It seems absolutely impossible that three communities so close to us have been decimated to such a horrific degree. Taking a drive down Hwy 99, I found myself weeping and totally shocked by the devastation. I tried to put myself in the place of someone having to evacuate or, God forbid, lose their home. For […]
Art Presence Art Center is already making plans for member exhibits and guest artists in 2021. Look for virtual tours of all the exhibits in the new year, compensating for our inability to have receptions to celebrate the artists.
The City of Jacksonville has again supported us with a three-year lease. This enables us to take […]
“Without the arts, without music, without dance, without drama, without photography, the civil rights movement would have been like a bird without wings.” ~Senator John Lewis
This is a transition month for our art exhibitions, and you can see a wide variety of art as they change over. Our Summer Daze member show and […]
Art Presence Art Center’s Summer Daze show of member artwork continues on display through September 13. It’s a fantastic show, so please make sure to come in to view this collection. Remember that the gallery is open an extra day through the end of September, so you can stop by any Thursday, Friday, Saturday or […]
Art Presence Art Center reopens in July! With the Four “C’s”—Close Contact, Confined Spaces, Crowds and Choices—in mind, we will use CDC guidelines to welcome patrons for an art experience extraordinaire. We’re eager to return to the gallery and share the creative delights our members offer!
The Artists Workshop began over 35 years ago by a […]
Art Presence Art Center’s Board and Director have made the decision to remain closed through the month of June. Watching and reading about the devastation in countries and states that are either noncompliant or simply unable to distance themselves from one another shows how well we in Oregon and Jackson County have done.
What we need […]
For March 2020, Art Presence presents Off the Beaten Path, a themed exhibit of member artworks. The show opens on Friday, March 6, and closes on Sunday, April 26.
Our guest exhibit is an exhibition of works by the Siskiyou Woodcraft Guild, running March 6–29. The Siskiyou Woodcraft Guild—co-founded in 1980 by Tom Phillips, at that […]
We know that other kinds of animals make tools, other kinds of animals may have some kind of language. We know that other animals have extremely complex social organizations. I think we can see art as being one of the only ways that we can imagine humans to be distinctively different. Art can be seen […]
I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free. ~ Michelangelo
Holiday Treasures, our annual holiday shopping show, continues every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 29! Come to Art Presence to find inspiring gifts of art for the extra-special and hard-to-shop-for people on your gift-giving list. Bring your art purchases […]
“The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” ~Francis Bacon (better known as the father of empiricism and for developing the scientific method)
November-December 2019 Exhibition, Holiday Treasures—Our annual holiday shopping show is here! When you head out to buy gifts for the special people in your life, stop by Art Presence first […]
The “October Imaginarium” art show at Art Presence Art Center is celebrating its 6th year! This has become one of the gallery’s most popular exhibits, with a new theme each year. This year’s theme is Mischief & Magic. Inspired by Halloween and the return of autumn, artists create whimsical, thought-provoking, out-of-the-mainstream art that conjures up […]
“Art does not reproduce what we see, art makes us see.” ~ Paul Klee
Our new member show, “Colors of Autumn,“ opens Friday, September 6 and remains on display until Sunday, September 29. We are delighted to feature the talented Lane Hall, our guest artist for September, in a show of […]
Jacksonville is proud to present its ArtWalk on the Second Saturday of each month through October. Art changes everything, improving creativity, critical thinking, communication and academic performance.
Participating venues will treat you to unique pieces that will amaze and delight you, and there will be wine and music. This is such a great way to […]
Celestial Journeys, our show of art in a cosmic theme by Art Presence member artists, opens in the main gallery on Friday, July 5. Our guest exhibit for July is Jacksonville City Council member Ken Gregg, who shows images from his newly published small coffee table book, “A Year in Jacksonville, A Story in Photographs.”
ArtWalk is BACK-—The NEW Second Saturday Jacksonville ArtWalk starts on June 8, from 5:00-7:00pm! Our survey of downtown business owners came back with an overwhelmingly positive response to the return of the artwalk. Therefore we are moving forward with a second Saturday artwalk each month, with music, wine tasting, and art demonstrations throughout the downtown area. Just look […]
An Art Walk Ahead?—Art Presence Art Center, Miner’s Bazaar, and more are working toward an Art Amble revival! We still have details to work out, but most California Street business owners are on board. We expect the new Jacksonville art walk to take place from 5:00-7:00pm on the second Saturday of each month.
Up and Away!—Our March-April show of uplifting art and guest exhibit of paintings by Zoe West continues through Sunday, April 28.
April is National Poetry month!—People had such fun last time that Art Presence unleashes Poets on the Loose for a second year. On Saturday, April 13, you can expect to find poets and poetry enthusiasts […]
“There is a notion that artists are born with the ability to draw. No one arrives in this world with that gift! Drawing is a skill that must be learned. It is not hard, but requires mental discipline.
“Drawing will develop a cooperative process between your mind and your eyes. The mind must relinquish the role […]
A belated Happy New Year from all the members of Art Presence Art Center. 2018 was an amazing year and 2019 looks even better, allowing us to make ART a more dynamic and visible PRESENCE in historic Jacksonville. In the front area of our gallery, we now have the Galleria, where we showcase handmade works […]
Here is the dark tree
Denuded now of leaves
But a million stars
~Anne Brooke
December 2018 Exhibitions
Holiday Treasures—Our annual holiday shopping show continues every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 30! Stop by the gallery on your way out and consider an inspiring gift of art. Come back on your way home to pick up […]
November 2018 Exhibition: Holiday Treasures—Our annual holiday shopping show returns! When you head out to buy gifts for the special ones in your life, stop in the gallery first to consider a gift of art. Then come by on your way home to find an inspiring gift for those hard-to-shop-for loved ones. Unlike most shows, […]
October Imaginarium: Bewitched & Beguiled—After a smoky, searing summer, Fall is finally here and the October Imaginarium is back, too! We called to regional artists for art in a “Bewitched & Beguiled” theme and we’re thrilled with the works they have submitted so far! The show opens Friday, October 5 and continues every Friday, Saturday […]
September 2018 Exhibitions
Jacksonville: People, Places and Things—The member artists of Art Presence Art Center are back after a long hiatus during which local plein air works reveled in the gallery’s spotlight. This month’s display of member artworks focuses on a Jacksonville theme and we look forward to sharing with you their many appealing renditions of […]
There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond
the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments
of our greatest wisdom. If one could recall his vision by some sign…
It was in this hope that the arts were invented. […]
ART PRESENCE IS ON HIATUS THROUGH THE END OF AUGUST 2018
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
~ Thomas Merton
“You use a glass mirror to see your face; you use works of art to see your soul.”
~ George Bernard Shaw
Southern Oregon Plein Air 2018-—We hope you were able to […]
The surface of a print can never match the luscious textural variations of a painting. Whether created on canvas, wood, or mottled watercolor paper, original paintings have a touchable quality that sets them apart.
When you choose an original piece of artwork and bring it into your personal space, it becomes a focal point. Whether your […]
An art lover will often say to an artist, “If you ever make a print of that painting, I would love to buy it.” Not encouraging words for one who earns their living by creating original works…
The definition of art is “that which evokes an emotion,” and painters do not take this lightly, generously pouring […]
The artist membership of Art Presence Art Center is now 28 strong. We value them highly for the wonderful diversity of style, variety of technique in their respective mediums, and the unique and individual approach to creating art each artist brings to the gallery and our community.
The Poet’s Palette Continues… Art Presence invites you to […]
The Poet’s Palette—Art Presence Art Center is delighted with the works of art that have been submitted for our March-April 2018 exhibition, “The Poet’s Palette,” and we’re sure you will be, too! The show opens Friday, March 2, with a reception on Saturday, March 3 from 1:00-3:00pm, running through Sunday, April 29.
Art Gala Featuring Delores […]
Naked Art—No Mats, No Frames, Big Savings!-—Our fourth annual Naked Art show exhibit continues this month, featuring unmounted, unframed works of fine art at prices that would entice any art lover to become a collector. Take your art finds home when you purchase them. The bonus: you can use the money you’ve saved to frame […]
Grand Re-Opening!—Art Presence Art Center announces its Grand Re-Opening in December. A big thank you goes to the volunteers who helped us prepare the walls: Tony Laenen, Ginna Gordon, Debbie Earley and John Sack. Dan Hawkins—with help from Jim Earley—who prepared the walls for the sheetrock, and the subcontractors, Rob Childs, Jack Baumgarten and Tim […]
Art Presence is Renovating!—After a lot of hard work and preparation, founder Anne Brooke and Board member Arlis Duncan submitted applications for two grants, the Transient Lodging Tax Grant from the City of Jacksonville and the Haines and Friends Fund from the Haines Foundation, to support much-needed renovations to our building. Together we waited for […]
The October Imaginarium: Hats & Masks—Every year, Art Presence Art Center sends out a call to artists, challenging them to create their most imaginative work in a theme that changes annually. This year is our fifth annual Challenge, and the theme of Hats & Masks yielded many wonderfully creative pieces of art in a wide […]
Harvest-—Harvest, a one-month Art Presence member show, opens on Friday, September 1. Don’t miss our special display of abstract watercolor, acrylic and collage paintings by Dolores Ribal on the gallery’s back wall. The reception is Saturday, September 2, from 1:00-3:00pm, featuring author readings by Jacksonville wordsmiths Ginna and David Gordon. Ginna’s new novel, “Deke Interrupted,” […]
Dropping in to the cool, comfortable gallery at Art Presence Art Center will provide you with the gift of new artistic dimensions, stress reduction, and possibly a treasure to add to your collection! Stop by to view the art currently on exhibit any Friday, Saturday, or Sunday from 11:00am-5:00pm.
Artists Workshop Annual Show & Sale—The Southern […]
The creation of new objects, either real or abstract, the changing of matter such as clay, fabric or glass into something different, the association of images that reminds us of another place or time…these are talents that provide artists with a special connection to other human beings, a way […]
Summer, At Last!-—This winter has seemed especially long with all the rain that’s come down. Now that we’re all getting outside again, why not come to Art Presence Art Center’s gallery to view and consider a variety of lovely summer-themed artworks created by Art Presence member artists? The show opens on Friday, June 2 and […]
ART’clectic “Garden Party” Group Exhibition—ART’clectic takes over the gallery at Art Presence with a “Garden Party” show for May! The group offers original pieces created by sixteen of the group’s artist and artisan members, an eclectic mix of framed fine art, giclée prints, home and garden decor items and furniture, photography, pine needle baskets, textile […]
“The most precious factor in the creative life of an artist in any medium is freedom. Totalitarian, political and national leaders who seek to control or deprive the artist can strangle their work and cripple a culture. Throughout history, artists have used their creativity in times of social and political upheaval to provide a balance […]
“What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity devoid of troubling or depressing subject-matter, an art which might be for every mentality, every worker, be he business man or writer, like an appeasing influence, like a mental soother, something like a good armchair in which to rest from physical fatigue.” […]
Happy New Year!
Well, last month’s record-breaking winter storm Helena sure did put a stick in the spokes of our January reception! We hope you and everyone you love made it through the storm safely, and that you were able to attend our informal reception the following weekend.
Naked Art 2017: No Mats ~ No Frames ~ […]
Small Treasures-—Small Treasures continues through December 24. Give fine art for the holidays! As with previous Small Treasures shows, you can take your purchases with you to wrap and give. Artists continue restocking their offerings throughout the show, so come by the gallery when you’re shopping for gifts and see what’s new! In more exciting […]
Small Treasures—As each year begins to draw to a close, Art Presence Art Center asks our members to bring their small works to the gallery for our two-month holiday gift-giving show, Small Treasures. These works are locally-created, portable and affordable, making excellent gift choices for those who appreciate art and creativity…and for those who might […]
Gallerie Carnevale: A Halloween Show of Spellbinding Art—Art Presence opens the gallery to all Rogue Valley artists once again, with a fantastic exhibition of art submitted in response to our fourth-annual “October Creative Challenge.” This year’s Challenge was to create artwork with a “Gallerie Carnevale” theme, celebrating the spirit of carnival or circus with a […]
Out of the Mouths of Babes—“Okay, let me get this straight. The arts are part of the humanities which encourage us to develop our potential as humans throughout a variety of disciplines designed (among other things) to awaken our empathy, encourage individual expression and appreciation of diversity. They also alert us to our connection with […]
As school year draws near, we turn our attention to the benefits of art in education. A fresh search immediately brought a New York Times article, prepared by Park West Gallery, before us. Here are a few highlights:
“Dr. Eugene Beresin, M.D., M.A., professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and executive director at The Clay […]
After the recent passing of our dear friend and artist member, photographer Ron Moore, Ron’s wife, Dee, generously donated a number of items to benefit Art Presence Art Center. Included are a collection of Ron’s photography in a variety of sizes, beautiful photography books, bins, a high director’s chair, and much more. We will begin […]
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance.” ~Aristotle
From Paleolithic cave paintings onward, making art has been universally important to human beings. We find evidence of art in every culture everywhere, at every point in time. If, as anthropologist Ellen Dissanayake suggests, we “step outside our […]
ART’clectic Artisans Market—ART’clectic Artisans Market will be holding their spring pop-up event at Art Presence Art Center this month. The garden-themed show opens Thursday, May 5 and closes Sunday, May 29. The artisan’s market exhibit will be open every Thursday through Sunday from 11:00am to 5:00pm.
Sixteen local artists and artisans will display framed art, photography, […]
STEAM-ing Ahead for the Arts!—After 14 years of declining funds and increasing exclusion from schools, the arts were re-added to the core curriculum with the passing of the “Every Student Succeeds Act” late last December, turning STEM to STEAM! Once resources from the State of Oregon and funds from Title I and the “Assistance for […]