Last night, in the ArtsNow Gallery, at the Edmonds Conference Center, we presented an artists' reception to debut our "Abiding" Exhibit, as part of the Edmonds Art Walk. In addition to meeting artists, Cheryl A Richey and Lin McJunkin, guests were treated to the holiday jazz stylings of the T.J. Kottsick Quartet. It was both soothing and exciting to see the creators in person and to listen to them discuss their inspirations of choice against a musical background of talented musicians. Wine, coffee, and snacks were provided by the artists and gallery.
"My Artistic journey is fueled by my desire to experiment with ways to explore and understand nature's mysteries and wisdom (including my own)" - Cheryl A Richey (Nebula, pictured above)
Richey, whose wall hangings are also inspired by poetry, particularly haiku, views her work as discovering the nature of the individual elements at work, both singularly and collectively. Her mediums begin with the use of acrylic paints, but frequently incorporate charcoal, stains, and water. Sometimes non-traditional mediums are subsumed: sand, string, and spackle. The result is often abstract, which gives the viewer the freedom to interpret and respond, but Richey will sometimes manipulate her mediums into revealing specific images, frequently birds, which, seen through this context, is really moving and fraught with melancholy and motion. Her palette consists of a lot of low key primary colors with supports all of the organic shapes and textures. The gallery is very open, and luckily so, because one really appreciates Richey's lush work when viewed up close and can see the canvas and wood techniques and mediums at play.
"Heat is not only an essential tool in forming my work, but it’s also the focusing concept of my recent work about global warming." - Lin McJunkin (Orange Sea Form, pictured above)
McJunkin, whose 3D works are composed of glass and metal, takes her inspiration from nature as well. As a science educator, McJunkin is very concerned with the state of our planet and the effects of humanity on it. Understanding this, her works represent a dichotomy: she takes metal and glass, which are very urban-type mediums, and through molds, torches, and kilns, reveals organic forms that are sea-like and earthy. Even the colors come across as faded and milky, as if the pieces were plucked from the ocean.
TJ Kottsick (right, on saxophone) performing as part of the Edmonds Community College Jazz band for November's ArtsWalk. (photograph taken by Buddy Todd)
The band, The TJ Kottsick Quartet, provided a soothing and entertaining background with their jazz standards and holiday improvisations. Their music carried beyond the gallery glass doors and drew guests in bursts and streams the entire evening.
The entire experience was somehow conscience provoking: the four humourous elements (earth, air, fire, and water) were equally represent by the art, which provokes a feeling of delicate balance. It was once frequently thought that disorders and illnesses were due to an imbalance of these elements; but through Abiding each one equally, harmony can be achieved.
If you missed out, you will have another opportunity to attend the next reception, which will be on January 19 from 5-8pm. The pieces will be featured in the gallery until February 10, 2012.
The ArtsNow Gallery is located inside the Edmonds Conference Center: 201 4th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020.
