Dozens of artworks fill the gallery walls floor to ceiling at The Art Center in a salon-style arrangement, placing submissions from first-time participants alongside longtime participants in the annual Howland Community Open.
On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Howland Community Open gallery opened to the public. The gallery will run until Thursday, March 5, and is located in The Art Center (TAC) in Corvallis. Admission is free for viewing and for voting on the People’s Choice Awards. TAC is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 P.M. to 5 P.M.
Jennie Castle, the curator and associate director at TAC for the past four years, said that this show specifically “gives hope that there is creativity and critical thinking and joy and, you know, all these different things that I think are necessary for a healthy community. It exists and you see it in one room.”
Castle said that “art is powerful in a lot of ways. I think that creating art can be a transformative experience for anyone, just the act of making,” and encourages everyone to try their hand in it.
Castle recommends to anyone interested to attend the Unlocking Art events hosted at TAC to get a better understanding on the history of the Howland Open gallery while also doing an immersive art activity. This new educational event will run for two sessions, one on Saturday, Feb. 7 and one on Tuesday, Feb. 24, both at 1 P.M. Registration for the event is free, spots can be secured by emailing here.
The show runs annually and has been since the 1990s. “Jim and Ruth Howland started supporting the show very early on, and gave money for some cash awards in the early points of the show, and then created an endowment that allows us to keep having this community show,” said Castle.
The show’s submissions gather “artists that have been in that show every year since I’ve started, and then a lot of newcomers, especially this year,” said Castle.
This event at TAC is made possible not only by the staff but the volunteer committee made up of students and community members.
“The committee helps select work that we show in the gallery. They’re there to help hang the shows, and it’s all hands on deck for the Howland. So we’re all there together, hanging the show as the work comes in. And I mean, we couldn’t produce the exhibitions we produce without that volunteer group,” said Castle.
Teagan Miller, a sophomore majoring in art history, who is on the volunteer committee for TAC said the environment of the art show is supportive with a common goal of putting “out great work for the community of Corvallis.”
“You can really just feel the bond that art creates, like in that environment, because it’s just everybody who wants to do art, and they get to get a chance to put their art up for other people to see,” said Miller.
Miller said “The place itself is definitely a hidden gem. I feel like a lot of people don’t really seek it out. It’s very underrated, and it’s just they always have stuff up. So it’s really easy to just kind of pop in and go in there.”
Miller said anyone interested in volunteering can sign up whenever, that TAC “just wants to give an opportunity to kind of anyone who wants to help out.”
Those interested in volunteering can reach out through the contact information on the TAC website.
Randy Dimilia, a community member of Corvallis, visited the art show on Saturday, Jan. 31. Dimilia had come to see her friend Vicky Idema’s sculpture titled Opening The Mysteries Of The Mind but while walking around the show, noticed the portrait of her other friend Bruce Osen and his piece titled Bento In Blue Boots.
“I know Bruce, we go on walks together. His dog Bruno has unfortunately passed away,” said Dimilia.
Scott Moss, a community member of Corvallis, also visited the art show on Saturday, Jan. 31. In the past Moss has submitted to the art show for his photography, but this year has shown up as a viewer of fellow photographers’ works instead.
“Whats great about it is its very democratic, anyone who lives in the community can appreciate the work,” said Moss.
Castle said that any viewers can come and vote on three pieces that are most meaningful to them; an awards reception will be held on Saturday, Feb. 28 at 1 P.M. where the People’s Choice Awards and The Art Centers Exhibition Committee Cherry Picks will be announced at TAC.
