‘Portals’ is the theme of the upcoming August art show at Art Center Ukiah. Knowing that a lot of folks, both artists and non-artists alike, have a fascination with windows, doors and gates, show coordinator Katie Gibbs expects this to be an event with a high level of participation. 

Gibbs, who helped write the call, explains, “I’m always interested in architecture, and it’s fascinating to see what people do with their front doors. Doors are an obvious interpretation of the theme, but there are a variety of ways to look at portals. They are certainly the physical openings through which we enter or view another space, but they can also be mystical, magical or philosophical... and maybe even be the entryway to an unseen realm. Some portals are bright and new; others from times past are beat up and worn with age. Some are created by nature, and others exist only in our imaginations.”

“I’m planning on making a piece with ground squirrels in their apartment house under a tree,” Gibbs continues. “Their holes are the portals to where they live, and I’d like to do something different since there tends to be quite a lot of art that depicts human-made doors and windows.”

Art in the ‘Portals’ show is expected to encompass a variety of media, incorporating all kinds of paint, paper, textiles and maybe even sculptural materials. Any technique and any size, both two- and three-dimensional, is encouraged.