4 JANUARY 19–26, 2022 MIXED MEDIUM THE ARTS AROUND EASTERN OREGON Local landscape inspires Boardman artist By Tammy Malgesini Go! Magazine P ENDLETON — A painting by a Boardman artist is among the pieces on display during the current exhibition at the Betty Feves Memorial Gallery at Blue Mountain Community College. “Forever Blues” is an acrylic on panel created by Carole Mace-Edwards Jones, an early childhood education instruc- tor at the college. She said the beauty of the Blue Mountains provided inspiration for the piece. “Though I grew up in the area, I have lived a great deal of time out of the Northwest,” Jones said. “I always enjoyed returning home to this area, full of texture, color and richness of life.” The work by Jones, as well as those by eight other BMCC faculty and staff, will remain on display through Feb. 3. The gal- lery is in Pioneer Hall, 2411 N.W. Carden Ave., on BMCC’s Pend- leton campus. It’s open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to Nika Blasser/Contributed Photo An exhibition featuring the work of Blue Mountain Community College faculty and staff opened Jan. 6, 2022, at the Betty Feves Memorial Gallery at BMCC, Pendleton, and is available for view through Feb. 3. 1:30 p.m. Admission is free. Jones said she particularly enjoys working with acrylics because of the speed in which she can create. However, she also likes oils, watercolor, pencil, photography and inks. Growing up in an artistic household — her mother was a fine artist in the Walla Walla area — Jones said her siblings and extended family are all “highly creative.” She also strives to help others discover their talents. “One of my goals is to help children to recognize their own creativity, and remind adults who tell me that they can’t even draw a stick figure that creativity is innate in all of us and all we have to do is find our own mode of expression,” she said. Born in Walla Walla, Jones has moved around — living in Texas and California, as well as Spain and Japan. Returning to the Pacific Northwest, she has been in Boardman for 36 years. Even prior to starting at BMCC more than two decades ago, a great deal of Jones’ work history includes early child- hood education. When she was younger, she wanted to be an art teacher. “Instead, the road led me to teacher education where, hopefully, I can help teachers to inspire young children to be- come their best creative selves,” Jones said. Jones is thrilled to have “Forever Blues” on display. In addition, she’s excited about the contributions of others whose work is currently on exhibit at BMCC. A nonprofit exhibit space, the Betty Feves Memorial Gallery’s mission is to connect emerg- ing and established artists with BMCC students and staff, as well as the general public. For more information, contact gallery director Nika Blasser at 541- 278-5952, nblasser@bluecc.edu or visit www.bluecc.edu/commu- nity/feves-art-gallery.