Archive / art

Sherry Markovitz at Greg Kucera Gallery in Seattle

Polar Bear head by Sherry Markovitz at Greg Kucera Gallery

Polar Bear by Sherry Markovitz at Greg Kucera Gallery

I recently had some time in Seattle and was thrilled to visit the Greg Kucera Gallery while I was there. Time to Take a Walk by Sherry Markowitz has just opened and is perfect for an early summer show.

The show is split with a number of large gouache on cotton paintings featuring dogs and three dimensional beaded animal heads. The loose painting style is complemented by the unstretched and unframed cotton, which gives each work a light and airy feeling. The beaded animal heads anchor the show with a feeling of heaviness compared to the breezy paintings.

Welded steel balloon by Edward Wicklander

Edward Wicklander at Greg Kucera Gallery

Don’t miss some gems also currently on display in the back and upstairs. There is a fabulous pair of Edward Wicklander welded steel balloons upstairs, positioned to look like they’ve just floated up from the first floor.

There’s also a great Margie Livingston entitled Crumpled Silver Painting on Shelf in the back room. I love paint as a sculptural material. This one reminds me of the Nancy Lorenz pieces at PDX Contemporary this past month. Livingston has the next show at Greg Kucera Gallery which runs July 7 through August 20. The Seattle Art Fair will be running August 4 through 7 and would be a great weekend to visit.

Greg Kucera Gallery is located at 212 Third Avenue in Seattle Washington and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:30 to 5:30.

Ellen Goldschmidt at Blackfish Gallery

Bad Seed, 2016, charcoal and ink pastel on paper

Surrounded by Feeling is the current show by Ellen Goldschmidt at Blackfish Gallery. At first glance I wasn’t too interested in a show of portraits but as I moved through the space to the back of the gallery I was drawn in more and more.

I’m not always a fan of artist statements because they can be overworked to the point of making the art stand in the background. Goldschmidt’s statement, however, completely made this show for me.

While working on “privileging emotion” in a series of portraits she was working on Goldschmidt was reminded of the 2015 show Gods and Heroes at the Portland Art Museum. It featured a section of works from the Expressive Head Competition from the Paris Academy in the 18th century, works that are attempting to depict emotion rather than Goldschmidt’s attempts to inhabit emotion.

I love connections like this. I would never had viewed this show and thought back to the Gods and Heroes exhibit but once she mentioned it my brain was ready to make all sorts of new comparisons and connections. What a difference 250 years can make.

Toward the bottom of her statement, almost as an afterthought, Goldschmidt mentions that many of the drawings are “concerned with my relationship to my older sister and the sibling rivalry that consumed our childhood”. Well then. There’s a story there, but we don’t know it, and now the drawings have a heightened tension as titles like Bad Seed and Sister’s Arm take on a whole new meaning.

Surrounded by Feeling stayed stuck in my head for days and writing about it now I already have Bad Seed back in mind and those questions and connections that make life interesting.

Blackfish Gallery is located at 420 NW 9th Ave in Portland, Oregon and is open from 11-5 Tuesday through Saturday. Surrounded by Feeling by Ellen Goldschmidt runs from May 3-28.

Ellen George at PDX Contemporary Art

Untitled (Elemental 14) by Ellen George

Ellen George has a subtle and wonderful show at PDX Contemporary Art during the month of May. The gallery is full of wall pieces that bear a close inspection. Each work consists of a single vertical rod with translucent bits of what turns out to be polymer clay running the length.

Each piece is made of tiny individual bits so that you can spend a good bit of time just focusing on the nuances of one individual work. The polymer is worked in such a way to leave parts translucent, which creates a fabulous glowing effect when paired with the chunkier, more solid bits toward the center.

After working for artists for years who focused on small elements making up a much larger work of art it would be impossible for me to not love these. The works are very evocative of natural forms but even without that they are simply visually stunning which doesn’t always get enough credit in the art world.

My only complaint is that the gallery has so many pieces displayed it’s impossible to get to spend time with each work to enjoy all the nuance. Give yourself time to really enjoy the show when you visit.

Don’t miss the 3 pieces in the window off the main gallery from Nancy Lorenz. She has three small canvases worked with burlap, gesso, and gold or silver leaf which really caught my eye. The pours made me think of a Lynda Benglis, with that fabulous fat and flowing movement.

Check out the show until May 28th.

Visit PDX Contemporary Art Tuesday through Saturday, from 11-6. They are located at 925 NW Flanders Street in Portland, Oregon.

Now I Am Myself Inaugural Show at Wolff Gallery

There’s a new gallery in town with a sweet grand opening show. Now I Am Myself opened at Wolff Gallery on April 7th and features the work of Audra Osborne, Briana Cerezo, Calethia DeConto, Jamila Clarke, and Lauren Crow.

The show as a whole is strong and it’s a treat to see an entire show dedicated to diverse female photographers. How great is it to have a gallery state on their website that their “goal is to broaden the Portland art scene by prioritizing the exhibition of work by traditionally underrepresented artists”? Photos varied in price but there were a number of small works at very reasonable prices for people who want to support artists but can’t drop hundreds on a photo yet.

Lauren Crow’s photos are reminiscent of Nan Goldin’s early works with a hint of Catherine Opie. The lighting used in the small selection of grouped photos has stuck in my head and though not directly related, I keep coming back to the colors of The Gossip’s Standing in the Way of Control (CD version with hotpink case). I dig all those things so I dug these photos too.

Jamila Clark’s photos were a stand out to me. The scenarios are quite composed but manage to stay simple. Something To Cling To and The Shovel kept drawing me back to look at them. Audra Osborne’s Nope had the same effect. Maybe it’s the use of a bright dress in a more muted background? Women presenting themselves with their faces deliberately obscured? A dramatic moment captured with no explanation?

Briana Cerezo has a fabulous series called p l a y i n g h o u s e on her website that is worth checking out in its entirety. Very Robert Gober but flesh instead of wax. They are obviously highly composed but seem effortless in execution, similar to Calethia DeConto‘s photographs in the back room.

In fact, the show for the most part is a breeze. With few exceptions the photos manage to be complex without being overworked in the setup. Here’s a moment. Here’s a moment. I don’t need to marvel at the expense and womanpower it took to set up the scene and lighting and can instead marvel at that moment captured and wonder at the story.

I eagerly await their follow up in early June.

Wolff Gallery is located at 618 NW Glisan Street. Hours are Saturday and Sunday, 1-5 pm with additional hours on first Thursdays from 6-10 pm. Now I Am Myself runs through May 13.

20 Days of Handmade: Meghan Shimek

Today I wrap up my 20 Days of Handmade series! Thank to everyone for following along. I hope you’ve found some new favorite artisans to support.

My final post features Meghan Shimek, a textile artist based out of San Francisco, California. In addition to selling her own weaving, she has also started selling small looms and beginner kits. You can find out about classes she offers in the bay area through her website, and see what work she has available there and in stores. Weaving is another craft I have very little experience with and have always wanted to try out. Meghan’s a great person, so if you have a chance to take a class with her, I highly recommend it.

My blog will be quiet for the next couple of weeks as I take a break from the holiday order rush and enjoy some time reading with my cat George. Happy Holidays y’all! And thanks for supporting handmade this year.

20 Days of Handmade: Mandy Allen Metal Arts

There are only a couple of posts left for 20 Days of Handmade! Today’s pick is another artist I met at the Grout Elementary holiday fair this year, Mandy Allen Metal Arts. She uses silver and anodized aluminum to create lovely and light jewelry and wall art. I love her gingko leaf inspired pieces such as this necklace. I’ve long been a fan of anodized aluminum and really enjoy her color combinations and metal cuts. Each piece has a lot of movement and never looks heavy.

Mandy Allen Metal Arts can also be found tomorrow at the Handmade Northwest Formal show!

20 Days of Handmade: House of Six Cats

I was lucky to be next to some great people at my local craft shows this year, including today’s pick for 20 Days of Handmade. House of Six Cats uses original photography to create unique coasters, night lights, and more. I am partial to this set of 4 library book themed coasters but he has lots of Pacific Northwest and Portland specific items to choose from as well, such as this set depicting Multnomah Falls.

Got a special idea for a custom order? Send him an email and he’ll be happy to work with you. See House of Six Cats in person at the Handmade Northwest Formal show on December 20!

20 Days of Handmade: Aleebird

If the winter gets you down, might I recommend some Aleebird prints to brighten up your days? Maybe some blue delphiniums or a wee goldfinch print? Alee’s watercolor and line work is delightful and she manages to really capture the essence of them without making the drawing look labored.

You can also order copies of her book The Exuberant Garden and have a whole coffee table book full of beautiful work.

20 Days of Handmade: Crazy Green Studios

One of the nicest people I met while in Asheville, North Carolina, was Lori Theriault of Crazy Green Studios. As I was preparing to leave town, she and a group were working to open The Village Potters which is now located at 191 Lyman Street, #180, in Riverview Station in Asheville’s river arts district.

The Village Potters is both a gallery and a teaching center, so you can sign up to finally learn how to throw on the wheel. It’s the best place to see Lori’s work in person these days and they also have an online shop if you want to buy one of Lori’s great mugs but don’t happen to be in western North Carolina.

You can also follow Lori’s blog Homemade Tastes Better on Handmade to see her plates and bowls in action.

20 Days of Handmade: Jessica Scofield Jewelry

I discovered Jessica Scofield Jewelry at a craft show I did last December and fell in love with her work. My undergrad concentration is in metalsmithing and I have a huge appreciation for the time and skill that goes into making fine jewelry.

I own these spark earrings and wear them constantly. They are etched by hand and are absolutely fabulous. I’ve been writing a lot about detail in my 20 Days of Handmade posts and I can’t emphasize that enough. It’s that wonderful attention to the small elements that makes a piece, be it earrings, carved wood, or a large sculpture, work.

Take for example this enameled triple octagon necklace. It is hand etched sterling silver that is then enameled and assembled. One of my favorite things about Jessica Scofield Jewelry is that her work just seems to glow. If you think her work is too expensive, please think about the time that has gone into a piece like this. She isn’t buying finished components and then putting them together. She’s spending hours doing intensely small work and the finished prodcut is worth every penny.