April 18 – April 27
Opening reception and awards Saturday April 21, 11am -3pm

Art is a personal expression of ones’ self and can further the dreams and aspirations of young people. All communities strive to recognize the talents of their young people and Grand Junction, Colorado is no exception. Seeing the need to promote this talent, Altrusa International of Grand Junction began sponsoring “The Altrusa Art Show” with the help of a fellow Altrusan, Ruth Moss and has now continued this practice for 46 years. With fund raising and solicitation from local businesses, funds are gathered each year so we may continue our sponsorship of the event.

Featuring the art of Middle and High School students, this venue showcases the talent of these individuals which may otherwise go unnoticed in the community. Typically held in the third week of April, each school is given the opportunity to compete with other schools for ribbons and certificates of merit in a cultural setting of learning and competition.

This exhibit is annually held at The Art Center.  It is an open showing which draws public awareness to the talent in our schools.  The Art Center has generously agreed to allow this student art showing free of charge, however, donations are welcomed during the week and any remaining project money not used for the event is given directly to The Art Center as a gift for their services. Altrusa benefits both the schools and the Art Center in bringing this auspicious venue to the community.

 Altrusa is a volunteer service organization consisting of approx. 426 clubs in 18 countries and began its service to communities in 1917. The Altrusa club of Grand Junction began in 1945. Our motto is ‘Patriotism, Efficiency and Service’. Our goal in the community is to promote literacy, join with other service groups as supporters, enhance and recognize school programs for our youth and become directly involved to the needs of our community.

Generously sponsored by The Art Center Guild

Drop-off of artwork July 3, 10am – 12pm
Exhibit: July 6 – July 27
Opening: July 6, 7-9pm
Generously sponsored by Ron Beckman

The process of making is one of constant renewal and this annual exhibit is a celebration of that process.  REFRESH – The Student, Instructor, and Open Studio Exhibit is a manifestation of the collaborative nature of what happens in classrooms, workshops, studios, exhibition spaces and even the passing of materials and reference books form our Used Book and Supply Store.  The exhibits in the galleries inform and inspire new paths of exploration.  The exchange of books and art materials offer artists points of reference and tools at discounted prices.   There is a circuit of learning facilitated by the activities in the classrooms and what is realized in the exhibit spaces.  Art Center instructors learn just as much from students through the process of making.   Please join in the visual conversation and enter this exhibit.

The Prospectus is available at The Art Center front desk or by downloading it from the link on the bottom of this page. 

To have a copy mailed to you please call 970-243-7337 x 4.  Artists must have enrolled in The Art Center’s selected programming from July 2011 to July 2012 excluding workshops and classes held at The Art Center under club organizations.

March 29 – April 13, 2012
Opening reception April 6, 7 pm – 9 pm
Jurors talk at 6:30 pm 

The 36th Annual Juried Colorado Mesa University All Campus Exhibit will be held in The Art Center’s North Gallery from Thursday, March 29 through Friday, April 13, 2012.  This exhibition will showcase both two and three-dimensional artwork using a variety of mediums which include printmaking, drawing, painting, sculpture, fibers, ceramic, and mixed media work. This year’s jurors will be Charles Hardy, Emeritus Professor of Art in Printmaking at CMU and Kyoung Hwa Oh, Visiting Artist at CMU. 

Please come join us for the opening reception on Friday, April 6, 2012. There will be a brief gallery talk where the jurors will be introduced and speak about their process in selecting the work for the show from 6:30-7:00 pm. The reception will continue from 7:00-9:00 pm. Please, mark your calendar and support our community’s emerging artists. 

The students in the Colorado Mesa University Art Department’s Professional Practice course facilitated by Heather Patterson McCulloch, Assistant Professor of Art in Painting,   coordinate this exhibit each spring.  Professional Practice is a unique course that prepares students for future professional endeavors with a career in the arts.   A part of this course teaches students how to coordinate a professional art exhibit.  These students take responsibilities ranging from promotion, fundraising, print/design coordination, budget, installation, and all that goes into the process in developing a successful art exhibit. They work in coordination with the experienced staff at The Art Center to host this one-of-a-kind exhibition.

Generously sponsored by WPX Energy

March 2 – April 13, 2012
Opening reception March 2, 7pm -9 pm
Gallery introductions 6:30pm
Sponsored by Jan and Truus Leendertse

 The Colorado Mesa University Art Department faculty have been working hard in recent years. The studio faculty are all actively producing artists who are committed to teaching in their field and sharing their passion in their Colorado Mesa University classes. This exhibit of the full-time faculty and selected part-time faculty at CMU features paintings, printmaking, sketchbooks, drawings and ceramic artwork. Faculty members participating in this exhibit include Jake Allee, Joshua Butler, Suzie Garner, Eli Marco Hall, Heather Patterson McCulloch and Carolyn Quinn-Hensley. 

 The other part-time faculty participating in the show are KyoungHwa Oh, Mike Mitchell, and Marisa Felix-Campbell.

March 1 – April 6
Opening Reception March 2, 7 pm – 9 pm
Gallery Talk 6:30 pm

Western Colorado Watercolor Society is proud to present their 20th Annual National Watermedia Exhibition to be held at The Art Center. WCWS brings to the Western Slope the only juried national watercolor show in Western Colorado. This enables viewers to see some of the top nationally known artists in the United States.

The Rockies West National juror this year is Grand Junction’s own Frank Francese, who juried 80 artists into the exhibition. Artists from 27 states entered the show with a total of 80 works selected. Artists accepted from this area are from Grand Junction, Palisade, Delta, Hotchkiss, Whitewater, Montrose, Ridgeway, Glenwood Springs and Moab. Artists receiving Best of Show and Best Colorado Artist will each be awarded $1000. There are numerous other cash and merchandise awards to be given out during the gallery talk.

The opening reception will be held Friday, March 2, from 7 to 9 pm with a gallery talk at 6:30 pm by the juror. The show will be open to the public from March 2 to April 6.  Mr. Francese will also conduct a workshop for artists on February 29, March 1, and 2. Interested artists can contact Virginia Blackstock at 970 872-2245 for more workshop information.

This year, the WCWS has printed a color brochure of the exhibit. The brochure will be available at the reception and throughout the exhibition dates. The exhibit will be on the WCWS website at www.westerncoloradowcsociety.org.

The exhibit is made possible by many sponsors. Local sponsors include Alpine Bank, Quality Inn, Grand Junction, Delta Fine Arts, Hotchkiss Fine Art Association., Glenwood Springs Art Guild, Montrose Visual Arts Guild, The Apple Shed in Cedaredge, Sage Dome Watercolorists, Edward Jones – Ranae Coffman in Delta, Dani Tupper, President’s Award. Merchandise awards have been given by Mattes and More, Cory and The Frame Shop, Grand Junction and many national art suppliers.