June 2015 Gallery Picks Newsletter

As the Fourth of July approaches it's getting crispy around here, and no matter how we try, we can't stop seeing everything in shades of cool teal blue.  And why not?  Our wonderful artists must be tapping into this watery shade (excuse the pun); it seems to be cropping up everywhere in the Gallery!  Proceed, and you'll see what we mean.

Are you on Twitter?  You can follow us!  We cheerfully Tweet out photos of beautiful artwork, exhibition and concert news, and of course notification that our latest Newsletter is online and ready to be viewed.  We also retweet news from local, national and international shops, galleries and restaurants that tweak (tweet??) our interest.  On weekends we try to keep an eye on how the ferries are running on and off the island, so if you're planning a visit to Bainbridge Island, follow our Twitter feed, then come in and say Hi!

Don't forget, you can click on any of the photos below to be magically transported to our online shop for further information on each of the individual pieces.

Onwards to teal, and other lovely colors:

VISUAL ARTS

Small Birds at a Pond.  Jen Till

We've been raving about Jen's work for several months now (actually,
much longer than that) and will continue to do so!
We must report, however, that her show is closing soon, but never fear:
we will have a number of her pieces available in the Gallery and more online (here).
Please don't hesitate to contact us regarding the availability of
her various pieces, and in the meantime, lose yourself in the cool depths
of this gem, and its inviting little teal pond.

Thanks, Jen, for the wonderful show!
(We can't wait to see what's next!)

Artist Jen Till with her painting Calm Sea

And now, a little advance warning of what is coming right up:

Untitled.  Karen Chaussabel

One of our newest artists, Karen Chaussabel lives and works on
Bainbridge Island.  This series of encaustic and pen on paper, part of her
collection entitled Harvest of the Heart,
will be included in our upcoming July show, Floralscapes:  Sandy Haight,
opening on the 10th.  (Much more about that soon.)

In the meantime, here is something about Karen's work, in her own words:

I am a mixed media artist in the making.
I work on paper, creating encaustic monotype, using inks, pencil, fiber for
mixed media, and also enjoy the feel of clay. I am an explorer by nature and
will try different techniques and materials, just to see. I am very much driven by
curiosity.  And in the process I find more than one way to express my creative voice.
Just like a tree going through the seasons or standing in the light at different times
of the day, my voice takes on the tone of its place in time and space.

Encaustic paint is made of  beeswax combined with resin and color, in either
paint of pigment forms. It is used heated and applied to a variety of surfaces.
My favorite surface for encaustic is paper. I make monotypes and also brush,
draw directly on the paper.

When making encaustic monotypes, I brush warm encaustic on a hot plate,

or melt encaustic directly on the hot plate, then I lay a piece of paper over

the encaustic and pull it up.  I like the next step, the reveal, where I look at

what happened on the paper. Colors blended, spread, an image was created from

this fluid interaction. The exciting part for me is discovering this newborn image and

looking at it, being with the fullness of possibility.  I can let it be enough, or I can

keep on exploring with it, adding lines with pencils when it is still warm, layering

another color, blending them further by rubbing. It is a medium that allows me

to practice being open to possibility

In our next Newsletter we'll have more of Karen's work on view
and she will tell us a more about her philosophies and process
relating to the new exhibit.

TEXTILES & WEARABLE ART

Teal and Bronze Scarf.  Sandra Holzman

A glorious cloud of silk.

That is about all we need to say to describe the beautiful
quality and coloration of this summery scarf, made from
a soft and luxurious big square of silk chiffon.  The teal and
coppery-bronze make a perfect counterpoint, and the scarf is big
enough to throw over your shoulders.

Wear casually with jeans, or dress up an outfit of ivory or
white - a beautiful and cool look.

Paperbag Pants, Rectangle Tunic.  Carol Lee Shanks

What can we say?  The magnificent Carol Lee Shanks

strikes again!

These playful, crisp Paperbag Pants are a little bit

retro with their big plaid and a whole lot summer in

cool cotton.  Wear them with Carol's breezy mesh-like

cotton and nylon Rectangle Tunic, or a black camisole or tee, grab
a beverage of your choice, and head for the yacht.

Or anywhere, for that matter, as long as it's cool!

Many thanks to our wonderful model, Kathy; she endured
hours of hot lights and hundreds of poses, remaining cool
throughout, for lots of perfect shots.

FURNITURE

Elm Bench.  Donald Smith

Rustic but elegant, this beautiful elm live-edge bench

would be great in an entryway or snuggled up to

a dining table for extra or casual seating.

Crafted from local hardwoods, this bench

is finished with a sturdy conversion varnish. 

CERAMICS

Noodle Bowls.  Jessica Wertz

Ooooh!  Noodles!

Better yet, noodles in teal bowls!

Actually, these sizable porcelain bowls (7-1/2 - 8 inches in diameter)
will hold noodles for two, depending on your appetite; but in their
cool, summery colors we think they would
also hold a large and sumptuous amount of strawberries or
other delicious seasonal fruit.  Or chips waiting to be dipped in
salsa, a mountain of pretzels, steaming vegetables, a glistening
summer salad, or...

Or...

Oh, who are we kidding?  Bring on the mint chocolate chip ice cream...

Jessica is also a talented jewelry artist, whose pieces are available in the Gallery
and in our online shop here.

JEWELRY

Agate Druzy Necklace.  Virginia Paquette

There's a reason why The Island Gallery has been

carrying Virginia Paquette's beautiful jewelry for lo these many years.

Virginia is so much more than just a stringer of beads; she very rarely plays

it safe in her designs; and her eye for unusual and downright

stunning stones is as good as it gets, whether

she spies on her travels semi-precious stones, rich trading beads,
little charm oddities, or a combination of all of the above and more.
Besides being a wonderful painter and having created much successful public
art in the region, Virginia is also an accomplished metalsmith, but doesn't shy from

using leather or cord when it works better than chain or silver links

to lend a rustic or even ancient touch to her designs.
 Combining all these elements, her jewelry never fails to look

modern and sophisticated, and is as fresh today as it was

almost 13 years ago when she became the Gallery's first

local jewelry artist.  More of her work can be seen in the Gallery or
on her page in our online shop, here.

This particular piece of agate has a lovely turquoise glow and a smattering

of druzy crystals winking at its center.  Virginia has chosen to entrap it in cord

with African bone beads in black and creamy-white - perfect foils to

the breathtaking turquoise banding of the stone:

Drool at will.

Now for something quite/very/extremely different:

Collar 50, Neoprene.  NEO

Here we have a fun-loving example of a man-made product

masquerading as something from nature, rather effectively!

This necklace is made from chunky little sticks of crimson

neoprene that apparently got together and decided

they wanted to become a spiky coral necklace.

So they did.

(With a little assistance from the NEO folks in Rome, Italy.)

This necklace is lightweight, delightfully red, has lots of movement,

and you can even wear it scuba diving.  If you must.

(A good thing to know as the temps soar into the 90s.)

See more of NEO's fabulous jewelry in the Gallery, or here in the online shop.

~oOo~

Well, that's it for June.  We'll be back shortly with information on the upcoming July show, Floralscapes, and in the meantime try to stay cool as the Grand Old Fourth approaches.  Just a thought:  if you're thinking about shooting off that glorious fireworks display in this very hot weather, PLEASE be careful, or consider going to watch a community-sponsored display.  We want you all to stay safe!

If you would like quick, up-to-date info on our Newsletter, shows, concerts and sales, send us a note - sr [at] theislandgallery [dot] net - and we'll put you on our mailing list.  Or - it's so easy - follow The Island Gallery on Facebook and Twitter!

Happy July 4th from us all!

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.

May 2014 Gallery Picks Newsletter

Summer!  Yes, here it is, at least for the short term, as we residents of the Pacific Northwest are enjoying a glorious stretch of weather.  This sort of longed-for weather features blue skies, ferries gliding over glittering waters, and sightings of both whales and mountaintops!  (What can we say, we like the place.)

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.

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

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

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.

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:)

Sycamore Slab Table; Italian Leather Chairs

See?  Gorgeous!

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:

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.

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!

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!)

So to gallery owners/staff everywhere, take heed:

READ the information your artists send you!

Preferably with a tape measure close at hand!

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.

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.

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.

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.

Goodbye to May, and on to June!  We'll be back shortly with more terrific art from these and more incomparable artists.  Don't forget, if you'd like to have this newsletter appear directly in your inbox, send us a request at ssn@theislandgallery.net or sr@theislandgallery.net and we'll add you to the list.

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.

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