Clarke and Clarke Art and Artifacts, the Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) gallery and Suzanne Zahr’s SZ Gallery again participated in Mercer Island’s First Friday art and wine walk on Oct. 5.
Clarke and Clarke had two shows: a selection of its September-October artists’ compositions by Chris Baumgartner and a new exhibit, “Impulsive Stillness” by Karen Dedrickson. Both will run through Oct. 31.
Dedrickson is known for her adventurous art techniques using the principle of Sumi-e. Inspired by her fascination with nature, photography and landscape painting, she has adapted an ancient Chinese and Japanese art form into modern abstractions on paper.
On Friday, Oct. 12, and Saturday, Oct. 13, a video viewing of Dedrickson creating her artwork will be held at Bubbly & BonBons from 2 p.m.-5 p.m.
MIVAL gallery’s First Friday opening reception was themed “Our Precious Trees.” The collection of paintings showing off one of nature’s greatest resources will be on display through Oct. 28.
The SZ Gallery featured Lucia Neagu’s “Self-Realized.” Neagu is an Islander and a prolific artist who continues to expand her artistic world and discovers more about herself through a spontaneous expression of flowing brush stroke.
Also during First Friday, Rêve Development, LLC, a Mercer Island real estate development company, responded to the city of Mercer Island’s Request for Qualifications for the mixed-use project at the Tully’s site.
The three principals of Rêve Development — Zahr, Michael Ross and Robert Spitzer — are all residents of Mercer Island. They sponsored an open house on Oct. 5 to share their vision for the site and to welcome the members of their community for a thoughtful exchange of ideas.
Rêve’s proposal includes the required commuter parking, for-sale housing, enhancements to the Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Gallery, integrated public plazas, and the pedestrian and bicycle connection between the new light rail station and the Town Center through ground level retail served by an open-air galleria. Rêve is planning for 70 high-end residential condominiums, with a mix of studios, and one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
It also includes the Mercer Island Center for the Arts (MICA), a facility for arts education, studio spaces and galleries anchored by a 300-seat theater to serve Youth Theatre Northwest, as well as other theatrical, musical and community-based events.
See www.suzannezahr.com, www.ethnoarts.com and www.mival.org for more.
Karen Dedrickson and Chris Baumgartner pose in front of their artwork at Clarke and Clarke Art and Artifacts on Mercer Island. Katie Metzger/staff photo
A woman reviews Rêve Development’s plans for the Tully’s site on Mercer Island. Katie Metzger/staff photo
