October 2015 Gallery Picks Newsletter

Yes, we're back!

Following a little summer hiatus we are happy to be laboring under a veritable backlog of beauty, as you will see by scrolling downwards.  This post will feature several more items than actually appear on our card, so continue on for October Surprises, particularly in Jewelry and Textiles.

And of course, our artists have outdone themselves, as always.

We have also just posted some important and exciting news pertaining to the online shop, so please see the post prior to this one for all that information.

Please enjoy!

FINE WOOD FURNITURE
& VISUAL ART

Sycamore Bench; with A Particular Green Hillside, Mark Bowles

A combination too seductive to ignore, this lovely Northwest artisan-crafted

sycamore bench looks right at home beneath one of Mark Bowles'

glowing acrylics.  Once we noted the two together,
we couldn't feature one without the other!

From locally salvaged wood, the artist has carefully combined

raw nature with clean lines for a contemporary look that

is highly sought after these days.   The jaunty yet rustic bowtie join,

quite literally, ties it all together.

Here's a closer look at those lovely, undulating edges:

Sycamore Bench, close-up showing live edge

For more information on Mark whose work, so reminiscent of abundant

Central California landscapes, we so greatly admire,

click here to go to his online Gallery shop page.

from ICE 2.  Irene Yesley

The subject of our current Gallery Exhibition Patterns in Plexi, Irene Yesley has

presented us with more of her incomparable artistry.  The range of

techniques and styles, including her use of monotype and paper with layers of plexiglas,

is most impressive; we highly recommend a visit to the Gallery
to view these new works by a truly special Bainbridge Island artist.

Irene is also featured in an exhibit that has just opened at the

Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Thought Patterns,
550 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, Washington.

For further information about Irene, please view the previous post on this blog,
which discusses more about the artist, her work and recent/current shows;

or click here to visit her pages in our online shop.

TEXTILES

Ponchette, Purple.  Bobbie Sumberg

What a lovely way to ward off the cold of winter!

These fine knitted wool and silk "Ponchettes", with

snappy tassels and casual styling, are just the ticket.

Just toss over your head, and off you go.  They are soft and stylish,

easy to dress up (for example, with the shown orange silk batik

and bead necklace from Red Lotus, or one of Carter Smith's fabulous

little shibori silk scarves) or keep casual, over a shirt and jeans.

They are also available in other colors.

We welcome Bobbie as one of the Gallery's newest artists.

Here's a little something about her:

Bobbie Sumberg began knitting at seven years old and has been involved

with textiles ever since.  After a five-year stint raising sheep,

spinning, dying, and weaving, she returned to school and received

an M.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1993 and a Ph.D in 2001.

Research for both these degrees in textile studies was conducted in

West Africa.  She has also done research and traveled in India, North Africa,

Turkey, and the Middle East and held the position of Curator of Textiles

and Costume, as well as Curator of African Art, at the Museum of International

Folk Art in Santa Fe, New Mexico for fourteen years.

She has authored Young Brides, Old Treasures:  Macedonian Embroidered

Dress, Textiles:  Museum of International Folk Art Collection as well as

co-authoring the book Sleeping Around:  The Bed from Antiquity to Now and

has published articles on her research and on collections at the Museum.

Please check Bobbie's page in the online shop here

for further information or to see other available colors of

these delectably cozy capes.

Peplum Jacket and Pleat Skirt.  Carol Lee Shanks

We love Carol Lee Shanks' work, as you may have noticed

if you follow this blog.  And why not?  Her styles are always

eye-catching and avant-garde, yet she is able to add a

functionality to each piece that allows them to take you from

daily wear to high fashion with a tweak here or an accessory there.

Brilliant!

This ensemble, for example, is breathtaking.  We don't like

exaggeration, but this really is something to behold:  In dramatic tones of autumn

browns with a metallic gleam and red/orange undertones, the fabric is crisp and
holds its pleats.  With a pair of walking boots and your favorite friend,
this amazing outfit would take you directly to the opera.

So dramatic, and typical of Carol's work, more of which may
be viewed right here.

Jacket, Midnight Blue.  Spirithouse

Oh, boy.  This one is fun.

From our wonderful Spirithouse line and its creator, Katrin Noon,

comes this new addition to the Gallery, a terrific zip-front jacket

with collar that can flip up or lie flat, and can easily convert to

double duty as a top over leggings or pants.

It shows as very dramatic when zipped all the way up, which gives

it a high-collared, faux-turtleneck look; then add a scarf or necklace.

But we particularly love the styling on the back, with its

gentle pleating - such a pretty additional touch by a skillful

artist/designer. Visit more of her work here.

Silk Shibori Scarf, multicolored.  Carter Smith

Not to repeat ourselves, but we must:  if you follow this

blog at all, you know we LOVE the shibori genius of Carter Smith.

And we are happy to announce that we have another selection of

his small and medium scarves available once again in the online shop here,

most of which qualify for free shipping.  For an even greater selection,

please call the Gallery or just wander in when you're on the island; there are

always a few pieces that don't make it onto the website.

For more information on this great Shibori Master, see one of the many

other posts here on the blog where he is featured, or visit his

page (right here) in the Gallery's online shop.  While you're there, do

take a gander at the magnificent clothing this incredible designer creates,

more of which are available in the Gallery.

Nacho Poncho "Fire".  Amy Brill

Another artist we can't get enough of!

Our latest shipment of Amy Brill's fabulous knitted tops, sweaters and ponchos

has just arrived in the Gallery, and we're working like mad to get them up

in the webshop.  These are so interesting, stylish, wearable, fun,
fit a wide range of body shapes and sizes, and really look good on everyone.

They are also wonderfully priced, so think GIFTS!

One of these would make a beautiful and functional present for a

special someone.

(Oh, dear, and look at the date - almost time for holiday shopping!

Sorry to bring that up, but... YIKES...)

For a fun and colorful visual feast, check out all our available
pieces from Amy right here.

GLASS ART

Regular Tumblers: Topaz, Teal, Lime.  Ken and Ingrid Hanson

What were we just saying about gift giving... oh, YES, that's right.

Time to start thinking.

Well, think no more:  We'll make this easy.

For gifting to your favorite glass lovers or simply as lovely accents

on your own Thanksgiving table, these handblown tumblers

will bring together that festive look we all shoot for at this time of year.

And these colors - the amber, teal and apple green are at the

very heart of an autumn color palette.

They are available in a range of colors, such as lime, salmon, aqua, topaz,

purple, orange, green, cobalt, yellow and ruby.  Please give the Gallery a call if

you don't see the color you need online here; if we're out of stock in particular

colors we can special order for you, but please check early for the holidays.

For more information about these excellent artists
click here to visit their pages in the online shop.

CERAMICS

"Naked" Raku Pot.  Mark Ferris

The Gallery welcomes local ceramic artist Mark Ferris and his
pottery, known for beautiful form and wonderful markings, in this case
created from horsehair.  The artist refers to his technique
as "naked" raku, so-called because the clay is unglazed.

Here are a few of the artist's own words about his craft:

I have been working with clay for about 10 years. My passion is exploring the

earthier, natural look of the pottery tradition. Each unique pot is hand-thrown

in symmetrical forms, generally trending toward the pottery and style of the

American Southwest. My current focus has been exploring the smoke firing

technique called Naked Raku.

Currently, I have been working with smoke or carbon firing. This technique

challenges me to explore the depths of this complex medium. My goal is

to create one of kind pieces that challenges the medium’s depths but also

my creative energy.

You can visit Mark's page in the online shop here.

JEWELRY

Kunzite Necklace.  Virginia Paquette

My, my, my.

Virginia outdoes herself every time, something we have come to expect,

long for and admire, but this stone - Gorgeous!

The large focal stone is an extraordinary piece of pink kunzite.  At first

glance the pink is bashful and elusive, but when the right light catches it a pinky-rainbow

of subtle color presents itself.  Virginia has paired it with a milky, glowing old

African trading bead and bulky chain, and frankly, all we can say is

whether you wear it with an evening gown or a potato sack,
no one will notice the difference.

(Officially, however, we do NOT endorse the wearing
of potato sacks.)

Multi Charm Necklace.  Virginia Paquette

This one has also just arrived - a familiar style of

Virginia's in recent years - and features a number of little treasures,

including pearl, silver, mother of pearl, lodalite and labradorite (drool).

(This looks great with the Carol Lee Shanks metallic swirl

autumn brown ensemble, by the way.)

More of Virginia's incredible jewelry appears here.

Well, that should do it for right now.  We'll be back in November with many more suggestions for holiday gift giving and wearing or, of course, simply wonderful items for you and you alone.

If you'd like to have our Newsletter Alert card mailed directly to your inbox please send a note to us at sr [at] theislandgallery [dot] net, and we'll put you on our mailing list.  This will also assure that you receive first notice of exhibitions, sales and concerts, as well as our other occasional features.  (Don't worry, we only do mailings about twice a month, so we won't stuff your inbox.)

Have a ghastly Halloween, enjoy the lovely cool of autumn, and we'll be back before Thanksgiving!

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.