All this scenic loveliness sends us off into contemplation of summer trips, clothing to wear while engaged in either the contemplation of or the actual trip, and even the whimsy and promise of summer gardens (see the enormous Pod form below).
As if that weren't enough to think about, we are eagerly awaiting shipments of new clothing items from Carter Smith, Sandra Holzman, Mary Jaeger, Kay Chapman, Carol Lee Shanks, and Amy Nguyen, as well as fabulous jewelry from Bara. In the meantime, please enjoy browsing below, and do click on the links for a closer view and more information on the individual pieces in our online shop.
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| Evening in the Canyon. Nancy Gill |
We have carried Nancy's work for many years, initially her ceramics,
then photography, and now her quite wonderful watercolors and
art cards. A Pacific Northwesterner with deeply-held interests in many
fields, Nancy is something of a renaissance artist whose diverse pursuits
lead her attentive eye down pathways far from home, such as her quests to
the Grand Canyon, and right in her own backyard.
Born in Aberdeen, Washington, Nancy graduated with highest
then photography, and now her quite wonderful watercolors and
art cards. A Pacific Northwesterner with deeply-held interests in many
fields, Nancy is something of a renaissance artist whose diverse pursuits
lead her attentive eye down pathways far from home, such as her quests to
the Grand Canyon, and right in her own backyard.
Born in Aberdeen, Washington, Nancy graduated with highest
honors from Grays Harbor College and Washington State University as an
English
Major. Her Ph. D in English is from Penn State (1979). She taught for three
years at Penn State and twenty-eight years at Bloomsburg University, and often used
art to engage students and to
help them to pay more attention to what was
going on around them.
Nancy has
been drawing since she was a small child. She was given her first camera
during
her Junior High years, and has never been without one since. Since her
first
day on the job as a student librarian, when she was asked to paste down
the
illustrations in all the modern art books the librarian had just ordered, she
has
been interested in abstract art. In her last years as an English professor,
she invited
the ceramics professor and an anthropologist to form a learning
cluster with her
to engage students most likely to drop out or fail. It was
those very students who
invited her to join them in the ceramics studio as a
fellow student. She was
honored—and thrilled—to do that, and has been making
raku and anagama
pottery ever since.
Several years ago, Nancy signed up for a watercolor class, and
Several years ago, Nancy signed up for a watercolor class, and
since then has developed her own technique of drawing,
applying a resist over
her pencil lines, and painting wet-on-wet. Her aim is
to explore complex
multi-layered feelings, insights, and experiences in a way
that, while it looks
abstract, integrates her study of literature, art, music,
and other disciplines
with direct observation and knowledge of people and of
the natural environment.
He have a good selection of Nancy's newest watercolors at the moment; the
entire collection will soon be available here.
He have a good selection of Nancy's newest watercolors at the moment; the
entire collection will soon be available here.
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| Italian Leather Mid-Century Modern Chairs |
These are beyond cool!
Stackable, lightweight black steel and leather
mid-century modern chairs that look equally excellent
with a dining table of elegant live-edge wood or sleek glass,
or pulled up to your desk. Because they are stackable they
can be stored easily and used as occasional chairs.
(But we confess we like the live-edge combo best:)
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| Sycamore Slab Table; Italian Leather Chairs |
See? Gorgeous!
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| Pod XX. Robin Hominiuk |
If you've been following this blog, you know that our
show last month was dedicated to Robin Hominiuk's
wonderful ceramic and metal art, including her
sculptural pieces and wonderful jewelry. Not to
belabor how much we admire her work (which we obviously
do, having included it in several straight blog posts) but this
Gallery story is worth telling:
Gallery story is worth telling:
Preparing for the opening of Robin's show last month, we set up the majority
of her work in advance of physically receiving the final few pieces. Robin had
sent us photos of the pieces she would hand-deliver on the day
of the show, which appeared to be several more little pod-forms similar in size
- in the range of 5 to 7 inches long - to those already happily perched on display bases.
In the midst of our usual show-prep flurry we hadn't paid much attention
to the dimensions she had listed for the new ones, so we were ready to add
to the grouping of small pods, and space was at a premium.
of her work in advance of physically receiving the final few pieces. Robin had
sent us photos of the pieces she would hand-deliver on the day
of the show, which appeared to be several more little pod-forms similar in size
- in the range of 5 to 7 inches long - to those already happily perched on display bases.
In the midst of our usual show-prep flurry we hadn't paid much attention
to the dimensions she had listed for the new ones, so we were ready to add
to the grouping of small pods, and space was at a premium.
Imagine our surprise when Robin reached two hands into a big box
and produced an enormous, almost improbable major sculpture bristling with
brass "stem" and "leaves". It seemed to be growing before our eyes!
brass "stem" and "leaves". It seemed to be growing before our eyes!
Once we picked ourselves up off the floor we hastily re-evaluated
our display to accommodate this Granddaddy of All Pods.
Art was juggled, display bases were tweaked, sweat was sweated, but
of course it all worked out.
Needless to add, Granddaddy Pod has become the focal point of the exhibit.
(And he is looking for a very good home!)
of course it all worked out.
Needless to add, Granddaddy Pod has become the focal point of the exhibit.
(And he is looking for a very good home!)
So to gallery owners/staff everywhere, take heed:
READ the information your artists send you!
Preferably with a tape measure close at hand!
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| Mobius Cape, silk. Sandra Holzman |
The glowing silk of this glorious cape combined with
the raised weave of subtle dragon motifs and shimmering colors
makes one think of diving into Caribbean waters.
The darker patterns of what might be interpreted either
as coral reefs or schools of fish add to the incredible
beauty of the textile. And the cut, ready to drop onto your
shoulders where, unlike a normal shawl, it stays put, is
clever, wearable and attractive.
See this and other of Sandra's magnificent creations here.
clever, wearable and attractive.
See this and other of Sandra's magnificent creations here.
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Shibori
Band Shirt, Hip Circle Tee, Shibori Belt. Mary Jaeger
|
Calm, cool and collectible - and absolutely perfect for summer!
We adore Mary Jaeger's clothing, with its features of lovely hand-dyed
shibori, softest of soft textiles, and clean styling. The three pieces shown above
are no exception. (And they play so well together, don't they?)
These and other new items from Mary's studio will be available in the Gallery
in early June, and in the online shop here shortly thereafter.
We can't wait to see the latest 100% cotton Tees in both her Shibori Love and
Shibori Wave lines, as well as cotton shirts and accessories.
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| Impala. Kathy Mitchell |
Now on display in the Gallery: ceramic artist Kathy Mitchell
uses the raku firing process in her animal skull series to channel
Georgia O'Keefe and the desert Southwest, beautifully complimenting
the work of our Western Landscape artists.
uses the raku firing process in her animal skull series to channel
Georgia O'Keefe and the desert Southwest, beautifully complimenting
the work of our Western Landscape artists.
Kathy has had a long and interesting career in the arts. She graduated from
the University of Cincinnati, College of Design, Art and Architecture,
has worked as a graphic designer in London, and became a well-known
children's book illustrator in New York, working on projects for Random House,
Andrews & McMeel, Grosset & Dunlap and George Lucas.
With a background rich in both whimsy and graphic detail, she is now
working as a ceramic artist. Her strengths include surface detail and sculpture.
A long-time resident of Santa Monica, California, she now lives on Bainbridge Island.
