'Second Life' returns to POAC Gallery

SANDPOINT — The Pend Oreille Arts Council is welcoming the return of "Second Life: Art from the Unexpected", an imaginative and thought-provoking exhibition celebrating artwork created from upcycled, recycled, repurposed, and found materials. 

The show opens with a public reception on Friday, April 3, from 5-7 p.m.at the POAC Gallery, 313 N Second Ave., Sandpoint. Light refreshments will be served, and many of the featured artists will be in attendance. 

Back for its second year, "Second Life" has quickly become one of the gallery’s most innovative and anticipated exhibitions. This year’s show features the work of 14 artists: Judy Baird, Barry Burgess, Julie Ellis, Molly Gentry, Gerri Harvill, Will Harrison, Kathryn Larson, Judy Minter, Sheila Newenham, Holly Pennington, Teresa Rancourt, Jan Rust, Amy Stephensen, and Elle Summer.

Each artist brings a unique perspective to the concept of transformation, turning unexpected materials into compelling works of art. Visitors can expect to see a wide variety of creative approaches, where discarded, overlooked, or everyday items are reimagined into pieces that are both visually striking and conceptually rich.

While the exhibition arrives in April alongside the spirit of Earth Day, its message goes beyond environmental awareness. Second Life celebrates ingenuity, resourcefulness, and the boundless possibilities of artistic expression. It challenges viewers to reconsider the materials around them and to see beauty and potential in the unexpected.

“This show is always exciting because it pushes both artists and viewers to think differently,” says POAC Arts Coordinator Claire Lutz. “There’s something really inspiring about seeing how creativity can transform the ordinary into something meaningful and beautiful.”

"Second Life: Art from the Unexpected" will be on view until April 28 at the POAC Gallery. Visitors are encouraged to stop in, explore the work, and experience firsthand the creativity that emerges when artists give materials a second life.

For more information, visit artinsandpoint.org, follow POAC on Facebook (@poactivities), call 208-263-6139, or email [email protected].

    "Sara & Paper" by Judy Minter is among the works showcased in the Pend Oreille Art Council's upcoming exhibit, "Second Life: Art from the Unexpected."