Art Center East in La Grande, Oregon, opens a solo exhibition titled “The Warmth Within My Shadow” featuring self-reflective paintings by Pendleton-based mixed-media artist Jason Hogge. The show runs from May 1 through June 27 in ACE’s Main Gallery, with a free opening reception on May 1 from 6-8 p.m., including an artist talk at 6:30 p.m. Raffle tickets for Hogge’s original acrylic painting “Emerging” (valued at $700) will be sold to support the center’s gallery programs, and a virtual tour is available online.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the work of a regional Oregon artist and provides accessible, community-oriented programming—including free receptions and a virtual tour—that broadens public engagement with contemporary art in a rural area. The raffle fundraiser also demonstrates how small art centers sustain their operations through grassroots support, reinforcing the importance of local arts infrastructure in underserved communities.