(Artwork above by Adrienne Phillips)

Who does not know the mysterious feeling that you have experienced a completely new situation before? Déjà vu is a brief moment of clear-sightedness that leaves behind a powerful and unnerving impression—a sense of unexplainable recognition or familiarity.

A6 Artist Members were challenged to create original prints and artists books that elicit a feeling of déjà vu in the viewer—prompting them to wonder, “Have I seen that before?” Artist use reproducible elements (marks in a plate, stencils, repeated pattern, or collaged layers of past prints), can be used to create a sense of visual familiarity. Within an artist book or pair of prints, such synchronizations of past and present, presence and absence, seeing and remembering, and surprise and recognition are characteristic of déjà vu.

This annual juried exhibit highlights local artists who are members of the A6 Print Studio, a printmaking and book arts studio housed within Bend Art Center. This year’s exhibit includes work by Ana Aguirre, Paula Bullwinkel, Pat Clark, Helen Loeffler, Sue Papanic, Jane Quale, Adell Shetterly, Adrienne Phillips, Carolyn Platt, Robin Thomas and Julie Winter. Sandy Brooke, local painter and former OSU Cascades professor, served as juror. Brooke selected Adrienne Phillip’s What chair? as Best in Show.

Bend Art Center provides creative and educational art experiences for Central Oregon residents and visitors of all ages. A non-profit art studio and exhibition space, Bend Art Center is home to A6 Print Studio, a working professional studio used by more than 30 local artist members. A6 holds on-going classes and workshops in printmaking, book arts, drawing and design. Upcoming classes are posted at bendartcenter.org. Bend Art Center presents monthly exhibits of contemporary art and hosts a variety of art talks and other cultural events. Located in the historic Box Factory, Bend Art Center participates in Bend’s First Friday Gallery Walk. For more information, visit bendartcenter.org.