Saturday, August 28, 2010
First Friday-Meet the Artists September 3, 5-8pm
A provocative exhibit called “Urn Your Way” featuring work by 30 Spokane area artists opens at J.F. Thamm Gallery on First Friday.
Spokane, WA- Join 30 artists whose work is featured in the provocative show: “Urn Your Way” for a First Friday reception, September 3, 2010, 5:00pm - 8:00pm at J.F. Thamm Gallery, 11 S. Washington Street, (in the Historic Hutton Building), downtown Spokane.
The 30 featured artists in the “Urn Your Way” exhibit are:
Liz Bishop, Laura Nuchols, Rhea Giffen, M. Dianne Lemley, Sami Perry, Lynn Hanley, Lezlie Finet, Tom Pickett, Jill Smith, Ken Spiering, Virginia Carter, Rick Singer, Margo Casstevens, Kurt Madison,Kristens Sylvester, Ken Yuhasz, Mason McCuddin, Mel McCuddin, Clara Woods, Jan Juday, Janna Juday, Denise Bowles,Darcy Drury, Keiko VonHolt, Maraget Cook, David Herron, Darrell Sullens, EL Stewart, Harold Balaz, John Thamm.
"Urn Your Way" Artist Reception-September 3, 5-8pm
Rhea Giffen, Coeur d’Alene mixed media/papier mache artist describes her experience creating for this show at Liz’s invitation. “I recycle a lot of newspapers in my work and am often struck by the obituaries. Sometimes the faces jump out at me and I may take time to read the stories. As I wish them and their loved ones comfort and support on their journey, I imagine a symbolic rebirth of sorts as a little bit of their story becomes layered in the foundation of my sculptures.
To create a vessel that can be used as a funerary urn or simply a place for keepsakes to honor a loved one is a natural progression for my art. While working on these pieces my most prevalent thoughts were of the interconnectedness of all life.
I love the concept for this exhibit. Death can be such a beautiful part of the circle of life. I hope people will become aware of the abundantly creative choices that are available to personalize their remembrances.”
The show depicts creative and inspirational views of death and bereavement in a variety of mediums. Conceived and created by artist, Liz Bishop, each artist has contributed work that depicts the stigma of death, a subject not often discussed in our society. Ironically, the exhibit was rejected by two area gallery spaces until Liz approached the J. F. Thamm Gallery.
Liz is a member of the Patriot Guard Riders with whom she rides on missions to honor soldiers killed in action to commemorate veterans. She is intimately apart of many military funerals and helps veterans and their loved ones plan ahead by taking responsibility for their eventual passing. Liz, an artist working in pottery, felt the best way to honor the originality of an individual's life was through a personalized handmade urn. After having several close friends and loved ones pass away, Liz began designing and creating what she calls "Spirit Vessels" for the departed.
Jill Smith
Jill Smith, featured artist and well known potter states: “Dust to dust.
Ashes to ashes. For centuries ceramic urns have held the ash remains of humanity. Life, just like clay pots, is formed, molded and created by our own hand then firmed by fiery events. When we pass from this life plane we lay aside the trappings of this body and take our essence and experiences on to become what we will be. As a potter it is an honor to create a resting place for the memories of this world to reside in. Because they are involved in the actual act of creation themselves, artists view life and death in extraordinary ways. To bring those thoughts together in a show of this kind is in itself extraordinary. "
Ashes to ashes. For centuries ceramic urns have held the ash remains of humanity. Life, just like clay pots, is formed, molded and created by our own hand then firmed by fiery events. When we pass from this life plane we lay aside the trappings of this body and take our essence and experiences on to become what we will be. As a potter it is an honor to create a resting place for the memories of this world to reside in. Because they are involved in the actual act of creation themselves, artists view life and death in extraordinary ways. To bring those thoughts together in a show of this kind is in itself extraordinary. "
Liz Bishop-Spirit Vessels
Two Vietnam veterans commissioned Liz to create their “spirit vessels” before they die. One of the veterans, Dennis H said; "Not only did Liz create a beautiful piece of Art, but she captured the essence of my spirit when it is time for this Viet Nam vet to become whole again.” Larry G spoke about the beauty of the process that included him in the conception of the piece; "Liz took time to go to my leaning tree, we talked, sipped cocoa, and she collected pine needles and bark. All these things were made part of my vessel, with Liz's thoughtfulness and care, and thus will become part of my legacy that my family can have forever."
4 x 4 x 1: Four artists, Four poets, One show
The J.F. Thamm Gallery, 11 S. Washington, presents 4 x 4 x 1: Four artists, Four poets, One show on First Friday. The show is a multi-media offering representing the art and poetry of Tom Gribble, Karen Mobley, John Whalen, and Iris Gribble-Neal. This exhibit is unique in that the artists have all fractured the arbitrary lines drawn between art forms, and their poetry will also be displayed as part of their exhibits. The artists will be available at the reception First Friday; the exhibit will be on display for the month of August.
Private Poetry Reading Session August 28, 2010
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| Private Poetry reading by Tom Davis, Zan Deery, Iris Gribble-Neal and Tom Gribble with Norville Troust. KPBX Auction Item - private poetry reading session at the J. F. Thamm Gallery |
Tom Gribble-Artist Statement
Tom Gribble
Tom Gribble’s contributions are from two of his collections, War Horses and Re-evolution. They are acrylic paintings on canvas, Styrofoam reliefs, and graphite prints. The surfaces and framing, with the exception of some polymers and protective substances, for the projects are from re-cycled or re-used sources. He says, “The War Horse project began when our world went to war. Re-evolution was spawned from my artistic endeavors to use some of the excess material we create.”
John Whalen- Artist Staement
John Whalen
John Whalen works primarily in acrylic paint on stretched canvas, being most interested in color and texture, color fields, palimpsest, the scraping away, the adding to, the brushwork and lines from combs. John says, “Though my paintings are not representational of natural forms but of impressions of the interior mind, I like to work within the concerns of form, of structured energy and the release of energy, of picturing the briefest thought.
Iris Gribble-Neal Artist Statement
Iris Gribble-Neal
Iris Gribble-Neal will display work in two mediums: collage with acrylics, and photographs of nature enhanced in computer composition. “I am fascinated by color and the texture resulting from combinations of paint, paper, textiles, and re-cycled canvas,” she says of her art. Her graphic depictions of nature are not an attempt to reproduce nature which is already perfect but perhaps to see it from a different angle, depth, and dimension.
Karen Mobley-Artist Statement
Karen Mobley
Karen Mobley will present drawing and collage art works from a recent series of works that are abstract images of water, plant life and birds. About this work she says, “I have been interested in aspects of landscape and wildlife illustration for my whole life. These works are about getting to the essence of movement and place without being strict to the scientific or descriptive. These art works are more about how it feels to me to be in nature.”
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