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.)

Rockin' the House!

This past First Friday, February 1st, during the Artwalk, the Gallery and patrons enjoyed a rollicking evening of music and song, thanks to the talents of Bainbridge Island guitarist and singer/songwriter Peter Spencer, Seattle Symphony bassist Jonathan Greene, and singer Caleb Spencer.  Beginning with a tender instrumental run of Lennon-McCartney songs, including the beautiful yet seldom-performed "Yes It Is" and the more familiar "Across the Universe" and "Hey Jude", they turned up the heat to lay down take-no-prisoners versions of well-known blues and rock songs, including "Mercury Blues", as well as several of Peter's own compositions. 

The crowd stayed, rocked, enjoyed, bought Peter's CDs, and left with a unanimous request:  "Bring 'em back!  Soon!!"

We hope to do just that. 

Thanks to all who attended, family and friends, and to our wonderful performers, Peter, Jon and Caleb, for giving us a memorable evening while taking the roof off The Winslow!

How to keep posted:  If you're on our subscription list we'll automatically send you advance warning of the Gallery's next musical event.  If not, you can sign up and receive notices of all events, including sales and shows, by simply sending an e-mail to sr@theislandgallery.net.  And, of course, be sure to check back here often.

P.S.:  A dwindling supply of Peter's CDs is still available at the Gallery for $15.00 each.  Please contact the gallery at ssn@theislandgallery.net or 206.780.9500 to order or for further information. 

Treats for the Sweet



Pretty in Pink



Our amazing local textile and beading artist, Janet Essa Elia, came by on this chilly winter day with a new selection of her very popular floral brooches which can double as hairpins, ornaments for a purse or belt, or even a sassy addition to the toe or heel of a perfect black shoe.  Like little harbingers of spring, they warmed us with their good cheer.  We are inspired to spread around the joy: 

Janet is a native of Iraq where for 15 years she owned and operated a well-known atelier in Baghdad, specializing in custom-made, beaded clothing and accessories. She left there in 2009 and has lived in the U.S. - here on Bainbridge Island - since then. All her designs are original, and employ traditional Middle Eastern methods. The decorative work is applied by hand, using needle and thread.



Red and Purple Gauze



During the rule of Saddam Hussein, when Janet established her business, it was highly unusual for women to own independent businesses in Iraq. In fact, it still is. Besides dressmaking generally, her atelier was considered to be the finest source of custom wedding dresses and bridal accessories in Baghdad, and attracted a prominent clientele. In Iraq, weddings are extremely important social occasions and tend to be very large. Wedding trousseaux, whether traditional or modern, are typically highly decorated.

Turquoise Layers

The jewelry and accessories Janet produces are entirely hand-made by her, and are inspired by the traditions of decorated clothing with which she grew up and by contemporary international design. Her work is sold in a number of Pacific Northwest galleries and she collaborates with custom couturier designers on wedding apparel, bridal accessories, and custom gowns. Additionally, she has been featured in numerous exhibitions in the Seattle area including the Seattle Bridal Show, the Red Dress Competition, the Seattle Metropolitan Fashion Week competition, and an American Cancer Society benefit at the Museum of Flight.  Janet also offers her line of purses and framed art pieces. 

Mindful that Valentine's Day is right around the corner, our Gallery Picks for February will feature gift suggestions (including several of Janet's new brooches) for that certain someone, or even a little something for yourself...

Pure Valentine Red!

For further information or to purchase one of Janet's pieces, click on the links beneath the photos or visit the Gallery's web shop at:
www.theislandgallery.net/shop/

To receive early warnings of sales, exhibitions and musical events, send us an e-mail:
sr@theislandgallery.net

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



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.

Brick and Mortar: Fiber and Metal Sculpture of Britt Rynearson

Time to put the upcoming First Friday Gallery Walk on your calendar!

Fiber and Metal Sculptures of

Britt Rynearson

The Bainbridge Island native draws inspiration from the abstract beauty of aging building structures. Also featured: Britt's line of home furnishings, clothing and accessories.

November 5-28, 2010

Artist's Reception November 5, 6-8 pm

Featuring Ranger and the Re-Arrangers in concert on the plaza

and

The Winslow's Open House

Celebrating the Beginning of

the Holiday Season!

Music - Wine Bar - Appetizers

Don't miss this one!