December 2012 Gallery Picks, #2

To kick off the re-posting of our Gallery Picks onto this blog, here is the balance of December 2012, and some of our favorite things.  Simply click on the highlighted link to view individual items in our webshop.

Enjoy, and Happy Holidays!

Tres III, Carrie Goller

Mixed Media, 30” x40”

  

Yet another beautiful burst of form and color from prolific local artist Carrie Goller. 
We asked her to describe her technique:

  

“As I recall I used multiple acrylic mixed media and applied layers of tissue into gel medium to get texture.  Upon that went layers of paint – some of it iridescent and often alternating a palette knife with brushwork, then more tissue and more texturing from mediums such as fresco/crackle paste, pumice, then again more layers of paint.  I remember it being a wonderfully messy and freeing process with paint all over my hands and arms (usually I am pretty neat and tidy with my paint).  It’s very experimental and unlike my other work -- a lot of joy went into the painting of Tres III!”

The striking tones in this painting, effervescent reds, pinks and golds, are brought to earth by misty grey-blues and dense purples.  A metaphor?  Perhaps, for both the joy and gravity of life,

intermingling on one common yet infinitely rich canvas.

Akihiko Izukura:

Winter 2012 Collection

We are delighted to offer a selection of this incomparable designer’s superb hand-woven garments through mid-January at a price reduction of 20%.

Shown above:  Indigo Scarf

Shown below, rear view:  Kimono Pattern Jacket (link coming soon)

Jewelry/Document Box, John Luke

Wood Shown:  Walnut & Spalted Maple

Dimensions:  8” x 15”

  

Close attention to detail, fine joinery, and clever combinations of regional and exotic woods are hallmarks of this many-talented woodworker’s art.  If that isn’t enough to love, his high-quality work is surprisingly affordable, making anything that comes out of John’s studio eminently giftable.  Stash jewelry, coins, or collectibles, or remove the grids for storage of documents, maps, or those dog-earred love letters... (gasp!)  If that hard-to-buy-for person who has everything doesn’t have one of these, then trust us, he or she doesn’t really have everything!

Available in several sizes and prices.

Lyttle Reading Chair and Footstool

Salvaged Old-Growth Fir, Sustainable Fabric

Dimensions:  30" w x 30" d x 30" t

Sculptural and durable, this delightful reading chair is a Northwest native, born in the local forests and creatively rendered by one of our many outstanding local wood artists.  And so comfortable, one can  only imagine:  a splash of red by the fire; feet up, mug of warm something-or-other and a good book in hand; lights twinkling on boughs; relatives on the way... Relax whenever you can! 

Pieces available separately or as a set.

Big Glass Necklace, Klamir

Murano Glass

  

Direct from Venice, Italy, and the artistry of Mirella Foffano, comes a line of Murano glass and PVC jewelry that is drawing Ooohs and Aaahs at the gallery.  Shown is her bold sphere necklace of gold-toned glass; also in the picture are clear/teal and deep purple/lilac earrings. Our first shipment of these earrings sold out the day after  they arrived; our second order should be here around December 17th.  We’ll list them in the web shop right away (assuming they last long enough for us to take photos.  Just sayin’...)  Big, bold and utterly lightweight, these pieces are also sophisticated and just plain fun. 
Other styles are available.

Silver-Plated Hollowware

Wolmar “Tito” Castillo

Pitcher, Cream & Sugar Set with Wood Handles

Wolmar is the son of famed Taxco jewelry designer Antonio Castillo, founder of Los Castillo workshop that contributed greatly to the development of Taxco jewelry in the 1940s and 1950s.  Wolmar specializes in “hollowware,” silver plated onto copper

in the form of pitchers, trays, vases, et cetera.  The silver is complemented by intricate stonework details in the form of crocodiles, peacocks and lemurs.  Wolmar’s work has been exhibited extensively in the U.S. and he is often called on to lecture on the topic of modern Taxco silverwork.

Pitcher and Sugar/Creamer sold separately.

Ruffle Scarf, Liane Benoit

Several months ago a lovely lady came into the gallery wearing a lovely scarf that danced around her neck like a soft, ruffled cloud.  Impressed, we asked her about the piece, which she told us she had made herself from Spanish yarn, and that she had received compliments on it all day as she wore it around Seattle, on the ferry, and on Bainbridge Island.  What could we do but swiftly place an order for several of these gorgeous scarves?  They arrived, we put them on display, and poof - they flew out of the gallery!  We currently have our third shipment available, and what wonderful gifts these are.  They come in three lengths (approximately 38”/52”/96”) and a variety of colors.

Visit our webshop!
http://www.theislandgallery.net/shop/