March 2015 Gallery Picks Newsletter

Ahh, spring has arrived!  It's still chilly around here, though - and we hear rumors that other parts of the country are still in deep freeze mode - but with the occasional teaser of fabulous sunny weather and warmth.  Which means it's that interesting time of year where we all wonder, prior to leaving our warm houses, "What on earth shall I wear?"  Well, if you don't have this problem licked yet, we hereby offer suggestions, in the form of our new Spirithouse clothing line (read on).  Their spring and summer pieces are beginning to arrive, and they are stylish, well-priced, and meant for layering.  We have several pieces up in the online shop here, but there are more in the Gallery and on the way.  Stay tuned!

We also have received new work from some of our amazing artists, and share them with you below.  Don't forget to click on the links for each one to journey to the online shop for more information.

Enjoy!

VISUAL ARTS

Undulation.  Renee Jameson

Recently a featured artist in the Collective Visions Gallery Statewide Competition,
Renee has brought us two new monotypes, which show the growth
of both her techniques and palette, with beautifully nuanced
expression and subject matter.  Undulation, shown above,
is the first of her grey tone pieces, and stunning it is.

For details on this painting, visit here.

Here's a bonus peek at her other new work:

Molten Sky.  Renee Jameson

 The color play here is bold, yet the artist
shows great restraint in its usage.  Note the masterful
transition in the upper part of the canvas from pale pink into
pale orange before giving way to the promised molten nature of
the sky at approximate center, drawing the eye fully into the
subject as only a well-composed piece can do, and
taking full advantage of contrast.

Questions have been raised by customers regarding the process
Renee uses, which is monotype.  Her works are not prints in the sense of
copies of an original piece of art, as each piece is one-of-a-kind.
They are also not monoprints. Here is a short description of the
distinctions between these two art forms:

Historically, the terms Monotype and Monoprint were often used interchangeably.

More recently, however, these now refer to very similar types of

printmaking which are somewhat different. Both involve the transfer of ink

from a plate to the paper, canvas, or other surface that will ultimately hold

the work of art.

In the case of a monotype, the plate is featureless. It contains no features

that will impart any definition to successive prints, as in etching or engraving

on a metal plate. In the absence of any permanent features on the surface

of the plate, all imagery is dependent on one unique inking,

resulting in one unique print.

A monoprint, on the other hand, refers to the results of plates
that have permanent features on them. Monoprints can be thought of as
variations on a theme, with the theme resulting from some permanent
features being found on the plate—lines, textures—that persist from print to print.
Variations are confined to those resulting from how the plate is inked
prior to each print. The variations are endless, but certain permanent features
on the plate will tend to persist from one print to the next.

Wind 2.  Irene Yesley

A companion piece to her award-winning painting Wind,
Irene Yesley brings us this art work which expands on her process.
While in Wind she utilized a process involving painting with
water base and acrylic paint and gold leaf on layers of plexiglass,

she added monotype as the final layer of Wind 2.  This can

be seen as a background of pale branches, over which swirl

the golden-leafed currents.

Irene's extraordinary paintings in this style have a distinct 3-D

quality to them, casting shadows from all layers on the

surfaces beneath that change constantly with the direction of the light.  

Dreamcatcher.  Esperanza Grundy

Warm and vibrant, Esperanza Grundy's Dreamcatcher
is a delightful eyeful!  Executed in her familiar acrylic collage style,
which gives a sense of depth and texture, this is a perfect small piece
to brighten a corner of a room, or complement a bright area,
perhaps by a garden window.

See more of Esperanza's complex and pleasing works here, as
well as a description of her technique and process.

FURNITURE

Small Maple Table/Seat.  Nathan Christopher

How sweet is this?

Nathan's trademarks of clean lines with the inevitable homage
to his rustic and sustainable sensibilities are readily visible in
this charming piece.  It is created from maple burl, minimally
finished, with striking legs and a youthful personality.

This would make a perfect side table or small tea or coffee table;
even a seat!  The light, beautifully grained wood has a modern feel but
would easily tone into a more traditional setting.

To see more of Nathan's furniture or sculpture, click on the links.

Nathan currently has several pieces on loan to the Bainbridge
Island Museum of Art in their current exhibition, The Art of Furniture 1,
along with our other Gallery artists Chris Mroz, Alan Rosen, Donald Smith,
Howard Todd, and Alan Vogel.  If you're in the area, be sure to pay the museum a visit.
It is rather awesome!

www.biartmuseum.org

TEXTILES & WEARABLE ART

Ceremony Coat over Ankle Slider Pants.  Spirithouse

Ah, yes; THIS is what we're talking about.
Add a sleek top or camisole for an elegant, yet practical, ensemble.

Spirithouse continues to entrance us with their easy to wear,
layering, travel-friendly, stylish, beautifully cut and drape-y clothing,
and the wonderful fabrics they choose.

Now that we've paused to take a breath, we can also add
that their pieces are well-priced, made in the US,
and we love them.

Here's a cross-section of what's here or on its way:

Have fun checking out these terrific pieces.
In the meantime, we're working on getting the new pieces in the online shop as
soon as we can, but please don't hesitate to call us or stop in to
see everything currently available.
(Need we add:  these tend to fly away rather quickly!)

JEWELRY

Earrings Leonardo da Vinci.  Begona Rentero

Over the last several years we have spent so many hours raving about
Begona Rentero's brilliant pieces of art that it's hard to believe there
can be more to rave about.  But what an artist she continually
proves herself to be!  We suspect we will be hoarse from raving
about her for many years to come.

These earrings, for example, are thrilling, and are part of her new collection, 
Feeding from the Fountain of Italian Renaissance.

As noted above, they are a nod to Leonardo da Vinci, as is this necklace:

Necklace Leonardo da Vinci.  Begona Rentero

Both are created of paper and 24k gold, available in the light
sand color shown.  Lightweight, beautiful, serene.

Other Renaissance artists represented in the collection include Rafael,
with this splendid necklace:

Necklace Rafael Sanzio.  Begona Rentero

Shown in copper; also available in chestnut (a dark reddish-brown)
and terra cotta (a soft coral blush).  Earrings to match.

These pieces are on their way to us and are available for pre-order in the
Gallery or the online shop here, along with many of her other pieces.

Thanks once again for visiting our blog!  We'll be back in April with more beautiful things to share with you.  In the meantime, if you'd like to have our e-card announcing Newsletter postings delivered directly to your inbox, send us a note at sr [at] theislandgallery dot net.  We'll put you on our mailing list.

Here's to lovely Spring!

January 2015 Gallery Picks Newsletter

Happy New Year!

We're ushering in the year with another selection of our artists' amazing work, including paintings, wearable art, sculpture, ceramics and jewelry.  For good measure, we want to make a connection with the previous blog post, which celebrates the accomplishments of several of our artists at a local statewide juried art competition (one of which took 1st Prize for 2-D art, by the way!  More about that later, and please take a look at the older post for info).

We hope you enjoy this selection, and be sure to click on the links, which will take you to our online shop for more information, and the artists' pages.

Oh, and don't forget about Valentine's Day - give the perfect gift:  Art!

VISUAL ARTS

Twitter.  Esperanza Grundy

Do you Tweet?

If so, you probably connect with the feelings evoked by this

acrylic and collage painting.

Thoughts:

Images, bold and diaphanous, rush between

solid earth and fantasy sky in this provocative piece, detached

staccatos in a landscape of constant movement.  The colors are bright

and enticing, sometimes soothing, drawing the eye into a universe

of slightly contained chaos, just beyond one's true grasp.

See other works by this marvelous Seattle artist in the Gallery

or on her page here in the online shop.

SCULPTURE

Leap.  Alan Vogel

A piece of salvaged yellow cedar makes graceful art indeed. 

Buttery yellow cedar, minimally finished, reaches like an elegant tidal wave

from floor to above side-table height.  This is one of our favorite woods; with a

soft color and texture that is hard to find, it is considered one of the

finest timber trees in the world.

It is of interest to note that Yellow Cedar is actually the nickname of this

wood, its true name being Nootka Cypress after the First Nation Nootka people of

Vancouver Island, British Columbia.  (Western Red Cedar is also a cypress, incidentally.)

It has grown from Alaska's Kenai Peninsula to the Klamath Mountains in

 northernmost California.  The Caren Range on the west coast of British Columbia,

Canada, is home to the oldest Nootka Cypress specimens in the world,

with one found to be 1,834 years old.

Once abundant, extensive research has been conducted into large-scale

die-offs of yellow cedar stands.  Studies conclude that the tree

has depended upon heavy coastal snowpacks to insulate its

shallow roots from cold Arctic winters.  The impacts of climate

change have resulted in thinner, less persistent snowpacks, in turn

leaving the trees increasingly susceptible to freeze damage.

A look from above:

What can we say?
Soft flame.
Beautiful and fascinating.

See more of Alan's art here.

TEXTILES & WEARABLE ART

Juncture Cardigan, Muse Pants. Spirithouse

Elegant and stylish clothing, to be sure; but these pieces from

Katrin Noon For Spirithouse are also extremely comfortable

and perfect for travel and everyday wear.

See more from this line, plus full descriptions and size availability

of those shown above, by visiting the Spirithouse page

in our online shop, here.

Neoprene Necklace, Red and Black.  AR64

Shown above with the Spirithouse clothing, we're delighted

with these jewelry pieces from AR64 that are very modern, feminine and

romantic.  Lightweight and lacy, this piece combines soft plastics with even

softer neoprene beads for a lovely choker-style necklace.

Blue Topaz Stud Earrings.  Robin Hominiuk

They're baaaa-aack!

Just in, more of Robin's wonderful gemstone and

sterling silver post earrings.  These are blue topaz; we

also have a pair of very red garnets, and white topaz

(that look very much like diamonds.  Yum.)

(p.s.: Those ruby-red garnet earrings?  Think Valentine's Day...)

CERAMICS

Martini Cup.  Robin Hominiuk

Speaking of Robin Hominiuk, who is a truly multi-talented artist,

and speaking of Valentine's Day, her wood-fired porcelain

martini cups are perfect little gifts.  The main danger with these

pretty things is falling in love with them yourself and

finding they never reach their intended destination.

Not a huge problem, however - we have a number

available at the moment and they are very nicely

priced, so buy two and toast your sweetheart.

By the way, these are pretty on the inside, too...

...and each is different, making them one-of-a-kind

works of art.

In conclusion, in honor of her recent 1st Prize entry at the

2015 Collective Visions Gallery statewide competition and exhibition,

here is another look at a wonderful piece by Bainbridge Island artist

Irene Yesley:

Sprite 2.  Irene Yesley

This lovely piece, which is water base and acrylic paint and gold leaf on

three layered pieces of plexiglas, is currently on display in the Gallery.

We featured it in our October Newsletter and Blog, and are delighted

to show it here again.  Because of the shadow effects created

by the layers, light becomes a major factor when viewing

these pieces - arguably a part of the art itself - and should be

seen in person to fully appreciate the beauty of the piece.

Please refer to the previous blog post for information on

the Collective Visions competition and exhibition.

Once again, our congratulations to Irene.

January 2015 is done!  Thanks for visiting, and please come back soon.

***If you'd like to receive a newsletter alert in your inbox, send a note to sr [@] theislandgallery dot net and we'll sign you up.

September 2014 Gallery Picks Newsletter

From the Department of Things That Are Better Late Than Never, we bring you our monthly Gallery Picks Newsletter.  The semi-bad news is that we are very late posting; the very-good news is that October's edition will follow shortly, so this month will be brimful of beautiful art!

Please enjoy a look at these wonderful new items from our fabulous artists, and don't forget, for more information click on the individual links to visit them in our online shop.

Let's start with some amazing furniture.

FINE WOOD FURNITURE

Walnut Table, "The Impala"

 Quite simply, this is one of the most beautiful tables we have ever seen.

Constructed of claro walnut from Chico, California, from live-edge

slabs that were gently aged over many years here in the Gallery, this is a

product of careful consideration and collaboration by a number

of our wonderful local artists. The table top is made from the burl ends of the

slabs; the legs are black patinaed steel designed and crafted right here

on Bainbridge Island.

Ready to grace your dining room, office or boardroom, and just... Magnificent.

But why, you ask, have we named it The Impala?

 (Can you see it?)

For a closer look, drop into the Gallery.

(It would love to meet you in person!)

Writing Table.  Ted Scherrer

 Lush cherry and ash woods animate this lovely desk.

Perfect for your office (or a very lucky student) it has two drawers and

a sweet retro surprise:  a secret compartment!

How often do we see an added feature like that these days?

Northwest wood artist Ted Scherrer has shown his work with

us for many years, in the form of chairs, settles and tables created with
the traditionally spare yet exquisite quality of Craftsman furniture.  His
hand-crafted designs, with their easy functionality and superior workmanship,
never go out of style.

View one of Ted's gorgeous settles here.

Here's something about the classic Craftsman style that inspires Ted's work:

The Arts and Crafts movement initially developed in England during

the latter half of the 19th century, inspired by social reform concerns together

with the ideals of reformer and designer, William Morris.

This movement was a response to the rise in often shoddy
factory-made goods and furniture seen at the time.  It also challenged
the often extravagant tastes of the Victorian era, and sought to bring
back work for individual craftsmen, put out to pasture rather
precipitously in society's rush to embrace mass-manufacturing.

In the United States, Gustav Stickley also promoted these ideals out

of New York City, and found that by using factory methods to produce
basic components, then utilizing craftsmen to finish and assemble,
he was able to produce sturdy, serviceable and attractive

furniture which was sold in great quantities, and still survives.

The term Mission style is also used to describe Arts and Crafts Furniture

and design in the United States, particularly in the Southwest, and brought

into play the added influence of Native American and Spanish-Mexican artwork.

Mid-Century Modern Chair.  Arne Hovmand Olsen

Our latest mid-century modern  furniture find, this graceful chair

is quite special, with its Danish Modern lightness of style and clean look.
It is created from subtle teak wood with a cane-wrapped back and leather seat.
Notably, it is signed by the artist.

Here's a little about Arne:

Arne Hovmand Olsen (1919-1989) was born and raised in Kirkeby Sogn

in the middle of Denmark. He was the eldest of five children, and though from a

farming family he realized at an early age that he wanted a different career.

He had always liked to draw, and was apprenticed to a cabinetmaker,

P. Olsen Sibast, in 1938. After his apprenticeship, Arne dreamed of being

able to design the furniture which he produced, and therefore enrolled in a

technical school specializing in furniture design at Aarhus, in 1941.

Once qualified, Arne started his own studio creating beautiful furniture,

influenced by Scandinavian design and executed in a simple and light style.

His furniture was sold in Denmark , but was mainly exported to the large

overseas market, with the U. S. market being an avid consumer.

His studio closed in the 1970s.



SCULPTURE
(Ceramic) 

Brink.  Maria Simon

This month we welcome extraordinary sculptor Maria Simon to the gallery

Her sensuous ceramic pieces are a rich feast of form and color,

built to reside on a special wall, some as table pieces, all with great depth,
suggestions of rolling hills or earthy strata, and hints of whimsy.

Here's a little about Maria and her process:

Born and raised in Chicago, Maria Simon began pursuing art as a young child.

With the support of her parents, she attended children’s classes at the

Chicago Art Institute. She attended Washington University’s Steinberg School

of Fine Arts in St. Louis, studying sculpture and printmaking. She also

studied classical sculpture at L’Accademia d’elle Arte in Florence, Italy.

After a fifteen year exploration of colored clays, producing decorative

vessels and tiles, which she considered a marriage of sculpture and printmaking,

Maria returned to her love of sculpture, using clay, her favorite medium.

Maria's work has been selected for numerous private and corporate art

collections and has exhibited her work both nationally and internationally.

She has been the recipient of several grants and awards.

Now living in Portland, Oregon, Maria devotes a significant part of her

time to teaching and workshop activities. She has also been providing

Artist-in-Residency programs to the metro area schools in sculpture, ceramics,

and mural making through the Regional Arts and Culture Council and Young

Audiences of Oregon and SW Washington, and as an independent contractor

since 1991. In addition, she has presented workshops on her process

throughout the country since 1981.

As to Maria's process, all pieces are built with terracotta or porcelain clay.

Most begin with thick-rolled slabs, cut and fit together, puzzle-like.

The clay is left to reach leather-hard stage, then some areas are built up with coils;

at this point the largely subtractive work of carving begins. 

Over a period of four to five weeks, refinement of the sculpture takes place.

Once the fine details are completed, it undergoes a slow bisque-firing,
after which painting with terra sigillata commences and can continue
over a ten-day period.  The piece is burnished, then fired a second time.

Ember.  Maria Simon

 (As a point of interest, terra sigillata in contemporary pottery refers to a clay "slip", 
or liquefied suspension of fine-milled clay particles in water, usually the 
consistency of heavy cream.  Pigments can be added to produce a colored slip.

 Archeologically speaking, the term terra sigillata literally means "sealed earth";

not as in earth made impervious by sealing but, rather, pottery decorated with "seals"
or sigilla, a Latin word referring to small statues or figures in relief.  The term is also applied,

however, to plain-surfaced Roman pots of a certain type or era.)


VISUAL ARTS

Rest Assured.  Esperanza Grundy

Seattle artist Esperanza Grundy has recently brought us several new works.

This one, Rest Assured, is acrylic collage on canvas, notable for its lively

earth colors that are juxtaposed with darker tones amid rambling,

somehow familiar, textures.

(Perhaps desert Southwest, wisps of written communications, hint of mountains...)

This piece and several from her Faces series are currently in the Gallery;

two others can be viewed at our Realogics Sotheby's International Annex,

right here on Bainbridge Island at 271 Madison Avenue S. 

 

A member of the Women Painters of Washington, Esperanza has won numerous awards

for her works in collage and watercolor.  With a BFA in Industrial Design from the

University of Washington, she has lived both in the Southwest and Northwest. 

 As the artist notes, color is the main ingredient in her work, in abstract compositions

which explore the lives of  literary artists (Bedside Table Series), the American Flag,

or the place of women across cultures. 

 

Esperanza comments on her work: 

 

Color is the main ingredient in my work. 

 

The urge to create is irresistible to me. The symbols, images, textures and colors

in my paintings and collages are my pathway to spirit and truth.

My fundamental source of inspiration is my personal heritage: my family is

hispanic and native american and has lived in the Southwestern US for

many generations. Cultural explorations continue from there by

listening to other people's stories, traveling to exotic places,

reading and dreaming. 

 

I love to gather, arrange and layer materials. Everything is a potential

element: paper and fabric scraps, my own handmade papers, paint,

stencils, transfers and photographs. Using cast off "compost" to give

new life to art is richly symbolic to me. Creating physical depth through

layering allows me to more deeply express ideas and feelings. I hope

the layers act as levels to invite emotions, thoughts, memories

and meaning for viewers of my art.

 

 

WEARABLE ART

Necklace Bergamo, Black.  Begona Rentero

 If you've seen our Blog before you already know what we

think of Begona Rentero's work.

And yet this necklace...

WOW!

Just...

WOW!

And here are the earrings, in red:

Earrings Bergamo, Red.  Begona Rentero

 These are huge, long, dangly, lightweight, and available in other colors.

Our first pair was snapped up immediately after we put them
on display, but stay tuned. We'll have more available shortly.

Can you even imagine wearing these to a holiday party?

!!!!!!

Enough said.

"Intermezzo" Silk Swing Jacket.  Roselle Abramowitz

This is yet another gorgeous piece by remarkable artist

Roselle Abramowitz.  Double-layered hand-painted silk

in shades of blue, green and purple make a luscious

statement in a cropped swing jacket that can be

hung on the wall as an art piece or worn to that

extra-special occasion.  The length and drop-shoulder
tapered-sleeve styling makes this a universally becoming garment.

As we have reported elsewhere in this Blog,

Roselle passed away recently in her home of Stowe, Vermont.

To read more about her fascinating life, skip back several posts

or search Roselle Abramowitz to read our homage

to this talented artist.

So much for September, now all nicely wrapped up.  Please come back soon for a bright October harvest version of the newsletter, already in the works!  If you'd like to have our e-card reminder delivered to your mailbox, plus early warning of events, exhibits and sales, please contact sr@theislandgallery.net, leave your e-mail address, and we'll sign you up.

Thanks for visiting, and see you next time!