art Presence seeks a new EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. This is a leadership role and our first paid position. The successful candidate would manage a fine art gallery, gift shop, and education program 20 hours per week. They need a strong interest in the creative arts and the ability to work closely with the Board, communicating effectively […]
One definition of “Art” is that which evokes an emotion. What is it about the artist’s eye, their way of seeing, that enables them to create the sensations we feel when observing their work? The artist’s faculty of sight has been educated. Rather than taking for granted the blade of grass, the folds of cloth […]