Hot Off the Presses: Two First Fridays, October 7th & November 4th

Yes, we know, we're a little less than "Hot" off the presses on the October First Friday review, but to make up for it, we can't get much "hotter" than the review for November, so we're combining the two.  Please read on for a look at what were two special, lovely evenings at the Gallery.

OCTOBER 7th

May as well start with some Seriously Important Stuff:

Chocolate cupcakes...

Excuse us: could we see those just a tiny bit closer....

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES!!

Ah, yes.  Much better.  A sip of wine, a chocolate cupcake...or two...
Sigh...
These little darlings, actually mini, frosted chocolate cupcakes, were
provided by our wonderful neighbors at Bainbridge Crepes,
and they didn't last long.

And speaking of wine, we served bubbly champagne for the
evening (the only time all year) to celebrate Virginia Paquette's show
opening, and in honor of Bill Smith's 90th birthday!
A little more on that later.

Now on to the Really Good Stuff:

A customer views Virginia's new work.

Virginia Paquette of Seattle, Washington, is this month's featured artist.

For a residency at the Conservatorio di Musica in Bologna this year,

Virginia painted these mixed-media works as part of a collaboration

with her husband, Bill Smith.  They are her visual responses to his works of music,

influenced by their years together in Italy.  She responds to Smith’s music

with color, line, rhythm, gesture, and collage of found images,

salvaged from the streets of Italy.

Virginia chats with her fans.

An MFA graduate in painting from the University of Washington,
Virginia has worked and exhibited internationally.  Her art
responds to motion and memory, and is inspired by natural forms and
phenomena.  Winner of numerous public art commissions, Virginia
has collaborated with Bill Smith on site performance installations here
in the Pacific Northwest and Seattle area, as well as around the world,
including “Deluge,” created for Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston,
Australia, “Saffeides” at Teatro Greco in Rome, and with
ARTKOAMIA performance consortium.
 
All of her beautiful abstract framed watercolor/collage paintings can be seen
on her artist's page in the online Shop; simply click here...

Virginia, surrounded by the crowd.

Admiring the beautiful presentation.

Our musicians, preparing for the evening.

Terrific Bainbridge Island jazz pianist, Anne Pell (in blue blouse), converses

with her Jazz Trio's bass player, Brian Chambers, and the evening's guest artist,
renowned clarinetist Bill Smith (in black suit with his back to the camera).

Bill's long and storied career includes a lifetime of friendship with Dave Brubeck,

playing with Mr. Brubeck's Octet from its formation in the 1940s, then off and
on with the Quartet, and many recordings and concerts
both with Brubeck and solo over the years.
Bill has also been a music professor at the University of Washington
in Seattle for thirty years, now professor emeritus.

In September of this year he celebrated his 90th birthday.

The collaboration between these two musicians had its beginnings at the
Gallery last year after Bill heard Anne and her Jazz Trio play.

At that time he was complimentary of her music, and the two eventually decided

to play together for Virginia's upcoming show.
Returning the favor, Anne says that during her music career she has had
two opportunities to play with musicians of such stature and talent,

and this was one of them.

Anne and her bassist opened the show at 6pm, performing a wonderful 
one-hour set before our own Jack Nunn introduced Bill to the packed room,
and a nice big crowd representing all ages.  Bill then proceeded

to enchant the crowd with his 30-minute set with Anne, which included

What Is This Thing Called Love, Bologna Blues, Body and Soul, and In a Sentimental Mood.

At one point the audience even sang Happy Birthday to him!

The music, along with the realization that they were in the company

of true musical greatness, evoked very emotional reactions in the audience.

For example, there was at least one person present who reported

that he had taken a course in Jazz History from Bill at the University of
Washington many years ago!  Bill told us that this is not a terribly unusual
occurrence, as many students from his 30-year teaching stint come by
to talk with him at his performances.

His course was considered very innovative at the time and of course there

is a wonderful story behind it:  Bill had an agreement with the UW when

he was hired that he would only teach small classes; but when the course

finally began, it had become a lecture class to hundreds that was so

popular, he ended up teaching it for 20 years!

(For more information on Bill Smith's extraordinary career,
please click here to see his full-length bio, toward the end of the post.)

Virginia Paquette and Bill Smith

Thanks to everyone - most particularly to these two wonderful artists,
and friends of the Gallery - for a truly memorable evening.

NOVEMBER 4th

Here's a look at part of the set-up for the show before the crowds arrived.

The Back Room - a partial look

Furniture by Reid Eric Anderson, situated along the north wall,
with several of Jacki Moseley's framed fiber pieces
above and a clock by Carol Fiedler Kawaguchi
on the far left of the photo.

All three artists were present at the show, as well as Ali Rose,
who did the detailing on Reid's beautiful blue plaid furniture.

Ridge and Furrow Quilt.  Tom Johnson

Named after the medieval ridge-and-furrow farming system of England
used for centuries (and currently in smaller versions in our own
Northwest gardens), Tom's beautiful quilt was quite a standout!

A  gorgeous grouping of Steve Trick's display tables,

acting as temporary homes for a selection of wood fired ceramics

from Robin Hominiuk. 

See closer looks at Robin's very special work by clicking here.

Steve's tables will be posted in the online shop shortly,
and in the meantime, he and his wife Joanne were able to be
at the show opening.

On the Grid.  Jacqueline Moseley

Fiber artist Jacki Moseley poses in front of several of her fiber pieces with

special guest Lila Schmidt, who flew in from California especially to attend the opening.

We will be adding Jacki's marvelous, intriguing fiber sculptures to the online shop
very soon, so keep posted for a great display of her work.

Also attending the opening was our furniture artist Carl Yurdin
and his friend Jane Drucker (neither are pictured).

A happy crowd.

Now, let's see:  what is the name of this show again?

Oh yes:

So about that "Holiday" thing:

Gorgeous fiber wreaths for a festive front door!

Ornaments.  Ted Jolda

A wonderfully cheerful hand-blown glass apple...

...and a grand, glowing fig!

And oh, there's so much more!

That's it for our October and November show openings; on to December,
with details to be posted soon.  See the front page of our main site
for advance exhibition warnings.
And stand by for our upcoming, and dare we say FABULOUS,

Holiday Gallery Picks!

The December Holiday Gallery Picks will premiere right here around
Thanksgiving, and we are very excited to share it with you!

Look for our alerts in your inbox.

If you aren't one of our subscribers yet, not to worry -

send us a note with your email address and we'll sign you right up,

in time for our annual look at the finest in fine art

for your gift and decorating requirements.

To subscribe to our Newsletter/Gallery Picks Alert and receive notices of all our sales, shows and events, click on the About Us/Profile box on the left of this page, go to "Contact", click on "Email", and send us a note containing your preferred receiving address.  We'll sign you up right away.

BOOOOO! Halloween 2016, Island-Style

It never fails:  Trick-or-Treat was touch-and-go, weather-wise.  We always worry about those tiny revelers getting too damp.  But the clouds parted and the rain stopped just in time for the Halloween Hoopla here on Bainbridge Island. And oooooh... the monsters - big and small - turned out to scour Downtown Winslow for Treats to Devour.

At the Witching Hour (4 pm), the Gallery and Bainbridge Crepes teamed up at tables set up on the Plaza with big baskets of candy for all the kids and families, ready to satisfy any critter's sweet tooth.  And as always, the hordes showed up in force.  We are delighted to share some photos from this annual event.  The images are grouped for your enjoyment - the usual suspects (skeletons and pirates), lovely princesses, literary and media characters, scary yet cute animals, family fun, and some clever takes on the weather and IRS.  And a few Adorables that stood out in the crowd.

Never fear, wade right in, take a good long look, and enjoy the ghouls, ghosts and goodies!

The Weather Improves.  Main Street Closes to Cars.

 Crosswalk Helpers are Ready - Set - GO!

LET THE TRICK-OR-TREATING BEGIN!

Arriving on the Plaza.

The Usual Suspects:

 Lovely Princesses:

Literary and Media Creatures:

 

Animals, Scary and Cute (and a Courageous Lion)

The Crowds Keep Growing; the Candy Keeps Flowing:

So Clever!  A Tornado (below, center), A Rain cloud (right), and an IRS Audit Team (left)

(T-Shirt Reads:  "I Accept Payment In Candy"):

Good Ol' Scary Family Fun:

And a BIG Dose of Adorable (Irresistible):

Candy Corn and a Perfect Pumpkin!

It's getting dark... time for all Good Monsters to go home

and count their candy:

  

And soon... Shop lights begin to flicker on...traffic helpers pack up...

there's only one thing left to do on this spooky day:

Find our way home to sit by a warm fire

and look forward to next year...

mwahahahahahahah!

Happy Halloween!

You're Invited: First Friday Artwalk, November 4th, 2016

We've made it through Halloween (we think; see next post) and the holidays are, amazingly, right around the corner.  But don't stress out about buying all those gifts, and decorating your home:  We can help!  So come visit on First Friday, sip a glass of wine, and see all the lovely things we have ready for you in this show.  For example:

November 4-30, 2016

Furniture Designers:

Carol Fiedler Kawaguchi, Carl Yurdin, David Kellum

Wendy Dunder and Reid Anderson

Fiber Artists:

Tom Johnson and Jacqueline Moseley

Glass Artists:

Ted Jolda and Ken & Ingrid Hanson

Ceramic Artist:

Robin Hominiuk

Reception with the Artists

First Friday, November 4th, 6-8 pm

MAKE IT SPECIAL!

As we all prepare to celebrate the Holiday Season,

discover one-of-a-kind gifts from local and nationally-recognized artists

and furnish your Holiday Home with contemporary furniture pieces

like sumptuous slab dining and coffee tables, benches to snuggle on by the fire,

colorful glassware to serve your guests locally-made wine and spirits,

vases for decorative flower arrangements and ornaments for centerpieces or

the tree, ceramics for the table (imagine cheery mugs for sipping spicy hot cider),

cozy fiber sculpture, even festive felt and burlap wreaths

for decking the Holiday door!

Images, above, Left to Right:

“Sweet 16”, Jacki Moseley; Dave Olsen Blanket Chest #2, Reid Anderson; Footed Plate, Robin Hominiuk;

Illuminated Sculpture Wapiti, L. Wendy Dunder; Cane Vase, Blue, Ken & Ingrid Hanson;

Coffee Table, Carol Fiedler Kawaguchi.

About the Artists

Furniture Designers:

Carol Fiedler Kawaguchi (Bainbridge Island, Washington)

Carol combines her talents as a fine artist with her skills as a fine woodworker specializing in antique restoration and repair, unique fine wood furnishings and fine art assemblages. Carol attended Seattle’s Cornish Art Institute and received a BFA from Western Washington University with a focus on Japanese Art History and Printmaking. She apprenticed to a violinmaker and a ceramicist while living in New Mexico where she opened her first woodworking and interior furnishings business. She has traveled extensively in Europe and Asia.

Carol has worked as an artist and woodworker for the past 25 years and now makes her home in Washington, on Bainbridge Island.

Carl Yurdin (Bainbridge Island, Washington)

“As an industrial designer for over fifty years, I have spent my whole career designing products that expand the visual possibilities.  Over those years, I have remained committed to high design standards, balancing functionality, user requirements, regulatory needs and overall aesthetics – for both highly consumer focused products, as well as more industrial products, like medical and construction equipment.  In my view, everything deserves the opportunity to be well designed to enhance the overall user experience.  That perspective informs how I work today, having moved to the Northwest and Bainbridge Island.”

David Kellum (Port Townsend, Washington)

Living and working in Port Townsend, Washington, David designs and builds residential and commercial wood furniture that allow him to join together his creative and technical abilities.  David creates graceful, contemporary pieces that highlight the natural beauty of the wood and make the most of a valuable natural resource, providing lasting beauty and utility with outstanding craftsmanship.

“I come from a family of artists and craftsmen reaching back many generations, but my training in woodworking comes as a result of interning and working with other craftsmen and along with a number of architectural designers and builders…My designs and furniture reflect my passion for fine form, simplicity and … shows the influences of Twentieth Century design styles including Art nouveau, Deco, Scandinavian, and Asian.”

L. Wendy Dunder  (Portland, Oregon)

Wendy is a professional watercolor and acrylic painter, known for depicting landscapes, still life, animals, and people. Recently, however, her focus has shifted to creating sculptural lamps of bent wood and laminated paper.  As a certified teacher and Artist in Residence in schools in her area she is also deeply involved in creating curriculum-based murals.  A hallmark of her work is the involvement of her students in the process, and together they have created permanent outdoor municipal murals of concrete, stone, tile, glass, and paint.

Reid Anderson (Seattle, Washington)  

Originally from Wisconsin, Reid mixes classical wood furniture with modern design and interpretations.  These pieces are part of a collaborative series with other well known artists across the county, ranging from professors, independent artists, and film designers.  Other works can be seen in the permanent collection at the Museum of Wisconsin Art.  

"Every piece is built to last a hundred years and beyond.  Furniture should be something for your grandchildren to grow old with.  It needs to be a mix of good design along with integrity in its construction."

Fiber Artists:

Tom Johnson (Bainbridge Island, Washington)

This body of my work - which is created by taking multiple layers of fabric, manipulating, sewing, cutting, and washing them to make the fibers “bloom” - had a serendipitous beginning. I had fabric remnants from a variety of architectural and interior design projects. I started experimenting with layering, sewing them in lines at close intervals, cutting and washing, in an effort to create a soft, tactile, dog-friendly throw for our sofa… I quickly saw lots of possibilities, determined which fabrics worked best and how this newly created “Ridge and Furrow Chenille” could be used. Benches and ottomans soon followed. “Ridge and Furrow” designs for the wall, as well as a “quilt,” developed simultaneously… I am influenced by the tradition of quilt making as well as by modern and minimalist quilts (and on some level by the randomness of Jackson Pollock)…by the surprises… the interplay of color, interpreting what I see around me … expressing a message … and the endless possibilities.

Jacqueline Moseley (Bainbridge Island, Washington)

Jacki began felting in 2012 after being attracted to the texture and dimension of felt for many years – fascinated by its properties, how to make it, and how to make things with it. She has most enjoyed making bowls, vessels and wall hangings.  She also worked with beads, sewing them onto her creations, which are made with merino wool.  She uses both wet and needle felting processes, where the wool fibers become intertwined to create a design and/or a form.

“Though I have learned how to manipulate the wool fibers, felting still seems a bit miraculous to me because something wonderful, fun or unexpected happens every time I make something new. My hope is that my pieces will provide enjoyment, color and interest to a space and others will appreciate them as much as I enjoy making them.”

Glass Artists:

Ted Jolda (Parksville, B.C.)

Working in wood, metal, fabric, and glass, Ted Jolda has been a creative force all his life. He is one of Canada's best known glass artists and has been called the nation's pre-eminent ornament maker. Working primarily in glass since 1985, he attended classes at Simon Fraser University, Western Washington University, and Sheridan College School of Craft and Design. He resides with his family on an island off the west coast of Canada.  His work is in the collections of the royal houses of England and the Netherlands, the Canadian Craft Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass, and has been exhibited internationally in numerous group shows.  His work has been presented to presidents, prime ministers and heads of state around the world; he counts U.S. President Bill Clinton and Oprah Winfrey as fans.

Ted comments on a recent brush with retail nirvana: "I had an agent, who for a couple of years took my stuff to the big Gift Trade Shows out east. In New York some of Oprah's personal shoppers saw my ornaments [Golden Pears] and liked them. Bought some and took them to show Oprah. She liked them and put them in her magazine. I knew nothing of this until about a week before the magazine came out. It was great. It was amazing. It was an incredible year. I made little else for the next year. My income (for that one year only) more than doubled… The next year I was no longer the 'new thing' and sales went back to their old - well actually slightly worse than their old levels. I had lost some clients that I couldn't supply with other work while I was making pears. I'm not complaining. Variety is good. But it was amazing while it lasted."

Ken and Ingrid Hanson (San Carlos, California)

Ken and Ingrid have worked together since their early college years. Although traditional Italian and Swedish glass-blowing techniques inspire them, they employ a bold and innovative color palette to create their unique and contemporary art glass. Paying great attention to the detail of the surface decoration on their vessels, they create brightly colored stripes and symbols of cane and murrini by hand forming and melting glass into various shapes. During the glass-blowing process they fuse these inclusions onto the surface of the glass. They often include 24K gold and pure silver leaf in many of their pieces.

"We constantly strive to evolve our ideas to create unique and exciting works of art in glass. It is the intensity and unpredictability of hot glass that inspires constant change in our work. Through collaboration, we are able share our visions and skills to create one-of-a-kind works of art."

Ceramics Artist:

Robin Hominiuk (Seattle, Washington)

Robin was born in Canada and moved to the United States in 1998.  She received her clay education via community education courses and several terms at Mt. Hood Community College.  She regularly attends workshops to keep a fresh perspective and learn new techniques.  In 2004 she built her home studio and has never looked back.

In addition to the beautiful functional pots she produces from her studio kiln, she also creates pottery and sculpture for wood firing.  These pots are fired in huge kilns based on ancient Japanese traditions.  The pots are fired for 70 plus hours with a committed group of potters and six to eight cords of wood.  Pottery fired in this intense method is transformed by flame and ash; the colors and marks cannot be replicated or produced in any other way.  Robin’s work has been featured in numerous national and international collections.

About The Island Gallery

Established in 2002, The Island Gallery features internationally recognized artists whose work takes traditional art forms in exciting new directions: studio  furniture and sculpture; museum quality textile art and wearables; wood fired ceramics from the finest potters in America; paintings and prints; and unique jewelry creations. Our monthly exhibitions include live musical concerts, featuring such genres as jazz, rock, folk, chamber music and performance art.  This, along with its reputation for excellence, makes The Island Gallery a destination spot on beautiful Bainbridge Island, a short ferry ride from Seattle.

Contact Us/Visit:

Web site:  www.theislandgallery.net

Shop: www.theislandgallery.net/shop

Blog:  www.theislandgallery-artblog.blogspot.com

Event Location: 

The Island Gallery, 400 Winslow Way E, #120, Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Underground parking is available at The Winslow off Ericksen Avenue.