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Hoffman Gallery

December Gallery Exhibition
Exhibit-Thursdays–Sundays | December 4–27 | 12:00-5:00pm
Opening Reception December 6 | 3:00-5:00pm
Gallery is closed the last Sunday of every month
Hoffman Center for the Arts | 594 Laneda Avenue | Manzanita
Free and open to the public

 

Featuring works by
Daniela Naomi Molnar, julie moore, and Local Materials Ceramic Group Show

 

Local Materials

This exhibition brings together a group of ceramic artists exploring the intersection of tradition, place, and material through the use of locally sourced clay and other items such as flowers, crab shells, and wood ash. All of the works were wood-fired and fueled by regional alder, fir, and maple—trees native to the same landscape from which many of the raw materials were gathered. For this exhibition, each artist committed to the exploration and use of natural materials in their work. Local Materials celebrates that process—and the deep, enduring connection between clay, fire, and place.

Historically, many ceramic traditions around the world have relied on clay from the surrounding land, allowing the material to define both form and aesthetic. In Japan, for example, Shigaraki and Bizen wares are deeply rooted in their respective geographies, with the native clay bodies lending each tradition its distinct character. In contrast, most contemporary potters today work with commercially processed clay designed for predictability and ease of use. The artists in Local Materials honor this older lineage by reintroducing regional clays and naturally sourced materials into their work. These additions may create unpredictable textures or surface reactions in the firing, but such imperfections are embraced as expressive, and often strikingly beautiful.

Wood firing adds another layer of transformation. The flame travels through the kiln like a river current, and ash from the burning wood drifts and settles onto the pots, forming natural glazes and emphasizing surface details. This atmospheric process results in surfaces that record the unique path of heat, ash, flame, and time.

Each artist in this exhibition has dedicated themselves to the careful, often experimental practice of gathering, testing, and incorporating local materials into their work. Local Materials celebrates that process, and the deep, enduring connection between clay, fire, and place.



Participants:

Ally Bruser

Randy McClelland

Brad Meninga

Colin Meston

Hans Miles

Richard Rowland

Tara Spires-Bell

Shane Sjogren

Lily Williams

 

julie moore—The Light Between Beings

This body of work serves as a profound collaboration between the vibrant flora of the North Coastal Oregon area, the life-giving sun, and the innate curiosity that connects us to the natural world. Each piece in this collection is termed a “Lumen,” a name that reflects the light-infused essence captured within the art. Utilizing a hybrid light-based technique, I weave together the delicate plant materials, radiant sunlight, and silver gelatin paper to create these luminous images. The process is further enriched by incorporating various vinegar dilutions, washing soda, citric acid, and an array of kitchen spices, introducing unique textures and colors that enhance the final result. Once the pieces are scanned, I may augment them further with traditional drawing materials and watercolors, adding layers of depth and personal expression.

The plants featured in this series have been lovingly gathered from my garden and the natural landscapes surrounding my home on the North Oregon Coast. They represent the often-overlooked beauty that resides at our feet—a reminder of the intricate and vibrant ecosystems that flourish in our everyday environments. Each piece encourages a sense of “noticing,” inviting viewers to engage with both the representation of the plants and the dynamic light energy they emit.

These botanicals embody our vital and life-affirming relationship with nature, highlighting the interconnectedness of all living beings. Through this work, I aspire to cultivate an awareness of the delicate beauty we share with the plant world, urging viewers to reflect on their own connections with nature.

In creating this collection, I aim to offer a moment of pause amidst the busyness of life—a chance to appreciate the fragility and richness of our surroundings. It invites a new perspective on the shared spaces we inhabit, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the natural beauty that thrives in our gardens and open areas here in North Coastal Oregon.

 

Artist Bio

julie is a cross-disciplinary artist specializing in lens-based mediums, seamlessly blending collage, lumen, photo-gravure, and intaglio printing. Her work possesses a delicate, poetic quality that resonates deeply, stirring the senses and touching the heart.

Reflecting on her art, julie shares, “My images reveal how I perceive the world—its soft tenderness and extravagant beauty, its agonizing losses, and the exquisite nature of aging. I am drawn to the often-overlooked aspects of life and nature, finding precious beauty in the unseen. These subtle elements of everyday life, though not always prominent, hold valuable lessons for us.”

After retiring, julie relocated to Portland, Oregon, where she fully embraced her passion for art. Over nine years, she owned and curated the Sage Gallery for Fine Art Photography and served as president of the Portland Photographers' Forum. Now residing in Astoria, Oregon, she is an active member of Astoria Visual Arts and the Guild at Lightbox Fine Art Photographic Gallery. julie’s poly-photogravure and mixed- media lens-based artworks have garnered numerous awards and have been showcased in galleries across the United States. She is currently represented by RiverSea Gallery and Lightbox Fine Art Photographic Gallery in Astoria Oregon.

Daniela Naomi Molnar—Palette of Place: Coastal Ecotone

This art is made of the place you are in. Flowers, stones, cones, seeds, bones, and shells from the Hoffman Center’s Wonder Garden, nearby forests, shorelines, meadows, clearcuts, and roadsides were foraged to make pigments. I then mixed these pigments with rainwater, creek water, and the ocean to make watercolor paint. 

My primary medium is place. My work explores place-based memories. To access these memories, I make palettes of place with a bioregion’s pigments. The resulting works are ecosystems in which memories transform.

This body of work is: 

A celebration of the earth’s imagination and resilience.

A love letter to this lush bioregion.

An invitation to sensory immersion, beauty, and exchange.

A call to reflect on this place’s past, present, and future, and to consider what future we want to co-create with each other and this place.




  •  December 4, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 5, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 6, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 7, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 11, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 12, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 13, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 14, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 18, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 19, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 20, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 21, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 26, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
  •  December 27, 2025
     12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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December– Gallery Exhibition

Venue:  

Address:
594 Laneda Avenue, Manzanita, Oregon, 97130

Description:

Situated on the main street in Manzanita just a few blocks west of Highway 101, the Hoffman Center Art Gallery is located across the street from the North Tillamook Library.