Artists of the Month for January 2013

CONTEMPORARY ART BRINGS IN THE NEW YEAR

The Blue Whole Gallery is proud to announce it's two featured artists for the month of January 2013. Barbara Boerigter and Mary Franchini will welcome the New Year with contemporary art sure to bring a smile to your face and get you thinking about art from a different perspective.

Come join us at the Blue Whole this First Friday on January 4th and view other new work by the fine artists of the Blue Whole. - Susan Martin Spar, Blog Master.

Barbara Boerigter 

Barbara's art generally focuses on the unusual objects that most people discard. Wedding intellect and imagination, she brings these found objects together to create sometimes humorous and often thought provoking sculptures, wall hangings and collages. The images below are a fine example of the two ends of Barbara's spectrum. While "Baba Yagas House" brings a smile and a feeling of puzzlement to the viewer, "Time Gone" is a strong reminder of a construct that rules us all.

“Not Baba Yagas House”

“Art came late into my life. A native of the Pacific Northwest , after living abroad for 26 years, I completed a BFS from Concordia University in Montreal , Quebec in 1990, returning to Washington State in 1994. Living in other lands gave me exposure, stimulation, taught me tolerance, and reinforced my patriotism. My personal views of the world, regardless, have always been somewhat simplistic: those of goodness; caring and concern from fellow man to fellow man; and preservation of our Earth. I feel very connected to the human condition, that potential instilled within every living thing that needs care and nurturing to reach its full potential. The art pieces on display this month reflect that concern.”

“Time Gone”

Mary Franchini

Mary's work always makes me smile. There's something about her cheerful palette and humorous images that always makes me think of  carefree days spent in the sunshine. Mary works in multimedia. She creates paintings and collages filled with wonderful texture and lovely color. Not all of Mary's images, however, are created on a purely lighthearted note. Some, like the images below, show another more serious side of Mary's nature and hint that she looks deeper into things than a first glance would indicate.

"Green Abstract"

“I paint for the sheer joy of the experimental process and want to bring this feeling to the viewer using color, light and sometimes whimsy. My work goes from form to form and back again. Using simple ideas or objects, I paint a series of works. Stretching and pulling these has proved helpful in the creative process. I like to use water media which includes watercolor, gouache, acrylics, paper and any marking implement. I work with a very basic plan, but then see where the painting takes me. My students give me hints and ideas and I run with them, learning from them as much as they learn from me.”

"Laura Cropped"

First Friday Chocolate Bash

Special Music by Lorrie & Ben Parrison Celtic harp and Classical Guitar, Yummy chocolate and lots of wonderful gifts for the holidays!

Gift Gallery Open!

Gift Gallery is in full swing!

Karin Anderson at work on the Gift Gallery

The Gift Gallery at the Blue Whole opened today with wonderful selections of gifts from beautiful little vases by Steve Wry to stunning pendants by Karin Anderson. One of my favorites are the little rams by Nancy Lawrence. Painters are in the picture (pardon the pun) with some lovely paintings. Take a peek at Deb Sterk's new work below. Come on down and check us out. The gift gallery will be available through the month of December and new selections will be put up daily.  There's sure to be something to please everyone for this holiday season.

Pendants are great gifts for someone special

Deb Sterk's newest work is bright and colorful. Isn't it always?

The perfect vase for a perfect someone

Get a chance to win one of Carol Janda's watercolors!

This year, in addition to great selection of paintings, photographs, ceramics, sculpture, fused glass, jewelry, prints and cards, we have something very special: a drawing to win Carol Janda's original watercolor painting "Winter Kale." Art makes a great gift for your relatives, friends, and for yourself. 

"Winter Kale"

Black Friday at the Blue Whole (well - sort of)

Gift Gallery to open on November 23rd!

Every November the Blue Whole Gallery opens it's gift gallery. Filled with special one of a kind items. From purses, scarves and jewelry to miniature paintings and sculptures, there's sure to be a gift to please everyone's taste. Many folks in the community pass us by never realizing that they can get a lovely personal gift for someone for around $40 or $50 instead of the usual store bought items. 

Every May my husband and I visit some friends in Victoria and spend a weekend at their home. As this always falls on their anniversary, we try to bring them something special. They are always delighted with the gifts we bring from beautiful bottle stoppers by one of our premier wood carvers, Carl Baker (see below) to small vases and pottery by Carol Janda. One year I purchased a set of chop stick holders made by Nancy Lawrence and they are proudly displayed in the dining room. They always remark on how wonderful it is to get something unique and finely crafted. 

So we hope to see you down there full of the holiday spirit seeking out unique and unusual gifts  for this holiday season.  -- Susan Spar, blog reporter.

Gift Gallery Items

Beautifully Crafted Wine Stoppers by Carl Baker

IN MEMORIAL

On September 28th in the early morning hours, The Blue Whole Gallery lost one of it's dearest and oldest founding members. Shirley Foss was 83 when she passed on. She was born to Maurice R. and Fern B (Kale) Balmer on December 25th, 1928 in Denver, Colorado.

She received her early schooling in Albany, Oregon and then majored in art at the University of Oregon. A trip taken to Alaska with some friends in 1952 introduced her to the wilds of the Northwest and started a love affair with wildlife and wild places that would last the rest of her life. She settled in Anchorage and later met and then married John Foss in 1954. They later lived both in Kansas and New Jersey before retiring in Sequim. John preceded Shirley in death in 1999.

Shirley was active in Alaskan galleries and art clubs and locally was a member of Sequim Arts since 1983. Her work reflected the wildlife and landscape that she was so entranced by in the Northwest. She worked in both pastels and oils and although she was unable to be physically in the gallery, she continued to contribute both art work and important clerical duties that she could perform at home.

Shirley was a Charter and active member of the Blue Whole Gallery in Sequim and helped the gallery get it's start in 1997. She was for many of the gallery's operating years, it's manager and many members have remarked that when Shirley retired from active duty at the gallery's physical location, it took five people to fill her shoes. Even though she was small in physical stature, she was to all the gallery's members, bigger than life. She always had a cheerful word for everyone and though she faced many physical hardships, not a soul can ever remember her uttering a word of complaint. She will be sorely missed.