Celebrate the Arts returns to Jacksonville over Labor Day weekend, Friday, August 29th-Sunday, August 31st from 10:00am-5:00pm daily on the grounds of the historic Courthouse, near the corner of California & 5th Streets. Art Presence Art Center, also located on the courthouse grounds, will be open, featuring an exhibit of several fine artists’ paintings, photography, pottery, cards, and gifts.
Start-off your Celebrate the Arts (CTA) day enjoying treats and coffee beverages from Stim Coffee and then shop for beautifully-designed glass wine stoppers, fused glass sushi dishes, paintings, photographs, turned wood, and metal works, all perfect for decorating homes and gardens.
In addition to artwork, the show offers a time to relax and enjoy food and music including Katrina’s Tamales, Thai dishes and Peruvian food. Local musicians will play during the entire weekend and include Shybo Torres, Richard Gyro, Dave Barnes, Pegi Smith and others. Celebrate the Arts will have 68 booths offering artistic treasures from hand-painted silk clothing, pressed flower landscapes, fine gemstones, precious metals, flowers, glass jewelry, sculpture, pottery, plant stakes, birdhouses, wood toys and more!
Attendees can explore magic with henna tattooing, face painting, wearing butterfly wings, watching Josh Tempest’s mid-air suspension of transparent globes and balanced stones that will draw you near. There will be art demos by abstract painter Cammy Davis, and jeweler Lynn Whip. You can even shape-up while having fun listening to Dave Quill’s drums while checking-out Susan Frye’s custom-made exercise hoops. Drawing classes by Tony Antonides and painting lessons will also be available for those interested in learning more about their creative side.
Celebrate the Arts is sponsored by Jacksonville Community Center. For more information, visit their Facebook page at CelebrateTheArtsJacksonvilleOR or email the event coordinator at jeanena@charter.net. For those interested in staying in-town for the long weekend, please visit the Jacksonville centralized booking site at jacksonvilleoregonlodging.com for hotel and B&B availability and online reservations.