POST FALLS — From the colorful and abstract to the realistic, ceramic and even cephalopodic, a world of art is on display at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls.

Through May 19, the "Art Uplifts" exhibit will be on the upper level while Michael Smith's wildlife oil paintings will be exhibited on the main level.

“It’s wonderful, encouraging not only the community, but encouraging the artists," JACC Executive Director Darly Dreyer said Friday evening during the opening reception.

"Art Uplifts," in its second year, was created to honor the life and works of Coeur d'Alene artist and musician Jimmy Magnuson, who died May 17, 2021, at age 36.

Several of his friends and loved ones attended the reception to remember him and share stories. Many agreed he would have loved to see a show that celebrates art's healing powers.

His mom, Nita Magnuson, said Jimmy learned to paint in art therapy.

“Encourage someone. Praise someone. Affirm someone. Make a new person feel welcome," she said. “That’s the message of the show. Society can’t fix these problems of mental health and addiction, but the more we talk about them and help to erase some of that stigma, the more people are willing to raise their hand and go, ‘I’m hurting too.’ That’s what I hope to accomplish with this show, and that’s what Jimmy would want."

Smith, whose works include realistic depictions of elk and black bears, as well as vivid creations of blue wolves and purple buffalo, visited with art appreciators during the reception. He paints using wildlife photos he and his wife took during the years they worked on a 14,000-acre ranch in Utah.

“We had three separate elk herds out on the ranch, we had all of these animals," he said. "We took hundreds of thousands of photographs."

Smith has a degree in illustration and spent most of his career as a graphic artist.

“When I retired, I decided I’m just going to paint, I’m going to finally do what I want to do,” he said.

Smith said he learned from a wildlife artist mentor to paint everything in black and white before completing the piece.

“Once it dries, then you put color on top of it,” he said. “It’s quite a process, but it’s the way I like to do it.”

It was through his wife's encouragement he decided to experiment with more abstract colors, which he immediately enjoyed.

"It’s so much fun," he said. "I never knew I could paint like this. I’d seen this style for years, but that wasn’t me. I did realistic. My wife kept after me, she says, ‘Come on try something different, just do one for fun.'"

He was glad he took the advice. Since January, he created a series of brightly colored pieces.

"I thought, 'Oh my God this is a riot! I love this,'" he said. “I couldn’t paint fast enough."

Stacie Joiner of Post Falls attended the opening receptions with partner Chad Farrar.

"I am in awe of everybody’s talents. It’s amazing,” she said. "All these things are just so creative.”

The JACC is at 405 N. William St. The exhibits are free. Some art is available to purchase.