45 x 45: Celebrating Creativity
(Featured art above by Valerie Pace Donley)
Coastal Arts Guild and American Easel are excited to announce the opening of their 2nd annual exhibit featuring forty-five new works on wood panels. 45 x 45: Celebrating Creativity will be on display in the Upstairs Gallery at Newport Visual Arts Center (VAC) from June 2 – July 29, 2023.
ALSO: Join us Saturday, July 22nd from 1pm-3pm in the Upstairs Gallery as we celebrate this exhibit. Light refreshments will be served, and the winner of the VIEWER’S CHOICE AWARD will be announced at 1:30pm.
This unique show features brand new, multidisciplinary works of art from forty-five community artists. Each begins with identical 10” x 10” wood panels as their base, but what they do from that point is entirely up to them. The show will feature a variety of mediums – from acrylics to mixed media, fabric collage, linoleum print, and more.
Not only visually beautiful, the exhibition also does something beautiful – it provides funding for VAC needs. Artists purchased their base panels, and that money will fund building improvements. The sale of completed pieces, however, will benefit artists directly and fully. When a visitor purchases a completed panel from the exhibition, one hundred percent of the price will go directly to its creator.
“The 45 x 45 show gives artists an opportunity to share the vast variety of their mediums and styles with the public while simultaneously supporting improvements at VAC,” said Chasse Davidson, VAC director. “We’re grateful to the Coastal Arts Guild and feel fortunate to have their support. Their volunteer contributions help keep our galleries accessible to the public, and their monthly Tea & Talk provides a platform of introduction for visiting artists.”
An opening reception for this exhibit (and two others), will take place on Friday, June 2nd from 5pm-9pm at Newport Visual Arts Center. Visitors will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite piece, and at 5:30pm an award ceremony will reveal which pieces were selected by official judges. Wine and light refreshments will be served, and admission is free.
Exhibits at Newport Visual Arts Center (VAC) are free to the public and can be viewed most Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 12pm – 4pm, at 777 NW Beach Drive in Newport. However, please note that the VAC will be closed on May 31st and June 1st for exhibit installation, and will reopen to the public on Friday, June 2nd when the opening reception begins at 5:00pm.