Wednesday-Friday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 2:00pm
1006 Penn Ave., La Grande, OR 97850
PO Box 541, La Grande, OR 97850
[email protected]
541-624-2800
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“Thin Red Thread” by Bayly Lay
May 8 @ 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Art Center East (ACE) announces the opening of “Thin Red Thread”, a solo exhibition by emerging Eastern Oregon painter Bayly Lay. Community members of all ages are invited to attend a free opening reception on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 6–8 p.m. in ACE’s Main Gallery. The exhibit will be on display May 2 through June 28. A recorded artist talk by Lay will be available following the opening reception.
Raised on a fifth-generation ranch in the foothills of the Eagle Cap Wilderness, Lay brings a grounded yet passionate energy to her self-taught painting practice. She did not grow up painting or attend art school, but she has not stopped painting since she began in 2022. Her work speaks in memory and mirage, and she layers sheer pigments in an unorthodox oil painting style that is impressionistic, tender, and deeply evocative.
Lay says, “This body of work draws upon three sources of artistic influence that shaped my life. The moody darks of Scotland’s pubs, the impossible greens of the Colombian Amazon, and the thin red thread that tugs me back to the Catherine Creekbed.”
Lay uses texture and transparency to explore place, identity, and transformation by working between wooden panels and traditional canvas. Each piece invites the viewer to both remember and imagine. A free closing reception will be held on Friday, June 27, from 6–8 p.m., and Lay will be present. The final day to view the exhibit is Saturday, June 28.
Find out more about “Thin Red Thread” and other ACE exhibits, classes, and events at artcentereast.org. Art Center East is located at 1006 Penn Avenue in La Grande. Gallery hours are Wednesday–Friday, noon–5 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Exhibits can also be viewed online thanks to a partnership with High Country Realty Professionals in La Grande. ACE galleries are open to the public, and admission is always free.
Read about our COVID policies here.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please reach out and let us know. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Registration cancellations & transfers must be made through Art Center East at (541) 624-2800 48 hours or more before the class start time. We cannot issue refunds or transfers for cancellations received after the 48-hour cutoff. Exceptions will be considered for medical or family emergencies. ACE will honor a refund, minus a $10 administration fee when the cancellation is made 48 hours or more before class start date. When a class is canceled due to low enrollment, we will issue a refund for all registration fees. ACE will contact you in the event of a cancellation. Face coverings will be required in accordance with statewide regulations current at the time.
Wednesday-Friday: 12:00pm - 5:00pm
