(Above: Landscape photography by David Simone is one of several shows at the Emerald Art Center in downtown Springfield during August 2025.)

Edited by Randi Bjornstad

Among the art on display at the Emerald Art Center are creations by Karen Perkins and David Simone, who not only are artistt — she a ceramicist and he a landscape photographer — but also a couple of nearly 50 years.

Ceramic art by Karen Perkins is on display at the Emerald Art Center during August.

Their artist statement points out the sometimes incongruent nature of their forms, as in “Karen’s dusty studio clothes were not always welcome in David’s studio or darkroom” or the fact that now that he has gone digital, “David can alter his pieces (via computer) with great attention to detail and precision where Karen’s work (ceramics) is more improvisational and has an element of risk, especially in the firing process.”

But, as fellow artists, they say they travel together and translate what they see and experience into their particular art forms.

Both also have longtime relationships with the Emerald Art Center, where Perkins created a gallery for showing work by Springfield High School students and where Simone often has been involved when planning and participating in exhibits of work by members of The PhotoZone Gallery, which includes an annual juried exhibit of photographs. Both also have served as judges of the Springfield Mayor’s Art Exhibit, which takes place annually at the Emerald Art Center.

But as the saying goes, that’s not all, folks. There also are exhibits of artwork featuring work by two Emerald Art Center members, Brooke Chang and Paul Vakselis, both watercolor artists. Chang’s show is titled  Transitory Landscapes, and Vakslelis’s is called Bridges of US Coastal Highway 101 and Others.

And that really isn’t all either, because as usual there is new work by other members of the Emerald Art Center on display, plus creations by students of the Light’s Summer Youth Art Camps.

Second Friday Art Walk at the Emerald Art Center

When: 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 8; exhibits will be on display through Aug. 29

Where: 500 Main St., Springfield

Regular gallery hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday

Information: Telephone 541-726-8595 or online at emeraldartcenter.org