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Washougal Art Festival to Feature 26 Professional Artists — Don’t Miss It!

Washougal, WA – Excitement is building as the 2018 Washougal Art Festival draws nearer.  Presented by Washougal Arts and Culture Alliance (WACA), the event features 26 professional regional artists and will be held Saturday,
August 11 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Reflection Plaza, 1703 Main Street, Washougal.

“We are expecting another large turnout at this year’s festival,” said Janice Ferguson, WACA President.  “Now in our third year, we have artists and community members who look forward to this annual event.  We love
transforming Washougal’s Reflection Plaza into a gallery of fine works of art.”

Wilson Cady, local birding enthusiast and artist, created the artwork that was used for the 2018 Washougal Art Festival poster and advertising.  “Wilson will be at the festival and plans to work on his current piece,” said
Ferguson.  “He is looking forward to chatting with people about his process and his inspiration.”  A limited number of signed 2018, 2017 and 2016 posters will be available for purchase at the festival for a $20 donation each.

Event proceeds will bring more public art to Washougal. This year’s festival will help fund a mural inspired by Washougal matriarch, Princess White Wing (Betsy Ough) created by renown Native American artist, Toma
Villa. The piece will be created for the outside wall of the Washougal Public Library.

Baseball

For a preview of artists selected to participate in this year’s event, visit the WACA website at www.WashougalArts.org.

They are Linda Andrew-Riggs, water color; Kathy Beckman, acrylic on canvas; Eric Berlin, handcrafted animal porcelain jewelry; Heidi Curley, mixed media; Marilyn Estenes, textile  creations and photography; Katy Fenley, handcrafted sterling silver jewelry; Chrissie Forbes, found object robot art; Anni Furniss, mixed media painting; John Furniss, wood; Vickie Green, fused glass; Cheryl Hazen, recycled mosaics; Glo Lamden-Mccollough, acrylic on canvas; Kobie Moore, painted acrylic, mixed media; Toni McCarthy, jewelry; Liz Pike, oils; John Reylea, acrylic on reclaimed wood; Christine Rice, block printing print making; Karen Reule, sterling and silver filigree jewelry; Ena Shipman, ceramics and handcrafted jewelry; Gary Suda, high fire ceramic pottery; Cyndee Starr, mixed media; Tamra Sheline, watercolor on yupo (plastic); Kiri Torre, one-of-a-kind jewelry design; Barbara Wright, watercolor, ink, colored pencil, graphite; and Beck Lipp, wood.

The festival is family-friendly and features The Paint Roller – Mobile Paint Party who will be offering free, fun, artistic projects for children. Another popular element of the festival is the raffle for works of art donated by participating artists.  Tickets are $5 each and visitors choose the work of art they would like the chance to win.  Raffle winners do not need to be present to win and will be given a phone call but must be available to pick up their prize by the end of the day.

New at the festival this year will be food available for purchase at the plaza.  Local restaurant, Alex Smokehouse, will be serving delicious barbeque meals and more.

While in Washougal, visitors are encouraged to discover works of public art using the WACA art map http://washougalarts.org/local-art/ which provides locations, artists name and the year for more than 30 installations around town.  Maps will be available at the raffle table.

WACA Board Members and Festival Committee members working alongside Ferguson, are Chuck Carpenter, Joyce Lindsay, Rene Carroll, Suzanne Grover, Kelli Rule, Susan Warford and Jim Cooper.

The Festival is sponsored in part by the City of Washougal Hotel/Motel Tax Fund.  Other event sponsors include The Paint Roller – Mobile Paint Party, Washougal Coffee Company and Camas Gallery.

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Washougal Schools, Coalition Announce Middle School Poster Winners

Washougal School District and Unite! Washougal Community Coalition have announced the two winners of the Washougal Middle School Poster Contest Winners:

  • Trinity Nicholson, 7thGrade, Canyon Creek Middle School
  • Skye Miller, 7thGrade, Canyon Creek Middle School

The theme for the 2018 poster contest was “Everyday Heroes Unite!” and middle school students from Washougal were asked to create an original poster using this theme for the citywide contest.

Members of Unite! Washougal Community Coalition selected the two grand prize winners and the six Honorable Mentions at their April 2018 community meeting. The Honorable Mention recipients are:

  • Mia Lockard, 6thGrade, Canyon Creek Middle School
  • Claire Zakovics, 6thGrade, Jemtegaard Middle School
  • Isabella Albaugh, 6thGrade, Jemtegaard Middle School
  • Kaylee Browning, 6thGrade, Canyon Creek Middle School
  • Emily Wade, 6thGrade, Jemtegaard Middle School
  • Jada’lynn Iriarte, 6thGrade, Jemtegaard Middle School
Poster

Skye Miller’s Heroes submission.

 

“All of the entries depicted the theme ‘Everyday Heroes Unite!’ very well. It is clear that our youth realize that heroes do not need capes or super human powers to make a difference. Our youth understand that ordinary people, including themselves, can show acts of kindness towards others,” noted Megan Kanzler, Youth Engagement Coordinator for Unite! Washougal and the Washougal School District.

Trinity Nicholson’s submission will be used as the new logo for the middle school and high school prevention club – HEROES Unite! All of the artwork submitted in the contest will be distributed to local schools, our public library, government offices and other community locations.

“We look forward to next year’s poster contest and encourage all who entered this year to participate again next year” offered Kanzler. She added an invitation to all Washougal citizens, “Let us all do our part in being everyday heroes to help those around us.”

by Megan Kanzler

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Events: Washougal Studio Artists Tour Coming Up Mother’s Day Weekend

Washougal, WA — Washougal area artists, representing a vast array of creative works and mediums, are opening their studio doors to offer a new family outing for Mother’s Day weekend, May 12-13, 2018, from 10 am – 5 pm. The first Washougal Studio Artists Tour includes 10 stops featuring 18 artists.

Angela Ridgway, mixed media metal artist, is the event coordinator and was thrilled and even a bit surprised to find so many high-quality artists in and around Washougal wanting to participate. “I knew we had a hidden wealth of artists living and working in Washougal, and I’m excited that so many want to open their studio doors to the public,” she said. “Studio tours are a wonderful way to see where the magic of creating art happens …”

Much of the tour route is along the scenic Washougal River and through the Washougal foothills. “It’s no wonder this area attracts such talent with so much natural beauty all around us,” she said. “It will also be a great way for tour visitors to discover some of that beauty in Washougal.”

According to Ridgway, other regional studio tours seem to be more centrally located in the Vancouver area, so it is more difficult for Washougal talent to be showcased. “But with a concentration of artists in Washougal, and a shorter tour route, it will be easier for these amazing artists to be accessible to tour visitors.”

Artists

Working hard.

The tour features the following: Angela Ridgway, mixed media metal; Anna Wiancko-Chasman, clay and wood; Anni Becker, acrylic and watercolor; Char McHugh, ceramics; Chris Brodigan, ceramics; Charlene Hale, fused glass and ceramics; Cyndee Starr, mixed media doodles; Deborah Roberts, colored pencil and acrylic; Jean Hauge, watercolor and pastel; John Furniss, wood; Kathy Beckman, acrylic; Lori Horner, oil and acrylic; Ryan Boomhower, tattoo and oil painting; Sharon Ballard, acrylic; Shirley Bishop, fused glass; Suzanne Grover, pastels and mixed media; Tamara Dinius, mixed media; and Toni McCarthy, jewelry.

You may preview their work and see the tour map on the Washougal Studio Artists website at www.WashougalStudioArtists.org

You may also follow them on Facebook and Instagram. Participating artists will also have copies of the map available, as well as many local businesses.

WSAT is sponsored in part by the City of Washougal hotel/motel tourism tax fund.

Photo Gallery

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#MarchKindness Day 4: Jeannie Bottles & The Oscars — Making Wishes Come True

Hollywood, CA — Artist Mario AC Della Casa has been hard at work designing a special “I Dream of Jeannie” bottle for the Roger Neal Oscar Suite tonight, which will be sold for $50,000 — with the proceeds to benefit the Life and Hope Relief charity.

As the Official Artist for the Roger Neal Oscar Suite, Della Casa, who is the only artist that was ever licensed to create the official “I Dream of Jeannie” bottle, will unveil his special bottle tonight.

The bottle is signed by past Oscar winners and present nominees. He isn’t allowed to tell us what is special about this year’s design. It’s under wraps.

”I’m so thrilled to be part of such a fun event,” said Della Casa. “And, we’re giving back to an organization that shows great care and kindness to those in troubled parts of the world. On Oscar night, they will raise $50,000.”

The Roger Neal Oscar Suite is an annual event at the Academy Awards and features quite the list of Hollywood celebrities.

Life and Hope Relief is an organization dedicated to showing kindness and assisting those who can’t help themselves in the aftermath of massive disasters.

The mission of the charity is two-fold:

1. To organize as many people and supplies as possible, and to deliver them directly to those in dire need.

2. To assist existing charitable organizations such as the Red Cross, etc. and fill any gaps that may exist in their services.

Della Casa takes pride in his work on the Jeannie bottles, which are replicas from the TV show. Each bottle is custom painted and designed by Della Casa himself. He also is the Official Artist for Southfork Ranch, home of the hit TV show, “Dallas.”

”My business is about making dreams come true,” said Della Casa. “We’re about nostalgia, and bringing people to a happy place.”

Jeannie

From left: Actor Bill Daley, Mario AC Della Casa, Barbara Eden, and Larry Hagman.

To learn more, visit www.JeannieBottles.com

Roger Neal, Dinner Chairman, who for the past 22 years has produced the RNSH Oscar Gift Suite said, “We are beyond thrilled to produce our 3rd Annual Oscar Party at the Hollywood Museum which houses the largest collection of entertainment memorabilia on display in the world; I cannot think of a more perfect place to host 80 stars many who are past Oscar nominees, winners and presenters. Young and classic stars from TV and Film will have the opportunity to tour this incredible museum prior to a sit down gourmet dinner with wine & champagne (Lorimar Winery) to see a special Academy Awards exhibit and the brand new just opened Batman 66 Exhibit.”

Jeannie Images

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Meet Artist Matt Gibson: He Turns Pennies Into Cool Artwork

Washougal, WA — It took 20 years of grueling travel in his sales job until penny artist, Matt Gibson, found his passion and artistic talents. Every other week he traveled to Canada as a sales executive for Metapower — and that got old.

“It was a drag being gone so much,” said Gibson. “And I always knew I wanted to do something for myself. I’ve always enjoyed art.”

He started playing around with pennies several years ago, and a gift for a friend slowly turned into a fun side business, which turned into a full-time business venture 18 months ago.

He had a few pieces of art, and spoke with Marquita Call, of Camas Gallery. He brought in a few pieces, and within three days she sold the first one. That opened up more opportunity, and Gibson started making more.

“He has a lot of talent,” said Call. “We’re happy to have him here in our gallery.”

He said it’s been a big learning curve, but that he makes enough money to live off his art — and is seeking to expand the enterprise. In addition to Camas Gallery, Gibon’s penny fish can be found at Pacific House and Vito Veritas, which is a wine bar in Portland.

His produces large, six-foot penny fish art, as well as a 12-inch fish version, which are designed as wall art.

“I like working with pennies,” he said. “They’re colorful and easy to work with.”

Gibson easily spends a week putting together a new design, which he calls the prototype. After the prototype phase, the large fish take about 20 hours to produce, and require about 1,900 pennies. The smaller ones take two to three hours and require 150 pennies, which are applied using high strength hot glue. To date, he’s create 150 pieces of art — 135 of which have been created in the last 18 months.

Pennyfish art is available at Camas Gallery, where Gibson was recently the featured artist of the month. Camas Gallery is located in downtown Camas, on 4th Avenue.

To learn more, visit www.pennyfishdesigns.com or you can visit his brand-new Facebook Page: Pennyfish Design

Penny Artist Matt Gibson at the Camas Gallery.

 

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Camas First Friday: Plein Air & Art Event

During the day on September 1st from 9am-4:00pm, local artists will be doing Plein Air (Open Air)painting around town. So fun to watch! Then vote for your favorite during the First Friday event from 5-8pm.

The finished plein air art pieces will be on display at the Camas Gallery, 408 NE 4th, from 5-8 pm that evening. The community will vote for its favorites and “People Choice Awards” will be given. These works of art will then be auctioned off at the Dinner in White on the Columbia, a benefit for the Washougal Library Building Fund, on Saturday, September 9th at Marina Park at the Port of Camas Washougal. For artists who would like to participate, visit here for all the info: www.camasgallery.com/plein-air

Other art features, music, and activities that night are:

  • Elida Field’s “Art, Women & Wine” artists will be showcased in participating merchant locations; Meet the artists, enjoy the art, and be entered to win prizes from the merchants.  Arktana-Heidi Jo Curley; Caffe Piccolo-Grace Valentine; Cake Happy-Stephanie Rauch; Camas Antiques-Elida Field; Camas Beauty Bar & Boutique-Lara Blair; Camas Hotel Lobby-Gail McKenna & Camas Hotel Atrium-Suzanne Ferguson; Journey-Alison & Grace Benjamin; Lily Atelier-Bev Kadow; Lizzabeth A-Susan Mooney; Mill Interpretive Center-Ayn Lavagnino; Navidi’s-Jim Rodriguez; Salud!-Shelley Mincks. After party at Elida’s Art Studio! 8pm on, 735 NE 6th.
  • Hidden Bronze Bird Tour Dedication! 5pm at 4th and Cedar.Come find the thirteen bronze birds throughout downtown!The artists Georgia Gerber and Randy Hudson will be joining us for the celebration and there will also be a “Meet and Greet” with the artists from 4-5pm at Attic Gallery, 421 NE Cedar. Bird Maps will be given out at the dedication and then at the DCA tables in Journey, 304 NE 4th throughout the rest of the evening. Join us for the fun and to discover the flock!
  • Friends of Camas Arts Art Show in Journey
  • Live outdoor music at Mesa with Lance Kinnaird and Lauren Abraham, 228 NE 4th, from 6-9pm
  • Art shows and receptions at Camas Gallery, 408 NE 4th, featuring Julie Olson and at Attic Gallery, 421 NE Cedar, featuring David Allen Dunlop
  • Kids’ art crafts, including The Paint Roller Mobile Paint Party with rock painting; chalk art; and the fourth annual DCA First Friday Coloring Contest with prizes (at the DCA tables in Journey)
  • Our City Cares will be on hand to talk about City-wide initiatives in Camas to combat suicide, by Journey.
  • FREE hair art and face painting at The Wild Hair, 418 NE Cedar
  • The Soap Chest: get a FREE bar of Mona Lisa soap with purchase of $25 or more, 521 NE Everett
  • The artful film The Trip to Spain at the Liberty Theatre at 6:45pm
  • Shop, dine, & have artful fun in Downtown Camas! Receive a free prize ticket for every $10 you spend in downtown.

To learn more, visit www.downtowncamas.com

 

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Events: Camas Vintage and Art Faire Happening Today

The 9th Annual Camas Vintage & Art Street Faire will feature 60+ vintage and local art vendors all in the charming tree lined streets of Downtown Camas.

Vintage offerings include a huge variety of indoor and outdoor furniture and home and garden items as well as clothing and accessories. Art offerings include quality paintings, woodworking, glass art, metal work, handmade jewelry, fiber art, repurposed art, and more. Live music and fresh, delicious food will also be available. The friendly and inviting ambience of the town will complete the experience!

The Faire will be hosted on Saturday August 26th, in Downtown Camas on 4th Avenue and Birch Streets, near Camas Antiques, 305 NE 4th Avenue.

Come early for fresh coffee at 9am, enjoy lunch at one of Downtown Camas’ many fine eating establishments, and stay until 3pm finding the perfect items for your home and garden.

Live music will include jazz guitar by Bret Malmquist from 10-12 and Carol Rossio Jazz Trio with French influence from 12:30-3pm

A special thank you to Georgia Pacific for providing public parking in their lot at 6th Avenue and Adams!

This event is a collaboration between the Downtown Camas Association and VV Larue Presents and is sponsored by Camas Antiques and Plum Deluxe Teas.

Information provided by the Downtown Camas Association. To learn more, visit: http://downtowncamas.com/events-and-festivals/2017-camas-vintage-art-faire/

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“Images from the Interior” Art Exhibit Opens Friday at Camas Library

CAMAS, WA — “Images from the Interior” is a dual art exhibit from two artists who were introduced when they were selected by Second Story Gallery for its May show.  Both use their chosen tools to explore beyond the surface.  Often that surface begins life as a portrait but goes deeper to capture an inner quality.
Interior
Earlene Holmstrom sticks to pastels to capture the spark.  She will be joined by Douglas Keith who paints and sculpts to get to the interior of his subject matter.  They will unveil their recent works at a reception on First Friday, May 5, from 5 to 8 pm in the gallery. Keith experiments with a variety of textures and styles to capture his subjects, but he also notes his ideas and images come to him for some internal source.  He says he suspects they may come from the same place where dreams and myths originate, and that capturing them becomes a dialogue between the creator and the created.  His pieces range from dreamy landscapes to what could be death masks from an ancient–or alien–civilization.  His mediums include mesh, wood, basalt, molded cloth and paper.
Interior
While Keith looks inward for inspiration, Holmstrom spends her time observing passersby.  She says she loves the challenge of capturing subtle nuances in each face as well as the emotional message in the figure.  Nothing inspires her painting more than the people she encounters daily, she says. Holmstrom spent her teen years working at the Ringling Art Museum in Florida but only recently settled on soft pastels for her own style.  She says she loves the vibrancy, the layers that can be built on paper and the feel of them in her hands.  Walking into her studio, she says, is like walking into a rainbow. Both artists have turned to their mediums after careers in other fields.  Their combined show, a mix of images that delve into the interior of each subject, will open May 5 and continue through May 27 in the Gallery, upstairs in the Camas Public Library.  In addition to the artists, keyboardist Brad Jensen will be at the First Friday reception with live music. To learn more, visit www.camaslibrary.org
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Bonsai Transformed by the American Landscape

Portland Japanese Garden to feature works of American bonsai artist Ryan Neil in American Bonsai: The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil

Portland, Oregon – For over a thousand years, the Japanese art of bonsai has intrigued and delighted people with its artistic and painstaking approach to forming trees into beautiful and evocative miniature shapes. Using species native to the American West, bonsai artist Ryan Neil has translated and adapted techniques into an American vernacular. From May 21-June 19, 2016 the outdoor courtyard of the Portland Japanese Garden will host American Bonsai: The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil, giving Garden visitors the opportunity to see iconic American trees, such as Ponderosa Pines, Douglas Firs, and Coastal Redwoods transformed into living works of art. The exhibit will feature about a dozen living art pieces with trees ranging from 100 to 500 years old to create a dialogue about the trees and places that shape American history and culture.

About Ryan Neil

Ryan Neil grew up on the western slopes of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. From an early age, he was fascinated by the natural and ever-changing beauty of the region’s windswept trees and by their resilience, which allowed the trees to survive years of harsh conditions. After studying horticulture, Ryan moved to Japan for six years, where he apprenticed with bonsai master Masahiko Kimura, a revolutionary figure in contemporary Japanese bonsai art.

After returning from Japan in 2010, Neil moved to Portland, Oregon, to develop and practice his art. Diane Durston, the Portland Japanese Garden’s Curator of Culture, Art and Education brought Neil in to show the connection of Eastern and Western cultures coming together. Says Durston, “We are so excited to show Ryan’s work. He does a remarkable job of channeling the craftsmanship and discipline of this ancient Japanese art form while reflecting the untamed landscape of the American West.”

Bonsai

New maple leaves are bright green, as the Portland weather turns warm again. Photo Credit: David Cobb

What is Bonsai?

The Japanese art of bonsai, which literally translates into “tray planting,” combines art with the natural world, mindfulness, and a dedication to detail. While contemporary bonsai artists, such as Neil, are constantly developing and exploring new techniques, the roots of contemporary bonsai can still be found in the centuries-old traditions of paying attention to every branch, needle, leaf, and delicate detail.

Through using tree species of the American West and pushing the traditional boundaries of bonsai art, Ryan works to challenge his viewers’ conceptions of bonsai art as purely contemplative and seeks to evoke a range of emotions and responses.

Exhibition Details

American Bonsai: The Unbridled Art of Ryan Neil will run from May 21-June 19 during regular hours in the Garden’s outdoor courtyard. Access to the courtyard is included in the general admission ticket. The Garden is open on Mondays from noon to 7 p.m. and on Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $9.50 for adults; $7.50 for seniors (65+) and college students with ID; and $6.75 for youth aged 6-17. Children under five are admitted free.

About the Portland Japanese Garden

For 53 years, the Portland Japanese Garden has been a haven of serenity and tranquility, nestled in the scenic West Hills of Portland.  It is considered the most authentic Japanese garden outside of Japan and is one of the foremost Japanese cultural organizations in North America.  Its Cultural Crossing expansion project, which adds space for exhibitions, educational programming, and cultural events, will be completed in Spring 2017.

Learn more at japanesegarden.com.

Bonsai

Japanese Garden, garden, Portland, OR, spring, azaleas, flowers, shrubs, walk way

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Exquisite Raku Ceramics Exhibit at Camas Library

Each month, beginning on the First Friday, the Camas Public Library hosts a new art exhibit in the Second Story Gallery. For the month of March, the library is displaying the exquisite Raku Ceramics artwork of clay artists, Dave and Boni Deal.

The couple work full-time at their craft, producing quality art pieces at their rustic, off-the-grid home in the Columbia Gorge. Their work is recognized for its size, classical form, and surface design that has a Pacific Northwest feel.

Raku Ceramics are known for dramatic firings, and Dave pulls his work out of the 2000 degree F kiln, and lowers it into a barrel of organic burnables. The rapid cooling, as well as the flames, and smoke, give rack its hues, crackled glaze, smoky tones, and metallic accents.

Raku Ceramics Background

According to the library, Raku is a pottery technique with an ancient Japanese origin. “American Raku” was popularized by Hal Riegger and Paul Soldner in the 1950s and 60s. Dave learned the art form at Clark College and at PSU/Haystack school in Cannon Beach, Oregon. The couple eventually took Raku workshops from Riegger and Soldner, and started working full-time in their chosen craft in the mid-1970s.

Their work is a collaborative effort. While Dave creates clay forms on the wheel, Boni draws in the clay, and does the glazes. She earned her degree in graphic design from Portland State University.

“Clay offers a lifetime of possibilities for expression in form and surface design,” said the couple. “Awe of nature motivates us. A high aspiration is to reflect the beauty of God’s creations: plants, geology, and wildlife of rustic places are recurring themes — timeless, relevant today and even more so for the future.”

The Camas Public Library is located at 625 NE 4th Ave, Camas, WA 98607. To learn more, visit http://www.ci.camas.wa.us/index.php/camaspubliclibrary

 

Ceramics

This is the Raku work of Dave and Boni Deal.

Ceramics

This is a Raku Ceramics vase made by Dave and Boni Deal.

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