PORT TOWNSEND — The warm glow and intricacy of the “Dutch Golden Age” meets contemporary settings in Stephanie K. Johnson’s oil paintings.
Johnson’s work embodies the skill of mature artists, though she started her career at just 12 years old.
At that time, she entered her first gallery, Artisans on Taylor in Port Townsend. On Saturday, Johnson — a classically trained artist and graduate of the Artistides Atelier at the Gage Academy of Art — will showcase her work at the Port Townsend Gallery, 715 Water St.
It will be one of the collections to see during Port Townsend’s July Art Walk, which lasts from 5:30 p.m. to about 8 p.m. Saturday.
“With this exhibition, it is her goal to bring the glow and detail of the ‘Dutch Golden Age’ into a contemporary environment,” according to a news release. “Whether it is a sunlit Venetian canal, treasured shells from the ocean or pears from a local orchard, everything pays homage to the wonder of nature.”
Accompanying Johnson’s oil paintings, Diane Gale’s electric- and wood-fired sculptural work also will be on display at the Port Townsend Gallery.
Gale’s “Winter Trees” line of ceramics will be on display, in addition to screen-printed and patterned bowls and mugs.
The Port Townsend Gallery invites the public to join Johnson and Gale at the Art Walk.
Attractions at other venues in Saturday’s Port Townsend Gallery Walk include New Orleans-inspired paintings, photography of the Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park, steampunk art, live watercolor painting demonstrations and a cabinet of curiosities reminiscent of the Victorian era.
• Northwind Arts Center, 701 Water St., will showcase paintings by longtime Port Townsend resident Linda Tilley during the month of July.
Receptions for Tilley, the Showcase Artist of the Month, and for Crazy Happy exhibit artists Rikki Ducornet and Margie McDonald are set from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.
Paintings from Tilley’s jazz series play with vibrant colors to reflect the beats that seemed to engulf jazz musicians on her recent trip to New Orleans.
To celebrate Jazz Port Townsend, which Centrum will host starting July 23, the arts center challenged artists to create work with jazz in mind.
Tilley’s jazz series comes at a contrast to her series of boats and reflections. The slower pace of these marine paintings reflects the relaxed rhythms of boating after the work and fun have subsided.
“I’m at a crossroads of discovery,” Tilley said. “I’m out to experiment and discover, improve and be fulfilled. I’ve only just begun.”
Painted scrolls by Ducornet and sculptures by McDonald went on display Thursday at the arts center in an exhibit called “Crazy Happy,” which features an “animated conversation” between the two.
Both artists find inspiration in things that have been abandoned, worn by time, water, fire or weather.
The exhibits will be open until July 30, Thursdays through Mondays from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m.
For more information, visit www.northwindarts.org.
• Gallery 9, 1012 Water St., will present Nancy Cherry Eifert’s photography, focusing on the temperate Hoh Rainforest in Olympic National Park.
Eifert will be present at Gallery 9 on Saturday between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to discuss her photography.
A canopy of mass-laden ancient trees supplies a photographer’s heaven, Eifert said in a press release.
“The Hall of Mosses and Spruce Trail are favorites of mine, but hiking a bit farther up the valley and taking a less traveled route, I’m always rewarded with the pristine and incredible scenery. This is not an easy place to photograph,” Eifert said. “The camera simply cannot process the contrasts of deep shade and bright sunbeams streaming through the canopy.”
In addition to images of the Hoh Rainforest, Eifert will feature other favorite beach and wildlife shots from within the park.
See gallery-9.com or call 360-379-8881 for more information.
• Red Dragonfly Gallery, 211 Taylor St., will feature “Light Magic,” steampunk art created by Eatonville resident Alan Williams. Originally a wood carver, Williams recently took up a new craft: forming sculptural light fixtures out of musical instruments.
He describes his work as “sculptures that happen to light up.”
Elements of steampunk and whimsy turn these abandoned instruments into “light magic.”
“Plato said music gives your soul wings and my hope is that Light Music lamps will allow you to see yourself soar,” Williams said in a news release.
Red Dragonfly Gallery also will present local watercolor artist Laurel Geyer, who will be giving live watercolor painting demonstrations at the gallery during Art Walk.
Saturday marks the last day to see Seattle artist Braden Duncan’s “Dreaming in Aether” collection, which features cats, steampunk and pop culture.
From 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 pm. Saturday, the gallery will be open for visitors to puruse the exhibits and enjoy “a world famous Underground Cupcake” and other refreshments.
For more information, call the gallery at 360-385-1493.
• The Jefferson Museum of Art &History, 540 Water St., will be open for the Gallery Walk on Saturday to introduce a new exhibit inspired by the Victorian era, “A Cabinet of Curiosities.”
The exhibit will include such unique items as stuffed exotic birds, scientifically classified bird eggs, shells, medical tools and a Bering Strait kayak.
For more information, call Jenny Westdal at 360-437-0508.
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Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsula dailynews.com.
