Four artists on display at Grant Gallery
Four prolific artists, each with different approaches and styles, are part of the show opening Saturday at the William Grant Gallery in north Spokane. On display for the next four weeks will be watercolors by Ned Fox of Spokane and Darlene Klister of Anacortes, Wash., sculptures by Barbara Spencer of Deer Park and charcoal drawings by Katherine J. Nelson of Colbert.
Fox, a retired Mead School District art teacher, is hard to pin down when it comes to style and subject matter. “My style is eclectic,” he said, “and I try not to zero in on one subject.”
A number of landscapes, ocean scenes and abstract images are included in his work on display.
Nelson’s black-and-white charcoal drawings are inspired by the undulating Palouse landscape.
“Charcoal, for me, is a logical means to visually express the drama I see in the environments around me,” said Nelson in her artist’s statement. “I can depart from color without sacrificing elements of light and value.”
In contrast, Klister uses a colorful palette to illustrate a variety of floral and wildlife subjects. Many of her recent watercolors reflect the former Spokane resident’s new surroundings near the Puget Sound.
Spencer grew up in a rodeo family near her home in Deer Park. It’s not surprising, therefore, that she favors realistic sculptures of wildlife, especially horses. Her work in this show features a series of small, hand-painted works.
Meet the artists during a reception on Saturday between noon and 4 p.m. at the gallery, 820 W. Francis Ave. The show is up through Aug. 14.
s.m.A.R.T River Art Festival
Once again the Cherry Bend Boat Park, on the shady banks of the St. Joe River in Idaho, is the idyllic setting for the free River Art Festival on Saturday and Sunday.
Along with continuous live music, 50 fine arts, crafts and food tents will entice visitors with pottery, woodwork, carved gourds, jewelry and paintings.
The ever-popular Kiwanis Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m. for those who arrive early and hungry. This $5.50, all-you-can-eat ham, egg and pancake breakfast goes until 10 a.m. on both days. Kids under 6 are free.
“The breakfast is a tradition and a big calling card for the local people,” says watercolor artist Jo Smart of Santa, Idaho. “We all like to go over there and have breakfast in the park.”
Festival booths are open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. There is a hands-on art area for children aged 3 to 12 on both days from noon to 4 p.m.
Live music on Saturday features Ray Roberson’s blues at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m. Ruby Devine performs folk music on banjo and guitar at noon and 3 p.m. P.J. Destiny sings and plays the keyboard at 1 and 4 p.m.
On Sunday the Sharecroppers, a five-member country and western band from Spokane, kicks off with music at 10 a.m. and repeats again at 4 p.m. Alex Bedini and All that Jazz play at noon.
The St. Maries Council for the Arts organizes this annual fund-raising event to help underwrite community performing and visual arts activities throughout the year.
Take Exit 34 off Interstate 90 and travel south on Highway 3 to the Cottonwood Point turnoff and follow the signs three miles north. There is a dock for those who choose to arrive by boat.
Stephenson at St. Maries gallery
On your way to the River Art Festival, stop by the St. Maries Art Gallery to see nine of Helen Stephenson’s opaque watercolors.
The Post Falls artist is best known for her tugboat paintings including “Towing on the Shadowy St. Joe River,” which earned her a spot on the 2003 Foss Maritime calendar, said Sharron Smillie of the St. Maries Council for the Arts.
The work is up through July at the gallery, 827 Main St.
Papier mache masks
An exhibit of masks influenced by the indigenous culture of Puerto Rico opens today at the Colville Arts Foundation Gallery.
Art teacher Tracey Delyea facilitated the making of papier-mache masks by Colville High School students over a six-week period.
“Traditionally, these masks were worn at the annual Lenten observance to guard against evil and scare sinners and small children into repentance,” said acting gallery director Gloria de los Santos in a news release.
They are “whimsical, glitter-covered masks that are comical, sad and sometimes frightening, but always a visual treat,” said de los Santos. “There are brightly colored she-devils and somber death masks, along with cheery animal figures and masks featuring nature and fantasy.”
Meet the artists today at an opening reception from 4 to 7 p.m. at the gallery, 119 W. Astor, Heritage Court in Colville. View the work through Aug. 28 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Other galleries
• View the Pacific Northwest landscapes of Ellen Blaschke and the wood carvings of Ward Farka at a closing reception today from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Crawford Gallery, 316 E. Crawford Road in Deer Park.
• Jim Battell is showing his work in two locations. His “Dumpster Art,” a display of paintings on recycled cardboard, is in the Main Floor lobby of the Downtown Library, 906 W. Main Ave., until July 24. “Smalls,” a show of acrylic portraits and landscapes, is up through Aug. 21 at the Argonne Gallery, 4322 N. Argonne Road.
• Carolyn’s on Fifth, 200 Fifth Ave. in Metaline Falls, Wash., is showing wildlife paintings by Melissa Cole of Spokane through July 31.
• E.L. Stewart’s expressionistic acrylic paintings of the human form are hanging in the Timber Stand Gallery, 334 N. First Ave. in Sandpoint, through the end of July.
• Black-and-white prints by the Gonzaga University Photography Club are lining the walls of the Foley Center on campus through Sept. 6.