Pictured: Music of the Spheres by Ellen Tykeson in “As We See It: Six Sculptors,”

opening on February 20

In This Newsletter

• From the Executive Director
• Winter Fundraiser
• Ruth Foundation grant
• Farewell, Fred and Ann
• Annual Members Meeting Highlights: 2025 Honorees
• In the Galleries: Through February 6th: “Escape to the Forest’”; Winter Members Gallery & Gift Shop; Rolling call for Members Gallery; Upcoming: “As We See It: Six Sculptors” opens February 20; “Naturally Northwest Show” at WhitPrint through February 7th
• Jello Art Show 2026

• Calls to Artists: 2027 – 2028 Biennial Call; Gallery at the Airport show; Regional Collage Show
• Art Education: February Weekend Workshop; Spring Break Art Camps; Scholarships; Winter Weather Advisory
• Art Rescue Volunteers Sought
• Whiteaker Printmakers: Naturally Northwest through February 7th; Intro to Linocut workshop; BIG INK
• Eugene Darkroom Group: Classes
• Club Mud: Spring Sale on Sunday, March 8
• An Easy Way to Give

Our current times invite reflection, care, and connection — values that sit at the heart of arts education. At the Maude Kerns Art Center, we see every day how learning through art builds confidence, curiosity, and compassion, especially for young people discovering how to express themselves in a complex world.

Arts education is not an extra; it is essential. When students learn to draw, sculpt, print, or paint, they also learn how to observe closely, think critically, and take creative risks. They learn that their ideas matter — and that there are many ways to understand and shape the world around them.

I would like to say a special thank you to everyone who contributed to the Art Center’s year-end Winter Fundraiser. Your support ensures that the Art Center can continue our ongoing operations, bring our programs to the community, and support local artists.

Thank you for believing in the power of the arts and for helping us keep creativity accessible, vibrant, and alive throughout our community.

The Art Center’s Winter Fundraiser has had great success with over $50,100 raised so far from more than 125 donors, including 28 new donors. Thank You!

Your support helps ensure that the Art Center will continue to provide high quality and accessible arts engagement opportunities for all ages. We hope our work inspires you and we invite you to contribute to our Winter Fundraiser. Every bit helps!

There is still time to donate!

The Maude Kerns Art Center is excited to announce it has been selected to receive a Core Grant in the amount of $150,000 from the Ruth Foundation for the Arts! The Art Center will receive three installments of $50,000 across the coming three years for unrestricted operations support.

The Core program “recognizes organizations nationally that are committed to providing the resources, support, space, and connection needed for artists to thrive and engage with their communities. We support organizations that acknowledge the fullness and interconnectedness of artistic practice and whose missions are clearly rooted in the communities they serve.” 

With hearts full of gratitude, we say farewell to two long-standing Board Members, Fred Tepfer and Ann Bumb Hamilton. Fred came to the Art Center Board in September 2017, and Ann joined him the following March – more than 16 years of service combined!  We are indebted to them for their many contributions offered through Board leadership, financial and administrative savvy during the Covid pandemic, careful and professional attention to our legacy facility, and countless hours invested in fundraisers and events to generate sustainable support for our art exhibits and programs.

Thank you, Fred and Ann! You will be missed.

At the Annual Meeting on January 31, Executive Director Michael Fisher summarized some of the outstanding accomplishments of 2025:

• The Art Center membership remained strong with over 570 members.

• Grant support totaled a little over $40,000.

• Art Rescue Sale fundraiser raised over $23,000. Winter Fundraiser has raised over $51,000. Living Legacy Benefit and Campaign raised $56,800 in honor of our 75th Anniversary. Exhibit Sponsorship Committee raised $6,500.

• The Art Center provided over $48,000 in income to a roster of 25 art instructors and paid out over $38,000 in art sales to local and regional artists.

• Facilities Committee completed several projects, including rebuilding the main entrance to the Art Center’s gallery (new stairs, handrails, lighting, and landscaping). A new hand railing was also added to the office entrance ramp. Major improvements were made to the Gift Shop and Members Gallery and to the interior bathroom.



• Completed first full year of managing newly acquired Whiteaker Printmakers Studio.

We are also happy to announce the election of the 2026 Board of Directors: Louise Bishop (Co-President), Susan Castillo, Clare Feighan, Dean Lamoureux, Caroline Passerotti (Co-President), Nancy Silvers (Secretary), Cathy Simard, and Alice Strong.

Community Partner of the Year:

Rainbow Valley Design and Construction

Maude Kerns Art Center is thrilled to acknowledge Rainbow Valley Design & Construction as our 2025 Community Partner of the Year for their incredible support as the Title Sponsor of the Art Center’s “75th Anniversary Legacy Exhibition” and Platinum Sponsor of our Living Legacy Benefit. Rainbow Valley Design & Construction will also be the Title Sponsor of the upcoming Hilary Pfeifer retrospective on display this spring. We are extremely grateful for their ongoing support of the Art Center. Thank you!



Pictured: Board member Dean Lamoureux accepts the Community Partner of the Year Award for Rainbow Valley Design and Construction

Instructor of the Year: Steve Steinaway

Artist Steve Steinaway comes to the Art Center with 15 years of experience in animation and digital media. In addition to creating character designs and original concepts for clients such as Netflix, Fox, Syfy, and SNL, he can masterfully work in a wide range of media and styles. Having recently completed his first year of teaching with the Art Center, Steve consistently brings a vast amount of creativity, talent, and kindness to the classroom. Steve’s passion for arts education has made him beloved by students and staff alike. Steve says: "Art is a beautiful skill to show people how to look at the world from a new perspective and to offer people an escape from the day to day."

Volunteer of the Year: Tina Heffernan

Since the summer of 2024, Tina Heffernan has been a stellar volunteer at the Art Center. Formerly employed as our Community Liaison, Tina returned to Eugene after living in Denver, Colorado and plunged wholeheartedly into volunteering. She wears many hats, including gallery greeting, office assistant volunteering, publicity coordinating, and more. Tina brings an enthusiastic and energetic attitude to anything she does. She has gone the extra mile to work with the exhibits department on multiple projects such as clearing out a packed storage unit or improving gift shop displays. We are lucky to have Tina return to the local community and even luckier to have her back as our Volunteer of the Year. 

On View through February 6:

Don’t Miss “Escape to the Forest,” with paintings by Susan Applegate, Joanna Carrabbio, Marco Elliott, and Greg Navratil. The four exhibiting artists, whose work is immersed in the natural world, create distinctly personal visions of the rivers and forests of the Pacific Northwest. In a KLCC “Viz City” review, Sandy Brown Jensen comments that the gallery has been transformed into a “living, breathing ecosystem” that invites the viewer to pause and breathe. To hear the review, go to VIZ CITY. For Lookout Eugene-Springfield reporter Annie Aguiar’s coverage of the artwork of husband-and-wife team Marco Elliot and Joanna Carrabbio, visit LOOKOUT

Pictured: In the Fig Arbor by Marco Elliott in “Escape from the Forest”

Naturally Northwest at Whiteaker Printmakers

On view through February 7

Twenty-seven Print Art Northwest (PAN) artists, including Heather Halpern, Jani Hoberg, and Eric Sandgren, are partnered with 27 poets, among them Kim Stafford, Ingrid Wendt, and John Witte. The poets and artists collaborate on a series of solar plates, combining selected poems with printed elements to create a unique exhibition. The exhibit is on display through Saturday, February 7. Be sure and stop by the Whiteaker Printmakers Studio to see the prints.

Pictured: Solar plate of Andrea Hollander’s poem Wild Daylilies, with printed elements by Heather Halpern 

Winter Members Gallery & Gift Shop

On view in the Winter Members Gallery through March 20 is the work of seven artists: Kay King, Jeanne LaRae, Jan Lintz, Patti McNutt, Sally Schwader, Laure Shipley, and Sally Yost. 

Pictured: Coastal Sparkle, watercolor by Jeanne LaRae in the Winter Members Gallery

Rolling Call to Artists: The Maude Kerns Art Center is pleased to continue a search among its membership for new artists in the Maude Kerns Art Center Members Gallery & Gift Shop. What is special and sets MKAC’s Members Gallery & Gift Shop apart is that all work is by our member artists. It is a great source of pride to feature the work of our members. For the prospectus and application, please visit: MEMBERS GALLERY

Upcoming: “As We See It: Six Sculptors”

Opening on Friday, February 20, with a reception from 5 – 7 pm is “As We See It: Six Sculptors,” featuring the work of Nadya Geras-Carson, Anna Golden, Karen Meyers, Christine Paige, Ellen Tykeson, and Mary Maggs Warren. The exhibit brings together six artists who originally connected decades ago in figure sculpture classes taught at Lane Community College by sculptor Ellen Tykeson, who also exhibits her work.

Although their creative paths have strengthened and diverged over the years, the six sculptors have maintained their connection and camaraderie. “As We See It” is a celebration of their artistic journeys, their shared love of art making, and the friendships that have sustained them along the way. The exhibit is on view through March 20.

Pictured: Refuge II by Christine Paige in “As We See It”

Celebrate the rites of Spring with the Radar Angels at the 2026 Jello Art Show, Jello Jamboree on Saturday, March 28, from 5 – 8 pm. Our annual food show bash features artworks made of jello, a Tacky Food Buffet, and a performance by the Radar Angels at 7 pm. The suggested donation for the Jello Art Show, which is a fundraiser for the Art Center, is $3 per person and $5 for families.

Pictured: Radar Angels perform at the 2025 Jello Art Show

2027 – 2028 Biennial Call: Maude Kerns Art Center is currently accepting submissions for the next biennium of exhibits. Local, regional, and national artists (individuals and groups) working in 2- and 3- dimensional mediums, as well as installation art, are invited to submit their work for consideration. Solo, group, and/or themed shows will be curated based on the content, quality, and number of submissions. Established, mid-career, and emerging artists are encouraged to apply. The deadline for submissions is Sunday, May 3, 2026, at 11:59 MST. Artists may submit online or by mail. Mail applications must be postmarked by May 2. There is a $35 application fee. To apply: BIENNIAL CALL

 “Fruit of Our Labors” at The Gallery at the Airport, April 16 – July 7: MKAC Member Artists are invited to interpret this new twist to the common phrase, “fruit of our labors,” and contemplate its meaning, especially as it relates to the bounty of the Willamette Valley and its people. Subject matter that is realistic, imagined, or abstract is welcome. Artwork will be selected based on how it fits with the theme of the show, the aesthetic quality of the work, the intention of the work, and the skill and proficiency in the use of the medium.

This call is open to all mediums except for video art and installations. $5 entry fee for one piece to be considered. Deadline: Sunday, March 15 at 11:59pm PST. For the complete prospectus and to apply, visit FRUIT

“Piecing It Together: A Regional Collage Exhibit”: Maude Kerns Art Center is hosting an open call for local and regional artists working in the medium of collage. The exhibition is scheduled for June 26 – July 24, 2026.

Collage has a rich history creating community. The collage community is generous and welcoming while demonstrating what salvage, collaboration, creativity, and healing can look like. Join us to celebrate scissors, ephemera, and glue!

Entries in 2D and 3D collage in all media will be considered, including drawing, painting, digital, printmaking, textile, photography, mixed media, sculpture, as well as any other forms of assemblage and material. Deadline: Sunday, May 3 at 11:59pm PST. For the prospectus and to apply, visit COLLAGE

February's Weekend Workshops

Pulp to Paper

Saturday, February 28

1:00 – 3:30 pm

REGISTER!

Relax and get creative with the whole family during this returning favorite workshop! Learn how to transform plant pulps into beautiful paper arts, including eco-friendly seed paper that you can send to your loved ones so that they can plant it and watch it grow. With a mix of traditional paper-making techniques and playful, experimental methods, you’ll explore endless pulp possibilities.

Spring Break Art Camps

During Spring Break, March 23 – 27, the Art Center presents a half-day camp for Middle School students, ages 11 – 14 years, and a full-day camp for Youth, ages 6 – 11 years. Registration for Spring Break 2026 opens on February 5th!

Youth Art Camp

Art Through the Ages

March 23 – 27

8:30 am – 3:00 pm



Travel back in time and enjoy art history through art making! Explore some of the most influential eras in art. Get inspired to create your own masterpieces while learning from artists that have come before you! Come take a trip and learn some of art's vast history, all while continuing the tradition of art making yourself!

Middle School Art Camp

Dramatic Drawing

March 23 – 27

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Spend some time exploring your drawing style in this weeklong camp! This camp will cover the fundamentals of both drawing and illustration, allowing you to experiment with new materials while building your skills in various techniques. As your drawing skills grow, you will also learn about storytelling and the narrative tools that we can use

in art.

Scholarships

The Art Center currently offers scholarships for 50% of the cost of tuition for classes. Scholarships are available for all age groups through the Susi Larsen & Cameron Serbu Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Madeleine Christenson Scholarship Fund.

To be considered, applicants must fill out the application prior to registration and payment. You can apply today on our website.

In the event of bad weather, the Art Center will close if the 4-J School District is closed. Classes for that day will be cancelled, and a make-up session will be held at a later date. If the 4-J School District is delayed, all Art Center classes before 12 pm will be cancelled. Please visit our website after 12 pm on the day in question to check for afternoon and evening classes.

Art Rescue is looking for volunteers for this popular and FUN! fundraiser in these capacities: Publicity, Pricing, Volunteer Coordination, and Graphic Design – now through October. Setup and Sales Personnel – late September and early October.

For more details, send an email with ART RESCUE in the subject line to: staff@mkartcenter.org. Please tell us your name, area of interest, and preferred method of contact.

Club Mud hosts its annual Spring Sale on Sunday, March 8, from 9 am – 4 pm. Look for an amazing assortment of clay arts, both pottery and sculpture, functional and decorative, seconds and top-of-the-line treasures. There will be prices to match every pocketbook. You’ll find gifts for your friends and loved ones and maybe even your own piece of handmade pottery to cherish.  

Naturally Northwest Show through Saturday, February 7

Twenty-seven Print Art Northwest (PAN) artists are partnered with 27 poets to collaborate on a series of solar plates, combining selected poems with printed elements to create a unique exhibition. 

Intro to Linocut Workshop

Saturday and Sunday, February 21 & 22

10 am – 3 pm

Join Paz Méndez for his Intro to Linocut Workshop. This workshop covers all the basics of linocut. Participants will get two linocut blocks to carve, and Paz will teach you the process from start to finish. Participants have the option to print in black and white or color blend-rolls. This workshop always fills up fast, so grab your seat early!

Register for Intro to Linocut Here!

There's still time to sign up for BIG INK!

April 18 & 19, 9 am – 5 pm

Sign up to print a large-scale woodcut at Whiteaker Printmakers in April! Participants get to carve a large-scale woodblock at home and then join us at WhitPrint to print the block using the Ray Trayle Press. Scholarships are available for students. If you want to carve, we recommend signing up earlier to give yourself time to do so. Check the link to learn more and sign up! BIG INK WORKSHOP



If you're interested in seeing the printing process, stop by the Whiteaker Printmakers Studio on April 18 and April 19 to watch the Ray Trayle press in action. Viewing the process is free and open to the public!

Eugene Darkroom group continues to offer classes in film camera use and darkroom processes. Their February sessions are nearly filled, with spaces still available only for the Manual Camera Function class on Thursday, Feb 5th, from 6 to 8 pm.

The next classes are planned for May and, in addition to Manual Camera Function, will include sessions in Film Processing and Darkroom Printing. Stay tuned for specific dates! Visit EDG Classes page for more info and to register.  

We have partnered with Market of Choice to provide you an easy way to support the Art Center! It will only take a moment of your time to register and will help every time that you shop to support our programs and facility.

Here’s how:

Register your credit card. Each time that you use your card at any Market of Choice, Maude Kerns Art Center will receive 4% of your purchase price! Simply sign up at: eScrip Market of Choice and you will be prompted on how to enroll.

Thanks for all that you do to support the Maude Kerns Art Center. It makes a difference!

We want to thank the many volunteers, Board members, Staff, Art Center friends, and patrons who contributed their time, talents, and treasure for the benefit of Maude Kerns Art Center.