“Small Treasures” Exhibit Continues – by Hannah West

State of the Art Presence Art Center – December 2014/January 2015

Americans for the Arts (www.americansforthearts.org) Ten Reasons to Support the Arts, Reason #5: “Arts drive tourism. Arts travelers are ideal tourists, staying longer and spending more to seek-out authentic cultural experiences. The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that the percentage of international travelers, including museum visits, on their trip has grown steadily since 2003 (18 to 24 percent). The share attending concerts and theater performances has grown from 14 to 17 percent since 2003.”

We hope you’ve been enjoying Art Presence Art Center’s “Small Treasures” exhibit; if you haven’t made it by the gallery yet, please stop in and consider giving the gift of art to someone special this year. All pieces range in size from 4” x 6” to 10” x 14,” a collection of affordable one of-a-kind artistic treasures created by local talent, with artisan jewelry, greeting cards, ornaments, and more in our new artists gift shop. Take the artwork you purchase with you, as new works will replace them to keep the gallery full of small treasures throughout the holiday shopping season. The show continues through December 28, with a reception on Saturday, December 6, from Noon to 3:00pm, following Jacksonville’s Christmas Parade.

For more creative gift options, visit our offsite exhibits:

Deanna St. Martin’s exhibit of abstract watercolors at the Medford Main Library continues through March 2015

Bill Stanton’s exhibit of impasto oil paintings continues at Pioneer Village

Dirk Siedlecki’s exhibit in the display case at the Jacksonville Library entrance, with photos and artifacts related to Jacksonville’s cemetery and pioneer history, and “Silent City on the Hill” by Bill Miller, the first book written and published about Jacksonville’s cemetery

Sue Bennett’s show of paintings in the Jacksonville Library’s Naversen Room continues

Our next exhibit, “Naked Art,” will give art enthusiasts a chance to add more to their collections for less by purchasing unframed, original art by member artists. The show opens January 9 and continues through March 1, with a reception on Saturday, January 10, from Noon to 3:00pm.

Schedule our conference room for your class, workshop or meeting! For more information and to reserve a date, please contact Anne at 541-941-7057 or email her via the contact form on our website, www.art-presence.org.

“Living the Different Colors of Life” – Tonia Davis

“Mariposa” by Dave Mathewson