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 heart and soul into their work. Your support helps nurture our talented creatives and enables the gallery to continue its unique mission of providing art to our community.

Handmade paintings, pottery, glass, weavings, mosaics, handmade furniture, fabric, photography—all reflect the unique personality of their maker, bringing richness and personality to the home. Assembly-line, factory-made, slick-printed items cannot compete with original works made with such loving care.

No doubt, buying a print is less expensive than purchasing the original, but there is much to be said for owning a one-of-a-kind work of art! We invite you to visit Art Presence to peruse the paintings and choose one to enrich your home.

Gardens Gone Wild!—Our artists offer florals and paintings of gardens to brighten your environment in a new exhibition, “Gardens Gone Wild.” The show opens May 4, with a reception on Saturday, May 5, from 1:00-3:00pm, and continuing through June 17. Join us and enjoy live music by Minstrel Streams and conversation with the creators as you view the new works in the gallery.

Free Concert Series—Minstrel Streams will perform a series of free concerts at Art Presence this year. Sergey Oreshkin—whose blog, Ascentor, offers music reviews—says Minstrel Streams “speaks the language of music…you just have to listen to hear words in your heart…weaving subtle and elegant sound patterns through threads of classical, Baroque, Renaissance, Romanticism, and Celtic folk music.” Matt and Rebecca Stuart dedicate their lives and talent to “sharing the passionate language of music, from our hearts to yours.” Don’t miss their musical performances, taking place on Sundays from 2:00-4:00pm on June 3, August 12, October 14, and December 9.

New Member ~ New Career—Art Presence introduces painter, sculptor and traditional animator Phillip Young. After completing his service in the US Army—working as an Army artist—and earning his undergraduate degree in Illustration through the G.I. Bill, he was hired as a trainee animator by Disney Studios in Burbank, CA. Phillip progressed to Feature Animator, earning seventeen screen credits in some of Disney’s most successful animated features. Later, he earned his Master’s in Sequential Art while teaching animation, fine art and illustration. Now he has found his way back to painting, with a focus on scenic, figurative and mythological themes. We’re confident you will admire Phillip’s paintings!

Art Presence Offsite Exhibits—Exhibit of paintings by Delores Ribal is on display at Pioneer Village through September.

Reserve our upstairs room for your class, workshop or meeting! Contact Anne Brooke at 541-941-7057. As always, you can find the above information and more on our website, https://art-presence.org.

Featured image is “Broken Rocks” oil painting by Phillip Young.