Umpqua Valley Arts is dedicated to the belief that the arts are an indispensable element of a thriving and meaningful community, and that ideas & art in its many forms should be available to all. Our arts exhibition programming is inspired by our energetic community, the geography in which our organization is situated, and the unique history of our region and our institution. When we learn to appreciate art together, we are learning to acknowledge and respect the histories that bind us together, and the changing world that surrounds us.
SHIFTING LANDSCAPES
and four other brand new exhibits
JANUARY 9TH - MARCH 7TH
Opening Reception: January 9th 4pm-7pm
In our first exhibits of 2026, we welcome Shifting Landscapes in our Hallie Brown Ford Gallery. This show is a group exhibition that “paints a picture” of changes to our interior and exterior landscapes resulting from climate-related impacts. Featuring works by Kathleen Caprario, Sarah Grew, Sandra Honda, and Mei-ling Lee.
Join us on February 6th from 5:30pm-7:30pm for an artist talk with Kathleen, Sarah, Sandra, and Mei-ling! Connect with the artists and learn about the exhibit!
This session will also feature works by Christine Harrison, Janet Geib Pretti, Rich Bergeman, and Riddle High School graduate Lola Watson.
ART AS RECORD: MINIDOKA
and four other exhibits featuring Japanese artists
March 20th - May 22nd
Opening Reception: March 20th 4pm-7pm
In 1942, in the wake of the bombing of Pearl Harbor during WII, over 120,000 people of Japanese ancestry were forcibly removed from their homes and incarcerated without due process of the law. Only allowed to take what they could carry – which was often 1-2 suitcases – many were forced to leave behind not only personal belongings but often items closely tied to their Japanese heritage.
Minidoka was one of ten incarceration camps in the United States at the time and between 1942-1945 housed Japanese Americans from Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. These three years were a time of loss, uncertainty, oppression, and living conditions that were harsh in many ways.
In partnership with the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, Umpqua Valley Arts presents a story, a record, of this experience through a selection of woodblock prints, paintings, and art objects made in camp along with other items that will provide a glimpse of this darker part of WWII history, and the way it has deeply affected an entire generation of Japanese-Americans. We invite visitors to view these historical items with reflection.
Art as Record: Minidoka will be exhibited in our Hallie Brown Ford Gallery. Alongside, three other exhibits presented:
Corridor Gallery: Works by Sandra Honda which offers a contemporary reflection of the WII mass incarcerations of Japanese American from the perspective of a descendant of incarcerates.
Red Door Gallery: The Art of Shobu: UVA Private Collection. Artworks gifted to UVA from artists in Roseburg’s Sister City called Shobu, Japan (Now incorporated and referred to as Kuki)
Gallery II: Watercolored works by local Japanese artist Miwako.
Student Gallery: Works by young artists at Fremont Middle School.
Malleable
and four other solo exhibits
May 29th - August 7th
Opening Reception: May 29th 4pm-7pm
Umpqua Valley Arts is proud to present a juried exhibit featuring artists from Oregon, Washington, and Idaho who explore soft materials and processes in their art practice.
Soft Sculpture in art refers to three-dimensional works made from flexible materials like cloth, foam, or rubber. Soft Sculpture often challenges the traditional notions of sculpture, and the mediums used in thi realm of sculpture often evokes notions that their more permanent counterparts do not. They are persistent rather than permanent. In other contrasting scenarios, they also have metaphorical and metaphysical implications that harder materials do not achieve.
This session will also feature works by Shawn Edrington, Julie Anderson Bailey, and Tyler Brumfield.
2026 Umpqua Plein Air Exhibit
an exhibit celebrating the Umpqua Valley
August 22nd - October 23rd
Opening Reception: August 22nd 4pm-7pm
Head over to our Umpqua Plein air page on our website to learn more about this beloved exhibit:
Umpqua Plein Air is a paint-out event and exhibition that offers artists the opportunity to connect with both nature and fellow creatives, and celebrate the centuries old art of plein air.
For five days, registered artists spread across Douglas County to paint breathtaking emerald rivers, abundant farmlands, rolling waves, and more. at the end of the five days, they return to UVA to submit their work to be displayed in our galleries where they are then also reviewed by a juror whom UVA invites to lend their eye and experience to select winners for special awards and accolades.
Registrations for the paint-out event go live April 1st, 2026. Be sure to keep an eye on our website for updates on who the juror is, and more!