Where the Art is

  • <br>Enterprise staff
  • Monday, March 3, 2008 11:31am

Art of Our Mothers

Adults and children are invited on the day before Mother’s Day to appreciate and experience art together and to support the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

This year’s Art of Our Mothers exhibit will span the month of May, with a special Family Day from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 13 at the new Nancy Bishop-Harvey Gallery, located at 524 Main Street in Edmonds. Artists from the western U.S. will be selected by a jury of Edmonds’ residents to take part in this one-of-a-kind, mothers-only art show. An invitation-only preview night kicks off the event on Friday, May 12. The art will be available for sale and donations accepted to raise funds for the Edmonds Center for the Arts.

The Art of Our Mothers show spotlights the artist-mother, the woman who is both an artist and a mother and how the creative spirit affects her children and grandchildren. The artists’ children are asked to describe their mothers as artists in 150 words or less. The children often highlight the complexity of their mother’s lives as both artists and mothers and how the families benefited from art being a part of the family.

“Having an artist for a mother is not easy,” one of last year’s artists commented. “The oddball ideas and random spurts of creativity sometimes come across as pure insanity. But art is passion and love, two things that are integral to motherhood. Having a surplus of these feelings may make my mother odd, even weird, but in the end, it makes her a stronger person. And a stronger mother.”

Some children are less philosophical, as was the case with one granddaughter, “Grandma’s art is nice. Grandma’s is beautiful.”

The 2004 and 2005 events welcomed more than 500 guests in two days and both years featured more than 30 artists from the state of Washington. This year’s exhibit, scheduled from May 8 to June 3 at the Nancy Bishop-Harvey Gallery, is expected to garner 1,000 visitors and more than 40 artist-mothers.

This years Art of Our Mothers is sponsored by Edmonds’ John L. Scott Real Estate and by First American Title Company. For more information on the event, contact Debra Conway at dconway@johnlscott.com, or Maria Montalvo at maria@residentcheesemonger.com.

Sculptor’s Workshop

“Where in the world are we?” — a question many have asked in a variety of situations. The potters of Sculptor’s Workshop hope to present some interesting possibilities during the group’s annual sale this weekend and an exhibit at the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation Gallery, both at the Frances Anderson Center in Edmonds.

Each member has chosen to create one or more pieces that represent a certain location in the world, either a specific geographical area, or specific or general ideas and beliefs from different regions. Some of the artists’ work will represent actual art from that area; other work will be interpretive.

Participating members are Tom Stern, Rose Morgan, Linda McCrystal, Lori Cooper, Tina Carpenter, Mike O’Day, Kay Swanson, Faye Gallagher, Barbara Wyatt, Nancy Rummel, Sally Jensen, Michael Tanis, Marian Morris, Sue Tomlinson, Jan Berry, Lauren Peterson, Julie Perrine, and Jan Short.

Meet the artists and view not only the work in the gallery exhibit but also the variety of pieces prepared for their sale. Bells, garden art and decorative pottery are just a few of the hundreds of one of a kind artworks, both functional and decorative, that will be available.

The exhibit, which opened May 8 and runs through June 7, may be viewed at the EAFF’s Gallery in the Frances Anderson Center during business hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The Sculptors’ Workshop Semi-Annual Pottery Sale takes place from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 12 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 13, in the group’s workshop area, also at Frances Anderson Center, located 700 Main Street in Edmonds. For more information call 425-771-0228.

Mount Olympus Estate Art Show

Internationally recognized artist d’Elaine Johnson hosts the 45th Annual Mother’s Day Weekend Art Preview from 1-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 13 and 14 at Mount Olympus Estate in Edmonds.

Johnson and her husband John, longtime Edmonds residents, dedicated Mount Olympus Estate in trust for the benefit of the Edmonds Community College Foundation, to provide special projects for the arts, scholarships and landscaping.

In addition to d’Elaine’s sea themed paintings, visitors can tour the gardens, maintained by John, and catch a glimpse of the panoramic view of Puget Sound.

Musicians from the Edmonds Community College Symphonic Choir will stroll throughout the grounds serenading with madrigals, part-songs and other artistic music. Three generations of the Mix family will demonstrate Tae Kwon Do and Tai Chi.

At 4:30 p.m. on both days d’Elaine will give a presentation about her evolution as an artist.

“My paintings present the submerged history of humankind’s wonderment of the sea,” Johnson has said. “These are our roots, the vast body of water that only our minds can penetrate. My works reflect all those experiences and reactions of human’s total past; the seaman’s essence is his history, our history.”

In addition to painting, Johnson is a lecturer and writer who has traveled the world for her work. She a published illustrator and worked for more than 20 years as an art educator with the Seattle Public Schools. An award-winning artist, Johnson was in 2004 one of 12 artists selected from 60 countries to exhibit as a VSA (Very Special Arts) Fellow Arts Festival Award Winner at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Today Johnson works out of her Edmonds-based Pisces Studio. Johnson’s art is sometimes described as being on the “fringes of the Northwest School,” some reminiscent of Mark Tobey’s “white writing,” suggesting an oriental influence.

During her art career she has exhibited more than 600 times around the globe — from Seattle’s Henry Art Gallery, Frye Art Museum and Seattle Art Museum to exhibitions in New York, Washington, D.C. Paris, France, and the United Arab Emirates. More than half of her exhibits have been one-person, feature exhibits.

Mount Olympus Estate is located at 16122 72nd Ave. W. in Edmonds. For more information call 425-743-2902. For more information about the Edmonds Community College Foundation call 425-640-1274.

Edmonds Art Walk

Spring and art are in the air in Edmonds for the Third Thursday Art Walk, May 18. Begin at the Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Avenue N., and follow the lineup of participating merchants below to see it all.

At the Edmonds Conference Center, optical illusion quilts by Margaret Miller are on exhibit, as are original works by the Write On Calligraphers group, who will also be demonstrating.

Salon Pena hosts artist in action Janis Graves who reveals the magic of her pastels.

Semantics features the newest works by Kelly Rieck.

Sapphire displays Mary Kay Swanson’s felted wool bowls and pillows, and her unique handbags.

At HouseWARES, see Karon Leigh’s art, which celebrates the human spirit as well as natural beauty.

The Resident Cheesemonger invites guests to get lost in Kim Caldwell’s lush landscapes while enjoying artisan cheeses.

Kindred Circle Art Gallery highlights Joanne Shellan’s impressionist watercolors, showcasing spring flowers and wine themes.

Coldwell Banker Bain hosts Jessica Hawk, who has utilized her creativity in photography to capture moments that entice the palette.

Gallagher’s features the art of Mike Capp who, inspired by his 6-year-old son’s imaginative drawings, captures a child’s-eye view of the world.

Yenny Broadie’s wine-themed paintings tackle the subject with color and texture at Arista Wine Cellars.

C’est la Vie welcomes Amy Pleasant’s acrylic paintings, which feature vibrant flowers that invite spring into your home.

John L. Scott hosts Ellen Miffett’s deceptively simple sumi paintings that capture cats and objects with an exquisite hand.

Edmonds Bookshop spotlights original watercolors that became illustrations for the children’s book, “Lying Awake,” by Christine McCroskey, and show the process of paintings to illustration.

Gallery North shows its May exhibit, “Favorite Places,” an exhibition of the work of Tuscany-born artist Pier Giorgio Fiorentini.

Bishop Harvey Gallery is the setting for the third annual Art of Our Mothers exhibit, celebrating the artist as mother. Jemalery! beaded jewelry by Adrienne Gibson is also on display. Live music by Ruth Pirie and Mark Tierney will be featured.

At the Edmonds Library, enjoy Karen Ulvestad’s visual treat of bird photography. At the Frances Anderson Center, the Sculptor’s Workshop presents an exhibition of their latest works.

Be among the first to see Denise Cole’s painting chosen for the Edmonds Arts Festival poster for 2006, on display at Aria Studio Gallery. Joan Archer’s new, splashy abstract florals join the display.

ZuKafe hosts John Rajcich’s photography, the results of his ongoing urban visual quest. Artistic container plantings by Linda Summers will adorn the courtyard.

At Nama’s Candy Store, fudge artist Kristine Wraspir of Fat Cat Fudge will entice guests with her delectable confections.

As a finale, finish up the art walk with a glass of wine while enjoying Patty Forte Linna’s pastels at Olives Café &Wine Bar.

The Art Walk takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 18. Maps and artist information are available at www.EdmondsWA.com. Artists interested in particpating can contact Kindred Circle Art Gallery at 425-776-3778.

Artist Opening &Reception

A special opening and reception for Northwest artist Matthew Whitney will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 19 at the home of Edmonds resident Marni Muir.

Whitney’s recent work can be described as visual meditations that explore Judeo-Christian themes. The Seattle-based artist seeks to interpret the mystical, spiritual elements of reality, striving to challenge his own faith through his work. Likewise he also seeks to challenge the viewer, hopefully coming to a better understanding of his or her own belief systems.

The event will also feature special music by Austin James, additional works by other well known Northwest artists and wine tasting with Adu Jahmal, founder of wearwine.com.

Muir, a lifelong resident of Edmonds, has been actively involved in the local arts community and has run a successful interior design company for more than 20 years.

The exhibition continues through June 19 and can also be seen by appointment. The residence is located at 7700 175th Street SW in Edmonds. For more information call 425-750-2661.

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