MIVAL Holiday Show announces winners
The 20th Annual Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL) Holiday Show is in full swing at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center. Work by more than 40 artists — including paintings, sculpture, jewelry textiles, cards and gifts — is on view.
Winners of the show were announced at a reception held Nov. 1. June Lindsey won first place and $250 for “Pueblo Harvest,” Genny Rees got second and $150 for “Parrot Tulips” and Lorri Falterman was third ($100) for “Hestia.”
Honorable mentions were given to Surya Gaertner for “Saved for the Beauty” and Ron Reeder for “Still Life #2.” Special awards were given to Mary McKelvey for “White Boy” and Leslie Zukor for “Skate Day 2018.”
The Holiday Show continues through Dec. 15. See www.mival.org for more.
Island galleries present new art at First Friday
MIVAL will host its final art show of the year at its gallery, 2836 78th Ave. SE, from Dec. 5 to Dec. 23. MIVAL’s new exhibit, “Places Near & Far,” is a collection of artwork that evokes a sense of place.
An opening reception will be held during Mercer Island’s First Friday art event from 5-7 p.m. on Dec. 7. Wine and snacks will be served.
Also for First Friday, 5-8 p.m. on Dec. 7, Clarke and Clarke Art and Artifacts will present “Spirit Bowls/Paper Works” by Noble Garden. Garden will be in the gallery to introduce her multifaceted techniques and creations. Her process, which began with learning traditional weaving, has evolved into the creation of non-traditional vessel compositions.
Her “Spirit Bowls” incorporate the use of folded and layered paper, encaustic and gold or silver leaf inks. They are not literal containers but are vessels for memories, mystery and meaning, according to gallery co-owner Ginny Clarke. Each vessel is unique and inspired by her travels. Noble said, “I want people to notice details and be awed by our beautiful world.” The paper works are framed, intricate paper art compositions that often incorporate Japanese paper folded, layered then treated with encaustic, acrylics and gold leaf or silver leaf.
Continuing in the Clarke and Clarke gallery are “Undercurrents” by Valaree Cox and “Observations” by Susanne Werner.
Also on Dec. 7, the SZ Gallery will host its annual “Holiday Party in the ‘Persian Garden,’” featuring ceramic artistry by Monir and Mehdi Ghanbeigy, during its First Friday art and wine reception 5-8 p.m.
Persian Garden is an exhibit that tells culturally rich stories of Persian culture through contemporary and classically-influenced pieces. Monir and Mehdi Ghanbeigy from Iran have created multimedia artwork together since 1970, combining Mehdi’s detailed work with Persian miniatures and painting, Monir’s background in ceramics and pottery, and their mutual love and appreciation for the history of Persian art.
Barrels hosts Northwest artist
Barrels Wine Bar welcomes Jen Chambers for the months of November and December. Barrels will host a reception for Chambers 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 5. No one younger than 21 is allowed in Barrels.
Chamber was born and raised in the Northwest. After obtaining her degree in interior design, she recognized that in addition to expressing herself through design she could also enhance and convey her perspective through art.
She found her true passion as a mixed media artist in 2005 and has never looked back. She is constantly viewing the world through her own artistic lens and is greatly inspired by textures that are found in the natural landscape. She draws from her interpretation of nature and strives to interlace movement with serenity through both common and abstract forms.
Chambers works with acrylic mixed medias as well as encaustics. Her style, although always highly textural, ranges greatly, allowing her freedom in artistic experimentation, resulting in constant evolution. Her work can be found at a number of galleries in Seattle, Mercer Island and Issaquah, and now at Barrels. For more information about Chambers and her art, go online to http://jenchambersart.com/.
