Walk into the corner of 15th and Villard in Eugene, and you’ll see a building that looks a lot like a church. It makes sense. It was a chapel back in 1895. But for over 70 years, the Maude Kerns Art Center has been a different kind of sanctuary.
It’s the oldest non-profit community art center in the city. Honestly, in a world where everything feels like a digital simulation or a corporate chain, Maude Kerns is refreshingly real. It smells like linseed oil, wet clay, and old wood. It’s a place where a 7-year-old taking their first "budding artists" class might walk past a 90-year-old professional painter who has been using the same studio space since the LBJ administration.
That’s not an exaggeration.
Who was Maude Kerns, anyway?
Most people in Eugene know the name, but they don't necessarily know the woman. Maude Irvine Kerns wasn't just some local hobbyist. She was a powerhouse. Born in 1876, she ended up heading the Art Education Department at the University of Oregon for 25 years.
She was a pioneer of the "Non-Objective Art Movement." Basically, she was doing abstract work with circles and triangles before it was cool, hanging out with the same crowd as Kandinsky and showing her work at what eventually became the Guggenheim in New York.
In 1950, she and a group of local artists founded the Eugene Art Center. They wanted a place for the "visual arts" that wasn't just for the elite. In 1961, she donated the building deed, and they renamed it the Maude Kerns Art Center Eugene OR to honor her. She died in 1965, but her vibe—spiritual, experimental, and a bit rebellious—is still baked into the walls.
The weird and wonderful Jell-O Art Show
If you want to understand the soul of this place, you have to talk about the Jell-O Art Show. It happens every March. It is exactly what it sounds like, and yet so much more.
People make sculptures out of gelatin. It’s temporary. It’s wiggly. It’s kinda gross if it sits under the gallery lights too long. But it’s also a massive community party. You’ll see complex architectural models made of lime Jell-O and "paintings" made of jigglers.
It’s the ultimate "don't take yourself too seriously" event. For a center that handles high-end contemporary exhibits, having an annual festival dedicated to snack food is a pretty great way to stay grounded.
What’s actually happening inside right now?
The center isn't just a museum where you look at things behind glass. It’s more of a factory for creativity.
Club Mud and the Ceramics Scene
Deep in the building is Club Mud. This is the ceramics cooperative. It’s one of the few places in town where you can get affordable, on-site studio space if you’re a working potter. It’s a tight-knit group. If you’ve ever bought a handmade mug at a local Eugene market, there’s a decent chance it was fired in a kiln here.
The Classes (For everyone)
They run year-round sessions.
- Youth Programs: They do everything from summer camps to the "Mayor’s Teen Art Show."
- Adult Education: You’ve got watercolor fundamentals with Steve Steinaway or studio oil painting with Kate Bollons.
- New Additions: Recently, they took over the Whiteaker Printmakers, expanding their reach into the "Whit" neighborhood.
The classes aren't just for "good" artists. Seriously. Half the people there are just trying to remember how to use a paintbrush after twenty years of working a desk job.
Major Exhibits
They do about 10 big shows a year. The Día de los Muertos exhibit in October is a massive deal for the local community. It’s not just art on a wall; it’s an altar-filled, vibrant celebration of life and memory that draws people from all over Lane County.
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Art and the Vineyard: The Big Fundraiser
Every July, the center moves its operations to Alton Baker Park for "Art and the Vineyard." It’s been running for nearly 40 years. It’s the "premier" art and wine festival in the Southern Willamette Valley.
Think about it: 20,000 people, 90+ artists in the marketplace, and a bunch of Oregon wine. It’s the primary way the Maude Kerns Art Center keeps the lights on and the class prices low. It’s a lot of work for a small staff, but it’s become a Eugene summer tradition as certain as the rain returning in October.
Why you should actually go
There’s a common misconception that art centers are stuffy. Maude Kerns isn't. It’s a creaky old building full of people who actually care about making things.
If you’re a member (which costs about $50 for an adult), you get to show your work in the annual Member’s Show. Imagine that. You can have your art hanging in the same gallery that has hosted Guggenheim-level artists.
The center is located at 1910 East 15th Avenue. They’re open Monday through Friday, 10:00 am to 5:30 pm, and Saturdays from noon to 4:00 pm when they have a show up. Admission is usually just a suggested donation of three bucks.
Actionable ways to get involved today:
- Visit the Gallery: Don't wait for a special event. Just walk in on a Tuesday afternoon. It’s quiet, the lighting is great, and it’s a perfect 20-minute mental break.
- Take a Workshop: Sign up for a "one-day" workshop if you're intimidated by an 8-week commitment. They often have sessions on things like card-making or basic clay.
- The Gift Shop: Forget Amazon. The gift shop inside the center has jewelry, prints, and ceramics made by local members. It’s the best place in Eugene for a housewarming gift.
- Volunteer: They always need help with "Art and the Vineyard" or hanging the next show. It’s the fastest way to meet the actual art community in town.
The Maude Kerns Art Center Eugene OR isn't just a relic of the past. It’s a living, breathing part of the city’s identity. Whether you’re there for the high-concept non-objective paintings or a sculpture made of raspberry Jell-O, you're part of a 75-year-old conversation about why making stuff matters.