Art for All Seasons - MKAC 2010

Another year has come and gone and it's time again for Maude Kerns Art Center (MKAC) to host "Art for All Seasons."

This is the show when members of the center can present their works.


With a nice background of guitar music...


... and some beautiful...


... and interesting works of art.


MKAC isn't limited to painting alone and has...


... some very good ceramics members...


... who create some great pieces...

... featuring excellent sculptures.


The two works on the left are paintings and the red striped building is a photograph.

The stage was filled with some great works...

... some deserving a closer look.


Looking at this grouping reminded me of a recent trip to the National gallery in Washington, D.C.
and the diverse styles of the Impressionists art on display.


Our local artists are just as diverse ...


... never missing a chance to capture a place ...

... or a face ...

... or the feeling of a moment in time.


Whether under water...


or the kick of a chorus line...


... or a fantastic vision.

The patrons are an example of life and living for enjoyment of fine company...


... and the chance to share the artist vision...


... and each others experiences.



I even had a photograph in the show, the Orange tiger lily I titled "Golden Bell" that was hung with some very fine flower paintings...

... I felt like I was in great company there...


I did see Victoria there with here art...


... and a new Plein Air artist Farley whose woman in orange was used on the publicity card from MKAC.


I enjoyed seeing Sarkis Antikajian's work painting and clay sculptures...


... and Kathy Meyer's Painted Hills was great along with Marsha's Yellow Figures and Lower right Sarkis' Iris Garden.


My friend Renee Manford was there with Randy resting on the stage and she had two great paintings in the show.


This is one of my favorite shows every year and it's a place for creativity to be nourished...


... both in the artists and in those who view their works. Every artists begins as a observer of other peoples art and this is a great place to start.

No Scrabble today

Quote of the Day

"The nice thing about the gallery shows is that without having to pay any money you can just go and see it." ~ Yoko Ono

AT MKAC donations are certainly welcome

First Friday Art Featuring Queen Slugasana

I started the night meeting my son Isaac and Nicole and we walked to the old Fenario Gallery and Art Cooperative...


... and when we arrived saw the Slug Queen of the Eugene Celebration, Queen Slugasana in the person of Jerril Nilson, posing for a group of artists...


... but this First Friday Art walk was that one day...


... she was the royal ambassador of Eugene to the crowds...


... and the artists.


There were other artists and models like this young lady sitting against the wall who was posing for two artists.


There was even a little live music...


... next to the rather interesting display.


I was walking with them to the DIVA annex and stopped to get this alley shot in very dim light...


... and a shot of a still blooming day lily...


and another plant filling huge pot on Broadway.


There was also a little street music on the square at Broadway and Willamette.


There was an interesting mural on the one world currency building ...


... and a small band playing on the street corner across from the DIVA Gallery


The Downtown Initiative for the Visual Arts (DIVA) Center is a non-profit, membership supported organization. That encourages art through shows and educational activities.

Isaac and Nicole wandered by ...


... these prints in the main room...


... very interesting works.


In another part of the gallery these women we enjoying the work of ...


... artist Kate McGee a very fine local artist whose work can be seen on her website [Click Here]


Kate's smile and attentive words also illuminated her lovely works on the walls .


Let there be light over the wine - yes these galleries help make an evening's walk a party of sorts.


Next I went to Karin Clarke's Gallery earlier this week ...


I had been by Karin Clark's Gallery earlier this week and viewed the work of Anne Kutka McCosh.


The works were stark and fascinating art with few frills but loads of character and artistic skill.


There were also other works that lit up the room with color.


Across the street at the Clarke Annex the room was filled mostly with the work of Adam Grosowsky ...


... and I love his work for the color and contrast...


... even in black and white his work exudes color.


Vern showed up a little later and had a nice conversation with a student doing art research...


... before we walked over to Jacobs Gallery where I ran into some familiar faces; Leslie Ford, Rhia Irvine, Jerril Nilson A.K.A. Queen Slugasana and Bets Cole posed for me at Jacobs gallery...


... and later I caught Bets listening to the pottery on display.


Aside from the fun of meeting people the art walk also has some great art to look at or buy...


... and there are also some striking examples of the artist's soul whether its in blue, black, tan ...


... or brilliant red.


There is also the downtown streets and even in the darkness and with a long shaky exposure...


... I'm not shy about showing how much I try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear...


... or lighten the darkness ...


or even shoot the lights that show us the path in darkness.


So vern and I left the Jacobs Gallery for Opus 7 formally Opus 6...


... where a band was playing ...


... and plans for the future hung on the wall ...


... and the Slug Queen was holding court.


Opus 7 is a great venue with a large variety of arts...


... and always a big crowd and lots of conversation...


... and colors that scream...


... and shout ...


...and dance.


The chocolate was flowing...


... as customers and patrons viewed the art ...


... and photographers snapped and shot...


... sometimes becoming as much art as what hung on the walls...


... and the band played on behind the sign asking, "Where is the Love"

Finally it was time to go for coffee with Renee, Vern and Ron a Zenon's and catch up on all the months we were away on our trip.

No Scrabble game tonight but we finally watched "Rabbit Proof Fence" thanks to Netflix instant view. Excellent movie to watch.

Quote of the Day ~

Bob Dylan impresses me about as much as... well, I was gonna say a slug but I like slugs. ~ Don Van Vliet A.K.A. Captain Beefheart

John Lennon and Paul McCartney were known as great admirers of Beefheart