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.

Gallery Strolling...?

Over the years, we've noted that First Friday Artwalks here on Beautiful Bainbridge Island can take many forms:  bustling and jolly at the holidays, sedate and serious, even drowsy on occasions, especially when one of our trademark Northwest monsoons blows through.  Things can get quiet - or crazy - very quickly.  We never know, really, what to expect.  But this past Friday had a new feeling, something a little different, that we couldn't pin down at first.  We've attempted to analyze this vibe, however, and finally came up with an appropriate descriptor.

Relaxed. 

Sort of a Parisien Boulevardier kind of relaxed, wherein the townfolk Art-Strolled rather than Art-Walked.  Perhaps had a sip of wine here and there, perhaps nibbled on hors d'oeuvres or little chocolate Easter eggs, then entered the Gallery to the gentle tones of an acoustic guitar, and suddenly exhaled.  Relaxed.

Ah-ha, that's what made the difference:  Peter Spencer and his guitar.

Peter began the evening with a string of wonderfully executed instrumentals, treating us to tunes ranging from the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel to Pachelbel's Canon in D.  Once the audience was sufficiently entranced he switched to soulful, bluesy vocals, keeping the mood mellow, casual, Art-Strolly.

Relaxed.

We loved it.  Everyone loved it.

Keep an eye on this blog as we announce more musical events with Peter and other local musicians.  You're going to want to save the dates!

Update: March Music

We've just confirmed that musician/singer/songwriter Peter Spencer will join us for this month's First Friday Artwalk!

Peter will perform a casual set, beginning around 6 pm this coming Friday, March 1st.  For more information on Peter, check out several of our earlier posts.

Please join us, have a sip of wine, and enjoy the mingling of art and music.

(For event invitations sent directly to your inbox, e-mail us at sr@theislandgallery.net and we'll sign you up.)

An Evening of Music

The Island Gallery is delighted to welcome back guitarist Peter Spencer for a special musical event, performing in the Gallery with bassist Jonathan Green during February's First Friday Artwalk.

An Evening of Music

 First Friday, February 1, 2013, 6-8 pm

The Island Gallery

400 Winslow Way E., #120

Bainbridge Island, Washington
(Underground Parking Available - Enter Off Ericksen Avenue) 

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, D.C.

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 returned to performing with the 2000 release "New Hope and Wise Virgins," followed by a series of releases beginning with an album of original and classic blues called "Nobody's Daddy" in 2005. "Handsignal," another album of original songs, followed in 2006. Later that year came "Gathering Light," an album of Christmas music for solo guitar. In 2007 he released "The Blues Concert," recorded live on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and in 2009 "From the Island," another set of original songs.

His newest album, released in the Spring of 2011, is called "1896," recorded simply with his voice and an 1896 Washburn parlor guitar in a Bainbridge Island schoolhouse that was also built in 1896.

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 is a distinguished bassist with the Seattle Symphony, active as well in chamber-music and new-music circles.

Admission is free.  For further information please contact the Gallery:

Phone:

206.780.9500

E-mail:

ssn@theislandgallery.net

Web shop:

theislandgallery.net/shop/

Sign up to receive e-mail alerts for upcoming events, newsletter, sales by e-mailing:

sr@theislandgallery.net

January 2013 Gallery Picks

Since last September, we have sent our Monthly Gallery Picks Newsletter via direct e-mail to patrons around the middle of each month, featuring selected pieces from our current collection.  Beginning right now, we will be posting the Gallery Picks exclusively here on our blog, in hopes of providing a larger audience with an opportunity to better know the work of our fantastic artists.  Please scroll down to view examples of the wonderful art currently available in the Gallery and in our online shop.  For further information, click on the highlighted links to visit the individual items in our web shop.  And if you'd like reminders sent directly to your mailbox, please send your e-mail address to sr@theislandgallery.net to join our subscriber list. 

Coming soon:  Music in February!

 Enjoy! 

Mid-Century Modern Vintage Directors Chairs, Set of four

Dimensions:  To top of back, 30"; to top of seat, 18"; seat, 17" x 18".

Direct your guests through dinner parties or any of your family's favorite entertainments with these fabulous, comfortable chairs:  A set of four mid-century modern vintage directors chairs; armless, camel-colored leather on chrome frames.  Made in Italy by the Aarben Company, they are fully foldable for easy storage.  We think they look terrific with live-edge tabletops, and currently have them displayed in the Gallery with a gorgeous quartersawn sycamore dining table.  Come take a look when you're on the island! 

Opera Coat, Carter Smith

Shibori, Embroidered Silk

Glowing reds and blues predominate in this remarkable coat, segueing into a rainbow of colors including purples, greens and golds.  The collar can be left low across the shoulders or raised, peacock-like, to frame your face.  Magnificent!  Although it is listed as a Size Small, we've tried this on here at the Gallery (be still my heart...) and find that it is quite roomy and will actually be a better fit for a medium.  This is a one-of-a-kind piece, as are all of this artist's pieces.  And while we're talking about the artist, here's a little something about him:

Carter Smith has been creating one-of-a-kind hand-dyed fabrics since 1965 when, as a freshman in college, he attended tie-dye workshops taught by his mother.  This became his life’s work, and during his first twenty years of tie-dying, Carter invented and perfected three techniques of dyeing, primarily on silk and almost exclusively for wall hangings, selling 30,000 individual stretched pieces and banners.  Thinking he had done it all, he took a couple of years off, and worked as a carpenter.

After seeing one of the first silk banners he had dyed years before, Carter was inspired to take up his art anew, and by the end of the year had added over forty new steps that multiplied into over a thousand techniques.  The more the process was opened up, the more the process evolved, creating a renaissance in his work.  He decided to start designing and making his own clothing.  His hand-dyed original fashions are now sold all over the United States and throughout the world.  Notables who own his creations include Elizabeth Taylor, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jane Fonda, Allie McGraw, Alice Walker, Dionne Warwick, Maya Angelou, Susan Taylor, Goldie Hawn, Jesse Norman, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Anne Austin, Kim Novak, Cassandra Wilson, Mary Travers, Jan Robinson, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, and others.

Today, Carter produces over 250 original bias design concepts and creations from his studios in Nahant, Massachusetts, and after 40 years and over 200,000 yards of personally dyed fabric he feels that this is only the beginning.  We certainly hope so, and always look forward to seeing Carter’s next magnificent creation!

Baroque, Illuminated Sculpture 

Dimensions:  approximately 36" wide x 22" deep.

Ready to light up your very own castle, this complex yet beautifully serene illuminated sculpture is named "Baroque".  It comes with hardware ready for ceiling attachment.  The photo shows its side view as installed on the left; the view on the right is from below.

Like this one, the illuminated sculptures carried in the Gallery are created from thin slices of wood, bent and formed, then overlaid with up to ten layers of tissue paper, torn and glued around the frame.  Each layer must dry before the artist can continue.  This painstaking process produces a surprisingly strong skin and luminous glow in each piece.  Please visit our web shop to view more of these truly lovely works of art. 

Wool Vest, Kay Chapman  

Black and Purple  

Sized S/M/L.  Zipper front

Not that we were surprised, but as soon as we introduced these warm, snuggly vests they began to fly out of the Gallery.  Generously cut, they can be used to layer over other garments, or worn over a thin shirt or blouse, making this a very versatile clothing item, in any climate.  The garment shown is black and a subtle, rich purple but is also available in other colors and patterns.

A little about the artist:

Kay Chapman is a fabric artist/clothing designer who shows her work in galleries and boutiques nationwide. She works primarily on natural fabrics: silk, linen, cotton and wool, as well as with bamboo fabrics. Pattern and color are applied to the fabric using direct dye techniques, with the fabric usually stretched over bars and painted with either fiber reactive or acid dyes using foam brushes.  Dyes are then set in the cloth by steaming, then washed and rinsed and ready to be made into the garment.  Kay creates styles which flatter a woman’s body and are easy to wear.

Small Live-Edge Walnut Desk with Cantilevered Leg

Dimensions:  30” wide x 50” long, x 30” tall.

What marvelous style:  simple, clean and dramatically beautiful!

This cantilevered live-edge walnut desk has ample writing/laptop surface and is sure to complement a multitude of office or living room design styles.  If you're feeling a Hemingway, Shakespeare or Steinbeck moment coming on (or favorite author of your choice), imagine sitting down to write the Great American Novel at this lovely desk!

The desk shown is currently on display in the Gallery, but is also available by special order in different sizes. Please contact the Gallery for further information on this item, or to discuss a custom project.

Chicago Necklace (short), in Red.  Begona Rentero

Length: 18” cord length with 8” drop from center point of cord.

 Reminiscent of a field of waving poppies or anemones, this amazing necklace heightens one's longing for far-off spring!  (But don't worry, it's right around the corner.)  Eco-friendly jewelry inspired by flora and sea fauna, Spanish artist Begona Rentero makes her own papers from silk, cotton and other fibers, hardening them through a special process so that they can easily be worn for everyday use.  They are ultra-lightweight, and Begona uses all natural dyes in her creations, many of which can be viewed here. This particular style is available in a longer style, in other colors, and with matching earrings, which can be viewed under separate listing in our web shop.  If you don't see them, please contact the Gallery.  

Spalted MapleBowl, Peter Sibbett
Dimensions: 14-1/2” x 7-1/2”.

#WM072012D

Thanks to a special artist, what began as a forgotten, discarded piece of wood has become a graceful art bowl.  Hewn from spalted maple logs carefully selected from salvaged logs in Port Gamble, Washington, it is finished with five coats of natural pure tung oil that accentuate its dramatic coloration and graining.

About the artist:
 

Peter Sibbett, orphaned in Korea at a young age, was adopted by his family in Indianola, Washington when he was 14 years old.  Though Peter had no previous education in Korea, he learned English and graduated with his high school class, going on to graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in International Studies from the Jackson School of International Studies.

Peter then spent 20 years establishing and operating international glass, window and door manufacturing companies before his artistic passion brought him to his studio where he crafts fine hand-turned wooden bowls.  They are made from local Pacific Northwest wood, primarily maple, but often from cherry, oak, ash and cedar.  Peter and his family also make wonderfully unique Northwest wooden jigsaw puzzles from salvaged and repurposed cedar, white fir and maple logs. 

Earrings, Murano Glass and PVC, Klamir

Dimensions:  3” drop from top of ear wires

 Direct from Venice, Italy, and the artistry of Mirella Foffano, comes a line of Murano glass jewelry that is drawing Ooohs and Aaahs at the gallery.  Shown is a sampling of her bold sphere earrings, featuring soft  PVC wrapped around glass beads, fancifully filled with PVC ribbons, and drops of crystal.  Big, bold and lightweight, these pieces are sophisticated, but also just plain fun.  Our first shipment sold out the day after they arrived!

Not shown here but available in the Gallery now and soon to be listed in our web shop is an array of these earrings in other colors, including gold-flecked red, blue, and even deep emerald green.

To visit our web shop:
theislandgallery.net/shop/

To receive direct e-mails, including reminders of sales, exhibitions and musical events, please send a note to:
sr@theislandgallery.net

 

The Gallery's Annual January Sale

As we all recover from the holiday festivities, here is one more reason to drag ourselves off the couch:

The Island Gallery's Annual January Sale!!

All items in the Gallery, 10% Off

Sale Rack items, 20 - 50% Off

The sale lasts through January 31, 2013.

Online shoppers, please contact the gallery directly to take advantage of these discounts.

e-mail:

ssn@theislandgallery.net

Phone:

206.780.9500



Gallery Picks Newsletter On Its Way!

Hi again!

We've been busy here at The Island Gallery and not posting to our blog as often as we should, so we're happy to announce that in January, 2013, we plan to publish our Gallery Picks Newsletter right here on the blog.  We instituted an e-mail-only Picks publication last September, and in upcoming days we're going to play catch-up and repost the older publications here (September, October, November and December, 2012).  As other events come up, like First Friday Artwalks, musical presentations, and special sales, we'll be blogging with greater frequency.  So please stay tuned!

Here's a quick Holiday Sampler of items currently available in the gallery, as presented in The December, 2012 Newsletter.  To go to the actual webshop listing, click on the item's name beneath its photo.



Gallery Picks: December 2012, #1   

Pomegranate, Ted Jolda

Everyone’s favorite holiday ornaments, Ted’s pomegranate is a relative

of his famous golden pear, chosen as one of “O” Magazine’s

must-have Christmas items in 2002.  Here’s the amazing story:

Busy creating beautiful art glass pieces in his one-man studio on Vancouver Island,

Ted had an agent who would take his work to the big U.S. gift trade shows.  In

New York some of Oprah's personal shoppers happened upon the golden pear

ornaments.  They bought some and took them to show Oprah, who fell in love with

 them and decided to put them on the “O” List in the next Christmas issue of her

magazine.  They neglected to mention this to the artist until a week before the

magazine came out, and warned that the exposure might bring in extra sales.

Ted spent the entire following year filling 10,000-plus back orders. 

Ahh, the power of media!  Once he recovered, Ted went on to produce a full

line of ornaments, including various fruits and vegetables, pine cones, snowmen,

and even lumps of coal for the naughtiest amongst us.  We have a fine selection in

the gallery, ready to hang on the tree, use as party favors and gifts, or to layer

in a big glass vase for a dramatic holiday display.

$20.00/30.00 each





 

“Tsarya”, Kimono Jacket, Roselle Abramowitz

Ballet Swing Handpainted Dupioni Silk Art Piece with tapered sleeves and piping collar

Red with Black/White. Part of the Jewel Collection

Luscious reds and bold strokes of contrasting color energize the

remarkable cut of this kimono-style art-to-wear piece.  A stunning

garment for the holidays, for formal wear, or even with jeans, any time.

And if you’re not  in the mood to wear it, hang it on the wall as your

favorite new piece of art!   One size.

$890.00







Zen Vases, Jimmy McDonough

Wood Fired Ceramic

Dimensions:  Varied

A collection of 36 little vessels, each with its own

unique personality, inherited from the kiln.

To yours, add a blossom; meditate.

Or simply contemplate each one’s

perfect imperfections.

$75.00  -  $225.00





Western Red Cedar Bench with I-Beam

Dimensions:  approximately 18” high x 21“ wide x 55” long

A beautiful piece of cedar receives a dramatic treatment.

Black steel I-beams sunken into either end of the live-edge

slab give this bench a modern vibe in - shall we say -

a neo-industrial way, a style as comfortable in a

mansion as in a refurbished warehouse, or whichever

particular castle you call home.

$2,450.00

Visit our webshop for many more beautiful works of art at
http://www.theislandgallery.net/shop/



Bread Pudding Bake-Off Returns!!

Calling all bakers: The TASTIEST Local Benefit is back! Announcing:

THE 5TH ANNUAL BAINBRIDGE ISLAND PRO-AM BREAD PUDDING BAKE-OFF!

All Proceeds Benefit Helpline House

The Island Gallery, in conjunction with My Kids' Cookies, is delighted to announce the return of one of our most popular events. Local pro and amateur bakers gather together, wielding their finest bread puddings (sweet or savory), and slug it out for the honor of being named the baker of Bainbridge Island's Best Bread Pudding! The judges - anyone with a dollar for a taste and a vote - sample the entries and cast their vote(s) for best pudding. The ballots are counted, and Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in both Pro and Am categories and overall Best of Show are awarded!

(Returning Amateurs: Please read the Rules of Entry carefully - we've made some important changes.)

DATE: First Friday, February 4, 2011

TIME: 6-8 pm

LOCATION: 400 Winslow Way East, Bainbridge Island. The tasting will occur in the lobby area of the building, right next to My Kids' Cookies.

There are several ways to make sure your bread pudding is registered for the Bake-Off:

1. Below is a downloadable Entry Form, and the Rules of Entry. To download the form, right-click on the image, hit Save As, and choose a file to save it to on your computer. You can then print it, fill it in, and return the form via regular mail (address is on the form) with your $20.00 registration fee (checks are fine), or drop it off at the gallery no later than February 2.

2. If you prefer, you can e-mail your information to sr@theislandgallery.net and call 206-780-9500 to register with a credit card.

Could it be any easier?

Yes!

3. Call 206-780-9500 and register over the phone. We'll fill in the form for you and answer any questions you might have.

The Island Gallery is Moving!

We are truly delighted to make this announcement: As of August 15, 2010, The Island Gallery will have a new home! We're moving from the corner of Madison and Winslow Way, downtown Bainbridge Island, to The Winslow, 400 Winslow Way East, #120. This lovely modern red-brick building is located on the corner of Winslow Way and Ericksen, a hop, skip and jump from the ferry, and across the street from Town & Country Market and Bainbridge's ever-popular retro-style Streamliner Diner. How will you find us, you ask? Well, as you stroll down Winslow Way you won't be able to miss us: The beautiful patio in front of our space will greet you with its bright foliage, along with the eight-foot-tall James Kelsey sculpture, Tangerine Blade (bright orange!). It will look pretty much like this:

As soon as we have good photos of our new location, we'll post them.

We're Blogging!

Welcome to The Island Gallery's Art Blog!


We're excited to take our first step into this enhanced (and fun!) form of communication, where we will be able to post images and impressions of the wonderful art work that comes through our doors, and where you can send us your thoughts and responses. We'll keep you posted on our upcoming shows, our concert series, and introduce you to great new artists. You can also go to our extensive web site, http://www.theislandgallery.net/, to view past and present exhibits, press releases, artists' statements, essays, and our artists' pages.



So check back often. The Island Gallery is always a work in progress, as is this site, and I know we're going to have a great time together.



- Susan R., sales manager