You're Invited: July 2014 First Friday Artwalk

It's going to be a hot one in downtown Winslow on this coming First Friday!  Our new exhibit features the banners of extraordinary shibori artist Carter Smith, and we are delighted to introduce Renee Jameson and her wonderful monotype prints.  The Julie Duke Band will rock, roll, and rip up the night with special guest jammer Peter Spencer, in concert on the Plaza.  Do NOT miss this one - we're going to party!

Left: Banner, Carter Smith.Right: Puget Sound Dawn, Renee Jameson.

Carter Smith:  Shibori Master

July 11 – 27, 2014

Introducing Bainbridge Island Artist

Renée Jameson

Monotype Prints

Reception, First Friday, July 11, 6-8 pm

Music by

The Julie Duke Band

on the Plaza

Shibori banners and new fashions

from one of America's finest shibori artists.

Introducing Bainbridge Island artist Renee Jameson, whose

monotypes  reflect summer's color spectrum.

About the Artists:

Carter Smith:  Carter Smith has been dyeing one-of-a-kind fabrics since 1965 when he learned tie-dye techniques from his mother. Originally working in silk, he created and sold 30,000 individual stretched pieces and banners, eventually adding to his process over forty new steps that multiplied into over a thousand techniques.

After successfully helping launch the careers of several designers, Carter decided to start making his own clothing, and now sells his hand-dyed original fashions both nationally and internationally. Notables who have worn his creations include Elizabeth Taylor, Jane Fonda, Aretha Franklin, Allie McGraw, Alice Walker, Dionne Warwick, Maya Angelou, Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Taylor, Goldie Hawn, Jesse Norman, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Anne Austin, Kim Novak, Cassandra Wilson, Mary Travers, Jan Robinson, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, and others.

Today, Carter has over 250 original bias design concepts and creations, and after 40 years and over 200,000 yards of fabric personally dyed by Carter, his passion remains stronger than ever. He has been featured in many publications over the years, most recently in Ornament Magazine (June 2009).

Renée Jameson:  Renée was born in Western Washington State and grew up in Seattle.  She received her BFA from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington, and is a monotype artist living and working on Bainbridge Island.  Her work has been shown locally and can be found in private collections in Washington and California.  Currently she is the printmaker liaison for the Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN) setting up the print studio for the BARN.

Renée comments: 

 “I walk daily along the shoreline on Bainbridge Island and am inspired by the constantly changing sky.  One of the most exciting things I observe is how rapidly the cloud formations change into new and dramatic shapes within seconds.  I have my camera with me at all times on my walks.  Some days I see very little that interests me and other days the sky is extraordinary.  I try to create a world viewers can interpret and respond to in their own way.  In this way I consider myself an abstract artist.  My objective is to create a mood and atmosphere that will evoke an emotion in the viewer and possibly a memory from the past.” 

The Julie Duke Band:  The Julie Duke Band delivers an edgy, unrestrained blend of Blues hailing from the Delta to Chicago, 1920s through the current day.  Their cover versions are choice and eclectic, including songs by Elmore James, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Koko Taylor, Freddie King and Big Mama Thornton.  They take a song, honor its origins, and then make it their own with drop-dead vocals and foot stomping, hip swaying rhythms.

The Julie Duke Band will get the staunchest of blues disbelievers tapping their toes and moving to the beat. With their entertaining stage show, expert musicianship and unique sound, The Julie Duke Band has built a wide and devoted following, drawing crowds to shows at venues as diverse as the Coyle Community Center, the Bite of Seattle, Bainbridge’s Bloedel Reserve and the Seven Cedars Casino.