An industrial park in Monroe is an unlikely location for an art gallery, doubly so for one that specializes in the unusual such as Australian Aboriginal art and antiquities from Asia.
But on Saturday the unlikely becomes reality with the opening of Art Merchant International, a 2,000-square-foot gallery with a Pacific Rim theme – paintings, ceramics, bronzes and kinetic sculptures from the Pacific Northwest and Asian countries such as Japan, Australia and China.
The gallery is located within an 18,000-square-foot building that is home to Research International Inc., a high-tech company that develops, manufactures and markets sensors and sensing systems.
“Our primary focus is counterterrorism instrumentation,” said company owner Elric Saaski.
His business takes him on frequent trips to Asia and once a year he and his wife, Leonie, travel to her native Australia. These trips allow them to indulge their passion for collecting art.
“We both are collectors. We go to a lot of auctions and travel a lot in Asia,” Saaski said.
Their interests include Australian Aboriginal art, long ignored by collectors but now among the hottest fields of collecting.
“It’s quite mainstream in Australia now,” he said. “There was a time when you couldn’t give it away.”
Saaski said he’s fascinated by the patterns in Aboriginal art, which has deep meaning for the artist, but can be enjoyed by others for its design value.
“We are kind of partial to mythological, Chinese mythology,” he continued. Their diverse collection includes old bronzes and Japanese paintings made from individual pieces of paper.
“We have grown an attachment to these art works. They are a way to understand another culture,” he said.
There are about 45 works on view in the gallery, which has been arranged by Richard Lawrence.
The opening reception, which includes refreshments, is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 17161 Beaton Road SE in the Research International building. There are directions to the gallery on the Web site, www.art-merchant-intl.com, 360-794-7844. The gallery will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Studio tour: Skagit County artists are opening their studios to the public this weekend at the second-annual Studio Tour.
The event, sponsored by Skagit Artists Together, will feature 10 studios open for self-guided tours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The public can visit more than 20 Skagit Valley artists who are painters, sculptors, photographers, glass artists and jewelry makers. There is no charge.
To see the studios, take I-5 exit 225 (Kincaid Street) into downtown Mount Vernon and pick up a map at Libation Station, 100 E. Montgomery St. (located in The Grainery building). Maps also are available at www.skagitartiststogether.com.
Art fair: Country Village in Bothell is presenting a festival for artists and craftspeople from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Held on the grounds just across from the Wildfire Glass Studio at Country Village, the festival will feature artists working in clay, wood, steel and glass as they demonstrate their crafts and sell their art.
Country Village is a collection of more than 40 specialty shops and restaurants located just two miles north of Bothell on the Bothell-Everett Highway, or one mile south of Canyon Park; information, 509-389-2930 or 425-483-2250.
Out and about: New paintings by Stanwood artists Jeanine Borree are currently being shown in the Islander Restaurant at Terry’s Corner on Camano Island. The paintings, on view through July 28, show Camano Island views, cabins, beachcombing and other local scenes.
Paintings, photographs and sculpture by Everett artist Jesse James Jeter are on view through Aug. 27 at the Mortgage Advisory Group, 2901 Colby Ave., Everett. The artist paints in acrylics and creates sculpture in a variety of wood including walnut burls, maple, hickory and oak. See his work from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
Pacific Rim art collected by Elric and Leonie Saaski will be on display at Art Merchant International in Monroe (bottom). The art includes (above, from left) “Agony” by Emiko Kato, “Windspirit” by Perry Cunningham and (below) “Morning Hour” by Masayoshi Kasugai.
“Winter Find” by Jeanine Borree, at the Islander.
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