Astoria Visual Arts presents Sacred Objects, an invitational exhibition that brings together artists whose work reflects on the question: What is sacred to you? On view from September 13 to October 6, the exhibition, curated by Kristin Shauck, Art Instructor and Gallery Director at Clatsop Community College, invites visitors to explore how the concept of the sacred is interpreted, reimagined, and embodied in contemporary art.

Participating artists include: Bill Atwood, Anna Daedalus, Kerry Davis, Iris Douglas, Annie Eskelin, Jeremy Furnish, Fiona Giselle Hackett, Diane Lane, Pete McDonnell, Denise Monaghan, Julie Moore, John Mueller, Jonas Nash, Paul Polson, Jenny Rideout, Naomi Roberts, Ben Rosenberg, Kristin Shauck, Rachel Siegel, Missy StRain, Penny Treat, Sophia Vandagrif, and Constance Waisanen.

Inspired by historical and spiritual forms—such as reliquaries, altarpieces, devotional icons, ritual tools, and ex-voto paintings—Sacred Objects examines how these archetypal objects can hold renewed meaning today. The works serve as portals into memory, mystery, gratitude, grief, and transformation, offering moments of quiet reflection in a fast-moving world.

Participating artists from across the region have responded to the theme with a range of deeply personal works: contemporary reliquaries for symbolic relics, altar-like assemblages of meaningful materials, meditative objects that invite stillness, paintings of gratitude and healing, and sculptural forms honoring transformation and inner journeys. All media are represented—painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, textile, and mixed media—creating a dynamic conversation about how the sacred appears in diverse artistic practices.

In her curator’s statement, Shauck shares, “This show is about presence—how artists create objects that hold space for contemplation, personal ritual, and connection. I wanted to invite artists to respond to the archetype of the sacred object in their own voice, through the materials and symbols that matter most to them.”

Sacred Objects opens with a public reception on Saturday, September 13 from 5–8 p.m. during Artwalk. A closing reception and artist talk are planned for October 5. AVA is open Friday - Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Admission is always free and all are welcome.