Pictured: Left to right: Gathering Storm by Mary Garrard, Persimmon Teapot by Annie Heron, Pink Orchid with Jar by Katy Jane Conlin

In This Newsletter

Support the arts this holiday season! 

Maude Kerns Art Center offers a variety of ways to give the gift of art this holiday season. Whether it’s purchasing one-of-a-kind artwork from the galleries and gift shop or a gift certificate to take a class or workshop, giving art is a sure way to enrich the life of another.

November brings our annual Art for All Seasons Membership Show and popular Club Mud Ceramics Holiday Sale. The galleries will be filled with amazing artwork and great holiday gift ideas created by local artists. The non-juried Art for All Seasons exhibit also offers new artists and students the chance to display art in a supportive and professional atmosphere. Last year we had over 170 member artists participate. Join us for the Opening Reception on Friday, November 15th, from 5 – 7 pm.

This time of year also marks the beginning of our annual Winter Fundraiser. We hope you have been inspired by the Art Center’s programs, events, and dedication to bring art and culture to our community and that you will make a contribution to support our ongoing operations and programming.

The Art Center is grateful for your membership and support. Thank you!

All my best,

Michael Fisher

Executive Director

Wow! Marvelous Maude’s Art Rescue 2024 raised over $18,000 to support Maude Kerns Art Center! The sale was a big success thanks to art donors, art lovers, and most of all to an incredible volunteer force:

Co-Chair: Tina Heffernan who brought great organizational skills and did an especially awesome job expanding publicity. 

Collection and Pricing Crew: Hannah Goldrich, Linda Wheatley, Donna Gentry, Jim Basil, and Tom Crandall who priced and moved art to storage during the summer and continued to help in all phases of the event.

Setup Crew: Susan Todd, Rogene Mañas, Drew Harrington, and Mireille Machu who made the galleries look amazing and then pitched in with extra help during the sale.

Sale Days Crew: Mary Daniels, Judith Hankin, Betsy Credle, Penny McAvoy, David Goodman, and Kate Bollons who kept things running smoothly during the sale.

Board Members: Jeanne Maasch, Alice Strong, Ann Hamilton, Susan Castillo, Nancy Silvers, Louise Bishop, Caroline Passerotti, and Fred Tepfer who contributed their efforts in so many capacities.

Maude Kerns Art Center Staff: Grace, Liberty, Tony, Marsha, Ben, and our Marvelous Director Michael Fisher. We couldn’t have done it without your continual support.

Thank you all and congratulations for a job well done!

Cathy Simard, Co-Chair and Board Member

Please Note: If you missed the sale or an opportunity to clean out your art collections this year, Art Rescue will return. Watch for announcements about our 2025 donation collection period in late spring/early summer. Meanwhile save your gems for us!

Pictured: 2024 Marvelous Maude’s Art Rescue Sale

Maude Kerns Art Center has been awarded a Capacity Building Grant from the WLS Spencer Foundation in the amount of $30,000 for Year Two of its 2-year grant to assist the Art Center’s merger with Whiteaker Printmakers Studio. We are very grateful for the foundation’s continuing support.

Opening November 15:

The annual Art for All Seasons Membership Show and Club Mud Ceramics Holiday Show & Sale opens on Friday, November 15 with a reception from 5 – 7 pm, and is on view through December 13. By far the Center’s largest show of the year, “Art for All Seasons” traditionally features the tremendously varied artistry of over 150 Art Center members and high-quality ceramics, both functional and decorative, created by members of the Club Mud Ceramics Cooperative. The 2024 Membership Show is sponsored by Barbara & Gene Emge.

Last Call to Member Artists: Drop-Off Date November 4

Any current member may bring in up to two pieces of artwork. If submitting two pieces, measurements must not exceed 36” vertically and/or horizontally. If artwork is larger than 36” by 36”, only one piece may be exhibited. All mediums are welcome except installations. Work must be suitably presented and ready to hang and/or install with the artist’s name and artwork title on the back of the piece. Please bring an artist statement if available. Contract and inventory forms are to be completed at the Art Center. There is a $5 fee per artwork.

The Art Center is open for artwork drop off on November 4, from 10 am – 6 pm, except during lunch hour from 1:30 – 2:30 pm. Artists may join or renew their memberships on the drop-off date.

Pictured: Club Mud Ceramics Holiday Show 2023

Online Members Gallery

The Online Members Gallery features Patti McNutt for November. McNutt, a Eugene resident, has been a full-time artist and workshop instructor since 2007. She paints from life daily, particularly still life and plein air painting. McNutt’s practice of painting from life informs her larger studio pieces with authenticity of form, color, and composition, as well as the joy found from observing the surrounding world. McNutt says: “For me, painting or drawing is a communication from the heart. Each piece is a confetti piece of joy…. It is a thrill when someone understands the message.” To see a video about Patti McNutt and her work, visit: Patti McNutt YOUTUBE.

Pictured: Just Hanging Around, oil on board by Patti McNutt

Gracias a Todos!

To all those who contributed to the success of the 31st annual Día de los Muertos Exhibit, we want to express our gratitude and appreciation.

Opening Fiesta Volunteers: Abby Adebawo, Ann Hamilton, Jeanne Maasch, Katie Mason, Blossom Odemudia, Rachel Petersen, Nancy Silvers, and Linda Wheatley

Day of the Dead Gift Shop: Buganvilla Imports, Suzanne Algara

Opening Fiesta Entertainment: Ballet Folklórico Colibrí and El Taller de Son Jarocho

Bilingual Translation: Anuncia Escala

Photographer: Ben Davis

Donations: Café Yumm, Rogue Brewery, and Safeway

Mexican Folk Art Display: Hannah Goldrich

Sculpture Installation: Alejandro IV Barragán

Día de los Muertos Collaboration: Jessica Zapata, Eugene Arte Latino and Alejandro IV Barragán, Día de Muertos Oregon

Pictured: Ballet Folklórico Colibrí performs at the 2024 Opening Fiesta

Seen: A Regional Figurative Exhibit

The Maude Kerns Art Center is pleased to present “Seen: A Regional Figurative Exhibit,” a juried regional exhibit open to emerging and professional artists whose work portrays the figure from the Artist’s unique perspective. “Seen” aims to tell the stories of people and relate the human desire to be ‘seen’. This exhibit seeks to feature those whose stories and bodies have not historically been portrayed. We would like to present the best artwork that honors, analyzes, and showcases the value of the human figure and human stories.

Artwork must represent the human figure in whatever style the artist works. All mediums, including performance, video, and installation will be considered. This show will be juried and includes a non-refundable $20 application fee. Submissions will be accepted from now until January 12 at 11:59 pm. For application forms and to apply, visit: SEEN

Members Gallery & Gift Shop

Rolling Call to Artists: The Maude Kerns Art Center is pleased to open 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: ROLLING CALL

This year Maude Kerns Art Center is excited to collaborate with Eugene's YMCA to provide support and guidance in the creation of the first "Día de los Muertos" community altar onsite at the YMCA. Thank you to former Art Center Associate Director and current YMCA Aquatics Director Sabrina Hershey Black for facilitating this special partnership.

Pictured: The Eugene YMCA’s first community altar

While many of our classes are in full swing, there are still Workshops and Artist Services to be a part of! Join us this November in developing new skills. Learning never ends!

Upcoming Workshops

Crocheting a Beanie Hat

Saturday, November 9

12:30 – 4:00 pm

REGISTER HERE!

Learn simple crocheting methods and start making a beanie hat. We will spend Saturday designing the hat and learning simple crocheting stitches. All materials are provided, and no experience is necessary.

Open Studio: Eugene Collage Collective

Saturday, November 16

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Drop-In Fee: $15

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

A Special Thank You!

Tours and activities planned around our annual Día de los Muertos Exhibit are an essential part of the Art Center’s educational programming. We appreciate the individuals and groups who contributed their time and talents to this community outreach effort.

Día de los Muertos Gallery Guides: Without the diligent work and knowledge of our gallery guides, and their willingness to learn, we would not have been able to provide such an amazing educational experience for our community. With the help of our gallery guides, we were able to share our exhibit with over 750 students and community members! Thanks to Abby Bushman, Linnea Birchmeier, Kat Diaz, Calista Espino, Tina Heffernan, Emilee Jackson, Jewel Murphy, Wendy Strong, and Matthew Thompson.

Family Day Volunteers: Another thank you goes to the University of Oregon’s Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, whose members were involved with Family Day from start to finish, participating in leading the craft activities, story time, and the set up and clean up. Thank you to Islady Alvarez, Ashlee Turcios Arevalo, Ariel Carreon, Melody Chavez, Brenda Dorantes, Delilah Garcia, Cristal Godoy, Sayra Gonzalez, Angela Jimenez, Itzel Martinez, Gissele Hernandez Ojera, Leydi Ramirez, Alely Ruiz, Jaquelin Sandoval, Pamela Tellez, and Dayana Guerra Villatoro.

Pictured: Members of the Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority and their Gamma salute

Winter Term Registration

Winter term registration is quickly approaching! Our classes fill quickly, so keep an eye out during the first week of December to get your first picks.

Scholarships

The Art Center currently offers scholarships for 50% of the cost of tuition for classes and camps. Scholarships are available for all age groups through the Susi Larsen & Cameron Serbu Memorial Scholarship Fund and the Madeleine Christenson Scholarship Fund. 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. Call 541-345-1571 after 12 pm on the day in question to check for afternoon and evening classes.

Join Whiteaker Printmakers for the return of their Holiday Show! 30 local artists will showcase and sell their work during this 3-day sale. Stop by to grab some art to give as holiday gifts or keep for yourself!

November Featured Artist: Annie Heron

When Annie Heron was 40 years old and enrolled in a master’s degree program at the University of Oregon to be an art therapist, she took her first ceramics class and found herself “swallowed up in the world of clay.” She went on to teach ceramics at North Eugene High School and at Amazon Community Center. Over her career, she has worked with all ages, pre-school through senior citizen.

Annie’s focused involvement with Club Mud began after her retirement from teaching. Her work includes traditional tableware, largely wheel thrown. She also creates stacked garden sculptures, called “Guardians,” as well as “Tile Collages,” a combination of tiles and mosaic in repurposed frames. Annie regularly sells her work at Saturday Market and Clay Fest and has pop-up driveway sales at home and a home show in December. To be put on her mailing list for shows, send an email to annie@annieheron.com.To see more images of her work, visit 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 thank the many volunteers, Board members, Staff, Art Center friends, and patrons who contribute their time, talents, and treasure for the benefit of Maude Kerns Art Center. 

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.