The big news at The Arts Center, or TAC, this month, a new guided tour program. Called Unlocking Art, trained volunteers will offer visitors fresh perspectives; from how artists think, to creative ways of seeing, to personal connections that spark conversation.
“Through interactive activities and gallery encounters, Unlocking Art helps open the door to creativity, connection, and discovery for everyone,” says a TAC statement.
First up, there will be an examination of Weight, by Crista Ames. Her Main Gallery exhibit questions familiar feminine tropes in art and art history. Ames was rained on a small subsistence farm, so her work draws from personal experiences with pastoral life, animal husbandry, women’s crafts, and fertility.
Right now, all the sessions are set for 1 pm. There are two Tuesday dates: October 7 or 21. And there are also two Saturday dates: October 25 or November 1. Click here for more info.
So, let’s dive into what else is happening at TAC this month.
At the Corrine Woodman Gallery until October 18
Shut Up, an exhibition by artist Kathy Ross, explores the intersection of function and form while confronting society’s acceptance of noise pollution. With a whimsical style, the artist repurposes detritus into dynamic sculptures, confronting this form of pollution directly. There is an Artist Talk set for 5:30 pm, Thursday, October 16.
Coming to the Corrine Woodman Gallery October 21
What is sacred today? In Solastalgia, artist Charles F. Pitz invites us to reflect on what we hold most sacred in the face of climate change. His reliquaries, shrines, and altarpieces—crafted with time-honored techniques—respond to the feeling of solastalgia, the deep unease brought on by environmental loss. Through these works, visitors encounter beings and symbols that may one day be revered as treasures of immeasurable value.
Get tickets now for SpecTACular!!! A Monsters Ball
October is SpecTACular!!! Not just the cooler weather, changing leaves, and pumpkin everything, but also TAC’s brand-new annual fundraiser, SpecTACular! They promise each year will bring a different fun theme, and this year, they celebrate the upcoming spooky season with a Monster Ball. Approximately 50 local artists have donated work to their art auction, and a whole ghoulish army of artists will participate live in creative and haunting ways. Surprises we are told one can only see if they attend.
This event is set for 6 to 10 pm, Saturday, October 25 at the Corvallis Museum. If you’d like to preview the auction pieces, they’ll be at the Corvallis Museum starting October 16. Click here for tickets and more info.
CLASSES & WORKSHOPS
Figure Drawing Session
These immersive, uninstructed figure drawing sessions will push your practice to the next level. Featuring a live nude model, sessions are open to artists 18 and older. No instruction, just focused time to create. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own supplies. Basic supplies and table-top easels are available for use. Registration is $25 a session. Tuesday, October 14, 6 to 8 pm, at the Walnut Community Room, 4950 NW Fair Oaks Dr. These sessions are adults only. Click here to sign-up.
2nd Saturday at TAC
Monsters big or small, silly or spooky—it’s up to you. Unleash your imagination and build wild, quirky creatures using simple materials. Work together on something giant or craft your own mini monster. From towering beasts to tiny critters, bring your ideas to life with cardboard creations of every size.
This all-ages, hands-on adventure invites friends, families, and solo creators to explore, invent, and play—making unique monsters together in a fun, collaborative space. Saturday, October 11, 1 to 4 pm, at TAC’s Main Gallery. Click here for more information.
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