August 2013 Gallery Picks Newsletter

Summer's on the wane, but here at the Gallery we're revving up for the fall and holiday seasons with more lovely work from our artists.  And let us just say:  Kudos to them.  These remarkable people never fail to disappoint with their art, attention to detail, and constant striving to create ever more beautiful things.  Stop in for a visit in person, or click on the links beneath each photo (and sometimes other links tucked here and there) to go to the Gallery's web shop for more information on the individual items.

Enjoy!

Sentinels.  Kathleen Faulkner

A well-known and long established jeweler, Kathleen Faulkner has

recently turned to oil pastels as a new medium.  Her delightful

work perfectly conveys the misty quality of our Pacific Northwest,

but on close examination the calm, soft look is somewhat deceptive: 

one is impressed by the firmness of her lines and strokes, her command of the

medium, and her obvious respect for her subject matter.

Examples of Kathleen's jewelry can be seen in the permanent collection of the
newly-opened Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.

Silk Satin Dress.  Roselle Abramowitz

Oooh, glam!

A silky and slinky bias-cut dress shows off Roselle's usual flair for color.

This luxurious piece is available in other sumptuous colors - like

glowing emerald green, for example - as well as a really wonderful knitted jersey

cotton that we have here in the Gallery in black.  Gorgeous!

(And by the way, many thanks to our wonderful model, Kathy!)

Jenny's Slip.  Hall Table/Desk.  Robert Spangler

This elegant piece of furniture is created from cherrywood with

 a perky, offside drawer of spalted alder and gently curving legs.

Rather narrow, it is ideal when used as a hall table, but we can certainly

imagine it being pressed into service as a narrow desk (especially if

you're in space-saving mode).  It can easily accommodate, say, a laptop

computer, and your other office-oriented needs.

Pendant Necklaces.  Lou Zeldis

As you may know, our wonderful artist Lou Zeldis passed away suddenly

last year, much to the shock of us all.  He has left behind a large collection of

his textile, clothing and jewelry and we are grateful to be able to show

a recently-arrived collection of his here at the Gallery, including ikats,

cotton batiks, shirts, jackets, and woven attar vine jewelry.  We're calling

this selection Lou Zeldis:  The Last Collection, and it is a good

cross-section of his artisty.  We'll carry it until it's gone,

and hope to be able to get more over the years, but now his work is finite;

one never knows what will be available.

But speaking of jewelry...

We are delighted with a selection of pendant necklaces in unmistakable

Lou style.  His tribal-like stone-over-stones criss-crossed with leather or

oxidized sterling, dangling bits and pieces, and adjustable neckpieces are

simply fabulous.  The four shown above include rustic-cut crystals, agate

and a gorgeous double malachite pendant.  The malachite is viewable

in the web shop here; the others - including a number that are not shown 

above - will be posted soon.  Watch this space for more information.

Wall Sconce.  L. Wendy Dunder

Yes, we know, this looks just like a big old harvest moon

peeking through newly-bare branches.  And yes, we understand:  this

glowing tableau makes one want to bay at the moon!  But please

keep your howling to a minimum (save it for October 31st when such

behavior is not necessarily frowned upon), especially if you

trot into the Gallery to meet this fabulous illuminated paper

sculpture in person!

(We have very sensitive ears...)

Dinnerware Sets.  Aaron Filson

It's still a way off, but make no mistake:  Thanksgiving and

the busiest entertaining season of the year is just around the corner.

(Did I actually just say that??  Oh dear... must make lists...)

For a beautiful dining table or a casual gathering, think about

adding Aaron Filson's wonderful ceramic pieces to your

collection.  He has given us a selection of single pieces that can be

mixed and matched, but he will also do custom-order sets.  Just

let us know what you'd like, but don't forget:  Order early

to assure delivery in time for the holidays!

(View his small plate in the online shop here; other items will

be posted soon.)

"Sunset" Necklace.  2 by Lyn&Tony

Brand new to the Gallery:  Bright and bold jewelry from Down Under!

Lyn and Tony of Sydney, Australia employ highest-quality stones, gems, glass

and leather to create dramatic and eye-popping necklaces and earrings.

Big chunks of agate drusy, long amethyst chunky dangle earrings, long

multi-strand waxed cotton necklaces with woven leather accents and tassels...

these are all pretty amazing.

This one, "Sunset", is orange coral and blue Czech glass beads on woven

leather, and is around 34 inches long.  It's currently viewable in the web shop;

we'll have others up shortly, so check back often.  We'll have shorter ones - 

mid-length and "choker" styles - available in a month or so, which

will make great gifts, or brighten up that holiday outfit!

As always, come into the Gallery or head over to our web shop at www.theislandgallery.net/shop/ to see much, much more.  And if you'd like to subscribe to this newsletter please send your e-mail address to sr@theislandgallery.net; we'll sign you right up!  You can also access the RSS feed (go to the bottom of this page) or sign up as a member or to follow us.

See you in September!

Bainbridge Island Musicians' CDs Available

There are so many amazing people in the Bainbridge Island community, not only our marvelous artists and prolific writers, but also musicians, running the gamut from classical to jazz, through blues, rock, R&B... you name it, someone on this island writes/performs/records it.  We're happy to have a small but growing selection of CDs from a group of these talented folk currently available for purchase in the gallery (we ship, too, of course!).  Unless otherwise noted, all CDs are $15.00 (plus any applicable tax and shipping).  We hope to offer them in our online store, but in the meantime contact the gallery for further information (206.780.9500 or ssn@theislandgallery.net).

Peter Spencer

Currently Available:

Peter Spencer: The Blues Concert

Peter Spencer:  From The Island

Peter Spencer:  1896

Fingerpicking guitar, blues, original compositions.

Ranger and the Re-Arrangers

Currently Available:

Reverie

Gypsy Jazz, traditional and original compositions.

Beau Metro Quartet

Currently Available:

Beau Quartet: Music of George Andrix, Arthur Bachmann, and Carlos Gardel

Violin, viola, cello. Classical, chamber music.

July 2013 Gallery Picks Newsletter

Summer is finally here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, and our thoughts are turning to leafy greens, cool whites, and fragrant roses.  And yes, we know it's nearly August, and that another newsletter will appear quickly on the heels of this one, but please scroll down and see what's been making us drool this month!

Necklace Monet.  Begona Rentero

 Yes, this is definitely the kind of cool green we were craving!  Created by

the incomparable Begona Rentero of Spain from paper she makes from various fibers,

this gorgeous, lightweight necklace with its suggestion of lily pads and blossoms

would be perfect to wear lounging beside a gentle stream or your koi pond.

Or wherever.  

To slightly misquote one of our customers, "If I owned that I'd wear it to vacuum!"

We're behind you one hundred percent.

Fingertip Pocket Tunic.  Carol Lee Shanks

Cool and breezy, this is one of those perfect white summer tops.

Comfortable linen with pockets and interesting tab detailing will

take you right through the hottest months of the year in style.

Walnut and Koa Rocking Chair

Beauty and comfort make this rocking chair a terrific addition

to any home.  The classic styling is timeless yet infused with

a contemporary vibe, especially evident in its combination of

spectacular woods, fine leather, and a smooth-as-silk finish.

Koa, an interesting and increasingly rare exotic wood, is the

strong-grained red-orange wood used on the backrest or

splat portion of the chair.  Here's a little about it:

Koa is part of the Acacia family of trees and is recognized as one of the finest

textured woods in the world. This native of Hawaii is truly a monarch of the

forest, growing to heights of 100 feet. The best Koa can be found

specifically on higher elevations of the Big Island and take 50 to 70

years to mature. Different parts of the island lend their own distinctive hue to

the color of the wood, from dark red to orange-brown to a lighter brown. 

   In ancient Hawaii, Koa wood was harvested exclusively for the

alii class, or royalty. The huge logs were crafted into sculpted images of

gods, personal containers and canoes for royalty. 

   By the turn of the century, koa was called the Hawaiian Mahogany and

used extensively by the upper class and in government buildings for furniture,

staircases and other woodwork. Beautiful examples can still be viewed in

such places as the Iolani Palace.

Shiloh Pass.  Jen Till

Shiloh Pass from our delightful Bainbridge Island artist Jen Till certainly fits our mood.

We love the moody greens and vibrant light of this oil landscape.

Jen comments on her approach and process:

I am inspired by the many ways light casts itself on our earth.

Moments in my life when I behold such beauty inspires me to create its

memory in my work. Nature provides me with a foundation upon which

I can build  paintings to express a wide range of feeling.

The process I use is meditation with my brush in hand. This enables my

creative energy to flow, uninterrupted and fueled by intuition. By creating

layers with glazes I try to explore the inherent aspects of paint itself

while keeping my mind focused on a feeling and place. 

My painting experience grounds me and reminds me to be aware of the

presence of spirit in all of life's moments.

I search for this essence and mystery as I dwell on a place filled with light.

My hope is to engage the viewer and to share the mystery and calm I so cherish.

My work reminds me that by painting the experience of the material world around me

I can move toward the intangible, ethereal mystery of life.

Bowls.  Dave Berfield

Our newest ceramic artist, Dave Berfield of Bainbridge Island, is a well-known

artist who has specialized in porcelain enamels for many years.  He has now turned his

attention to wood-fired ceramics, and recently brought us a selection of wondrous little

vessels that remind us of Navajo seed bowls of the Southwest.  They're perfect for

housing a pretty stem of something-or-other from the garden, but not too many -

these holes are tiny!  Dave's various glazes and their effects complement each other

so they look great in a grouping.  In other words, they play well together.

You are encouraged to adopt a few at a time! 

Lodalite and Roman Glass Earrings. Virginia Paquette

These were a bit of a challenge to photograph successfully, but we hope

this gets the idea across!  The opalescence of the ancient Roman glass is

quite stunning, changing in different lighting; the mossy faceted lodalite

nuggets are just lovely, and in Virginia's inimitable fashion are the perfect

color match for the glass.

A little about the Roman glass:

The ancient Roman glass that we're currently seeing pop up in contemporary 

jewelry designs is coming out of Afghanistan. These beads were originally

traded into the Middle East from Roman glass makers, and were likely once bowls,

cups or storage implements. Their age is not precisely known but they

are likely greater than 1,000 years old. 

Silk Chiffon Topper.  Sandra Holzman

Some things are simply timeless, like this, for instance.

Sandra Holzman creates her own style in these

kimono-influenced jackets that make any outfit special.

Soft and gauzy silk chiffon hand-dyed by the artist, it travels

well across the seasons and is perfect when you need a pop of color

to dress up a plain dress or, say, long black flowing pants.

They come in a variety of rich colors; in fact, there's a perfect

one for autumn right here.

Black and Red Rose Neoprene Necklace.  NEO

Last, but definitely not least, is this charmer of a necklace

from NEO of Italy.  It's quite long at 35 inches; you can see the

way it drapes when worn here, where it's displayed with

the Carol Lee Shanks white linen fingertip tunic, or scroll back up
to view on this page.  The red rose is actually a brooch, and the soft,
squishy qualities of neoprene are pleasing both to the touch and to the eye.

Thanks for visiting us for the July installment of the Newsletter.  We'll be back before you know it in mid-August with another selection of our fabulous artists' work.

To subscribe to the RSS feed, see the bottom of this page.  To receive a reminder directly in your inbox each month simply send your e-mail address to sr@theislandgallery.net and we'll sign you up right away.

August 2013 First Friday Artwalk - You're Invited!

What a glorious summer we're having in the usually-drippy Pacific Northwest!  And the weather looks good for Bainbridge Island's upcoming First Friday Artwalk on August 2nd. 

Here's what we're up to:

The View from Above.  Kathleen Faulkner.
24" x 18".  Oil Pastel

North by Northwest

Kathleen Faulkner

Oil Pastels

August 2 – 31, 2013

Artist’s Reception, First Friday, August 2, 6-8 pm

Featuring Gypsy Jazz from Bainbridge Island’s

Ranger and the Re-Arrangers

in concert on the Plaza

400 Winslow Way E., #120, Bainbridge Island, Washington

Anacortes artist Kathleen Faulkner portrays her environment in landscapes

and their creatures that are undeniably personal and familiar to her as a

lifelong resident of the Northwest. Her work displays a firm yet gauzy

technique that evokes our area’s own misty backdrop.

About the Artist:  Born and raised in Seattle, Kathleen has lived her adult life in Oregon, Washington and Alaska. Her formal art training was at Cornish School in Seattle.

She became interested in scrimshaw when she moved to Alaska in the mid 1970s, and has continued to work in that medium throughout her adult life. In the mid 1980s she began a jewelry apprenticeship with Lois Bertolino, working with her for several years before venturing out on her own as a jewelry artist.

Kathleen has recently discovered oil pastel and finds that it is now her medium of choice, noting that the creative process is meditative.

"I am interested in telling stories, giving form to memories of times and places. It is an attempt to convey a glimpse of the essence of this place, our little corner of the world. Many years have been, and continue to be, spent moving about my world, experiencing and documenting. I conceive and create with the idea of a ‘visual’ journal that keeps track of those times and places. Each piece has significant personal history and tends to become part of a series allowing me to re-visit for extended periods."

Kathleen continues her jewelry work and is represented in the current exhibition at the newly-opened Bainbridge Island Museum of Art.


Ranger and the Re-Arrangers

We know things will start to jump once Ranger and the Re-Arrangers are all set up on the outdoor Plaza here at the Winslow, right in front of the gallery.  Their specialty is Gypsy Jazz in the vein of Django Reinhardt, and after the first few notes from Ranger's sweet violin and the Re-Arrangers' excellent combo of guitar, mandolin and drums, every foot will be tapping!  Here's why:

Seattle Gypsy Jazz band Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers” evoke the spirit of a Paris cafe and the raucous energy of a Gypsy campsite with their unique twist on gypsy jazz. “At the heart of their sound is Ranger Sciacca's sweet violin playing… his sense of melody and daring improvisations.” (World Rhythm Webzine) Their tight rhythm section features a hand drummer, giving the music a bouncy swing and accentuating the joyful interplay between the two soloists. The band’s repertoire includes swing standards, traditional Gypsy melodies, the music of Django & Grappelli, Brazilian choros, and Ranger's unique originals.

The band was formed in 2006 after Ranger and Michael returned from the Django Reinhardt festival in Samois, France. In the years since, the band has released three CDs and have played at about 400 shows, including summer concerts, festivals, dances, art openings, and weddings.

About the Artists:

Violinist RANGER SCIACCA began playing violin at the age of six. Through most of his teens, he divided his studies between fiddle tunes with renowned Seattle fiddler Stuart Williams and classical improvisation with Alice Kanack, an internationally-known violinist and author on the subject. A chance encounter with a CD of violin jazz ignited Ranger’s interest in the playing of Joe Venuti, Stuff Smith, Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt. Gradually Ranger, with his dad Michael Sciacca on rhythm guitar, built a repertoire of rags, blues, and swing jazz classics. A few of Ranger’s originals were always part of the playlist. Ranger’s playing draws from all the genres he has studied, and, according to one reviewer, “features frantic staccato runs, pizzicato plucking that keeps one on the edge and an overall sense of tone that reveals many shades and moods.”

Bassist TODD HOUGHTON began performing, teaching, and producing music in the early 1960s in Colorado. He has played guitar, bass and keyboards in jazz, folk, rock and C&W groups since then. He has composed for commercials, films and live theater. In addition to his private students and independent studio work, Todd has hosted an “open mic” on Bainbridge Island, Washington since 1993. Blind since the age of seven, Todd is currently an advisor to Jack Straw Production’s Blind Youth Audio Project.

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, The Todd Houghton Band, Atoke, Zayah=2 0Emmanuel, and Sam Andrews, founder of Big Brother and the Holding Company. Born in Mexico and raised in West Africa and Arlington, Virginia, he is currently director of Jeffrey Moose Gallery in Seattle.

Mandolinist DAVE STEWART began his musical studies in Tacoma, Washington playing classical piano. Since discovering the mandolin four years ago, Dave has played ceaselessly, and he now performs with a 5-string electric mandolin and a tenor guitar as well as a traditional mandolin. Dave is an accomplished digital animation artist.

Rhythm Guitarist MICHAEL SCIACCA is Ranger's father, and has been backing up Ranger on guitar for over 10 years. Ranger and Michael are descended from Sicilian immigrants, who played jazz in New York at the start of the 20th century.

Guitarist DARIN LOCKE studied at the prestigious Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood, California. He has split the last decade between Bremerton, Washington and Austin, Texas, teaching, recording, and performing. Darin is an accomplished musician in many different genres; while based in Austin, he toured the United States with alternative-country band Micky and the Motorcars, and played rhythm guitar for gypsy jazz group Django's Moustache.

AWARDS & HONORS: The band has won several accolades and awards: FINALIST Independent Music Award (2007 and 2009), Best Song, World Traditional Category WINNER, Global Rhythm Magazine Song Contest, Gypsy Moon (April 2007).

Visit the band's web site for more info at http://www.rangerswings.com/calendar.html.

We hope to see you for a wonderful First Friday event!

For further information, contact the Gallery by phone or at ssn@theislandgallery.net.  To subscribe to our newsletter, please e-mail sr@theislandgallery.net with your e-mail address and we'll add you to the list right away.

Special Saturday Performance: Peter Spencer & Jonathan Green

If you're a fan of our concerts in general, and Peter Spencer in particular (and who isn't), we have a special summer treat for you:  Peter will be playing with Jonathan Green here at The Winslow on July 27th at 2:30 pm, for our first-ever Saturday show.  See more details below.


Peter Spencer

Expect a blues/R&B-driven afternoon with Peter's trademark growl and inimitable fingerpicking guitar style, the perfect foil to Jonathan's elegant, rocking bass.   Here's a little about them both:

Peter Spencer is a fingerpicking guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Born in Erie, Pennsylvania, he grew up listening to the R&B and hillbilly music played on radio stations like WLAC in Nashville and CKLW in Windsor, Ontario. He began his musical career in 1968 playing harmonica in a blues band in Pittsburgh, but soon switched to solo guitar. Peter spent the 1970s touring North America and Europe playing early blues, jazz and ragtime. Then, in the early 1980s, he began writing songs, co-founding the Fast Folk Musician's Cooperative in Greenwich Village, New York, where he worked with artists like Suzanne Vega, John Gorka, Lucy Kaplanski, Cliff Eberhardt, and Jack Hardy. These recordings are part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC.

After graduating from The Writing Program at Columbia University in 1989, Peter retired from performing and became a full-time music writer for magazines like Rolling Stone and Sing Out. His book "World Beat: A Listener's Guide to Contemporary World Music on CD" was published by the Chicago Review Press in 1992.

Peter has been called a "guitar wizard" by Seattle's Victory Music News and "a gifted lyricist with a sharp eye" by the New Jersey Star-Ledger. He tours regularly in the Northeast and throughout the Pacific Northwest and teaches guitar and voice at the Dusty Strings Music School in Seattle and the Island Music Center of Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Jonathan Green enjoys wearing many musical hats. For the past 15 years, he has been a bassist for the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. Work in the orchestra world has included years with the San Diego Symphony, the San Antonio Symphony and the Tulsa Philharmonic, as well as summer gigs at the Colorado Music Festival, Spoletto Festival of Two Worlds, the Sedona Chamber Music Festival and the Icicle Creek Music Festival. He also performs and records regularly with Music of Remembrance.

Outside of the canon of western classical music, Jon performs with Johnny Bregar and the Country Dogs, Pete Spencer and Laura DeLuca’s klezmer band. He also plays electric bass for the Seattle Symphony Pops concerts.

Concert Details:

Date:  July 27, 2013

Place:  The Winslow, 400 Winslow Way E.,  Bainbridge Island, Washington

Outdoors on the Plaza

Time:  2:30 pm

Admission:  Free

Audience:  All ages

For More Information Contact:  The Island Gallery, 206.780.9500 or ssn@theislandgallery.net 

Upcoming Event: Kathleen Faulkner, Northwest Artist

Introducing our newest artist, Kathleen Faulkner of Anacortes, Washington.


Ika Island.   18" x 24".  Oil pastel

The Island Gallery is delighted to welcome Northwest artist Kathleen Faulkner with a solo show of her oil pastel work, August 2 - 31, 2013.  The artist's reception will be 6-8 pm, featuring gypsy jazz music outside on the Plaza with Bainbridge Island's own Ranger and the Re-Arrangers.

More details about Kathleen's wonderful work will be coming soon!

Frogs on the Rock

The Bainbridge Island Downtown Association has officially launched the Frogs On The Rock community art project that highlights the talented local artists of our island. Artists have painted and embellished 36 larger than life fiberglass frog sculptures that are prominently displayed island-wide for residents and visitors to enjoy. The project "Frogs on the Rock" was unveiled to the public during the Grand Ole Fourth of July celebration and the frogs will be on display until September 2014, at which time they will be auctioned off as a BIDA Fundraiser.

Installed along a flower-strewn pathway adjacent to The Winslow's Plaza, may we introduce Flora Frogg:

Flora is the creation of Bainbridge Island artist Jen Till and is sponsored by the merchants and tenants of The Winslow Building.  If you wander around Winslow you will see many of her friends, hanging out and enjoying their roles as Greeter Frogs. They are on duty outside of town as well, so as you travel the byways of Bainbridge keep an eye peeled for these Amphibious Ambassadors!

Jen conceived of Flora as a living sculpture, embodying the earth and flora of Bainbridge Island and Puget Sound.  With that in mind, Flora asked us to send a message to passersby at The Winslow: 

Because my mossy outer cover has just been transplanted I have to be kept moist. Like all living things, I need a little care. I am currently being fed a mixture of water and buttermilk to help my mossy coating become accustomed to my body. I try to stay in a shady area, but I like visitors. I am glad you stopped by. If I look a little dry please give me a couple of shots from the water bottle.

Ribbit!
(Trans.:  Thanks!)