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 memories of costumes and haunted houses and running giddily through the dark with friends. It’s an event not to be missed! And, along with the gallery full of visual treats, there will be a bowl of treats on the counter for those of you who secretly wish you could still go trick-or-treating.

Imaginarium opens Friday, October 4 and continues through Sunday, October 27. About thirty artists—twenty Art Presence members and additional working artists from Southern Oregon—offer works they created in response to our October Creative Challenge. On display on the back wall is our Palette Paint-Off, for which we invited artists to create magical, mischievous artwork on artists’ palettes.

Art Presence invites you to a spellbinding reception for the artists on Saturday, October 5, from 1:00-4:00pm. At the reception, you will find Jacksonville author Sharon Mehdi available for numerology readings, a Selfie Station, live music by Martin Ball, and hors d’oeuvres and wine to enjoy along with the fun surrounding the show.

We would like to congratulate Art Presence member, Mark Daucher, whose beautiful graphic image of persimmons appears on the cover of this month’s Review! You can see more of his work in this month’s show.

Saturday, October 12, from 5:00-7:30pm, will be the last Jacksonville Second Saturday ArtWalk until next spring. Come to the gallery for a special demonstration by Patricia Wormuth and let the tricky headless scarecrow paint your portrait in a reprise of the Imaginarium Selfie Station. Don’t miss it!

Featured image: “Canyon of Lost Souls” by Zoe West