Our Town Shows the Many and Varied Faces of Sandpoint at POAC Gallery, Thru March 8

You never know what you're going to get at a POAC show. Generally, it's local, Sandpoint-area artists, some seasoned veterans and others complete novices. And generally it's a wide variety of media, styles and content, not all of which fits the "theme" of the show. And generally the shows are interesting, thoughtful and give one a basic sense of the breadth of artistic expression in the area.

Called Our Town, People of Panhandle, the current POAC show has a few knockout pieces showing exemplary technique, talent or both, as well as a few unusual or nostalgic pieces that give the home-town context to the show.

An example is Dan Earle, whose figure and portrait studies (his wife, Jackie, at right) exemplify the extensive training he has had. And Diana Moses Botkin's paintings, such as "Young Scholar," have that magical feeling of light. Julie Hutslar's "Aisla" is a lovely watercolor. Couple of interesting photos, a few 3D works, and several pieces that may have come off of mantels--Yola Biter's "Mother" and "Father"--to serve as reminders of Sandpoint's past.

Although there are a significant number of artists in the area who do not exhibit at POAC (and yet are nationally or even internationally known), the sheer volume of artists in the area who do exhibit is impressive. To be sure, we would still like to see someone in the area willing/able to exhibit more edgy, contemporary work (no nudes allowed at POAC, which is in a high-traffic public building), the fact that POAC continues to find new ways to reach the public is noteworthy.