Dean Rocky Barrick has a fondness for barns.
Though in his artwork, the barn has played mostly a secondary role up to this point, with the leading characters either a smirking white pig or a beloved Studebaker.
In the future, however, the Arlington artist intends to change the lineup, painting many worthy barns as center attractions before these icons of our farming history dissolve into moss.
That’s Barrick’s plan: to paint more barns. And he’ll get a good start on familiarizing himself with the inside of one this weekend as one of the featured artists during Arlington’s Art in the Barn festival.
This is Barrick’s first year at Art in the Barn. Barrick, who has a degree in zoology from the University of Washington, has had work featured in “National Wildlife Magazine,” “Ranger Rick” and “Science.” He’s also illustrated books for The Wildlife Management Institute, The Wildlife Society and Harvard University Press.
“I have a fondness for barns, as many people do, and I’ll eventually paint a number of them that are in the area before they disappear,” Barrick said. “So I thought it would be fun to give the show a try.”
Being in a barn also comes in handy because you can have an art festival whether it’s raining or not.
This is the third year in a row for Art in the Barn. Monica Yantis owns the working barn where the hay is temporarily displaced for the show. She said Art in the Barn was born when the relatively newly formed Arlington Arts Council was looking for a way to get the artists more exposure in Arlington. She had the barn so she decided to open it to artists and the public.
Yantis is secretary of the council and a painter; she will be exhibiting her work, including some new pieces.
“I’m one of those grandmas who are blossoming late in life,” Yantis joked.
Since the show began, the event is growing by the year, in the number of artists – up to 24 this year from 15 last year – and in the number of patrons.
“We had a tremendous public showing last year and they are from everywhere and we had a steady stream of people Saturday and Sunday,” Yantis said. “It was great for all the artists. Everybody sold something.
“It’s becoming known. Anytime you repeat something it becomes more successful,” she said. “I think it’s building and that is a neat thing for Arlington.”
This year Yantis also hired an excavator to dig up some trees for additional parking. The area isn’t real smooth, Yantis said, but it is more parking and it is free. There will also be a sani-can on site.
“It’s informal. Nobody has to be pretentious,” Yantis said. “It’s a farm, for crying out loud.”
Arts writer Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424 or goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
