Hot off the Presses: First Friday, December 2, 2016

Thanks to our wonderful artists, steadfast customers, and jazzy musicians, as well as the hard work of The Island Gallery's indefatigable crew, another terrific First Friday Artwalk was had by all here on Bainbridge Island.  The weather agreed, attendance was a steady stream, attendees including staff from the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, who especially enjoyed talking with featured ceramic and bronze sculptor Eva Funderburgh.

Why, you ask?

Here's why:

Drink Deep.  Bronze.  Eva Funderburgh

Or maybe because of this:

Bellows Beast.  Wood Fired Ceramic.  Eva Funderburgh

Or possibly these:

Soldiers.  From installation Triumph.   Wood Fired Ceramic.  Eva Funderburgh

Whatever it was - whichever, whomever? - we'll have more about these charmers
in our Gift Giving Guide (coming early next week).

After all, who on earth wouldn't love to be gifted with one of these amazing

Beastly creatures?  We'll take a whole menagerie!

Here is the creator of this charming menagerie, Eva Funderburgh,

who graciously attended the Artwalk with her husband, Ben.

Eva is seen above beside her splendid bronze piece, The Peril of Beauty,

shown below, which can also be viewed on Eva's artist page in

the Gallery's online shop, here.

The Peril of Beauty.  Bronze, patina.  Eva Funderburgh

The crowd was definitely in tune with the holiday season, enjoying
a taste of wine, a discussion with the artists in attendance,
and time spent with lovely art and good friends.

Among the many conversations had throughout the evening, when

the subject is wood fired ceramics fascinating issues inevitably

crop up.  For example, Eva spoke of some of the technical aspects of wood

firing, touching on such aspects as type of wood used by the potters.

She explained that three types of wood were used in this firing: initially

fir to get the temperature up, then alder, then maple for coloring.

And apparently fruit trees can contribute really nice colors whereas

using only fir would tend to give all black results.  Interesting!

 

One can tell from her accumulated knowledge how much she

enjoys the process, is intimate with the many details that factor

into her craft, and that she embraces the myriad unpredictable aspects

of wood firing (which we assure you is not for the faint of heart).

Also impressive to note in the actual formation of her beasts is the

way she employs contrast – for example, blending soft, rounded shapes

with not-so-soft shapes, like the critters' sharp little teeth or claws with their

often curvy, Rubenesque bodies, with the result of turning those

sharp-looking little teeth from menacing to charming, and even whimsical!

It was also remarked by another artist that her skill and passion are both

wonderful to observe and should be deeply inspiring to any artist.

Triumph.  Detail.  Wood fired ceramic.  Eva Funderburgh

We concur wholeheartedly with the above comments.  We must add that one
very important part of Eva's magic is the way she is able to capture, unfailingly,
exactly how each Beast seems to be feeling in their stance and facial expressions.
This in spite of the fact that her creatures have no eyes, thus belying the famous
quote derived from an old English proverb, "The eyes are the windows to the soul."
As an example, the very cheerful Dictator, a focal point of Eva's wood
fired ceramic installation Triumph, grins for the crowd, and there is absolutely
no question about his feelings at this seminal moment of his life!
(See more about Dictator and his minions here.)

Here Eva speaks with her fans beside her oh-so-lovable Swimming Beast.

That would be this guy:

Swimming Beast.  Wood Fired Ceramic.  Eva Funderburgh

Note sharp, white teeth and claws...

Also making big news in the Gallery - and an important bit of

information for all of you who are either already in love

with the Beasts or feel yourselves just about to go head over heels off
the edge - we understand the feeling!
But be aware:  only a few days prior to the opening of the

show we listed most of Eva's creatures on her artist's pages in our online

shop (here) for pre-sale.  By showtime on Friday, December 2nd, nearly

half of them were sold, and will shortly take up residence in new homes

all over the country, and around the world - in Europe, Alaska, Georgia,

New York, and Pennsylvania so far, not including here in the
Pacific Northwest.  In the intervening days we have

posted more; and even more are sold.

I guess what we're saying is if you plan on buying one of these, whether

for yourself or for a special someone, time is of the essence.  Each piece is
one-of-a-kind; there are no more; and Eva has a huge following.
Don't wait, or the Beast your heart beats for may be

heading off to another home.

In this photo, Eva's husband, Ben, appears behind her on the
left of the photograph.

To make the evening perfect, Ranger and Mike Sciacca of our
old friends, local gypsy jazz band Ranger and the Re-Arrangers,
performed as a duo to get the holiday season off to a roaring, and
very jazzy, start.

Come visit us soon, as next up will be our Gallery Picks Newsletter,
featuring December's Holiday Gift Giving Guide!
Don't miss it.

Stay warm, and just like the Beasts, remember during this holiday season
to show off those pearly whites, and SMILE!

A Fine Platter of Fish.  Wood Fired Ceramic.  Eva Funderburgh

To subscribe to our Newsletter/Gallery Picks and receive notices of all our sales, shows and events, click on the About Us/Profile box on the left of this page, go to "Contact", click on "Email", and send us a note containing your preferred receiving address.  We'll sign you up right away.

You're Invited: October 2015 Artwalk - Irene Yesley, Patterns on Plexi

Incredible art?  Check.  Music for dancing?  Check.  A sip or two of wine?  Check and check.  Add to that mild autumn weather, snacks for nibbling and the strolling ambience of downtown Winslow and you have First Friday Artwalk.

Come and see us!  Here are the details:

Monotype with Plate - Red.  Monotype, water base ink on 2 layers of plexi.  Irene Yesley

Irene Yesley

Patterns on Plexi

New Work

October 2 –31, 2015

Artist’s Reception

First Friday, October 2nd, 6-8 pm

In concert:

Ranger and the Re-Arrangers

Bainbridge Island’s Own Gypsy Jazz Band

About the Artist:   Irene Yesley of Bainbridge Island describes herself as a geometric abstract minimalist, designing flat, hard-edge patterns against a relatively flat background. Physical textures, such as brush strokes, play a minimal role to the interplay of positive and negative shapes, and the emotional impact of color.

I earned an MFA in printmaking from Arizona State University. After graduation, I bought two floor looms and started making rugs and tapestries. Eventually I grew frustrated with the restraints of weaving, the warp and the weft and sold my looms. Freed from fiber, I have explored pencil, pastel and oil stick on paper, done reverse painting on Plexiglas, acrylics on wooden panels, gesso board and canvas.

The outdoors is the biggest influence on my work. The first landscape I knew was Spokane, Washington, where I grew up. That was followed by the cactus of Arizona for 5 years, the urbanscapes of Boston and Washington, DC, the chaparral of Topanga Canyon, and 22 years in the desert of Santa Fe, New Mexico.  For six years until 2004, we had a condo in Kas, Turkey, on the Turquoise Coast of the Mediterranean, where I spent six months a year.

Now I live on an island across the sound from Seattle in a temperate rainforest. Without even being aware of what was happening, each new location has changed the shapes and colors in my work.

The Island Gallery is pleased to announce that Irene was awarded 1^st Prize, 2D Artwork, at the Annual Statewide Juried Competition and Show at Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, Washington.  She has also recently won an award for her work at the exhibition The Printmaker's Hand III, Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend, Washington, and at the Women Painters of Washington Fall Members Show, 2010, First Place; Juror Barbara Shaiman, Director of SAM Gallery, Seattle, Washington.  Her work will also appear in a winter 2015-16 show at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.

White on Blue.  Acrylic paint on 3 layers of plexi.  Irene Yesley

About the Band:  Bainbridge Island’s Ranger and the Re-Arrangers play gypsy jazz or “hot jazz,” an upbeat jazz style created in the 1930s by Django Reinhardt and other European stringplayers evoking the spirit of a Paris cafe and the raucous energy of a Gypsy campsite.   “At the heart of their sound is Ranger Sciacca's sweet violin playing… his sense of melody and daring improvisations” (World Rhythm).  The band’s repertoire includes swing standards, traditional Gypsy melodies, the music of Django Reinhardt, and Ranger's unique originals.

Ranger Sciacca’s performances and compositions reflect his extensive studies in classical, jazz, and folk music. Ranger also studied folk and dance music for seven years with renowned Seattle fiddler Stuart Williams. Ranger’s main influences include guitarist Django Reinhardt and jazz violin greats Stuff Smith, Claude Williams and Stephane Grappelli. Ranger studied jazz theory and history at Whitman College.

Michael Sciacca, Ranger’s dad, has been his rhythm guitarist for many years; they have performed as a swing jazz duo since 2001.

Percussionist Jeffrey Moose has a 30-year career in both music and fine art. His collaborations and band projects include work with Joined at the Head, Heliotroupe, Dog Superior, Stiff Kitty, Atoke, Zayah Emmanuel, and Sam Andrews, founder of Big Brother and the Holding Company. He is currently director of Jeffrey Moose Gallery in Seattle.

Mandolin player Dave Stewart is a classically-trained pianist.

~oOo~

You're Invited: June 5, 2015 First Friday Artwalk

Our beautiful exhibit continues over from May and Ranger and the Boys are back for what we hope will be a full-band musical extravaganza on the Plaza.  In other words, we're hoping for clement weather on Friday!

In addition to Jen Till's gorgeous oil paintings and our favorite gypsy jazz band, we will be featuring new summer clothing collections from Carol Lee Shanks (her new black and whites are fabulous!), Katrin Noon for Spirithouse (ivory, blue and colorful pants and top sets), and Sandra Holzman (luscious summer-colored mobius capelets and scarves).

We are also greatly honored to have just received several jewelry pieces from the estate of Lou Zeldis.  These are so special; if you aren't familiar with Lou's work, please take a look:

Earrings:  Triple-drop Aquamarine, Sterling Silver.  Lou Zeldis

Earrings:  Triple-drop Rubellite, 22k Gold.  Lou Zeldis

Rough stones, rustic metal treatment, pure magic.

These and others are available in the Gallery now and will be listed in the online shop very soon.

See you on Friday!

In the meantime, we are now Tweeting!  Follow us on Twitter: @islandgalleryBI.

***UPDATE:  The Zeldis rubellite earrings shown above have been sold.  There is another pair of large single-drop rubellite available in gold at time of writing.

You're Invited: August 2014 First Friday Artwalk

It's going to be sizzling hot in downtown Winslow this Friday, August 1st, and no place will be hotter than The Island Gallery!  Come and join us for fabulous music, a sip of wine, an appetizer, perhaps a dance or two, and enjoy extraordinary art.

Intaglio Prints and Paintings

August 1 - 31, 2014

 Recent Works from Curt Labitzke

Chair, Printmaking Program

University of Washington School of Art

Reception with the Artist:

First Friday, August 1, 6-8 pm

In Concert on the Plaza

Ranger and the Re-Arrangers

Location:  The Island Gallery, 400 Winslow Way E., #120, Bainbridge Island, Washington

About the Artists:

 

Curt Labitzke was born in New York in 1958, his father an illustrator and his mother a quilt-maker.  He received his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Notre Dame in 1984 with a concentration in Painting, Printmaking and Drawing.  Upon completion of his degree he joined the Studio Art faculty at the University of Washington, Seattle. Curt is currently the Chair of the Printmaking and Interdisciplinary Visual Arts Programs and regularly teaches in the School of Art’s study abroad program in Rome and Florence, Italy.

 

His work is influenced by his extensive travels and reflects a passion for the sensuous quality of Etruscan art, the beauty of the Renaissance, the poetic storytelling of the Greeks and the brut directness of the German Expressionists.

 

The intaglio prints, often built of iconic figures inspired by ancient Greek and Roman portrait busts, peer from their ambiguous space seeking empathy as they passionately engage the viewer.

 

Curt’s artistic process involves several stages: sketching, etching the sketched figure onto a copper or plexiglas plate, inking the plate, running the inked plate through a vintage press onto archival paper, distressing the printed paper with a variety of tools and adding pigment, again inking the plate and running the initial printed paper through the press again, repeating the distressing, pigment and print steps up to five times.  The resulting print resembles a treasure unearthed from an archeological dig.

 

Curt’s work has been exhibited internationally in Italy, France, Mexico and Chile, across the United States, and locally at venues such as the Seattle Art Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, and the Jacob Lawrence Gallery.

 

Ranger and the Re-Arrangers: Bainbridge Island’s own Gypsy Jazz band!  Playing in the upbeat style created in the 1930s by Django Reinhardt and other European string players who embraced American jazz, fiddling phenomenon Ranger Sciacca fronts this sizzling hot fivesome of violin, mandolin, bass, percussion and rhythm guitar as they play their award-winning originals, swing standards, and traditional Gypsy tunes. Ranger’s creative, syncopated leads complement the band’s steady, swinging rhythms.

 

About the gentlemen:

 

Ranger Sciacca’s performances and compositions reflect his extensive studies in classical, jazz, and folk music. His Suzuki teacher, Alice Kanack, publishes books and CDs on improvising classical music. Ranger also studied folk and dance music for seven years with renowned Seattle fiddler Stuart Williams. Ranger’s main influences include guitarist Django Reinhardt and jazz violin greats Stuff Smith, Claude Williams and Stephane Grappelli. A Bainbridge Island native, Ranger studied jazz theory and history at Whitman College.

 

Michael Sciacca, Ranger’s dad, has been his rhythm guitarist for years; they have performed as a swing jazz duo since 2001.

 

Bassist Todd Houghton has had an extensive career in performing, teaching, and producing music. Todd is an advisor to Jack Straw Production’s Blind Youth Audio Project and has hosted an “open mic” on Bainbridge Island, Washington since 1993.

 

Percussionist Jeffrey Moose has a 30-year career in both music and fine art. His collaborations and band projects include work with Joined at the Head, Heliotroupe, Dog Superior, Stiff Kitty, Atoke, Zayah Emmanuel, and Sam Andrews, founder of Big Brother and the Holding Company. He is currently director of Jeffrey Moose Gallery in Seattle.

 

Mandolin player Dave Stewart is also a classically-trained pianist.