Pictured: ow ow ow ow, acrylic painting by Ezra Margolis, age 17, from South Eugene High School, in the Mayor’s Teen Art Show, opening Friday, September 11

In This Newsletter

• From the Executive Director
• Last Call: Art Rescue Donations
• Maude’s 150th Birthday Party Wrap Up
• In the Galleries: Opening Friday, September 11: 27th annual Mayor’s Teen Art Show with Mayor’s Choice Award Ceremony and Emerald Print Exchange; Summer Members Gallery on view through October 2; Upcoming: 33rd annual Día de los Muertos Exhibit opening on October 16 with a Fiesta from 5 – 8 pm
• Call for Member Artists: Art for All Seasons Membership Show

• Art Education: Fall Class Schedule – Adult, Youth, & Middle School Class Highlights; Summer Camp Recap
• Club Mud Artist Profile: Shelly Fredenberg
• Whiteaker Printmakers: Emerald Print Exchange Reverse Auction; Mokuhanga Workshop with Yuji Hiratsuka
• Eugene Darkroom Group: Community Chest Exhibit 2026: September 25 – October 23 at Whiteaker Printmakers
• An Easy Way to Give

Check out the next generation of artists!

As summer winds down and a new school year begins, we’re celebrating one of the most joyful traditions at the Maude Kerns Art Center: our annual Mayor’s Teen Art Show.

Each year, our galleries are transformed by the imagination, energy, and originality of young artists from our community. For these emerging artists, seeing their work professionally exhibited is more than exciting—it is an affirmation that their ideas, perspectives, and creative voices matter.

The Mayor’s Teen Art Show gives young people a rare opportunity to take creative risks, share their work publicly, and experience the pride of being recognized as artists. Just as importantly, it brings families, friends, teachers, and the broader community together to celebrate what young people can create when given the encouragement and space to explore.

As we look toward fall, we are grateful for everyone who helps make this experience possible. Your support gives Eugene’s young artists a place to create, belong, be seen—and have a whole lot of fun along the way.

Thank you for your membership and support. Hope to see you at the Art Center!

Donation response has been amazing. As a result, we are approaching critical mass for wall space! Please limit donations of framed art to no more than five pieces. We still welcome posters, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, textiles, curiosities, and local originals.

We accept all donations except for unprotected pastels or charcoal drawings which require special handling. Please call ahead before donating very large or bulky objects: 541-345-1571.

All donations benefit Maude Kerns Art Center 100% and are eligible for a charitable tax deduction. Please bring donations to the Art Center office through September 25 during open hours: Weekdays 10:00 am – 5:30 pm and on Saturdays from 12:00 – 4:00 pm (when exhibits are on display).

Pictured: Art Rescue Sale 2025

We are excited to share that Maude’s 150th Birthday Party Fundraiser held on August 1st was a great success. There were over 200 attendees. More than $10,000 was raised for the Art Center and our new multi-use studio. We are extremely grateful for the support from participating artists, sponsors, volunteers, members, and the community. It truly made a difference. Thank you!

Pictured: Maude's 150th birthday cake created by Noisette Pastry Kitchen

Two Shows Open September 11:

Annual Mayor’s Teen Art Show: For 27 years, the Art Center has presented this special showcase for teen art, providing young artists an opportunity to exhibit their work in a professional art gallery. Forty-five teen artists working in a wide variety of media and styles are represented in the 2026 exhibit, including students from 11 local schools as well as homeschooled students. The 2026 jurors included MKAC instructor Karleena Graham, past MTAS award winner Genevieve Fournier, and past Art Education Director Tony Hooks.

The Opening Reception for both exhibits takes place on Friday, September 11, from 5 – 7 pm. Mayor Kaarin Knudson will be present to announce the Mayor’s Choice Award winner as well as other award winners at the Awards Ceremony.

Pictured: Organics, papier mâché, acrylic, and tempera, by Evan Hunt, age 16, Churchill High School 

Emerald Print Exchange: This annual show features limited edition prints created by 200 artists from around the world. See these works in person at the Art Center, September 11 – October 2 and be sure to check out the Reverse Auction that takes place on the Whiteaker Printmakers website beginning September 11.

Pictured: Seny y Ruxa by E.O. Dean in the 2026 Emerald Print Exchange

Nancy Pobanz and David Wade are the Title Sponsors for the Mayor’s Teen Art Show and the Emerald Print Exchange. The Exhibit Sponsor is Jerry's Home Improvement.

Members Gallery & Gift Shop

The Summer Members Gallery & Gift Shop, which is on view through October 2, features the work of William Cedar Caredio, Joanna Carrabbio, Nard Claar, Suma Z Elan, Analee Fuentes, Kay King, Dori Koberstein, Jeanne LaRae, Jan Lintz, Patti McNutt, Laure Schipley, Sally Schwader, Steve Steinaway, and Miyuki Yamazaki.

Pictured: Three Little Pigs, watercolor, colored pencil, and brush pen, by Steve Steinaway in the Summer Members Gallery

Upcoming...

Join us for the 33rd annual Día de los Muertos Exhibit and Celebration, opening with a Fiesta on Friday, October 16, from 5 – 8 pm, with musical entertainment by El Taller de Son Jarocho and dancing by Ballet Folklórico Colibrí. Featuring artwork, ofrendas, and a Day of the Dead gift shop with authentic Mexican crafts, the exhibit celebrates this traditional Mexican holiday when the spirits of the dead are believed to return briefly to the land of the living. The Día de los Muertos Exhibit is on view through Friday, November 6.

Pictured: 2025 Día de los Muertos Exhibit ofrenda created by Patricia Cortez, Dawn McIlwain, and Bogi Pataki in honor of Clara “Clarita” Lindstrom

Art for All Seasons Annual Members Show,

November 20 – December 18:

Each Maude Kerns Art Center member may exhibit two, ready-to-hang pieces or one large, ready-to-hang piece. If submitting two pieces, measurements must not exceed 36” vertically and/or horizontally. All mediums are accepted, except reproductions and installation. Your piece(s) must be ready to hang and labeled (i.e., matted, framed, provided with a wire on the back, labeled on back with artist name and title). 

Artwork drop-off times: November 9, 10:00 am – 1:30 pm and 2:30 – 5:30 pm. There is a $5 per piece hanging/display fee. Artists may join or renew their membership during drop-off.

Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To pre-register and complete your contract and inventory online, visit: AFAS CALL.

Fall classes are open for registration today, September 1st, at 10 am. We’re excited to share the upcoming classes and invite you to take a look, get inspired, and find the perfect class or classes for yourself this Fall. Below are some class highlights. Please visit FALL to view and sign up for classes. We look forward to seeing you!

Adult

Discovering Abstract Painting

Wednesdays, September 30 – December 2^*

*No classes November 11 and November 25

6:00 – 8:30 pm

Register here!

Discover the freedom and creativity of abstract painting in this welcoming, beginner-friendly class. Students will explore color, shape, texture, composition, and mark-making while learning how to create expressive paintings without the pressure of painting realistically. Through demonstrations, guided exercises, and hands-on experimentation, you’ll build confidence with different mediums and develop your own unique visual language. No prior painting experience is necessary. Just bring your curiosity and a willingness to play, experiment, and have fun.

Youth

Clayin’ and Playin’

Thursdays, October 1 – November 19

4:00 – 5:30 pm

Register here!

From hand-built houses to monsters to amazing nature-inspired sculptures, this class is full of great opportunities to create new clay projects. You will experiment with form, shape, texture, and the art of building with clay. This includes molding, mashing, and rolling your clay into all kinds of wonderful clay creations. Once your creations have gone through the kiln, you will experiment with the world of color while you glaze your pieces!

Middle School

Screen Printing

Mondays, September 28 – November 16

4:00 – 5:30 pm

Register here!

Have you always wanted to design your own shirt? Look no further! In Screen Printing, students will learn how to turn their creative ideas into colorful printed designs. They will explore the basics of screen printing, including creating a simple design, preparing a screen, applying ink, and printing on fabric or paper. Students will have the opportunity to experiment with colors and patterns while developing their artistic skills. Most importantly, the class will encourage creativity and the confidence to make something unique.

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.

Summer camps may be over, but we’re still feeling so grateful for all the creativity, laughter, and fun we shared! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make our camps so special.

Students discovered the masters, made stop-motion animations, explored the possibilities of nature, and screen printed. The level of art that came out of our camps this year was very impressive. If you haven’t done so, you can check out all the stop-motion videos on our YouTube channel HERE.

We also want to give a heartfelt shout out to all our incredible instructors and volunteers who helped create such a welcoming environment for exploration, creativity, and learning. We loved creating, discovering, and making memories with each of you, and we hope to see you again soon!

Below is a selection of some of the amazing work of our students.

Emerald Print Exchange Reverse Auction Fundraiser!

Auction Opens: September 11, 12:00 pm PST 

In-person reception at Maude Kerns Art Center: September 11, 5 pm – 7 pm

It's time for Whiteaker Printmakers 9th annual EPX Auction. This fundraiser, which features 200 artists from around the world, helps support the print exchange and fund the studio. Participants create 12 hand-pulled prints using a variety of techniques. There's something for everyone! The prints are 5 x 7-inch limited editions. Find the perfect work for your walls or the perfect gift!

Check out the Whit Print Website to learn more about the Exchange

Check out the Online Gallery now

Mokuhanga Workshop with Yuji Hiratsuka

September 12th & 13th, 9 am – 5 pm

Mokuhanga is a traditional Japanese method of woodblock printing. It's an elegant, non-toxic, and low-tech process that works easily in a home studio and combines well with other printmaking methods. Learn the method from one of the masters during this two-day weekend workshop with Yuji Hiratsuka at Whiteaker Printmakers.

Learn More Here!

Community Chest 2026:

An Analog Photography Exhibit

At Whiteaker Printmakers

EDG's annual Community Chest event showcases photographic work from EDG members as well as artists from the local community. This year, the show will run from September 25 through October 23, with an opening reception on September 25, 5 – 8 pm. The show will be hosted at Whiteaker Printmakers (1328 W. 2nd Ave., Eugene). The gallery will also be open noon to 5 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, for the duration of the show.

This is an open Call to Artists! The exhibition welcomes all types of photographic work that involves some significant analog process. This includes film captures that are digitally printed; digital images printed in an analog process (e.g., cyanotype, platinum print, etc.), and, of course, pure analog all the way. We welcome all local photographic artists and will accept up to three pieces from each exhibitor.

Go to the EDG website for more information and to register to participate!

Club Mud Artist Profile: Shelly Fredenberg

In her rural Montana high school, Shelly took three years of art classes, each of which had a small section devoted to clay. This was always her favorite. In college, Shelly took several clay classes but ended up as a printmaking major. She graduated, married, had two children and moved to Oregon, and temporarily – for 20 years! – left her clay journey behind. 

At the death of her mother, Shelly found herself returning to clay to process her grief. She answered a Craig's List ad for new members of Club Mud. Here she learned to fire the kilns and began selling some of her small sculptures of birds and hedgehogs at the Art in the Vineyard Festival.

A divorce and the circumstances of her life forced Shelly to get serious about monetizing her love of clay. Don Prey, a longtime Club Mud member who has now passed on, shared with her the wisdom of a “some-some” approach - you do some work to feed your family, and some to feed your soul. Shelly works hard to find the balance. Her curiosity and openness to new approaches and materials have led to a constantly changing outpouring. Her work, which reflects her love of nature, inspires viewers to see with fresh eyes.

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 have contributed their time, talents, and treasure for the benefit of Maude Kerns Art Center.