November Author Reading: Sharon Mehdi

Posted by Art Presence Art Center on Oct 29, 2018 in Author Readings, Events, Featured | 0 comments

November Author Reading: Sharon Mehdi

Join us for our next Author Reading on Friday, November 9 at 5 pm as Jacksonville author Sharon Mehdi reads excerpts from her newly published books, “Eleanor Bobbin,” “The Great Spirit Grandmother Gathering,” and “The Curious Quest for Absolute Truth.”

Sharon Mehdi is a writer, teacher, mother and grandmother. She has lived and worked in Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Guatemala, France and Canada.

The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering: A Story for Anyone Who Thinks She Can’t Save the World

A story for anyone who thinks she can’t save the world. “On a buffety, blustery early summer day, when the news was bad and the sky turned yellow, a strange thing happened in the town where I live.” So begins this moving and enchanting story of two grandmothers who, by standing in the park all day long-“not speaking, not looking at squirrels, not munching on coconut candy”-soon have everyone in town talking. A young girl informs the stumped observers shyly, “they’re saving the world.” These simple acts and words have an enormous impact on the town and soon on towns all over the world.At a time when the news is bad and many people feel powerless, this inspiring story tells of two women who do something so simple that at first no one takes them very seriously, but soon, when they are joined by other women, and then many other women, their simple act of caring has the power to transform the world. Together, these women discover great things are possible-even, and especially, peace.

A Curious Quest for Absolute Truth

I was six the first time I heard the word immortal, and on its heels, eternal and infinite. Thus were the seeds of obsession sown.

Two years earlier my grandfather had mysteriously disappeared. Mysteriously to me anyway. Everyone else knew exactly where he was — the family plot in Sweet Angels of Mercy Cemetery on Iowa Street. “When is he coming back?” I asked every few days.

The answer was always the same. “With grandpa, you never really know.”

When I finally learned the whereabouts of my missing grandfather, I was rife with questions about where people go when they die and how long they have to stay there. The answers were troubling. The idea of being put in a box in the ground without anything to eat or even a flashlight was a fate I was eager to avoid.

Whether out of pity or exasperation, my Grandma Great said there was something I could do so I would never die. “Tell me! Tell me!” I begged.

She cleared her throat and straightened her spectacles. “Write one book,” she said in her most serious voice, “one book so filled with absolute truth it will make you immortal.”

I’d been given a reprieve! No boxes in the ground for me. All I had to do was write a book. That sounded easy enough. “I’ll do it!” I shouted and bounced around the room like a beach ball.

It wasn’t long before I realized that before I could write a book filled with absolute truth, I had to figure out what was absolutely true. And in my family, that was challenging indeed.

Book One: Snippets from the Early Years, is the poignant, irresistible, laugh-out-loud beginning of this best-selling author’s Curious Quest for Absolute Truth. A journey that takes her decades longer and continents farther than she or her Grandma Great ever dreamed possible.

Eleanor Bobbin and the Magical, Merciful, Mighty Art of Kindness

The world is once again in chaos. Rancor and retribution rule the day. Greed, fear and demagoguery have been crowned King of All That Is. For many, there seems to be no hope.

And yet. . .and yet. . .hidden beneath the helplessness and hopelessness there is a glimmer of light. So faint it can be seen only in the darkest of dark nights.

If this tiny flicker had a name, it might be called forgiveness, compassion, kindness or love. Such little words. But the one thing I know for sure is that they can create miracles. They can make the impossible possible. They can heal lives. And sometimes, whole communities. Just ask Eleanor Bobbin.

Come to Art Presence Art Center and enjoy an evening with champagne, snacks and some good stories by a wonderful local writer!

Holiday Treasures 2018 * Give Art to Inspire! *

Posted by Art Presence Art Center on Oct 28, 2018 in Events, Featured, Holiday Treasures, Member Shows | 0 comments

Holiday Treasures 2018

Holiday Treasures 2018, our annual holiday shopping show, returns!

When you head out to buy gifts for the special ones in your life, stop in the gallery first to consider a gift of art. Then come by on your way home to find an inspiring gift for those hard-to-shop-for loved ones. Unlike most shows, you can take your art purchases home with you to wrap and give in time for the holidays.

Artworks in this show are all original pieces, created locally by our artist members. Give art to inspire, shop local and support local artists for the holidays..all at Art Presence!

A bonus to this show is our November guest exhibit, “A Mixed Bag.” Our guest artist is Shan Lollis, whose paintings are striking and very givable.

Holiday Treasures opens Friday, November 2 and continues every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, ending on Sunday, December 30. Join us for a festive reception on Saturday, November 3, from 1–3 pm.

Winter’s Flight, watercolor by Linda Abblett

Jacksonville Christmas, watercolor by Tony Laenen

Vegetable Soup, watercolor by Anne Brooke

November Guest Artist Shan Lollis

Posted by Art Presence Art Center on Oct 28, 2018 in Events, Featured, Guest Exhibits | 0 comments

2018 October Imaginarium Opening Day! Reception tomorrow!

Posted by Art Presence Art Center on Oct 5, 2018 in Events, October Creative Challenge | 2 comments

Pam Formeller Author Reading

Posted by Art Presence Art Center on Oct 5, 2018 in Author Readings, Events | 0 comments

Pam Formeller Author Reading

Art Presence Art Center invites you to come to Pam Formeller’s author reading on Friday, the 12th of October at 5 pm. Refreshments will be served.

Based on true events, the book is a Christmas story about a musically talented little boy who, with God’s support, performs a miracle on Christmas Eve.

Pam has written for several California newspapers and been editor of various trade association magazines.

Minstrel Streams Live Concert Series – FREE!

Posted by Art Presence Art Center on Sep 18, 2018 in Events, Featured | 0 comments

Minstrel Streams Live Concert Series

Musicians Matt and Rebecca Stuart of Minstrel Streams

Minstrel Streams perform a series of free concerts at Art Presence this year. Sergey Oreshkin—whose blog, Ascentor, offers music reviews—says Minstrel Streams “speaks the language of music…you just have to listen to hear words in your heart…weaving subtle and elegant sound patterns through threads of classical, Baroque, Renaissance, Romanticism, and Celtic folk music.”  Don’t miss their musical performances on Sundays from 2–3 pm!

Minstrel Streams (Matt and Rebecca Stuart) is a husband/wife musical duo. Matt plays piano/keyboards and acoustic guitar; and Rebecca plays flute and Native American flutes. Their inspirational music has been described as a blend of classical, folk, and world music. Matt and Rebecca dedicate their lives and talent to “sharing the passionate language of music, from our hearts to yours.”

We are proud to host Matt and Rebecca Stuart of Minstrel Streams, who perform a live concert of their original music on Sundays from 2–3 pm. Their critically acclaimed CD “New Horizon,” a GRAMMY contender released in 2014, was recorded at Will Ackerman’s legendary Imaginary Road Studios in Vermont, reaching a global audience with radio airplay around the world…and becoming a hit on Pandora and Music Choice “Soundscapes.”  We hope “Owyhee,” their new DVD, will achieve this status and even greater. Join us for an afternoon of beautiful music with Minstrel Streams! Please visit our event post for more concert dates and to learn more about Minstrel Streams!

Bill Binkelman of Zone Music Reporter says of the musical duo, “While listening… I recalled many classic recordings from the days of both Windham Hill and Narada in that the music has that ‘classic’ acoustic sound present on both labels, especially at their outset. There is a sonic richness and an emotional depth present here that goes beyond just ‘good music and well played.’”

“While listening… I recalled many classic recordings from the days of both Windham Hill and Narada in that the music has that ‘classic’ acoustic sound present on both labels, especially at their outset. There is a sonic richness and an emotional depth present here that goes beyond just ‘good music and well played.’” ~ Bill Binkleman, Zone Music Reporter

Sure, if you’ve been into the gallery on a weekend or for a reception, you’ve heard our dear friends play. However, this concert series is the first time they’ve played at the gallery where their music is the main focus.

Minstrel Streams’ mission is to promote peace, love, joy, healing, and mercy through music. Minstrel Streams will warm your hearts and souls. Come to Art Presence and share the experience! Whether you’ve missed their previous concerts at Art Presence or you attended and loved their music, please join us for a wonderful afternoon of beautiful music.

Save the dates so you can enjoy Minstrel Streams’ remaining FREE musical performances, taking place on Sundays from 2–3 pm on:

• March 25
• June 3
• August 12
• October 14
• December 9

Art Presence Local Authors Evening Readings

Posted by Anne Brooke on Sep 10, 2018 in Author Readings, Events | 0 comments

NEW Art Presence Local Authors Evening Readings  to Begin with Pam Formeller

We are pleased to kick off our new Art Presence Local Authors Evening Readings with Pam Formeller, author of Miracle on Fifth, a children’s Christmas book featuring a little boy named Andy who, along with some interesting friends, plots to save their church from demolition. Join Pam Formeller Friday, October 12 at 5pm for snacks, champagne and a good story.

Coming November 9: Sharon Mehdi will read from The Great Grandmother Gathering and Eleanor Bobbin.

In January, David and Ginna Gordon will speak about the Ins and Outs of Indie Publishing, date to be determined.