ARTS
Maude Kems Art Center has classes, exhibits
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The 96-year-old Maude Kerns Art Center is currently displaying exhibits entitled "hour Women
Artists" and "Kids for Conservation. "
By Sally Murdoch
Emerald Contributor
The building now known as
Maude kerns Art Center can
boast three things.
First. this year marks its tltith
birthday. Secondly, it is Eu
gene's only non-profit art cen
ter. And, thirdly, the woman
whose name it bears was so riv
eting in her personality and
achievements that she was
called "The Dutchess" during
her 2(i-year professorship at the
University.
This learned woman, Maude
Irvine kerns, bought the build
ing for the Eugene Art Center
in 1958 after she had built a
name for herself as a devotee to
the study of the arts, an educa
tor and a philanthropist.
As a well-rounded professor,
she traveled the world exten
sively in her quest to find new
forms of art. and was said to
have brought a greater under
standing of Oriental art and
culture to University students
in the 1930s.
In 1961. four years before her
death. Kerns approved the pur
chase of the present center at
1910 East ir>th Avenue which
took on her name
She proceeded to lay down
three basic aims for the center
"To advocate and promote vis
ual arts programs for all ages,
to have a wide variety of gal
lerv exhibits, and to provide ac
live support for local artists
Although the1 center does not
have the capacity for perma
nent collections, it hosts six
shows per year, displaying the
works of over 200 artists with
varying themes
Wendy Wintrode. a graduate
of tin* University's School of
lournalism and Northwest
Christian College, has been the
director of public relations for
about a year Her commitment
to the center stems from the
center's willingness to offer the
community a variety of visual
arts,
Wintrode has currently been
coordinating the “Art and the
Vineyard" show for this year
She is "amazed by all of the
talent that exists in Kugene."
and pleased that this event
“shows all of the aspects of of
fering the community free arts
a n d e n t e r t a i n m enl t It a I
wouldn't lie possible without
thn support of sponsors
“Art and the Vineyard" is a
July show that runs anuuallv at
Alton Baker Park The event,
which is in its eighth year, is
put on by the center and spon
sored by local businesses All
proceeds go to benefit the cen
ter
The exhibit features Oregon
wine tasting, children's events,
garden exhibits, over 100 hx al
artists' shows, food booths and
crafts Tile festival runs for
three days and usually sees a
turnout of over .10.000 partir i
pants
Also occurring yearly is the
December holiday sale. yvhlch
provides unique yvorks of local
artists for gilt giving " Oregon
Made lor Interiors'' is another
annual exhibition showcasing
traditional as well as modern
furniture pieties, many of
which are I'niversity students'
works
Currently, the Maude kerns
Art Center features an exhibit
entitled "Four Women Art
isls,’* along xx itfi a one-wall
side show entitled 'kids for
Conservation."
The exhibits, which run
through February 22. is a show
featuring three female s< ulptors
Nance Emmett, Aimee |
Manila and |ana Viles-Simp
son. Also featured are works by
the late artist Nell Best, who
died in June 1090
Best was a Eugene resident
who received her bachelor of
fine arts degree from the Uni
versity and was commissioned
as a mural painter by the Feder
al government in the 1030s
"kids for Conservation." is a
show devoted to children's
works that portray through art
what the children have learned
through rei yi ling
Clare Feighan, administrative
director of the art center, was a
retail manager at the Made in
Oregon store lecture she was ot
tered tlir position four months
ago
Sh« has been recognized in
the community for volunteer
work with the Oregon Country
I air and The Saturday Market,
where she said her training in
business merged with tier expe
rience in tile arts
As director, Feighan oversees
seasonal art classes, a ceramic
and printing studio on the
premises (Called Club Mud and
Oregon Printmnkers). the fi
nances of the center and inter
nal communication
"Fugene has a reputation .is
an artistic community." she
said realizing the impac t the
arts c an have on Fugetie resi
dents It is easy to live- here
w itli not a lot ot nioiicv and for
art. tile c itv is open to new
icieas."
For University students, the
art center is "a wonderful place
to take art classes, to get hands
on experience in the art world
through volunteer and intern
programs or just to visit once a
month." said volunteer coordi
nator Bernice )inkersou.
Students' works are also ac
cepted readily, though space
fills early and t|uickly for
shows Artists are asked to sub
mit portfolios to the center's
15-memlier board during the
"Call to Artists" session eac h
season
Memberships begin at $2!i
and include discounts for c lass
es and workshops at the c (‘liter,
invitations to events, a newslet
ter and c lass schedule, a to
peri out disc ount at the c enter's
gift shop and free admission lo
the Portland Art Museum
The center is open from 10
a m to r> p in Tuesday through
Friday, and t r> p m Saturday
.mil Sunday Admission is free
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Swimwear ‘91
Spring
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mens and
womens suits
arriving daily
Selections by.
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Arena
The Finals
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• Ocean
Raisins
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UNIVERSITY BRANCH
831 East 13th.
Eugene. Oregon 97401
503-683-5577 / 1-800-888-3799