Pictured: Artist LaVerne Krause teaches an Art Center youth class

In This Newsletter

The Art Center is thrilled to be celebrating our 75th Anniversary this year. As part of our year-long festivities, we have curated a special retrospective exhibit that tells the rich history of the Art Center and its impact in our community.

Join us on Friday, May 16th, from 5 – 7 pm for the Opening Celebration of our “Legacy: 75th Anniversary Exhibit.” The show features one piece each from 75 invited member artists, past and present, who have made a significant contribution to the Art Center over the years (1950 – 2025), as well as archival ephemera. Don’t miss your chance to see work from many of Eugene’s most accomplished artists.

Still looking for a Mother’s Day gift? Stop by the Art Center’s Gift Shop and Members Gallery, where you will find original art created by local artists and other great gift ideas, in a variety of prices, to help celebrate the mothers in your life. Summer adult class registration opens on May 23rd and classes and workshops start in early July. Get creative this summer!

Thank you for your support and I hope to see you at the Art Center!

All my best,

Michael Fisher

Executive Director

The Art Center is happy to welcome Clare Feighan to the Board of Directors. Clare has been associated with the Art Center since the early 80s and served as the Administrative Director in the late 80s and early 90s. She has a long history of working in the nonprofit world, including for Saturday Market, Public Defenders of Lane County, the YMCA, and NEDCO. Recently, Clare has been the Grant Ambassador for Lund Development Solutions, a consulting firm that helps nonprofits thrive.

Clare describes her attraction to MKAC Board service: "Attending recent MKAC fundraisers sparked an interest in spending more time with the incredible Board Members. I want to celebrate and support the dedicated Staff, and the leadership of Michael Fisher.” These days, she can be found swimming at the Y, riding her electric bike, and enjoying life with her husband, Jude McKay, a former MKAC volunteer, Board Member, and artist.

Our popular Art Rescue Sale returns October 11 & 12. We welcome donations of artworks and arty objects of all types. As you downsize and sort your collections, remember the Art Center. All donations benefit Maude Kerns Art Center 100% and are eligible for a charitable tax deduction. Please bring donations to the Art Center office during open hours: Weekdays 10:00 am – 5:30 pm and on Saturdays from 12:00 – 4:00 pm (when exhibits are on display).

Don't Miss “Beyond the Print,” on view through May 2

In this exciting exhibit, five local artists – Mika Aono, Tallmadge Doyle, Sarah Grew, Julia Oldham, and Libby Wadsworth – extend the medium of printmaking “beyond the print” through the innovative use of materials and diverse techniques, creating unique and powerful visual statements.

Pictured: Measles Virus by Sarah Grew in “Beyond the Print”

Seasonal Members Gallery & Gift Shop

The Spring Members Gallery includes the work of eleven member artists: Deb Babcock, Sarah Ciampa, Melissa Ghiglieri, Ann Bumb Hamilton, Bob Hansen, Jeanne LaRae, Patti McNutt, Rebecca Mannheimer, Sally Schwader, Melissa Sikes, and Gloria Stehley.

Work by Art Center members and Club Mud ceramicists is exhibited in the Members Gallery & Gift Shop throughout the year with artwork changing on a quarterly basis. For more information, contact Director of Exhibitions Liberty Rossel at exhibits@mkartcenter.org.

Pictured: Patterned Cloth with Citrus, acrylic, by Melissa Sikes in the Spring Members Gallery

Oregon: Rain or Shine at The Gallery at the Airport

“Oregon: Rain or Shine” is on view at The Gallery at the Airport (GATA) through July 8. The show features the work of 30 Maude Kerns Art Center member artists, including work by exhibit juror Tara Kemp. A wide variety of two- and three-dimensional mediums are represented, from Karen Russo’s dramatic ceramic sculpture, Heron Rising, to Laure Shipley’s luminous oil on canvas, a riverscape titled Peace. The Gallery at the Airport is located inside the terminal’s main lobby.

Pictured: Heron Rising, ceramic sculpture by Karen Russo in “Oregon: Rain or Shine”

Upcoming May 16: Legacy: 75th Anniversary Exhibit

“Legacy: 75th Anniversary Exhibit,” May 16 – June 20, tells the story of the Art Center over its 75-year history and celebrates the Center’s important place in the community. “Legacy” highlights single works by 75 selected artists that are among the many, many artists who have had a significant impact on the Art Center. The exhibit includes archival materials, artifacts, ephemera, and binders with memorabilia related to Art Center programs, such as the original Clothesline Sale, the Art and the Vineyard Festival, the Art for All Seasons holiday show, the Jello Art Show, and much more. The public is invited to record memories of the Art Center in a Story Booth located in the gallery.

This remarkable exhibit is a testament to the rich and varied history of the Art Center, which was founded in 1950 by a group of artists, including the Center’s namesake Maude I. Kerns. “Legacy” is held in conjunction with the year-long celebration of the Maude Kerns Art Center’s 75th Anniversary.

The Opening Celebration for the “Legacy: 75th Anniversary Exhibit” takes place on Friday, May 16, from 5 – 7 pm, with remarks by Executive Director Michael Fisher at

5:30 pm.

Pictured: Belted Armadillo by Mike Van in the “Legacy” exhibit

Mayor’s Teen Art Show, September 12 – October 3

Teen artists ages 13 – 19 years living in the greater Eugene area are invited to submit artwork for the 26th Annual Mayor’s Teen Art Show, September 12 – October 3. Original 2- and 3-dimensional media: paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics, photography, printmaking, digital art, video art, fiber art, collage, costumes or wearables, fiber art, jewelry, assemblage, etc. Work must have been done in the last 12 months. Work must be ready to display or hang (mat, frame) at the time of exhibit. Deadline is Sunday, June 1, 2025, at 11:59 pm. To apply, visit: TEEN ART

Día de los Muertos Exhibit, October 17 – November 7

The Maude Kerns Art Center is accepting submissions for our 32nd annual Día de los Muertos Exhibit. All artists, working in all mediums, are eligible. There is a $20 application fee. Work must be original and must focus on the Mexican Day of the Dead, which blends the ancient harvest rituals of the Aztec god of death and the Roman Catholic holidays of All Saints and All Souls Days. The celebration honors the dead and acknowledges the link between the communities of the living and the dead.

For information and/or to apply online and pay the submission fee, go to APPLY. Submissions may also be made by mail or in person with a flash drive with jpeg images, optional artist’s statement, and a $20 submission fee. Entry deadline: Due, or must be postmarked by, Sunday, August 10, 2025.

Mark Your Calendars!

Summer term Adult Class Registration opens May 23rd. The Summer Class schedule includes a variety of exciting offerings for adults.

May's Weekend Workshop Highlight:

World Collage Day!

World Collage Day is an annual, international celebration of collage on the Second Saturday of May. World Collage Day is about artists connecting across borders against a global context of entrenchment and separation. And the day is about an art medium that excels at bringing different things together to create new forms and new ways of thinking. - The Kolaj Institute

Maude Kerns Art Center continues to collaborate with the Eugene Collage Collective in celebrating World Collage Day. We are excited to see what our own community of collage artists, led by Beth Robinson and Ann Hamilton, contribute to this year's celebration. Come celebrate with us on May 10th!

Open Studio Collage Collective

Saturday, May 10

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Come be a part of the Eugene Collage Collective and celebrate collage with us in this open studio session! Meet fellow collage artists and learn from a variety of interesting styles. Open to all levels of experience. Some collage materials will be provided. Please bring your favorite materials and tools.

*This is an Open Studio - no instruction will be provided. Drop-in: $15

New Summer High School Labs

Check out our exciting summer high school labs below.

Intro to Clothed Figure Drawing

June 16 – 20

*No class June 19th

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Register here!

Come learn the basics of figure drawing! Students will focus on the basic principles and helpful tools that are needed for drawing the human form. Students will learn about

perspective, proportion, scale, fundamental shapes, forms, and more! Students will use

anatomical models to understand the basic structure of the human figure and explore

movement through gesture drawing with a live model. Model gender may change

subject to model availability. No experience required!

Intro to Oil Painting

August 4 – 8

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Register here!

Explore the fundamentals of oil painting. Students will be introduced to the tools and

techniques of this medium, such as paint mixing, value study, color theory, and safety. Aided by instructor demonstrations, students will learn how to paint landscapes, create atmospheric abstract art, and work from still-life displays. No experience required.

Intro to Printmaking

August 11 – 15

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Register here!

Try out a new skill in this made-for-beginners printmaking class. With guidance from an

instructor, students will learn all the basics, from technique and safety to style and design. Students will use this practice to create a final printed artwork. No experience required.

Spots Still Available: Summer Middle School Labs

The Art Center offers six weeks of half-day Middle School Labs with instruction in a variety of exciting media: Acrylic Painting (6/16 – 19), Illustration Crash Course (6/23 – 27), Intro/Intermediate Watercolor Painting (7/7 – 11), Digital Design Lab (7/14 – 18), Wearable Art (7/21 – 25), and Drawing Animals Live & Photo Reference (7/28 – 8/1).

Check out our website HERE for more information and to register.

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.

2nd Avenue Art Festival! 

Sunday, June 8, 11 am – 5 pm

1328 W 2nd Ave in Eugene

Come celebrate creativity at Clay Space’s 2nd Avenue Art Festival on June 8th, and experience a vibrant day of art, music, and community! This FREE event will fill 2nd Avenue with artist tents full of incredible work for sale from Clay Space, Whiteaker Printmakers, and Wildling Collaborative.

Enjoy live music, grab a bite at the food truck, get hands-on at the Kids Craft Tent, and watch talented artists in action with live demonstrations. Don't miss out on this one-of-a-kind celebration of local art and creativity!

Multi-Color Etching with One Plate

A three-day workshop with Yuji Hiratsuka

July 18 – 20

This single plate etching process begins with a deep etching printed in black, after which the plate is reclaimed and re-etched for subsequent printing in an additional color. Each new color layer offers a creative juncture as your image evolves. Yuji will be demonstrating and guiding you through the techniques and materials of this delightful process.

You won't want to miss this amazing workshop!

SIGN UP HERE!

Pictured: Flirting Couple by Yuji Hiratsuka

Register for the Emerald Print Exchange!

Whiteaker Printmakers Emerald Print Exchange Registration closes May 31st. There are still some spots available, so if you're a printmaker of any kind join while you still can! This exchange is open to all levels of experience.

Click the link below to learn more!

REGISTER HERE!

Empty Bowls Sale with Work by Seven Club Mud Potters

On March 29, Club Mud held a “Throwathon” to make bowls for Food for Lane County's Empty Bowls fundraiser. Seven Club Mud potters - Tea Duong, Brian Gorrin, Frank Gosar, Annie Heron, Wayne Lambert, Victoria Todd, and Laura Wikane - gathered to produce a total of 92 bowls for this annual event. The bowls were subsequently trimmed, bisqued, glazed, and fired in the big gas kiln.

Look for their beautiful bowls at the Empty Bowls Sale on Friday, May 2, 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm, at 5th Street Alley. The sale features handmade bowls created by local artists in a variety of media, with prices starting as low as $10. Every bowl sold helps to buy meals for those facing food insecurity in Lane County.

Pictured, from left to right: Club Mud’s ”Throwathon” with Wayne Lambert, Frank Gosar, Victoria Todd, Brian Gorrin Tea Duong, and Laura Wikane (not pictured: Annie Heron)

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 particularly 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 during January, February, and March 2025.

Budget and Finance Committee: Michael Fisher, Caroline Passerotti, and Fred Tepfer

Facilities Committee: Ann Bumb Hamilton, Michael Heffernan (Chair), Dean Lamoureux, Cathy Simard, Nancy Silver, and Alice Strong

Sponsorship Committee: Louise Bishop, Susan Castillo, Michael Fisher, and Alice Strong

Art Rescue Committee: Ann Bumb Hamilton, Hannah Goldrich, Tina Heffernan (Co-Chair), Cathy Simard (Co-Chair), and Linda Wheatly

Art Studio Tour Committee: Louise Bishop (Chair), Ann Bumb Hamilton, Kiley Kuntz, Rogene Mañas, Caroline Passerotti, and Bea Roberts

Gallery Greeters: Abby Adebawo, Judith B. Mangold, Leanne Ellis, Sue Gottschalk, Tina Heffernan, Rachel Petersen, Sonya Roberts, Valerie Rosenberg, Tracy Somervell, and Wendy Strong

Exhibit Receptions Volunteers: Dana Burall, Grace Deierling, Blossom Odemudia, Sonya Roberts, and Valerie Rosenberg

Jello Show: Abby Adebawo, Leanne Ellis, and Rachel Petersen

Postcard Volunteering: Linnea Birchmeier, Grace Deierling, and Leanne Ellis

Office Assistants: Abby Adebawo, Leanne Ellis, Tina Heffernan, Sonya Roberts, and Wendy Strong

Classroom Assistants: Linnea Birchmeier, Jackie Clark, Ryan Jecklin, Hugh Jones, Aiva Landweber, Tooter Montini, Zorka Pataki, Evelyn Pruse, Lulu Robb-Upham, Sonya Roberts, and Alexandra Sielicki

Open Studio Facilitator: Marsha Wells Shankman

Newsletter Design: Kristen Gruber of Crystal Impressions Graphic Design

MISSION STATEMENT

To nurture artistic expression and creativity in the individual and

to cultivate an appreciation and understanding of art and culture

in our community.