Hoffman Center presents December show

The December exhibit at Manzanita’s Hoffman Center for the Arts will feature work by Daniela Naomi Molnar, julie moore and a group ceramic show.

 An opening reception will be held from 3 to 5 pm this Saturday.

“Local Materials,” curated by ceramic artist Randy McClelland, brings together artists exploring the intersection of tradition, place and process. Using locally sourced clay and natural additives such as flower petals, crab shells and wood ash, the artists created work fired with alder, fir and maple — trees native to the same landscape that supplied many of the raw materials. The exhibit highlights the deep connection between clay, fire and place.

Participating ceramic artists include Ally Bruser, Randy McClelland, Brad Meninga, Colin Meston, Hans Miles, Richard Rowland, Tara Spires-Bell, Shane Sjogren and Lily Williams.

In “The Light Between Beings,” artist julie moore presents work created through a hybrid light-based technique using plant materials, sunlight and silver gelatin paper. Each piece, called a “lumen,” is further shaped with vinegar dilutions, washing soda, citric acid and kitchen spices, creating distinct textures and colors. Scanned images can then be enhanced with drawing materials and watercolor. The plants used were gathered from moore’s garden and the surrounding North Oregon Coast, encouraging viewers to notice the often-overlooked beauty found in local botanicals and the light energy they emit.

Daniela Naomi Molnar’s “Palette of Place: Coastal Ecotone” features pigments made from flowers, stones, cones, seeds, bones and shells collected from the Hoffman Wonder Garden and nearby forests, shorelines and meadows. Mixed with rainwater, creek water and ocean water, these bioregional materials are transformed into handmade watercolor paints. Her work explores memory, ecology and resilience through color palettes grounded in place, inviting viewers to reflect on the past, present and future of the coastal region.

The exhibit will be on display through Saturday, Dec. 27. The Hoffman Center for the Arts is located at 594 Laneda Avenue in Manzanita and is open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 pm, except the last Sunday of every month. For more information, go to hoffmanarts.org.