On Saturday, April 14 from 4-6pm, The Jacksonville Center will host the 8^th Annual Education Kick-off and Instructor’s Exhibit Reception, which highlights The Jax 2012 class schedule and features a selection of art by some of the center’s instructors, including Ed Gowen, Gretchen St. Lawrence, Jean Poythress Koon, Karen Sewell, Sharon Hall and more.

Activities during the reception will include demonstrations from local art instructors such as blacksmith John Riddle and ceramics artist Sidra Kaluszka. Glenda George will demonstrate her felted soaps course and give attendees a chance to try it out for themselves. There will also be kids’ activities with Afternoon Arts teacher, Sarah Greene and assistant Rebekah Bordeaux and a talk/demonstration from Japanese Woodworker and Jax instructor, Yann Giguere. Yann will give a one hour talk/demonstration from 4-5pm introducing his love of the art and the goal of the classes he will be teaching in June. Yann is owner and founder of Mokuchi Woodworking and will be teaching a 4-day series of classes on knife sharpening, planing, and small stool making. Registrations for classes made during the event will receive a 10% discount on class tuition.

“I’m really excited about this year’s reception. We have some great demonstrations and activities planned and, of course, great people leading them. I hope we can give people a taste of how fun it can be to participate in our educational programming here at The Jax,” said Amy Avery-Grubel, Director of Educational Programming. The community is encouraged to attend.  The exhibit and the reception are free and open to the public.

For more information about these exhibits and more, visit www.jacksonvillecenter.com, email info@jacksonvillecenter.com or call (540) 745-2784.

Click here to read ASAE Feedback letters from the participants.

Click here to read ASAE Feedback letters from parents of the participants.

Click here to watch the Community Night Thank You Video

The 10^th Annual “New Works” exhibit in the Hayloft Gallery opened on Friday, March 2, and will run through Saturday, April 28.  A ‘Meet-the-Artists’ reception will be held at the center on March 10 from 6-8pm featuring music by classical guitarist David Oakes. Due to a revamped gallery schedule, the show opened earlier in the year and attracted a number of new artists. “Don’t miss this chance to see the latest works by your favorite artists and artisans and work by a number of new artists who are exhibiting at the center for the first time.” said Lore Deighan, the center’s Gallery Coordinator.

Exhibiting artists include: Charlotte Lou Atkins, Samuel A’Court Bason, Susan Brittingham, Ernest Bryant, Ron Campbell, Audrey Caywood, Rick Cooley, Lore Deighan, Susan Egbert, Aileen Fletcher, Glenda George, Art Haase, Winter Hart, Don Johnson, Fred Jones, Charlie Knighton, Floyd Bud Lohr, Gina Louthian-Stanley, Cheryl Mackian, Glenda McAlexander, Swede McBroom, Nathan Popp, Dennis Ross, Karen Sewell, Helen Shaw, Sylvester Simard, Kimberly Simmons, Gretchen St. Lawrence, Agnes Stringfellow, Teri Walters, Howard Wenger, and Gerri Young.

Visitors to the center can also view the Breezeway Gallery’s exhibit featuring Joli Ayn Wood’s collection of works entitled “Inspirations in Multi-Media” which will close at the end of March. The next Hayloft Gallery exhibit “Make Me Laugh” will open Friday, May 4.

All exhibits at The Jax are free and open to the public during regular business hours, though a $3 donation would help offset daily operating expenses for the galleries. The reception includes a cash bar and refreshments in addition to the live music. For more information visit jacksonvillecenter.org/at-the-center/hayloft-gallery.

Moving on by Karen Sewell

November’s Second Saturday featuring the Blacksburg Photography Club will be November 12 from 4-6pm.  Come out and see the “Water” themed exhibit.

Tranquil by Jeremy Riffe

Check it out! Our OnDemand classes have been so popular that we have updated our catalog with a whole slew of new classes! Our new selection of classes include Modern Metalsmithing, Handmade Books, Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, Felting Soaps, Traditional Quilting, Glass Blowing, Etched Glass, Watercolor, Painting Landscapes, Whittling Wood and more!!! Ask about our  Fourth Friend Free promotional opportunity!! For more information click here, call 745-2784, or email education@jacksonvillecenter.org.

The Jacksonville Center will continue to partner with local galleries and restaurants in Floyd to offer a fun and innovative way for visitors to get a taste of what Floyd has to offer with a Jax+1 Second Saturday coupon.  On Saturday, July 9^th from 5-8pm the Jax will host a meet-the-artists reception to feature two new exhibits: the 9^th Annual New Works Exhibit in the Hayloft Gallery, which opened last Friday, and the 3 Printmakers Exhibit in Studio 122.  David Oakes will also perform a selection of classical guitar pieces during the reception.

Continue reading Second Saturday Meet-the-Artists Reception July 9th

We have just scheduled four new classes for July, September, and August at the Jax and there are still a few spaces available.  However, these classes are filling up fast so reserve your seat while you can!

Click on the individual class names below for more information or to register online.  You can also stop by or call the center at (540) 745-2784 to sign up in person. Continue reading Last Chance to Register for Upcoming Classes at the Jax

Suncatcher from the Kids Creativity Jubilee

The Kids Creativity Jubilee will be held at The Jacksonville Center on Saturday, June 18 with affordable two-hour classes for kids ages 5 to 14, running from 9am – 4pm. Kids can come down to make crafts (and even Father’s Day presents) such as pop-up books, fused glass sun-catchers, ceramic sculptures, printmaking, and ornamental metals. We’ll provide healthy snacks throughout the day, and the kids will have plenty of time to stretch their legs and run off some steam between class sessions.

Parents are welcome to stay and play, or use the center’s parking and shuttle location to spend time at the Floyd Town Jubilee happening the same day. Walk-ins are welcome, but any classes that have not met their minimum enrollments by June 17 will be cancelled so parents are advised to register early to ensure their desired classes go.

For more information or to register for Kids’ Creativity Jubilee class sessions, head on over to the Kids Creativity Jubilee page,call (540) 745-2784 or email info@jacksonvillecenter.org.

School is out, which means that our children have about two glorious weeks of backyard picnics, chasing lightning bugs, and lounging under trees with a great book until the novelty wears off and the daily chorus of “I’m booooooooored” begins.  Enter the Kids Creativity Jubilee and the Kids Art Camp at The Jacksonville Center, for the type of creative fun that’ll knock their socks off.

Continue reading Kids Creativity Jubilee at the Jax