Hot Off the Presses: Two First Fridays, October 7th & November 4th

Yes, we know, we're a little less than "Hot" off the presses on the October First Friday review, but to make up for it, we can't get much "hotter" than the review for November, so we're combining the two.  Please read on for a look at what were two special, lovely evenings at the Gallery.

OCTOBER 7th

May as well start with some Seriously Important Stuff:

Chocolate cupcakes...

Excuse us: could we see those just a tiny bit closer....

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES!!

Ah, yes.  Much better.  A sip of wine, a chocolate cupcake...or two...
Sigh...
These little darlings, actually mini, frosted chocolate cupcakes, were
provided by our wonderful neighbors at Bainbridge Crepes,
and they didn't last long.

And speaking of wine, we served bubbly champagne for the
evening (the only time all year) to celebrate Virginia Paquette's show
opening, and in honor of Bill Smith's 90th birthday!
A little more on that later.

Now on to the Really Good Stuff:

A customer views Virginia's new work.

Virginia Paquette of Seattle, Washington, is this month's featured artist.

For a residency at the Conservatorio di Musica in Bologna this year,

Virginia painted these mixed-media works as part of a collaboration

with her husband, Bill Smith.  They are her visual responses to his works of music,

influenced by their years together in Italy.  She responds to Smith’s music

with color, line, rhythm, gesture, and collage of found images,

salvaged from the streets of Italy.

Virginia chats with her fans.

An MFA graduate in painting from the University of Washington,
Virginia has worked and exhibited internationally.  Her art
responds to motion and memory, and is inspired by natural forms and
phenomena.  Winner of numerous public art commissions, Virginia
has collaborated with Bill Smith on site performance installations here
in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle area, as well as around the world,
including “Deluge,” created for Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston,
Australia, “Saffeides” at Teatro Greco in Rome, and with
ARTKOAMIA performance consortium.
 
All of her beautiful abstract framed watercolor/collage paintings can be seen
on her artist's page in the online Shop; simply click here...

Virginia, surrounded by the crowd.

Admiring the beautiful presentation.

Our musicians, preparing for the evening.

Terrific Bainbridge Island jazz pianist, Anne Pell (in blue blouse), converses

with her Jazz Trio's bass player, Brian Chambers, and the evening's guest artist,
renowned clarinetist Bill Smith (in black suit with his back to the camera).

Bill's long and storied career includes a lifetime of friendship with Dave Brubeck,

playing with Mr. Brubeck's Octet from its formation in the 1940s, then off and
on with the Quartet, and many recordings and concerts
both with Brubeck and solo over the years.
Bill has also been a music professor at the University of Washington
in Seattle for thirty years, now professor emeritus.

In September of this year he celebrated his 90th birthday.

The collaboration between these two musicians had its beginnings at the
Gallery last year after Bill heard Anne and her Jazz Trio play.

At that time he was complimentary of her music, and the two eventually decided

to play together for Virginia's upcoming show.
Returning the favor, Anne says that during her music career she has had
two opportunities to play with musicians of such stature and talent,

and this was one of them.

Anne and her bassist opened the show at 6pm, performing a wonderful 
one-hour set before our own Jack Nunn introduced Bill to the packed room,
and a nice big crowd representing all ages.  Bill then proceeded

to enchant the crowd with his 30-minute set with Anne, which included

What Is This Thing Called Love, Bologna Blues, Body and Soul, and In a Sentimental Mood.

At one point the audience even sang Happy Birthday to him!

The music, along with the realization that they were in the company

of true musical greatness, evoked very emotional reactions in the audience.

For example, there was at least one person present who reported

that he had taken a course in Jazz History from Bill at the University of
Washington many years ago!  Bill told us that this is not a terribly unusual
occurrence, as many students from his 30-year teaching stint come by
to talk with him at his performances.

His course was considered very innovative at the time and of course there

is a wonderful story behind it:  Bill had an agreement with the UW when

he was hired that he would only teach small classes; but when the course

finally began, it had become a lecture class to hundreds that was so

popular, he ended up teaching it for 20 years!

(For more information on Bill Smith's extraordinary career,
please click here to see his full-length bio, toward the end of the post.)

Virginia Paquette and Bill Smith

Thanks to everyone - most particularly to these two wonderful artists,
and friends of the Gallery - for a truly memorable evening.

NOVEMBER 4th

Here's a look at part of the set-up for the show before the crowds arrived.

The Back Room - a partial look

Furniture by Reid Eric Anderson, situated along the north wall,
with several of Jacki Moseley's framed fiber pieces
above and a clock by Carol Fiedler Kawaguchi
on the far left of the photo.

All three artists were present at the show, as well as Ali Rose,
who did the detailing on Reid's beautiful blue plaid furniture.

Ridge and Furrow Quilt.  Tom Johnson

Named after the medieval ridge-and-furrow farming system of England
used for centuries (and currently in smaller versions in our own
Northwest gardens), Tom's beautiful quilt was quite a standout!

A  gorgeous grouping of Steve Trick's display tables,

acting as temporary homes for a selection of wood fired ceramics

from Robin Hominiuk. 

See closer looks at Robin's very special work by clicking here.

Steve's tables will be posted in the online shop shortly,
and in the meantime, he and his wife Joanne were able to be
at the show opening.

On the Grid.  Jacqueline Moseley

Fiber artist Jacki Moseley poses in front of several of her fiber pieces with

special guest Lila Schmidt, who flew in from California especially to attend the opening.

We will be adding Jacki's marvelous, intriguing fiber sculptures to the online shop
very soon, so keep posted for a great display of her work.

Also attending the opening was our furniture artist Carl Yurdin
and his friend Jane Drucker (neither are pictured).

A happy crowd.

Now, let's see:  what is the name of this show again?

Oh yes:

So about that "Holiday" thing:

Gorgeous fiber wreaths for a festive front door!

Ornaments.  Ted Jolda

A wonderfully cheerful hand-blown glass apple...

...and a grand, glowing fig!

And oh, there's so much more!

That's it for our October and November show openings; on to December,
with details to be posted soon.  See the front page of our main site
for advance exhibition warnings.
And stand by for our upcoming, and dare we say FABULOUS,

Holiday Gallery Picks!

The December Holiday Gallery Picks will premiere right here around
Thanksgiving, and we are very excited to share it with you!

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