PORT TOWNSEND — The Northwind Arts Center at 701 Water St. will host a opening reception for its sixth annual Artist Showcase, “Compare and Contrast,” during the Port Townsend Gallery Walk from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Three 2D and one 3D artist were selected for this show, and each artist has developed a body of work that holds together as one but is intentionally varied and diverse, according to organizers.
Port Townsend contemporary watercolor painter Mike Biskup is known for his imaginary landscapes and abstractions. In his paintings everything flows together — colors, lines and shapes, people, places and things are woven into one harmonious functional system.
“On the surface,” Biskup said, “my paintings are simply places I’d love to visit – mysterious, primarily benevolent, colorful worlds where everything ‘works.’ ”
Kathy Constantine experiments with new combinations of materials and different approaches to a subject. She works primarily in acrylic mixed media, acrylic and pastels, but mixed media is where she feels there is the greatest opportunity to experiment.
Different mediums
Woodworker Evan Miller has been studying art since he was about 7.
When he started working in the mega-yacht industry, he became fascinated with how wood veneer could be used to obtain the look of wood, and how it allowed him to create patterns and designs with greater accuracy and interest than just using solid wood.
“Mostly,” Miller said, “I try to not ‘get in the way’ of the enjoyment of such beautiful grains that come from magnificent trees.”
“From the start, working with clay was an addiction,” said artist and art teacher Charlie Van Gilder. “Clay has a memory of its own. At best I try to find a moment when the clay and I both share a voice.”
Also during Gallery Walk, the Port Townsend Gallery at 715 Water St. will host artists Diane Gale and Tom Saknit from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Diane Gale has been a potter for over 25 years. Her focus continues to be developing her own style and voice, grounded in classical American and Japanese techniques. In 2009 she was selected from a large number of candidates to participate in a juried residency in Tokoname, Japan, one of the eight famous ancient woodfiring sites. This entailed intensive training with Japanese treasures on throwing techniques, Japanese culture and woodfiring.
Interpretation
At the gallery, she will be showing her interpretation of iconic forms for sushi and sake service. Several other special pieces will be featured including tall vases with clamshell marks, and woodfired flasks with driftwood stoppers.
Pursuing her interest in organic texture inspired by nature, her “Winter Trees” line of ceramics will be also available, as will several functional bowls and platters.
Tom Saknit’s love of artwork in the process of creation guides his creation of redacted photography.
In a unique approach to photography, Saknit removes information from a picture, then compresses the color palate.
This process and collaboration with the participant allows Saknit to bridge mechanical acquisition and fine art with organic deconstruction.
A lifelong photographer and digital cinematographer, imagery has been Saknit’s passion for more than 40 years.
Through July, he is presenting his Pacific Northwest Suite, which includes images from Port Townsend, Sequim, Seattle and Tacoma.
For more information, call 360-379-8110 or go to www.porttownsendgallery.com.
Port Townsend School of the Arts presents a special exhibit entitled “Innovation Through Repetition.”
PtSA Downtown welcomes a complementary group of artists who work with the repetition of shapes to build innovative and unusual bodies of 3D work.
The school invites the public to join these artists and PtSA faculty-artists to talk about their work and the classes they offer during Gallery Walk from 5 to 8 p.m. at 236 Taylor St.
The exhibit includes the striking iconic abstract sculpture of Anne Hirondelle, the folk art-inspired ceramics of George Rodriguez and pieces of Celeste Cooning and Jim Romberg.
PtSA also welcomes emerging artist Jonah Trople to the exhibit, with his 3D abstract forms evoking an element of play that echo some of the themes in Rodriguez’s work.
For information, go to ptschoolofthearts.org.
