Megan McGuinness' 21 New Paintings Debut at Art Center East Feb. 6

Art Center East (ACE) in La Grande will open two concurrent shows Feb. 6, mounting a new solo exhibition by Megan McGuinness alongside ACE’s 10th annual Fiber Arts & Jewelry Exhibit. The McGuinness show, titled "A Dog Dreams of Bread," will be on view Feb. 6 through March 28, 2026, and will join "Diamonds are Forever" for a shared free opening reception Friday, Feb. 6 from 6–8 p.m.

Megan McGuinness will exhibit 21 new paintings, including a work titled "Swimmers in September." The exhibit run of Feb. 6 through March 28 gives Baker County residents nearly two months to view the new body of work in ACE’s La Grande gallery. An informal artist talk by McGuinness is scheduled at the opening; the venue listing notes the talk will begin during the reception but does not specify an exact start time.

ACE is presenting the fiber and jewelry exhibit "Diamonds are Forever" as its 10th annual installment, and ACE’s event notice invites community members of all ages to the same free Feb. 6 reception. The center frames the fiber and jewelry show as a themed call to interpretation for participating makers; ACE’s listing describes the 2026 theme as "Diamonds are Forever" and says it encouraged artists to create interpretations tied to that idea.

The simultaneous openings make Feb. 6 a concentrated moment in La Grande’s arts calendar, offering varied visual and craft practices under one roof. For families and younger residents, ACE also lists a free Stellar Watercolor class for ages 10–16 on Feb. 7 from 9:00–10:15 a.m., which pairs basic watercolor instruction with space-themed projects. ACE’s community programming that week also includes Open Stained Glass Studio sessions Feb. 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 1:00–4:00 p.m. and an Open Studio Ceramics series on Feb. 4, 11, 18, and 25 from 4:00–7:00 p.m.; the ceramics series is listed as sold out.

The twin openings underline ACE’s role as a regional arts hub that combines exhibition programming with hands-on classes and intergenerational outreach. For local artists, collectors, and civic leaders, the McGuinness show and the fiber and jewelry exhibit present opportunities to assess cultural vibrancy, support creative economies, and connect youth programming to public exhibitions.

Photo credit for one featured image is listed as (Megan McGuinness/Contributed P

What this means for Baker County readers: the Feb. 6 reception is a no-cost entry point to new local work and an easy way to meet artists and organizers; ACE’s Feb. 6–March 28 schedule offers multiple chances to view McGuinness’ 21 paintings and to follow up on classes and studio opportunities at the center.