Oregon Made for Interiors

The Maude Kerns Art Center presents the 14th biennial “Oregon Made for Interiors” exhibit opening with a public reception from 6 - 8 pm on Friday, May 17. This year’s exhibit, which was juried by professional artists and furniture makers Joe Baiamonte, Tim Boyden, and Maureen Campbell, features the work of 39 artists from throughout the state, including entries from Corvallis, Portland, Florence, and Union, Oregon. The exhibit showcases high quality handmade furniture, including unique one-of-a-kind tables, chairs, cabinets and chests, mirrors, clocks, tapestries, and lighting fixtures. “Oregon Made for Interiors” (OMFI) is on view through Friday, June 21.

Jonathan January, from Corvallis, creates pieces from reclaimed and historic materials and uses natural, environmentally friendly finishes. In addition to coffee tables, stacked shelving, and an impressive nine-foot long trestle table, January displays a finely crafted wall-hung maple wood sculpture. Portland artist Michael McCallister excels in the art of marquetry. His elegant wood chests and screens feature inlaid designs formed with pieces of cut veneer. Richard Rollins, also from Portland, is the 2008 Portland Spaces Root Awards Design Award Runner-up. For OMFI he displays a group of playful painted wood tables. Coos Bay artist Samuel J. Schwartz, who has experience working in many different mediums, including ceramics, glass, welding, and woodworking, exhibits a chandelier, a floor lamp, and intriguing blown glass globes that can be individually lit.

About Maude Kerns

Founded in 1950 by a group of local artists including Maude Irvine Kerns, the Maude Kerns Art Center is a non-profit community center for the visual arts. Our goal is to promote and advocate appreciation and creation of the visual arts by offering a wide variety of exhibition programs, educational programs for all ages, facilities for artists, public events, and support for community artists.

The Center is dedicated to serving the public through major exhibitions, art classes, lectures, workshops, outreach programs, and intimate performances. We provide affordable, on-site co-operative studio space for working artists in the Club Mud Ceramics Studio. Understanding the importance of art education, the Center not only offers classes, workshops, and lectures, but also has internship programs for those interested in the arts and arts administration.

The Center is run by a dedicated staff and a Board of Directors representing a diversity of professionals in the community. Our priorities include continued Board development, and establishing stabilized financial management. We have much positive work to do, and we hope you will join us in our efforts!

The Maude Kerns Art Center is Eugene's only non-profit community center for the visual arts. Hours are from 10:00am to 5:30pm (Monday through Friday), and from 12:00pm to 4pm (Saturday) when there are exhibits in the main gallery. For more information about Art Center exhibits, classes, or special events, please call us at 541.345.1571.

Who is Maude Kerns??
An avante-garde artist. A regal victorian lady. A bold pioneer in the field of art education. A devoted Oregonian who travelled internationally. And a major donor to the Eugene Art Center, later named in her honor.

In the world of the creative artist, Maude Irvine Kerns experimented with a variety of styles, from realistic landscapes and portraits to abstract exploration of color and form. Her work was noted for its rich color and dynamic composition, at a time when such art was scarcely known on the West Coast.

In the world of art education, she was an innovative teacher. Mentor to a generation of art teachers at the University of Oregon, she used imaginative teaching techniques -- such as painting to music -- to convey the latest ideas in color theory and to introduce her students to new painting styles.

An exhibition catalog about Maude Kerns is available from the Center.