LA GRANDE — Art Center East opens two new shows on Friday, Feb. 2 — “Fiber in Focus: Exploring National Geographic” and “Fiber in Flight: Birds of Eastern Oregon.”

The opening reception is 6-8 p.m. at ACE, 1006 Penn Ave.

Fiber Arts and Jewelry

This is ACE’s eighth annual Fiber Arts and Jewelry Exhibit featuring works by Northeast Oregon fiber and jewelry artists.

The exhibit is on display in ACE’s Orlaske Gallery Feb. 2 through March 30.

This year’s exhibit theme, “Fiber in Focus: Exploring National Geographic,” encouraged artists to choose images from National Geographic as a springboard for creating new jewelry or fiber artworks. The National Geographic images and finished pieces will be displayed side-by-side so that viewers can compare and connect the two.

“Many artists, including those new to submitting pieces for this annual exhibit and those who have exhibited before, expressed their excitement about the National Geographic theme,” said Jennifer Durr, ACE gallery director. “It’s a challenging one. Each year, the exhibit highlights many of the extraordinarily talented Northeast Oregon fiber and jewelry artists who live in our region and Art Center East is thrilled to showcase them.”

The show’s closing reception will be Friday, March 29, 6-8 p.m.

Birds of Eastern Oregon

This show features artist Christie Lower of Halfway. For the opening on Feb. 2, Lower will give an informal artist talk about her work beginning at 6:30 p.m.

For the past six years, Lower has developed and honed her skills and technique in creating to-scale, lifelike animals inspired by the natural world around her, specifically birds.

“Each bird is sculpted by needle felting and is inspired by the birds found in Eastern Oregon and by my grandmother,” she said. “The love of birds was passed on to me by my grandma and this work I have made is an homage to her.”

“Christie Lower’s work is constantly progressing,” Durr said. “Her attention to detail and her artistry are professional and it’s no surprise that her work received the ‘Best in Fiber’ award at the 2023 edition of ‘The Big’, ACE’s annual open exhibit.”

Raffle tickets for Lower’s original needle felt piece “Flying in Sync — Ruby Throated Hummingbirds” will be available for purchase in person at ACE and online beginning Feb. 2 at 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased throughout the exhibit and all proceeds benefit the ACE Gallery Program. The raffle winner will be announced after March 30.

The show’s closing reception will be Friday, March 29, 6-8 p.m.