From Oct. 1 until Nov. 4, Jan Dempsey Community Arts Center (JDCAC) will hold its first-ever Artist's Harvest Exhibition, an opportunity for local artists to showcase their artwork and express their love for Halloween and the fall season. A reception and market, where these JDCAC-affiliated artists can sell their pieces and gain exposure in the world of creativity, will also take place on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Emilie Dombrowski is one of the exhibition’s main hosts and is currently serving as the art education specialist for JDCAC.
“On the ninth, in the evening, [JDCAC is] gonna have a really nice patio with awesome lights, and we’re gonna put up [the art of] about 25 of our vendors that we work with here in the Art Center,” Dombrowski said. “And then our Auburn Area Community Theatre will actually be getting out some of their old costumes and doing a costume sale too.”
At the reception and market on Oct. 9, only JDCAC-affiliated artists, including members of the Ceramics Independent Studio, Open Studio and the Auburn Arts Association, may sell their pieces. The art sale will be on the JDCAC patio, and the theatre’s costume sale will be in the performance room.
A gallery exhibit will also be found in the Gallery II section of JDCAC. Unlike the patio and costume sales, the gallery exhibit is open to all local artists, although not all submissions will be accepted in order to have a variety of art types. It’s completely free to enter.
Guidelines for submissions are neither strict nor binding. The exhibit is, however, meant to showcase the fun elements of Halloween, so no gruesome or horror pieces are allowed.
“[Submissions are] all Halloween [themed and] family-friendly [works of art],” said Myra Stephenson, JDCAC gallery assistant.
According to Stephenson, all pieces must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 19. These submitted artworks will be part of the gallery exhibition, which is separate from the art and costume sales and will be on display from Oct. 1 to Nov. 4.
The Artist’s Harvest Exhibition is an easy and accessible way for artists to display their creations to a large and loving audience.
Jackie McDonough teaches ceramics and handbuilding at JDCAC and is submitting “The Pumpkin Queen”, a person built out of ceramic pumpkins, to the exhibition. She is delighted to join the Artist's Harvest Exhibition and has even convinced students in her classes to present their Halloween-themed art as well.
“Fall is my thing,” said McDonough. “I [have] made [ceramic] pumpkins left and right, and that’s what I do [at JDCAC].”
Whether they work with JDCAC or not, anyone in Auburn with a passion for art is encouraged to submit their works for possible inclusion in the exhibition.
“[At exhibitions] you meet so many interesting, diverse people from different fields and parts of life,” McDonough said. “You meet people of all different ages combined in the love of art creation.”
JDCAC and all partners involved in the Artist’s Harvest Exhibition are thrilled to be a part of what is the first of its kind.
“There’s just nothing like [the Harvest Exhibition] in [Auburn],” Dombrowski said.
The team behind the event is passionate about the arts and excitedly anticipating the night. Autumn-themed snacks will be available at this event, and guests are encouraged to wear Halloween costumes. The Artist’s Harvest Exhibition will be a night full of spooky fun for guests and artists alike.
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Amelia Gatzke, freshman majoring in psychology, is from Huntsville, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the fall of 2025.
