First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square – March 2009

Artforte Gallery in Pioneer Square

It’s a new month and here it is again, First Thursday Art Walk in Pioneer Square and it was a fine evening to be out enjoying the Art in the Galleries with a couple of friends.  I met a friend at her office and we to Pioneer Square and met up with another friend in one of the Galleries. 

So, every month I allow myself to pick which artists’ whose work catches my eye and appeals to my “would I want to see that artwork in my home” criteria and this month I found my favorite Artists for the evening in this order at Artforte, Linda Hodges and Marni Muir Galleries. 

Flora S. Bowley beside her paintings at Artforte Gallery in Seattle's Pioneer Square

My favorite artist for the evening was Flora S. Bowley at Artfort Gallery.  I noticed her paintings last spring and was happy to see more of her gorgeous surreal/abstract landscapes.  These color drenched, organic natural abstracted shapes are beguiling….  Yes, I think Flora’s paintings are candy yummy and would love to see them in my home or yours! 

Linda Hodges Gallery was showing mixed media collage and oil paintings by Patrick LoCiero .  These paintings quietly draw you in as you begin to notice the details of the background collage (which almost begin to tell a story) and realize the paintings are not a flat as they first appear.  The paintings have almost quilted, rich burnished surface from the collage and set against that surface are the painted (and collaged) floral subjects.  At first glance the paintings are quiet, then as you look deeper, you are drawn into seeing stories in the images of the collage backgrounds. 

Marni Muir Gallery was showing the dreamlike, surreal  paintings of Scott Goodwillie .  Technically amazing paintings in oil with dream-like  images (and dreams often have disturbing imagery) that first catch your eye, then as you settle your gaze on the subject you realize *oh* and wonder at what you are seeing, you are perhaps a little unsettled at that point.  The painting that appealed to me in the show was a large painting of a life-sized woman surrounded by writhing ferrets that reminded me of a few favorite Frieda Kahlo self portrait paintings.

It was an engaging evening of Art!

***

Update:  Flora S. Bowley emailed me April 3rd, to let me know that she has been asked to make, “5 or more really large paintings to go in the lobby and restaurant of the new Escala condo building up in Seattle.”
Congratulations Flora!  I will check them out.