A new community art space makes its debut Friday at Philomath City Hall and its first exhibition offers an early look at work from this month’s Philomath Open Studios Tour.
The PhiloMAX Gallery will host an opening reception for POST21 from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Philomath City Hall. The free event will include hors d’oeuvres and refreshments.
The gallery comes out of a new placemaking partnership between Maxtivity Creative Space and the city of Philomath. Under the arrangement, the walls of the City Council chambers become exhibition space dedicated to the artists, stories, cultures and creativity of the local community.
The inaugural show previews work by artists taking part in the 21st annual Philomath Open Studios Tour. For more than two decades, the tour has invited the public into local artists’ studios. This year’s free, self-guided tour features nine stops in and around Philomath over two weekends, Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25.
The exhibition also marks a return to showing art for Sarah Lench, executive director of Maxtivity Creative Space, who has two pieces in the show. It’s the first time in more than 20 years that Lench has exhibited her own artwork.
Art lovers can turn Friday into a two-gallery evening. Green Heron Gallery on Main Street will hold its own opening reception for a POST21 preview exhibition from 5-7 p.m., allowing visitors to stop there first before heading to City Hall.