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.

White Center For The Arts Studio Tours Feb. 21, 2009

Last week, I was invited by Kim McCarthy to the launching of White Center For The Arts Building with their first Open Studio Art Tour in White Center (fondly nicknamed Rat City ) on Saturday, Feb. 21.  I came with a friend (after showing houses for sale until it was too dark to see) to tour the studios.  

Kim McCarthy in her studio for the White Center Open Studio Tour

The progression for urban neighborhood renewal is for artists to begin to move into an affordable, usually a bit rundown, neighborhood close in to the city.  The artists’ support the local restaurants, cafes and bars, and a buzz begins to build.  This brings hip/edgy younger people who start hanging out, then buying the affordable housing and fixing them up.  The builders now come building condos helping to further transform the neighborhood, causing prices to move up and pricing out the younger artists who then seek out another affordable neighborhood and the cycle begins again.

Ken Torres in his studio at the White Center For The Arts Open Studio Tour

Close by Georgetown has recently undergone this transformation and the housing in Georgetown  has priced out many first time home buyers.  Currently White Center has 11 homes for sale on the market median price $299,950, and Georgetown has 13 homes for sale at a median price of $350,000.

This time I was going with a friend who wanted to see an Artist customer of hers, Fred Lisaius, (she is the manager of the Daniel Smith Artists’ Materials Store in Bellevue) who was showing at the Linda Hodges Gallery.  It was really cool to meet Fred Lisaius, and see his beautiful paintings in person, of course I checked out his website before hand! We also met up with two others and took our Art Walk around Pioneer Square . 

We started at Occidental Park to visit the Art Booths, and I bought a beautiful necklace from Joy Gonyea-Robertson (Jewelry by Joy ) and I wore it the rest of the evening!  We also stopped by to talk with Kim McCarthy at her booth (who works at Daniel Smith ) and see her work.  The Art Booths have lots of very affordable art pieces…great place for gifts too!

Some of the Galleries we went to were: Grover/Thurston Gallery (Julie Paschkis’ art was beautiful), and both Davidson Galleries.  At the Davidson Contemporary I was looking forward to seeing an artist, Francesca Sundsten , whose paintings I had enjoyed seeing at a Madrona Broker’s Open House in May, but she was not part of the July group show after all.  A wonderful surprise for me was to discover a favorite artist/sculptor of mine at the Greg Kucera Gallery… Deborah Butterfield !  Being in the presence of Deborah’s huge, graceful horses was a wonderful experience.

We also went to see Artist Studios at theTashiro Kaplan Building. Some artists’ there who caught my eye were:  Ariel Brady [ Foo 5 (Japan, 1942) ], Michael Brady, and Kerrie Carbary ( “The Horse” )

It was a fun evening and there was lots of great art out on display.  Seattle has a very vibrant Art Community , and it’s important to support our local artists…how much more wonderful would your home be with some original art?