The Verge Art Auction Preview
November 5, 2026
reception: Thursday, November 5, 5-8pm
artist talk:
The arts event of the year is back! Verge Center for the Arts is proud to present our annual Art Auction, a fundraising event that provides art lovers & local collectors an opportunity to acquire original works of fine art, while supporting a non-profit organization and community of artists. The Art Auction will commence with an opening reception showcasing biddable artworks on Thursday, November 5 from 5-8pm. Attendees at the event will have the first look at items available in the auction, and can enjoy light bites and beverages as they plan their bidding strategies. Then the big event will happen Saturday, November 14 from 5-8pm where there will be silent and live auction items ready to go home with the highest bidder, plus catered snacks, craft beverages, live music and an all-around incredible evening! You do not want to miss this — snag your tickets today!
OPENING RECEPTION & PREVIEW: Thursday, November 5, 5-8pm
ART AUCTION: Saturday, November 14, 5-8pm
Hosted By: Miss Lita Taylor
Catered By: Zelda’s
Wine By: Bogle
Music By: Legend Has It
Spirits By: DAO Distillery
Sac Open Studios Preview Exhibition
September 10th, 2026 - October 11th, 2026
reception: Thursday, September 10th, 2026, 6pm - 9pm
artist talk:
Come join us to celebrate the opening of the 21st Sac Open Studios! Join us on Thursday, September 10th, at Verge Center for the Arts as we kick off the 2026 Sac Open Studios Tour with the opening of the Preview Show! Meet participating Sac Open Studios artists and supporters, enjoy upbeat jams by a live DJ from Legend Has It, and grab some delicious bites from Old Coyote! To keep you cool, stop by the bar and grab a refreshing beverage. Legend Has It will have something for everyone, from wine and cold beer to refreshing non-alcoholic drinks. Plus, we’ll have artist demos!
The Sac Open Studios Preview Exhibition will feature artworks from participating artists from both tour weekends. This is a great place to find artworks you love and start planning your tour!
This year the tour consists of 260+participating artists. We recommend starting at the Kick Off Party to choose some favorites before planning your route. Many of the artworks in the exhibit are for sale, so you might also find something to add to your personal collection!
Pocket Garden
June 13 - August 23, 2026
reception: June 13, 5-8pm
artist talk:
Solo Exhibition by Ari Bird
For Ari Bird, the mundane and everyday items of our lives are the foundation for her large-scale, fantastical installations. Bird has spent her career using mass-produced materials as both medium and muse; sourcing from hardware and dollar stores to fabricate her playful sculptures. As a self-taught sculptor, Bird emphasizes process by experimenting freely with materials and techniques. Her work resists the shiny and sleek look of hyper-realism and instead leans into the bold colors, patterns, and shapes to showcase her own artistic hand at work. The results are novelties that engage our recognition, readily sparking memories while punctuating the objects’ existence through size.
In line with fellow artists who idolize the object by enlarging it, Bird expands on the existing concept by approaching it with curiosity and compassion for the objects themselves. Bird aims to explore our relationship with collecting and how the very act of collection is bound tightly with assuming an identity. Whether it be a soothing habit, a proclamation of character, or a nostalgic need, acquiring things serves us in one way or another. Bird scrutinizes the significance we place on these items, quite literally expanding our perspective and encouraging us to reflect.
In Pocket Garden, Bird imagines an immersive world of forgotten items. Her large-scale sculptures of butterfly clips and bandaids actualize those things we accumulate only to lose out of our pockets or bags. Bird builds space and attention for the trinkets, charms, and detritus that overwhelm our drawers and fill our cabinets. Her sculptural transformations acknowledge the small tokens that we leave behind, unintentional markers of our humanity and a reminder of our inherent human nature to collect.
Cover Photo from Juxtapoz magazine: https://www.juxtapoz.com/news/studio-time/in-conversation-with-oakland-based-artist-ari-bird/
Jumble Sale
April 30 - May 17
reception:
artist talk:
Verge’s Jumble Sale returns!
Join us at Verge from April 30th to May 17th for an incredible shopping spree! Discover amazing art books, stunning furniture, captivating artworks, and so much more!
Every purchase you make directly supports our commitment to accessibility and community engagement, as proceeds from the sale will help fund our labs and classes, ensuring they remain accessible, fun, and brimming with creativity for all.
Visit us during our gallery hours to get your shopping fix!
Gallery hours:
Thursday- Saturday, 11am-5pm
Sunday, 12-5pm