Passion is any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, an outburst of strong desire…the dictionary has twelve answers to define this word. We are all now in the throes of intense and fervid feelings as we have faced this pandemic and political strife. Art Presence Art Center has given us all a place to enjoy our passion for the arts, to redirect our daily lives for a few moments of bliss, about history, color, process, beauty, skill. Just the diversion one needs to “stomp” on the woes of today.

The gallery is now open on a limited basis. February hours are 1:00-5:00pm every Friday and Saturday. We carefully follow all CDC guidelines, so social distancing and masks are required and hand sanitizer is available. You can still contact Anne Brooke at 541-941-7057 to schedule a private gallery viewing. A virtual tour of the exhibition will be available at https://art-presence.org and the gallery’s Facebook page. You can also view our virtual tours on the Jacksonville Review’s website. Look for the Art Presence Art Center Virtual Tour image link in the sidebar of their website, https://jacksonvillereview.com, with another link under Art in the main menu.

~Anne Brooke, Director, Art Presence Art Center

This month’s Guest Exhibit is The Power of Pastel, a juried show of paintings by members of the Pastel Artists of Oregon (PAO). The show opens Friday, February 5 and remains on display through Sunday, February 28. PAO has more than 100 members from across Oregon. The exhibition, curated by noted local artist, Sue Bennett, showcases over 30 works by 21 artists.

The Power of Pastel celebrates the centuries-old art of pastel painting. Pastels are pigment held together with a binder in stick form. Pastel paintings are framed under glass to preserve the surface. Pastel paintings by masters such as Maurice Quentin de la Tour (1700s), Edgar Degas, James Abbott McNeil Whistler, William Merritt Chase (1800s), and Mary Cassatt (1900s) stand the test of time, with their colors remaining vibrant to this day.

This year, Art Presence adds Zoom Room Local Author Readings to its growing list of online offerings. Join us at 5:00pm on the second Friday of each month to hear local authors read excerpts from their books; you can ask questions via the chat box.

On February 12, we present our first Art Presence Zoom Room Reading with Christin Lore Weber reading from her new novel, No This But This. Visit art-presence.org for reservations. Christin Lore Weber is an award-winning multi-genre author who lives and writes in the Upper Applegate mountains. Weber was an LA Times “Best Books of 2000” author, Independent Bookstores’ “Book Sense 76” pick, and Publisher’s Weekly “First Fiction” choice, among others. She has written seventeen published books, and this is her sixth novel.

Featured image: “Breaking Through,” pastel by Janis Ellison