Japanese art in spotlight
The Japanese cultural arts of sumi-e, shodo and ikebana take center stage this weekend at the Corbin Art Center on Spokane’s South Hill.
For its 10th celebration of Japan Week, the Spokane Sumi-e Painters group opens “Japanese Vision: Spirit of Nature” on Saturday with a reception from noon to 4 p.m.
Sumi-e (pronounced suu-me-a) is a Japanese art term meaning ink painting, where the essence of a subject is reproduced in the fewest possible strokes. Shodo is brush calligraphy and ikebana is traditional flower arrangement.
A decade ago Keiko Von Holt helped organize the first Japanese art show with two other artists.
“Spokane is inland from the coast,” says Von Holt, “and there wasn’t as much interaction with Asian cultures as in cities such as Seattle, San Francisco or Los Angeles.”
Von Holt began learning calligraphy in the first grade.
“In Japanese elementary school calligraphy is a mandatory subject,” she says. “It requires great discipline.”
A little more than 20 years ago she began studying sumi-e paintings.
“In Asia, a master of calligraphy is quite often a master of sumi-e painting,” she says. “The stroke is very similar.”
In addition to sumi-e, shodo and ikebana, the show will feature watercolor paintings, silk embroidery, paper dolls, ceramics and silk painting. The Spokane Orchid Society will exhibit a variety of species and arrangements.
In addition to Van Holt, artists showing work include Richard Bohn, Cathy Bond, Margaret Cook, Marchi Fadley, Yuko Hartman, Sherry Lee, Kurt Madison, Sarah Malinak, Lee McLeron, Patti Osebold, Margaret Robinson, Ratree Shadduck, Dennis Twenge, Olivia Waterman and Letitia Watrous.
The Corbin Art Center is housed in the 19th-century D.C. Corbin House, located at 507 W. Seventh Ave. The exhibit runs through May 19 and may be viewed Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
‘Artists Showcase’
Also returning for its 10th annual event is the Coeur d’Alene Art Association’s “Artists Showcase” at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
Look for a variety of work from 50 artists. There will be photography, pottery, metal, glass and traditional oils, watercolor and acrylic paintings, says association member Chelsea Cordova.
The three-day show runs Friday from 1 to 7:30 p.m., including an artists’ reception at 5 p.m. with music by Bill Parsons; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.
Parking and admission are free at the fairgrounds, 4056 N. Government Way in Coeur d’Alene.
Sandpoint artists
“Sandpoint: Through the Eyes of Our Artists” opens Friday in the Pend Oreille Arts Council Gallery.
The show features objects with a theme of Sandpoint and the surrounding area.
Among the images will be a Ross Hall photograph and Bonnie Shield painting, says POAC member representative Sue Vogelsinger.
There will be photography by Louis Baribeau, Carver Kearney and Susan Church Moore, and paintings by Margarete Holton, Julie Reinbold, Barbara Field and Susan Dalby.
Meet the artists during an opening reception Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the POAC Gallery in the Power House, 120 Lake St. The work is up through June 18, daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
For more information, call (208) 263-6139 or visit www.artinsandpoint.org.
‘Spring’ in Republic
A “Celebration of Spring” is under way at the Gold Mountains Gallery in Republic, Wash.
The gallery, in its first show of the 2007 season, is exhibiting work by Republic-area artists. The show runs through May 13. Meet the artists on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.
The gallery, 852 S. Clark St. No. 2 , is next to the Northern Inn hotel. The free gallery is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Gonzaga senior show
Gonzaga University’s “Senior Thesis Exhibit” opens today in the Jundt Art Gallery with a reception from 7 to 9 p.m.
A diverse collection of drawings, paintings, prints and ceramics has been selected from the portfolios of the graduating art majors.
Exhibiting students are Brendan Beardsley, Oriana Futrell, Catherine Hackney, Molly Klein, Elizabeth Lockhart, Robin McClellan, Lucas Moody, Areli Nathanson, Emily Orr, Scott Osborne, James Schibel, Chelsea Thousim and Cheryl Zainfeld.
The show is up through May 12. The gallery, 202 E. Cataldo Ave., is free and open to the public weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Whitworth art students
The annual show of works by Whitworth College senior art students gets under way Tuesday in the Koehler Gallery on the north Spokane campus.
There will be urban-realist painting, abstraction, landscape, glass, graphic design and comic-inspired graphics, according to senior art major Angelika Wilson-Wipp in an e-mail.
Students showing work are Jennifer Ahre, Emily Bergsma, Melinda Blanford, Emily Clader, Jeanine Douglass, Amanda Lee, Carolina Maldonado, Lindsey Maloney, Derrick Mitchell, Melinda Rinne, Beth Reamer, Krystle Stucky and Angelika Wilson-Wipp.
An opening reception is Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Building. The show runs through May 19.
Gallery hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Spirit Lake ‘ArtWalk’
Joining its bigger sister cities in the area, Spirit Lake, Idaho, is kicking off its first “ArtWalk” on Friday.
There will be an artists’ reception in the Commons at Timberlake High School, 5303 W. Highway 54.
The opening event includes a slide show of the 80 pieces being shown in the four downtown businesses participating in the artwalk, according to organizer Carrie Scozzaro.
Participating businesses are Miller’s Food City, 515 S. Fifth Ave.; Fourth and Main Pizza, 6185 W. Maine St.; Hideaway Cafe, 6262 W. Maine St.; and Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant, 6429 W. Maine St.
Artists with work on display include Dorothy Porter, Cookie Conces, Keziah Ptiman, Pat Parsons, Rozanne Thompson, Betty Bohn, Bunny Tull, Carol Fredrikson, Chris Jarstad and Justin Graupman.
Student artists showing items include Bernadette Loibl, Hannah Billick, Kalli Cooper, Kelsey Hepler, Rebecca Johnston, Sarah Bricky, Stesah Laase, Teresa Thomas, Todd Carter and Zerin Petersen.
The work is up through May 18.
Other galleries
“”Double Takes,” Suzanne Harris’ show of photographs and the watercolors they inspire, is under way at the On Sacred Grounds Gallery through May 8. Stop by for an artist’s reception on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The gallery is at 12212 E. Palouse Highway in Valleyford.
“A Bloomsday poster exhibit covering more than 30 years is hanging through May 2007 in the downtown Spokane Public Library, 906 W. Main Ave., on the third floor.
“College students are admitted free today between 5 and 8 p.m. into the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. Bring your student identification for a free evening which includes food, DJ music and a peek at all the exhibits.