State of the Art Presence Art Center – March 2015

Americans for the Arts (www.americansforthearts.org) Ten Reasons to Support the Arts Reason #3: “Arts strengthen the economy. In 2014, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that the arts and culture sector represents 3.25% of the nation’s GDP—a larger share of the economy than tourism and agriculture! The nonprofit arts industry alone generates $135 billion in economic activity annually, which supports 4.1 million jobs and generates $22.3 billion in government revenue.”

“Impressions” opening March 6 and continuing through April 26—our “Impressions” show includes artworks in all media representing styles from true impressionism to artist’s impressions of various subjects in their own styles. Chat with the artists over complimentary refreshments at a reception on March 7 from 12:00-3:00pm!

Emerging in 19th-century Paris, Impressionism was characterized by visible brush strokes, open composition, and unusual visual angles. Radicals in their time, early Impressionists abandoned academic painting, with freely-brushed colors taking precedence over meticulous detail. While painting had traditionally taken place in a studio, Impressionists instead captured the transient effects of sunlight by painting “en plein air” (outdoors). Further breaking with tradition, they used short, broken brush strokes of mixed and pure unmixed color—not blended smoothly or shaded—to achieve intense color effects. Impressionism in visual art soon inspired impressionist music and literature.

Visit our new offsite exhibits for more original art created by Art Presence members:

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

Anne Brooke’s exhibit of watercolor paintings in the Jacksonville Library’s Naversen Room continues through April

Art Presence participates in a groundbreaking new organization, the Arts Alliance of Southern Oregon (AASO), through which regional visual arts leaders collaborate to cross-promote each other’s events and partner with businesses to raise awareness of arts events to residents and visitors to our area. Learn more at www.artsalliancesouthernoregon.org and keep up with the latest developments at www.facebook.com/ArtsAllianceSO!

NEW! Hone your skills in our new life drawing sessions with professional models! Instruction upon request only. Sessions take place every Monday from 1:00pm-3:00pm. $10 per session. Contact Anne Brooke at 541-941-7057 for more information and to sign up.

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

Featured image is “Apologies to Gauguin,” watercolor by Anne Brooke.