EXHIBITS

Jason Henry Hunt: A Solo Exhibition

This August, Stonington presents a solo exhibition featuring Jason Henry Hunt. Jason Henry Hunt stands as a torchbearer of the Kwagulth artistic tradition, drawing from a lineage of master carvers and visionaries. The son of renowned Kwagulth artist Stan Hunt, and the descendant of legendary carvers Henry Hunt and Mungo Martin, Jason Henry Hunt’s work is both a tribute to his heritage and a testament to his own creative evolution.

Hunt’s work is defined by a steadfast dedication to old-world craftsmanship. He favors the use of hand tools, a choice that reflects not only respect for tradition but also a commitment to the tactile, meditative process of creation. His pieces, ranging from monumental totem poles and intricate masks to expansive panels and vibrant paintings, embody the spirit and stories of his people, while bearing the unmistakable mark of his personal style.

Raven and the Cast of Characters Bid You A Fond Farewell As They Embark On Their Final Voyage

Stonington Gallery is proud to present Hib Sabin’s Cast of Characters, a comprehensive retrospective exhibition celebrating the illustrious career of Hib Sabin. This showcase marks the culmination of Sabin’s artistic journey, offering a grand exploration of his captivating body of work. Sabin’s signature animal figures—ravens, owls, hawks, and eagles as well as others such as cougars, bears, and wolves—serve as powerful spirit guides and stand-ins for the human experience, bridging the physical, psychological, and spiritual realms. Sabin explores profound themes of mythology, shamanism, and the human condition through intricate hand-carved juniper sculptures, ritual objects, and cast bronze pieces.

This exhibition invites viewers to immerse themselves in Sabin’s unique perspective on the interplay between the physical and spiritual realms. Hib Sabin’s Cast of Characters showcases the full spectrum of his artistic output. While this retrospective is intended as the capstone to Sabin’s remarkable career, it may not mark the absolute end of his artistic contributions. The future may hold smaller, focused exhibitions, potentially featuring his drawings. However, Cast of Characters is the definitive celebration of Hib Sabin’s enduring legacy in the contemporary art world.

There will also be a FREE Artist Talk with Hib Sabin on Friday, September 5th.

Doors Open at 5:30; Talk starts 5:45. RSVP Required.

RSVP by emailing art@stoningtongallery.com or calling (206) 405-4040 to reserve your spot!

Storytellers: A Group Exhibition

This December Stonington presents:

This December, Stonington Gallery presents a group exhibition celebrating Storytellers.

Storytellers are the keepers of history and tradition in the Pacific Northwest and Alaskan Native cultures. Through the art of storytelling, vital knowledge, beliefs, stories, and values are passed down orally from one generation to the next. This enduring tradition remains at the heart of Native heritage and culture, connecting the past with the present and ensuring that the wisdom of the ancestors continues to guide their communities today. 

Aqua Alta: Raven Skyriver and Kelly O’Dell

Raven Skyriver (Tlingit) and Kelly O’Dell (Non-Indigenous) are not only partners in life but also in art, and will be featured together in a highly anticipated exhibition at Stonington Gallery this month. Both artists are celebrated for their masterful work in glass, a medium they skillfully manipulate to capture the dynamic essence of Pacific Northwest aquatic life. Their shared practice draws on the legacy of glass as a vessel of knowledge, particularly the traditions of the Venetian glass industry, whose lineage of teachers and techniques continues to inform and inspire their work. This exhibition pays homage not only to the craft and its generational transmission, but also to our earth’s ever-shifting environmental realities—rising sea levels, changing oceans, and the fragile ecosystem impacted directly by the actions of human beings.

Raven Skyriver draws deeply from his upbringing in the Pacific Northwest, where formative experiences with local wildlife and the surrounding waters continue to inspire his art. Skyriver seeks to capture the true essence of the animals he depicts, inviting viewers to connect with these creatures and reconsider the fragile balance of nature. His work reflects a profound respect for and detailed rendering of our marine world and encourages a renewed appreciation for the natural wonders often taken for granted or overlooked.

Kelly O’Dell developed a fascination with mortality and the traces life leaves behind at a young age growing up in Hawaii. In her work, she explores themes of extinction, preservation, memento mori, and the delicate balance of nature. Glass’s physical properties—its fragility as well as its strength—allow her to evoke vulnerability and impermanence, resilience, and survival. The ability of this material to endure intense transformation is a parallel to how the artwork itself as a whole becomes a beautiful representation of our borrowed time.

Skyriver and O’Dell’s sculptures embody the essential fluidity and beauty of the natural world, while also serving as a harbinger to humans that if we do not change our ways, this beautiful world and these extraordinary creatures will not survive all of the enormous changes they face.

Tributary: A Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson Solo Exhibit

This month at Stonington Gallery, we present Tributary, a solo exhibit of works by Puyallup/Tulalip artist Qwalsius-Shaun Peterson. These works represent the culmination of Shaun’s time spent reflecting on the important master artists who, from the earliest part of his career until the passing of many of them, mentored him, guided him, and educated him on the intricacies of the various Northwest Coast art styles: Nuu-chah-nulth/West Coast, Makah, Tlingit and other northern styles and, of course, his ancestral southern Coast Salish. With these works, designed and created over the course of this past year, but possible only for having studied and learned so closely and carefully from these important mentors, Shaun pays homage to these artists who came before him, whose shoulders he stands on and whose footsteps he follows steadfastly and honorably.

Drew Michael: Water’s Edge

April

“Water is life. We come from water and earth. In this show, I want to bring us to the water’s edge—to appreciate and honor the spirits of water, animals, and land. I was born a mirror twin in the month of March near the Kuskokwim River in Bethel, Alaska and I have always felt a connection to bodies of water. In many communities around the world people often live by some form of water whether it be a river, lake or the ocean. In these places where the water and the land meet many things transform. Life comes to existence; and life can be taken away. And just as there is an ebb and flow of the water, our lives are transformed and changed as things come in and out. The Yup’ik people of western Alaska believe that everything has spirit and, in this time, we must honor and protect the waters that we so rely on for subsistence and our ways of life. Through these pieces I encourage all to remember the importance of water and of protecting the lands that they connect to, and the animals that live within and around…

Artist Demonstration: Terresa White & Paige Pettibon

With Terresa White and Paige Pettibon

This artist demonstration with Terresa White (Yup’ik, mixed European ancestry) and Paige Pettibon (Confederated Salish, Kootenai, Black) offers a unique opportunity to witness firsthand the creative processes of these talented artists. From Paige’s intricate paintings to Terresa’s masterful sculptures, attendees will gain exciting insights into these two artists’ techniques and stories. Don’t miss this chance to engage with these incredible artists and watch them work!

Valentine’s Day Picks

Ideas for Valentine's Day Gifts

Get your special someone a gift of love with our curated collection of Northwest Coast Native art that captures the spirit of connection. From lovebirds to heart-shaped jewelry, to sculptures and discounted custom framing find the perfect expression of your heart for Valentine’s Day!

Artist Demo with Dave Ketah

Visitors will have a unique opportunity to witness a captivating live carving and painting demonstration by contemporary Tlingit artist, Eechdaa-Dave Ketah. During this event, Dave will be working on a solstice-themed piece, showcasing his exceptional skills and rooted connection to Tlingit culture. Dave, whose work is deeply rooted in tradition, aims to carry forward the rich heritage of the Tlingit people while inspiring the next generation of culture bearers. Observing the creative process firsthand is a wonderful opportunity, and one we encourage you to experience, as it allows you to discover the artist’s techniques and gain insights into their artistic vision. Feel free to ask questions and delve deeper into his inspirations, ideas, and artistic journey.

Saturday, December 21, 2024

1-3pm at Stonington Gallery

125 S Jackson St, Seattle 98104

Refreshments will be served.

December First Thursday Pioneer Square Art Walk

Come on out to our 45th anniversary group exhibit opening!

Stonington Gallery is excited to celebrate our 45th anniversary! For nearly half a century, we’ve showcased masterworks from the Northwest Coast and Alaska, representing the talented artists of our region with passion and commitment while adapting to cultural and technological changes.

This December 5th, join us for the opening of our special group exhibition featuring exceptional works in various mediums and styles. This exhibit honors our community of artists, clients, and supporters, and looks forward to a bright future as we continue to be a cultural beacon in Seattle. Celebrate 45 years of artistic excellence with us!

Thursday, December 5th, 5-8PM at Stonington Gallery

Luminosity

An Annual Group Glass Exhibition: 2024

This October and November marks the return of Stonington Gallery’s annual glass exhibition, Luminosity. This event celebrates the remarkable evolution of Northwest Native glass art, showcasing a unique blend of contemporary glass techniques with the rich and ancient imagery of Native cultures. Join us to experience the luminous beauty and intricate craftsmanship that honor tradition while pushing the boundaries of glass art.

Hib Sabin: The Four Seasons

We are thrilled to present The Four Seasons, featuring the captivating work of non-Indigenous artist Hib Sabin! Get ready to embark on a mesmerizing journey through the seasons of life. This thought-provoking collection weaves together Sabin’s deep fascination with mythology, shamanic practices, psychoanalysis and global cultures into a visual symphony of ritual components.

Through intricate hand-carved juniper sculptures and ritual objects, Sabin explores the profound symbolism of seasonal transitions, inviting viewers on a transformative spiritual and emotional journey. The exhibit is meant to awaken all the senses through the written word, music, psychology, philosophy, dance, and, of course, visual art. Inspired by Vivaldi’s iconic musical composition and poetry, this ensemble harmonizes with the four stages of traditional Hindu life—Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (hermit), and Sannyasa (renunciant)—as well as Carl Jung’s four major life stages—childhood, youth, adulthood, and old age.

As Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” captures the essence of nature’s transformations through music, Sabin’s sculptures and objects evoke a parallel sense of change and continuity in human experience. His masterful pieces embody the essence of each season: the fresh beginnings of spring, the warmth and vitality of summer, the introspective calm of autumn, and the serene reflection of winter. Sabin’s signature animal figures—ravens, owls, hawks, and eagles—serve as powerful spirit guides and stand-ins for the human experience, bridging the physical, psychological, and spiritual realms.

Celestial Ancestors: A Lillian Pitt Solo Exhibition

It brings us great joy to present a solo exhibit of works by the renowned Warm Springs/Wasco/Yakama artist, Lillian Pitt. Delve into a world where ancient petroglyphs and pictographs come to life through Pitt’s masterful contemporary interpretations—a transformative journey through time and space.

Lillian’s work bridges millennia of Native American culture with modern, artistic expression. This exhibit showcases the varied media that Lillian has worked in and become known for, and, in particular, highlights the Star People/Star Spirit series that she has heavily focused her artistic attention on over the past few years.

Honoring Those Who Came Before

Stonington Gallery is excited to present our June exhibition Honoring Those Who Came Before. This is a group exhibition that focuses on the theme of ancestors, elders, and mentors. The culture and art of the Pacific Northwest Coast and Alaska have existed for millenia, passed down from generation to generation. The artists featured in this exhibition explore the ideas of how to honor those who came before them and who it was in their lives that helped them on their journey. Some explore deep personal stories while others revel in the techniques and styles that keep them connected to the ones who came before. This multidisciplinary group of works honors the memories of ancestors and contributes to the living and breathing Pacific Northwest Indigenous cultures thriving today.

On the Hunt

On The Hunt: A Group Exhibition explores artwork that focuses on Pacific Northwest Indigenous hunting and fishing techniques and what they look like today. Outside of exploring depictions of tools like halibut hooks and reefnet anchors, this exhibition will also honor the animals native to the PNW and their many uses in contemporary native artwork. The elk and deer are animals traditionally hunted for food though they were, and still are, used for much more. The hides are tanned and used for drum making, dance aprons and leather straps, the antlers are used as the handles of rattles or as inlay in carved panels, masks, and sculpture. The killer whale is revered as the embodiment of the hunt. Many canoes are carved with the killer whales character to bring good luck to their hunting and fishing endeavors because of this association. On the Hunt brings together these traditions and animals from many different Pacific Northwestern and Alaskan native artists to celebrate this deep traditional knowledge and create connections between contemporary depictions of hunter and prey.

Celebrating Women Artists

In honor of Women’s History Month, Stonington Gallery presents a digital grouping of works by the women we represent—weavers, carvers, painters, print makers, glass artists, jewelry makers, and more.

The McCaughey Collection

Stonington Gallery is honored to feature the works from The McCaughey Collection in the month of January. Opening January 4th and running through the 27th, this collection features a diverse array of stunning pieces collected over the years and reflects a profound admiration for the depth and richness of contemporary Northwest Coast art. The collection primarily consists of cedar masks and sculptures, hand-carved during the late 90s and early 2000s. Renowned artists including Greg Colfax, Wayne Price, Tom Hunt, Henry Speck and others.

Luminosity

An Annual Group Glass Exhibit : 2023

This October and November is the return of Stonington Gallery’s annual glass exhibition: Luminosity. Highlighting the incredible development of Northwest Native Glass Art, Luminosity is a testament to the movement that ties the contemporary medium of glass with ancient imagery of Native cultures.

A Visual Feast

The health of all communities in the Northwest reliesy on the summer harvest. Bears and other hibernating mammals gorge themselves on berries and fish before autumn. The strength of the Southern Orca population is equally dependent on the strength of the salmon spawning in our waters. This period of time is a cause for celebration, but also one to cherish and respect. Stonington Gallery is happy to present a collection of artwork commemorating the summer harvest. 

Still Alive, Not Petrified: James Madison

a solo exhibition

Stonington Gallery is proud to present James Madison’s “Still Alive, Not Petrified.” In his first solo exhibition with Stonington, he showcases his proficiency in storytelling through a diverse group of materials such as expertly carved wood, hand-blown glass, cut and cast metal, and custom-designed giclee prints.

Crossing the Boundary: A Solo Exhibit of Works by Rick Bartow

a solo exhibition

Stonington features works by Wiyot artist Rick Bartow (1946-2016) this March with a solo exhibition of his haunting and uncanny paintings, monotypes, and drypoint etchings, many of which were created using hand-crafted Japanese paper in collaboration with master printer Seiichi Hiroshima. This exhibition will explore the symbolism of coyotes, dogs, and wolves as tricksters and omens within Bartow’s body of work and encourage new ways of seeing. We look forward to showcasing these evocative and thrilling works.

Unmasked: A Group Exhibition

The mask is an ancient and magnificent object among the Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast and Alaska, important because of its use in ceremony, performance, healing, and family wealth. While many cultural objects combine utilitarian functionality with refined beauty, few objects are as iconic to this region’s art and culture as masks.

Two Sisters: Lily Hope and Ursala Hudson

This September, Stonington Gallery will be featuring the work of Tlingit sisters Lily Hope and Ursala Hudson in their new exhibit, Two Sisters. The artists will showcase their weaving skills in an exhibit of traditional ensembles, modern garments, woven masks, jewelry, and collages.

Ships That Pass in the Night – Featuring New Works by Hib Sabin

A Solo Exhibit

This July, Stonington Gallery presents a powerful solo exhibition Ships that Pass in the Night by artist Hib Sabin. In this new body of original carved and painted juniper sculptures and accompanying studies on paper, Sabin explores our fears and hopes around climate change and the complexities of our American political climate.

Inspired by the poetry of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and the masterpiece, Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, Sabin casts light on the vast gap in human communication in these days of extreme individualism and individual freedoms sought out at the expense of the greater good. The realm of our subconscious and the great unknown are always looming and the light and dark natures of humanity remain ever at play.

Birds of a Feather

The many prints, carvings, and drums depicting birds of all kinds will be landing in Stonington Gallery’s May exhibition and will offer a unique opportunity to examine Pacific Northwest Coast art in the contemporary form through the lens of mythology and culture.

Perfection Observed: Works on Paper by Rick Bartow

A Solo Exhibition

Stonington Gallery presents a solo exhibition featuring pastels and monotypes with a focus on drypoints by artist Rick Bartow (1946-2016), starting Thursday, March 3-Saturday, April 2, 2022. 

Reconnection: A Group Exhibition

Reconnection: A Group Exhibition Celebrating Coming Together, opening First Thursday, December 2, 2021, 5-8 pm. Open through Saturday, January 29, 2022. We look forward to exhibiting a diverse body of work ranging from acrylic paintings to weavings and carved masks.

September: A Two-Person Exhibit

Always Good To See You: Lena Amason & Drew Michael

Always Good to See You is a powerful collection of new works by two deeply intuitive artists, Lena Amason (Alutiiq) and Drew Michael (Yup’ik/Inupiaq). We hope these works will inspire you and help to draw you back to your core, to pay attention to messages Mother Nature is sending, and to allow yourself to feel and relate to the works in whatever way is most meaningful to you right now.

Light and Dark

July 2021

One of the enduring dualities or dichotomies of humankind is the relationship between light and darkness. Many creation myths in the west involve light emerging from darkness, while many destructive myths involve darkness engulfing light. Light and dark are opposites, but there is never one without the other.

Over the millennia, darkness has become associated with evil, hell, fear, death, power, negativity, and irrationality; while light is thought of in terms of goodness, heaven, peace, righteousness, life, positiveness, and rationality.

Hib Sabin’s creativity emanates equally from the unfettered, unconscious dark side of his being as from his rational light side. Once a raw, creative idea emerges from the darkness, his conscious, rational mind shapes and fine tunes it into a finished product.
The work in this exhibit explores light and darkness from a number of points of view. In most instances Sabin has actively attempted to strike a balance between light and darkness.

CONSTELLATION

May

Port Gamble S’Klallam artist, Jeffrey Veregge, showcased “Sol” in addition to his many former limited edition giclée prints. Due to serious illness, Veregge was limited in his ability to complete all artworks for this exhibition. Nevertheless, this exhibition was stunning and clearly expressed Veregge’s dedication to his unique craft.

Please consider supporting Jeffrey Veregge and his family with medical expenses via his GoFundMe page: https://bit.ly/32TCLlv

Raven’s Magic Box: Order From Chaos with Jerrod Galanin

April

Over this past year Jerrod Galanin–Tlingit artist, dad of a new baby, human being–found himself at home in lockdown like the rest of the world, trying to make sense of the changes and challenges life now presented. During this time, many found new ways of channeling stress, anxiety, confusion, and fatigue—all of the emotions that were building up over the course of the many months isolated from the rest of our families, co-workers, and friends. Some took up gardening, some read many more books than ever before—Jerrod, found himself seeking out new ways of expressing himself creatively as an artist. Check out some of his new drawings using markers, color pencils, pastels, graphite, and charcoal on paper. He also has some fresh graphic design pieces that are near and dear to his heart. Lastly, learn the meaning behind Yéilch Aan ḵut ḵuwliyél Daakeit- (The box that raven tricked people with). We are so excited to share this with you!

Framing Sale

February

The Stonington Gallery employs a full-time framer, the wonderful Terry Upshall, who frames 99% of the flat work you see in the gallery. But did you know that we will also frame works you bring in to us? Terry uses conservation-grade materials and is available five days a week for consultations.

During the month of February, take 20% off all new framing projects, regardless if they are work purchased in or out of the gallery.
You can also take 20% off the framing cost of all framed works* in the gallery. We pre-frame many prints, paintings and flat media, and this is your opportunity to knock down the framing price and take home a piece ready for hanging.
And all works you buy flat at the gallery automatically qualify for 20% off the framing price if you choose to frame with us.

Skyward: A Group Exhibit on the Realms Above

December

We can all agree it has been a very challenging year on Planet Earth! So for our last exhibit of 2020, we thought it would be comforting and wise to look skyward to our celestial neighbors for inspiration. The sun, moon, planets and cosmos have stirred our imaginations and dreams since humans first looked up. We invite you to join us on this remarkable journey of looking skyward and to marvel at the world above us.

As we round the corner towards the winter solstice, our days will grow longer and–we hope–brighter. Step outside your normal routine, look up into the heavens and find that perspective and peace that will carry you into the New Year. Natural law tells us that the sun will rise tomorrow; be that light to those around you!

We hope in these pieces you will find a beautiful ending to a difficult year.

Northwest Native Art Glass: Dan Friday | Preston Singletary | Raven Skyriver

October

Northwest Native Art Glass is the confluence place where contemporary Northwest Indigenous art and the studio glass movement collide. The result are works in the medium of glass that reflect on, honor and explore Indigenous heritage, made by contemporary glass artists at the height of their powers. We are honored to represent three of the most important Indigenous glass artists working today: Dan Friday (Lummi), Preston Singletary (Tlingit), and Raven Skyriver (Tlingit). We feature these three Washington-based artists in October, as part of the Refract Festival that brings glass to the forefront in Seattle.

Lena | Ceara | Jennifer

August

This August we are proud to present a joint exhibition by three young artists with Alaska Native heritage: Lena Snow Amason (Alutiiq), Ceara Lewis (Aleut), and Jennifer Angaiak Wood (Yup’ik). All three have participated in group exhibitions at our gallery in the past, but this represents the first spotlight exhibitions for each of them. 

Lena Snow Amason (Alutiiq) grew up in the village of Port Lions, Alaska. Amason draws upon imagery of sea life around Kodiak Island for much of her carvings, paintings and drawings. Her work is included in collections at the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Alutiiq Museum, University of Alaska Museum of the North and the Anchorage Museum. Her work has also been included in an exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.

Ceara Lewis (Aleut) grew up in Cannon Beach, OR, but spends her summers commercial fishing with her family in Bristol Bay, Alaska. Lewis carves mask forms from yellow or red cedar, incorporating a mixture of traditional and contemporary materials, such as hammered copper, porcupine quills, sinew, abalone, and beads. She graduated from Willamette University with a degree in Cultural Anthropology.  She currently apprentices under Greg A. Robinson, a Chinook carver/artist. 

Jennifer Angaiak Wood (Yup’ik) is an artist of Yup’ik, Irish and Italian descent, and was born and raised in Fairbanks, AK. The Yup’ik side of her family comes from Tununak, AK, on the coast of the Bering Sea. Jennifer’s inspirations include historic masks, stories, and her time spent in Tununak growing up. She usually adds modern materials and concepts to her work, and she uses her art as a way to connect with her Yup’ik heritage and bring a little bit of Yup’ik history into the modern world.

Emergence: A Group Exhibition

June

This exhibition will premiere online, and we hope to be able to debut it to visitors later in June! While we are currently still closed for safety, it is our hope that we can open sometime during the upcoming month. More details as they emerge.
We celebrate the re-emergence into public life with works by Trevor Hunt, Jason Hunt and Jeffrey Veregge that were previously only available online. We also introduce the cut-feather works of Chris Maynard (Non-Indigenous) for the first time, a perfect confluence as we open and emerge into nature once more. Maynard is based in Olympia, WA, and uses only the shed feathers of birds to make his detailed compositions celebrating patterns in nature.

Jeffrey Veregge: A Better Tomorrow

May

Inspired by the hopeful outlook of the technical and scientific innovations of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair and Century 21 Expo, Jeffrey Veregge (Port Gamble S’Klallam) continues his exploration of hope, teamwork, scientific inquiry, and positivity through the lens of Americana, nostalgia and pop art. Like his 2019 exhibition–“Bold Americans: Above and Beyond”–which highlighted achievements in aerospace and aeronautics, Veregge places a spotlight on a time when Americans set aside differences to achieve what was considered impossible, held strong beliefs in science and mathematics, and looked to the future with ingenuity and hope. Utilizing Coast Salish designs in his signature Salish Geek style, Veregge uses 1960s colors and designs to pay tribute to some of the lasting architecture built for the Expo that has left its indelible mark on the city. These include the Monorail, the airy arches at the Pacific Science Center designed by Minoru Yamasaki, and–of course–the Space Needle, which is still the global icon of Seattle architecture to this day. 

Special Artist Event: Qwalsius Shaun Peterson / Andrea Grant

March 25: Artist Event - POSTPONED

Special Event:
Qwalsius Shaun Peterson & Andrea Grant
March 25, 6:30pm / Free to attend

Contemporary Coast Salish artists Grant and Peterson join us to preview stories and illustrations from their forthcoming collaborative book, “Killer Whale-Wolf & the Isle of Women”. Illustrated by Peterson and written by Grant, the book re-imagines traditional stories from various Coast Salish peoples and re-tells them in the modern day. 

The event brings the two artists together in a presentation about the forthcoming publication, and will include a spoken word performance by Grant.

Qwalsius – Shaun Peterson: Where the Moonlight Meets the Water

March

Qwalsius – Shaun Peterson (Puyallup) debuts a body of new prints on paper and aluminum panel in “Where the Moonlight Meets the Water”. The digitally-designed works are illustrations for a forthcoming book on reimagined Coast Salish myths, “Killer Whale-Wolf & the Isle of Women,” created with Andrea Grant (Coast Salish). Peterson focuses on individual characters from Salish myths in many of the works, building the images from a dense layering of transparent colors and shapes. Peterson revisits familiar stories and flips their perspectives, excavating new meanings and motives from archetypes.

Special Event: Qwalsius Shaun Peterson & Andrea Grant
March 25, 6:30pm / Free to attend
Contemporary Coast Salish artists Andrea Grant and Peterson join us to preview stories and illustrations from their forthcoming collaborative book, “Killer Whale-Wolf & the Isle of Women”. Illustrated by Peterson and written by Grant, the book re-imagines traditional stories from various Coast Salish peoples and re-tells them in the modern day. 

Crystal Worl on the Water

February

We begin our 2020 exhibition season with a show of original paintings and carving by the Juneau-based mixed media artist and entrepreneur Crystal Worl (Tlingit/Athabascan). The core of this exhibit are eleven original watercolors Worl created for the new trilingual children’s book, “Cradle Songs of Southeast Alaska”. The book includes lullabies in three languages–Tlingit, Haida, and Ts’msyen–and is newly available for wide release. These vivid watercolors are celebrations of communication between generations, and their bold colors connote the joy and strong sense-memories of childhood.

Winter 2020

Annual Framing & Framed Art Sale - EXTENDED!

The Stonington Gallery employs a full-time framer, the wonderful Terry Upshall, who frames 99% of the flat work you see in the gallery. But did you know that we will also frame works you bring in to us? Terry uses conservation-grade materials and is available each Tuesday-Saturday for consultations.

From Jan 12- Feb 28:
-Take 20% off all new framing projects, regardless if they are work purchased in or out of the gallery.
-Take 20% off the framing cost of all framed works in the gallery. We pre-frame many prints, paintings and flat media, and this is your opportunity to knock down the framing price and take home a piece ready for hanging.
-Any flat work you purchase with the gallery automatically qualifies for 20% off the framing costs if you choose to frame it with us.

Thomas Stream: Winter

November

In November 2019 we present a solo exhibition by contemporary Aleut painter Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut) who presents a new body of work focusing on birds in their winter habitats. Stream’s vivacious animals wear traditional Aleutian hunting hats. In Stream’s iconography these visors celebrate the individual spirit of each animal, while connecting them to the Aleut people, who share the same environment.Aleut artist Thomas Stream was born in Kodiak, AK in 1941. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from Cornish School of Allied Arts in 1976. He began the Aleutian Painting series in 1996, an exploration of natural forms, vivid colors and delicate patterns. This series is encapsulated by the phrase, “We are still here,” a simple—yet poignant and powerful—statement that sums up Stream’s outlook on his heritage and his artwork.

Salish Brilliance: Dan Friday & Maynard Johnny, Jr.

September

In September we welcome two Coast Salish artists to the gallery who honor their roots with vibrant, brilliant color and vivacity.

Dan Friday (Lummi Nation) has been working in glass for decades, and makes sculpture informed by the anthropological and historic objects made and used by his ancestors. His “woven” mosaic glass baskets are tributes to the weavers of the Lummi, while his small glass totemic sculptures are a testament to the Lummi totem carvers, including his great-grandfather, Joseph Hillaire. Friday recently won the Audience Choice award at the Bellevue Arts Museum for his mixed-media installation of glass salmon swimming across the walls and up into a woven cedarbark reef net, surrounded by sxwole (reefnet anchors) in blown glass.

Maynard Johnny, Jr. (Penelakut/Kwakwaka’wakw) uses bright color and bold design to interpret his dual Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw heritage through his prints, paddles and paintings. He is first and foremost a painter; his designs exhibit clarity, confidence, motion and grace. The ultimate success and transcendence of both Northern and Salish art hinges on an understanding and clarity of line, and this is something he has proven time and time again.

Hib Sabin: The Still Point of the Turning World

July

Exhibition opens July 11th, 6-8pm. Exhibit runs July 3-28th.
Special Event: Lecture and Book Signing Wednesday July 10th, 6:30pm.

In July we present a new body of work by Santa Fe sculptor Hib Sabin, in conjunction with the release of his book “The Other Side of Silence, The Far Side of Time”. This 128-page hardcover book is the first major collection of Sabin’s work, and we are proud to host an exclusive book-signing with Hib Sabin on July 10th. Join us on the 10th for a sneak peek at his new exhibit and for the signing, or on the 11th for the First Thursday (technically Second Thursday, due to the July 4th holiday) opening reception.

Masks: The Art of Becoming

June

In June we present a group exhibition celebrating the power of masks and their makers.
“Masks were used to become someone, or something, to tell the stories and explain the histories of our rights and privileges,” says contemporary Ts’msyen artist David R. Boxley, perfectly capturing the importance of this evocative art.
Today, masks continue to be both forms for ceremony and active practice, as well as aesthetic expressions of artistic mastery. The masks in this exhibit reveal the diversity of mask-making practices from living cultures spanning a geographic distance from the Columbia River all the way north to Utqiaġvik, AK. They also provide a glimpse into the how each individual artist chooses to incorporate traditional or non-traditional materials and concepts into their practice.

Jeffrey Veregge: Bold Americans – Above + Beyond

May

Illustrator and designer Jeffrey Veregge (Port Gamble S’Klallam) delves into American history to honor exemplary men and women in the fields of science and aviation, utilizing Coast Salish formline design to convey a blend of nostalgia and respect for these pioneers. Veregge writes, “We are in a dark time as a country; divided and angry. I want an art show that brings us back to a time of hope, bravery and imagination. I want people to see and remember real heroes from various times in our country: a visual form of patriotism that isn’t hate-fueled.”

“Bold Americans” debuts new prints honoring aviators including Mae Jemison, Amelia Earhart, Mercury 7 astronaut Gordon Cooper, the Tuskegee Airmen, and Chuck Yeager.

Rick Bartow: From the Archive

April

Special Event: Charles Froelick Speaks About the Life, Works and Legacy of Rick Bartow – Wednesday, April 10th, 6:30pm.

This April we are proud to feature works on paper by late artist Rick Bartow (Wiyot). Some of these original paintings and monotypes are emerging from the artist’s archive and have not been readily available since his passing. All bear the signature hallmarks of Bartow’s oeuvre: energetic, organic marks from his hands and fingers; enigmatic words and numbers emerging from the subconscious; and a tight connection to the natural and spirit worlds. Bartow’s artistry taps into the vitality of a parallel world where mythic characters clash and clamor with tangible force. His work invites us to enter this reality, and guides us through its rhythms and rituals. In his hands, the realm of the spirit is not a quiet abstraction, but a place that can bite, bleed and sing.

SPECIAL EVENT: Art Talk: Charles Froelick on the Life and Legacy of Rick Bartow

April

Art talk at Stonington Gallery, April 10th 6:30pm.
Free to attend. First come first seated.
Stonington Gallery proudly welcomes Charles Froelick to give a presentation on the life, legacy and works of renowned artist Rick Bartow (Wiyot) during the run of Bartow’s exhibition at our gallery. Charles worked with Rick as his primary gallerist and archivist for many years, and the two formed a deep and lasting relationship. He has toured the country speaking and presenting on Bartow’s life and art, both during Bartow’s life and since his passing in 2016. Charles was instrumental in the creation of Bartow’s retrospective exhibition–What You Know But Cannot Explain–that opened in 2015 and continues to tour the country even now, and he provides insight of a rare caliber and depth into this enigmatic artist’s canon. 

TWO RAVENS: Alison Marks & Crystal Worl

February

We kick off the year with an exhibition by two ambitious young Alaska-based mixed media artists, Alison Marks (Tlingit) and Crystal Worl (Tlingit/Athabascan). “Two Ravens” will present new works by both artists, including paintings, sculptures and a print debut.

Traditional Tlingit society is built on two matrilineal moieties, otherwise known as clans, and all modern Tlingit people are either part of the Eagle or Raven moiety. In the past, people were required to search for a suitable marriage partner of the opposite moiety. Both Marks and Worl are of the Raven moiety, forming the title for their show. But Raven is more than just their clan marker: Raven is one of the most important mythic characters on the Northwest Coast, featuring in hundreds of myths as a catalyst for change, a trickster stirring up mischief, and a transformative being who takes on many guises. It is in the spirit of transformation, experimentation, and boundary-pushing that Marks and Worl present “Two Ravens”. Much like Raven, these two ambitious artists are always up to something!

Fast Forward: Skateboards & Paddles

December

Exhibit Opens December 6, 6-8pm / Runs December 6-Early January 2019
Paddles and skateboards move us forward, fast! Paddle blades and the lines of a skate deck are strikingly similar, and for good reason: they’re meant for speed, for slipping through air or water like a knife, and for cutting through resistance to get us where we need to go. The paddle is a traditional form of transportation, a perfectly engineered object that has been in continuous use on the Northwest Coast for millennia. The skate deck, its modern counterpart, has captivated the hearts of people across both rural and urban communities due to its economy, its freedom of movement, and its countercultural cache. This winter, we’ve invited our artists to adorn longboards, traditional skateboards and paddles in a huge group exhibition celebrating the power, speed, and creativity of these modes of transportation.

Special Event: Treading the Path, Becoming the Elder – Saał-Kaa Fred Fulmer

November

Sunday, NOVEMBER 11, 1-4PM

1-3pm: Carving demonstration

3pm-4pm: Artist talk 

Free to attend

We are proud to present a talk and carving demonstration with emerging culture-bearer and artist Saał-Kaa Fred Fulmer (Tlingit) on Sunday, Nov 11. Fred has recently returned from an extended stay in Juneau and Hoonah, Alaska, where he took part in cultural events and projects. He is eager to share his insights from these experiences, and to show visitors his carving techniques. Please join us for his talk at 3pm!

Dan Friday: Solo Exhibition

September

We open our Season of Northwest Native Art Glass with a solo exhibit by Seattle-based glass artist Dan Friday (Lummi Nation). Dan returns to the gallery with blown and hotsculpted works in glass, focusing particularly on the proud tradition of reefnet fishing amongst the Lummi nation. Reefnet fishing an indigenous fishing practice that is one of the most sustainable and humane in the world, but that was almost completely wiped out in the twentieth century.

Reefnetting was spread amongst the tribes around the Salish Sea but was invented by the Lummi. Reefnet fishing was traditionally done by suspending a a sxwole (woven reef net) between two canoes.

In honor of the reclamation of these practices, Dan Friday renders some of the most important tools in reef netting out of glass for his new exhibition. They join other works honoring his Lummi heritage, including woven cedar baskets made from a complex glass mosaic technique; model totem poles in hot-sculpted glass, and others.

ARTIST LECTURE: Tuesday, Sept 18th, 6:30 pm at Stonington Gallery.

A Season of Northwest Native Art Glass: Special Event

October

Northwest Native Art Glass Panel Talk with Preston Singletary, Raven Skyriver and Dan Friday: Wednesday October 17th, 6-9pm.

Tickets are $15. Purchase online at: https://stoningtongallerynorthwestnativeglass.brownpapertickets.com/
6-6:30pm Pre-panel refreshments at Stonington Gallery.
6:45-8:15 Panel talk and questions at The 101, just four doors down the block.
8:15-9pm Post-panel tour through the Preston Singletary exhibit at Stonington Gallery.

WHITE-HOT: Summer Group Exhibition

August

In August we present hot new arrivals into the gallery, in tandem with highlighted works from our collection. New works are flowing into the gallery for summer, including an elegant new paddle by Qwalsius – Shaun Peterson, two jaw-dropping original sculptures by Preston Singletary, new prints by lessLIE, carved panels by Dennis Allen, and more. We’ll rotate through works during the month to highlight the depth of innovation being produced right now on the Northwest Coast. 

Hib Sabin: The Other Side of Silence, The Far Side of Time

July

Hib Sabin (Non-Indigenous) returns for a new solo exhibition featuring his sculptures in juniper and bronze, inspired by global mythology, philosophy and the liminal times of dreaming and sleep.

SeaTac Airport Rotating Exhibition

June - September

Stonington Gallery is bringing the finest contemporary Northwest Coast art to visitors from around the world at SeaTac airport! This ongoing exhibition in partnership with the Port of Seattle is a rotating spotlight on the diverse art styles, media and viewpoints of contemporary artists of the Coast. We are honored to share works with locals and visitors by regional luminaries including Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Dan Friday (Lummi), Raven Skyriver (Tlingit), Robert Davidson (Haida), Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut), Lillian Pitt (Wasco/Warm Springs/Yakama), Shaun Peterson-Qwalsius (Puyallup) and more.

All works in the exhibition are for sale through Stonington Gallery. Please call 206.405.4040 or email art@stoningtongallery.com with inquiries.

The exhibit is located at the Gina Marie Lindsay Arrivals Hall at the South end of the Main Terminal, on the baggage claim level. In layman’s terms, it is the large atrium with the suspended airplanes in the waiting area of the Arrivals section.

Spotlight On: The Giant Pacific Octopus

Online Exhibition

The octopus also has a rich history of being rendered as a character and spirit helper among the indigenous cultures of the Pacific Northwest. In this online-only exhibit we’re highlighting some of the creative ways in which our contemporary artists honor this intelligent, fascinating creature.

“The Octopus is a remarkable, unique, eight armed sea creature. The final spirit helper –  its transformative nature is represented by its natural ability to incorporate its body into its surroundings and its means of capturing and devouring its prey. It has the ability to change colour, shape and even texture, as well as to eject dark ink in self-defense. It constructs its dwelling place by moving rocks and pebbles, it examines its environment, collects food and defends itself by raising its arms and seems to use its large eyes for intelligent observation. The natural behavior suggests both supernatural and human connections. Octopus is common in shamanic art, undoubtedly because of its amazing transformational abilities.”

-Excerpt from Understanding Northwest Coast Native Art by Cheryl Shearar

Masters of Vancouver Island and Beyond: The Todd Collection

March-April

In March and April we are honored to present works from the Todd Collection, a spectacular array of works collected throughout the 1990s and 2000s. The collection has a special focus on masks by Vancouver Island artists in Kwakwaka’wakw, Kwagiulth and Nuu-chah-nulth traditions. This exhibition brings together masks, bowls, chests, panels and objects from some of the Northwest Coast’s most revered artists, and represents a dazzling survey of some of the most important carvers working on and around Vancouver Island from the mid-to-late 20th century.

The collection includes works by Art Thompson (Nuu-chah-nulth), Susan Point (Musqueam), Jay Brabant (Cree), Duane Pasco (Non-Indigenous) Calvin Hunt (Kwakwaka’wakw), Beau Dick (Kwakwaka’wakw) and John Livingston (Non-Indigenous/Adopted Kwakwaka’wakw), Mervyn Child (Kwakwaka’wakw/Tlingit/Nuu-chah-nulth), Simon Dick (Kwakwaka’wakw), George Hunt Jr. (Kwakwaka’wakw), Scott Jensen (Non-Indigenous/Adopted Tlingit), Don Yeomans (Haida) and numerous others.

Unexpected Alaska

February 2018

Adding company and context to Drew Michael’s February exhibition is “Unexpected Alaska”, a group of contemporary Alaska Native artists who are pushing the boundaries of traditional art-forms. Many are incorporating non-traditional media to realize their art–such as the glass work of Preston Singletary (Tlingit) or Larry Ahvakana (Inupiaq), or the milagros found on Kathleen Carlo’s (Koyukon Athabascan) masks. Others–such as Lena Amason-Berns (Alutiiq) or Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut)–forge new styles that are a meld of designs used for thousands of years with a personal vision. Many of these artists are friends or mentors to Drew Michael, making them welcome companions to his solo exhibition, and widening the horizon on artists who are creating new frontiers for Alaska Native art.

The Sky World: Winter Invitational Exhibit

December

“The Sky World” completes the three-year series of group exhibits began by “Resurgence: Rivers” and continued by “Into the Woods: Forests”. Now we look to the sky to finish this cycle of winter group shows focusing on the indelible ecosystem, landscape and mythic heritage of the Northwest.

The Sky World theme offers a rich number of possibilities. Since the dawn of civilization mankind has looked to the skies and tried to make sense of our place in the immense, extraordinary and magnificent universe. Draw your eyes up to the heavens and contemplate all the ideas the sky, the atmosphere, the weather, the planets and stars present. Each generation is stirred and moved by the beauty and fragility of our skies.

Special Offer on Walter Davidson Silver Jewelry

WINTER 2017

From November 25 through January 1st we are offering all handcarved silver jewelry by Haida artist Walter Davidson for 20% off. These beautiful earrings, rings, pendants and cuffs are unique, hand-made creations from Davidson’s studio and are loving expressions of culture and attention to detail. All works are priced in Canadian, and depend on the day’s exchange rate, which usually hovers between .80-.85 USD. For those buying in the US, this results in a lower price than listed.

Born of Myth and Fire II: Celebrating Northwest Coast Art in Glass

October - Group Exhibit

The Northwest’s hot love affair with glass has been smoldering for 40 years, and only grows in intensity as new artists are drawn to the flame. Glass is a transformative material: it must be heated and gathered, blown and shaped, cooled and refined. Smooth and clear, rough and opaque, delicate or dense, it changes its form many times as it finds its ideal shape. The legends of the Native peoples of the Northwest are similar: they change their properties as they are retold and re-imagined, and we turn them over and over to reveal new facets and truths. What better modern material to use, then, to render the characters and cultures of the Coast than glass? Join us as we honor the artists using the medium of glass to celebrate their indigenous heritage, including Preston Singletary, Raven Skyriver, Dan Friday, Allie High, Lillian Pitt, Susan Point, Marvin Oliver and Alano Edzerza.

Raven Skyriver: SURGE

September

Young glass maestro Raven Skyriver (Tlingit) returns for an exhibition of sea-life from oceans and river systems that are threatened by pollution, ocean acidification, and over-fishing. Skyriver was born in the San Juan Islands in Northwest Washington, raised with a constant connection to nature. In his life he has seen that the Puget Sound and wider Salish Sea are the foundation of life in this region. The health of the rivers is the health of our Sound; its health is the health of our watershed. All water systems are connected, and if one is threatened and compromised, so are they all.

This exhibition is also a family affair: it will include a collaborative work by Raven and fellow glassblower–and wife–Kelly O’Dell, and the photography of his sister, Summer Moon Scriver (Tlingit). During the exhibition opening we are proud to host a pre-release book signing by Raven’s mother, Irene Skyriver (Tlingit), who has written a book on her family history and her wild solo kayak journey from Alaska to Washington.

Hib Sabin: The Long Game

August

Hib Sabin (Non-Indigenous) returns with a body of work that considers ideas about age in a world where youth is lauded, applauded, and sought after with almost religious fervor. Now in his 80s, Sabin turns his critical eye and dexterous carving hand upon himself, with work that reflects upon the process of aging, the need for nostalgia and review of the past, and the fearlessness of the future. What are the opportunities that close to us when we make decisions, and what happens when the “Road Not Taken” is passed by? Where are the crux points in our lives, and are they the ones we think they are when faced with them? What is the job of an artist in his older years, and how does he both reflect the world and his own truths? The works in this exhibition discuss these themes using the characters Sabin has become famous for: Owl, Raven, Raptor, Human, Bear, and more.

For the first time we will be offering Sabin’s concept sketches for sale alongside the finished sculptural works. And a physical and digital catalog will be available for this landmark show.

Salish Sound Waves: A Group Exhibit of Cutting-Edge Indigenous Visual Artists

May 2017

Stonington Gallery will be in the epicenter of the inaugural Upstream Music Festival this May, taking place in Pioneer Square May 11-13. In the spirit of the festival, we present artists who use motion, energy, vibrant color and an edgy design sensibility in their work to convey the cultures, environment and contemporary spirit of the Northwest.

Salal: A Tradition of Berry Baskets

April

Opening Reception: First Thursday April 6th, 6-8pm. This exhibit runs from April 6th-30th.

The Northwest boasts over thirty edible berries in its ecosystem, so it follows that indigenous peoples have made berry-picking a central seasonal activity for millennia. April is the first blush and bud of the salmonberries and Indian plum, and marks the time when the tribes make preparations for gathering.
Berry baskets are small baskets woven from spruce root or cedar bark, often with a loose or open weave. Their technique and materials differ from area to area, but are ubiquitous along the entire Northwest Coast and Alaska. We are pleased to present an exhibition of berry baskets in glass by Preston Singletary (Tlingit), and traditional woven berry baskets by artists including Isabel Rorick (Haida), Lisa Telford (Haida), and Deborah Head (Tlingit).

Spotlight On: Larry Ahvakana

March

We are proud to present a tightly-focused exhibition of work in stone and wood by master sculptor Larry Ahvakana (Inupiaq). This spotlight exhibition is a peek into what the multimedia sculptor is focusing on in his studio, and at the many facets of his practice.

Into the Woods: Forests of the Northwest Coast

December -January

This year, we continue to explore what makes the Northwest such a vibrant, unique environment with Into the Woods: Forests of the Northwest Coast. Forests have many faces: they are backdrops for epic journeys, where people become lost or found; places of transformation where what goes in is not the same as what comes out; places where our imaginations run wild and we face our own darkness, myths and secrets. Great mythological beings that inhabit these forests are as complex and fascinating as the web of life they live within. In much of Northwest Coast mythology they are places where animals and human-kind meet, clash, transform, and where the prey/predator divide is stark.

Joan Tenenbaum: Memory and Light

November

We are proud to present an exhibition of Joan Tenenbaum’s fine art jewelry in beautiful silver, gold, cloisonne enamel and gems.

“This is a collection of stories about memories, and the colors that surround them. Certain experiences in our lives: kicking crispy leaves while walking to school, moonlight shimmering on water, yellow cottonwoods beside a river running through an ancient pueblo, an evocative sunset sky…these moments are etched in our memories by the quality of the colors, the sounds, the light.

When I was in the first grade our teacher would put Johann Strauss’s “Tales from the Vienna Woods” on the record player in our classroom and have us finger-paint to the music. I can still remember her gesturing arms in the front of the room, just as a conductor would do. My finger-paintings were so unique and expressive that I was chosen to be in a government-produced documentary being filmed at our school. Even today, that music brings me back to that classroom.”

-Joan Tenenbaum, Artist Statement, 2016

Digital exhibition catalogue available for this exhibition.

Allie High: New Works

October

In October we invite Alaska-based contemporary artist Allie High (Aleut/Haida/Ts’msyen) to debut new prints and painted drums at the gallery, as well as possible works in silver and glass. High’s print series are well-loved by collectors, who fall for her prints of animals rendered in flowing formline, and her boldly painted drums. In the past, she has contributed works in ceramic, wood and hand-carved sterling silver to our exhibitions, and we eagerly look forward to seeing what emerges from her studio for this show.

Raven Skyriver: PACIFIC

Opening Reception: First Thursday, August 4th 6-8pm

Raven Skyriver returns to Stonington Gallery after a whirlwind year of blowing, teaching and exhibiting in places as diverse as Japan, Turkey and Norway. He continues to add to his arsenal of techniques and expertise, using some of the most complex and difficult procedures to create marine creatures that are astoundingly lifelike. The exhibition this year will bring an incredible Mahi Mahi (shown above) blown this past spring at Pilchuck Glass School, and many more works of dazzling coloration, gravity and audacity.

Digital exhibition catalogue available.

Masters of Disguise II: A Group Exhibition —- Opening June 2nd, 6-8pm

Last year’s Masters of Disguise mask group exhibition was a runaway success. And that should be no surprise: few traditional objects are as iconic to the Pacific Northwest Coast as masks, which offer such a rich platform from which to explore the cultural and art history and contemporary issues of our region. While many objects on the Coast combine functions of magnificent utility and aesthetic, the mask holds a place of prominence because of its use in ceremony, theater, healing, and family wealth.

Many masks depict specific characters from mythology. These character masks are each part of a lineage reaching back centuries. These ancient myth beings are defined and recognized by their physical attributes and features which reveal aspects of their personalities, environment, and history.

Splendor in Spring

Opening Reception: First Thursday, April 7 6-8pm

In April we present works that have flown beneath the radar, and give them their due time in the spotlight. These include new blown glass by Preston Singletary (Tlingit), a body of collaborative work by friends George David (Nuu-chah-nulth) and Spencer McCarty (Makah) who have been working out Neah Bay way, an astonishing panel by the multi-talented Shawn Hunt (Heiltsuk), a jaw-droppping panel by Jay Haavik (Non-Indigenous), a silken cedar panel and a painting by Carl Stromquist (Interior Salish), a new hand-colored woodblock print version of Marika Swan’s “The Sacred Heart Waters” (Nuu-chah-nulth), Allie High’s glasswork (Aleut/Haida/Tsimshian), and more.

Drew Michael: Heart of Our Understanding

Opening Reception: First Thursday, March 3rd 6-8pm

Stonington Gallery is proud to present the debut exhibition by ambitious young Inupiaq/Yup’ik artist Drew Michael. A sculptor of great sensitivity, grace and elegance, Michael is inspired by the traditional forms of Inupiaq and Yup’ik masks, but morphs them into what has become his own deep iconography of characters and images.

The works in Heart of Our Understanding were produced during his 2015-2016 residency at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, and reflect the deep thinking and feeling that Michael underwent in his time there. In many ways, Michael is a nomadic spirit: he and his twin brother entered the foster care system in Alaska as infants, and were in and out of foster homes in their youth. Today, Michael works and travels between many studios and cities, finding inspiration and connection in a peripatetic lifestyle. This yearning for relationships, trust, and a sense of home radiates through his work: there is a serenity, a solid certainty in his hooded feminine figures.

Print Matters: Printmakers on the Northwest Coast

Opening Reception: First Thursday, February 4th 6-8pm

Lithographs, serigraphs, giclees, woodblocks, monoprints, and embossing; the print-makers of the Northwest Coast employ many terms and tricks to get the job done. Formline design is particularly conducive to printing, as the 3-D curves and excisions of sculpture are reduced to elegant, flowing lines and negative/positive space.

Print-making amongst indigenous artists in the Northwest took off in the 1960s, with early pioneers –such as Henry Speck, Tony Hunt, Roy Vickers, and Doug Cranmer–kicking off a trend that would blossom through the next decades. In 1971 in Seattle–directly across the street from where Stonington Gallery now stands–Joe David, Barry Herem and Duane Pasco stood around a press on the third floor of Dick White’s gallery, pulling their first serigraphs.

Alano Edzerza: MOVING FORWARD

Opening Reception: First Thursday, November 5 6-8pm

A wizard of many media, the young Tahltan artist Alano Edzerza returns to the gallery with an army of cutting edge formline inspired equally by his heritage and his metropolitan life. Edzerza is known for working across media, but always retaining his ineffable sense of cool. Glass, wood and metal, serigraphs and paintings, even fashion and jewelry: he can do it all.

This landmark exhibit will feature Edzerza’s prints, etched glass, wood sculpture, jewelry and giclees on canvas. This is the first solo exhibit for this young, forward-thinking artist at Stonington Gallery in many years, and we cannot wait to see what he has up his sleeve. Included in this email are works in progress at his studio, which have us salivating for more.

Nikki McClure: The Landscape Beckons

We are proud to present a three person exhibit featuring paper artist Nikki McClure (Non-Indigenous), painter Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut) and jeweler Joan Tenenbaum (Non-Indigenous). These three Washington artists are deeply inspired by the landscapes and wildlife of the Northwest, and each renders their vision of this place in exquisite detail and skill.

We welcome Olympia-based cut paper artist Nikki McClure back to the gallery for her second show with us. Last year, she presented extraordinary two-tone and monochrome scenes made with paper and an exacto blade from her forthcoming 2015 calendar. We can’t wait to see what scenes she has in store for us this year!

Joan Tenenbaum: The Landscape Beckons – Birds in their Habitat

We are proud to present a three person exhibit featuring paper artist Nikki McClure (Non-Indigenous), painter Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut) and jeweler Joan Tenenbaum (Non-Indigenous). These three Washington artists are deeply inspired by the landscapes and wildlife of the Northwest, and each renders their vision of this place in exquisite detail and skill.

Tenenbaum will present a new body of wearable art by combining her cloisonne glass work with her intricate silversmithing. Using nature photography as a reference, Tenenbaum crafts a bird out of glass and gold wires, and then surrounds the cloisonne with a setting silver that reflects its natural environment.

Raven Skyriver: Intertidal

We are proud to present the newest solo exhibit by glass artist Raven Skyriver (Tlingit). The majority of works in this exhibition were blown over the last few months at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma, as well as in local studios around Seattle. Skyriver was the recipient of a prestigious “Fuel their Fire” residency at the museum, and many of the works in this show are the result of that program.

Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas: Solo Exhibit

We are proud to present the first American gallery exhibit of contemporary Vancouver artist Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (Haida tribe). His dynamic work has been seen in museums and galleries across Canada, Asia and Europe, but he makes his Seattle debut with Stonington Gallery and the Seattle Art Museum.

Yahgulanaas is known for his hyper-kinetic drawings that combine the bold lines of traditional Haida formline, and the narrative form of Japanese comics. He dubs the style “Haida Manga”, an unexpected and successful genre pairing that he has explored in varied media. He makes use of the buoyant and exaggerated caricatures seen in cartoons and comics, and uses the elegant lines of Northwest Coast design to both border the action and direct the flow. The result are narrative paintings that burst with motion, exuberance, humor and arresting characters, while tying together the graphic traditions of two disparate Pacific Rim island-dwelling cultures.

Digital exhibition catalogue available for this exhibit.

Stonington At 35

An Invitational Exhibition

For over three decades Stonington Gallery has shown sculpture, photography, paintings and prints by artists who are inspired by the Northwest Coast: its Native traditions, its environment, and its translation into new materials. Stonington culminates its 35th year in Seattle with an invitational group exhibit that illustrates the broad range of traditional and cutting edge work made by our represented artists.

Stonington Gallery at 35 Years is a snapshot of who we are right now, after three decades, hundreds of exhibits, dozens of events, and thousands of art objects.

Joan Tenenbaum: Fifty Playful Things

Fifty Playful Things debuts necklaces, bracelets, and earrings that have been a year in the making, and are a testament to the many techniques and materials that Tenenbaum utilizes. In the work are themes of geology and the Earth itself: folding, striating, creasing, sliding, crystallizing, and hints of hidden veins of precious metals.

Isabel Rorick: The Awakening

Like her great grandmother, Isabella Edenshaw, Haida spruce root weaver Isabel Rorick has set the standard for spruce root weaving for the next generation. Her work will be studied and analysed for its fineness, difficulty and spiritual quality. Weaving of this sort is a rarity and we are fortunate to be living in the time of Isabel Rorick.

The Awakening is an exhibit featuring Haida weaver Isabel Rorick’s famed spruce root weavings. In her artist’s statement, Rorick speaks of the need for an awakening of how we treat our world:

“It is with great conviction that this show comes, because we are amidst great changes here in time. The world as we know it is going through massive changes. The weather, the way we grow food, the way we package and process food, the way we communicate. It is a world that is spread very thin and there are a lot of things that are not following the sacred way things were meant to be. The land is not honored in the sacred way it was intended for use. Our water deserves tender care and protection. There has to be a lot of the old ways restored to honour our mother with the prayers the songs, the dances, and all the practices that the Native people practiced in endless time: we are all hungry for our way home, our home is in all aspects of our life.”

Thomas Stream: Look Closely

This September we urge you to focus your eyes and to look closely at the work of three artists who create in the minute, the detailed and the delicate. Nikki McClure (Non-Indigenous), Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut) and Courtney Lipson (Non-Indigenous) each build up a large image from the smallest details, utilizing their very different media to create wholes from disparate parts. These three artists are also all inspired by the landscape, wildlife and natural rhythms that surround us here in the Pacific Northwest. Though they use varying media and focus on different aspects of nature, each is clearly deeply connected to this Northwest place.

Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut) paints the denizens of the air with brilliant gouache and in incredible detail. As a contemporary Aleut artist, Stream combines the iconography of his heritage with modern painting. Stream is inspired by the bentwood hunting hats of his Aleut ancestors, especially the spiral and dot patterns painted along their length. Paying tribute to his heritage, he places a visor on each animal he paints, and incorporates the traditional patterns into the bodies of his creatures.

Raven Skyriver: Descent

We welcome Raven Skyriver (Tlingit) back to the gallery for a solo show of his blown glass marine creatures. His expertly blown glass sculptures capture the elegance and mystery of the wildlife of the Puget Sound and Pacific Ocean, and are evidence of Raven’s mastery in sculpting glass. Sea lions, salmon, seals, otters and other marine life make appearances in this exhibition.

Digital exhibition catalog available.

Marvin Oliver: Rare Works On Paper

Stonington Gallery is proud to present a collection of rare and new hand-pulled serigraphs by master contemporary artist Marvin Oliver (Quinault/Isleta Pueblo Tribes). A long-time educator at the University of Washington, curator at the Burke Museum, and full-time artist, Oliver is known for his innovative experiments in glass, print-making and large scale public art. Professor of Art and American Indian Studies at the University of Washington since the 1970s, Oliver has created a new print each year to bestow on graduates of the program.

A wide range of these historic prints–many that are long since sold out–are for sale and on display from the artist’s archive in this exhibition. Also on display are select works in glass.

Thinking of Raven

A Group Exploration

Stonington Gallery kicks off the 2014 exhibition season with Thinking of Raven, a thoughtful and creative exploration about the mythic character of Raven. Works in media as varied as glass, prints, jewelry, wood and metal sculpture will explore lesser-known sides of this character who is central in so many myths from far and wide along the Pacific Northwest Coast. Artists will consider questions such as: who is Raven in our modern world, and where do we see him (or her?) in popular culture? Is Raven—a trickster figure—a villain, a hero or somewhere in between? Raven stories are so central, so known, and so widespread in mythic tradition; what makes this character so popular and lasting?

Robert Davidson: Thinking Abstract

A Solo Exhibition

Stonington Gallery is proud to present an exhibition of work by renowned contemporary Haida artist Robert Davidson, in conjunction with his solo exhibition at the Seattle Art Museum—“The Abstract Impulse”.

The exhibit at the SAM will be Davidson’s first major United States museum exhibition, but his history with Stonington Gallery goes back over twenty years. Acknowledged as one of Canada’s premiere artists, Davidson uses the ancient formline design of the Haida people to create utterly contemporary abstract works. This exhibition focuses on works on paper, where Davidson’s mastery of elegant, sweeping lines and bold color is most evident.

Acknowledged as one of Canada’s premiere contemporary artists, Robert Davidson (Haida name Guud San Glans, or “Eagle of The Dawn”)uses the ancient formline design of the Haida people to create truly modern works. Davidson has been a key figure in the Northwest Coast Native art renaissance. His great grandfather was the famed Haida artist Charles Edenshaw (1839-1924) whose iconic works were produced throughout the era when Native arts, languages and ceremonies were painfully silenced by the Canadian government. Edenshaw is recognized by many scholars as one of the finest traditional artists in modern history, and will be honored in a comprehensive exhibition this winter at the Vancouver Art Gallery, concomitant with Davidson’s Seattle Art Museum exhibit. Davidson has taken up his ancestor’s mantle in the current era and boldly pushed tradition in a new direction.

Digital exhibition catalogue available.

Preston Singletary: Bronze, Glass & Paper

A Solo Exhibition

Stonington Gallery is proud to announce its first exhibition by renowned Tlingit artist Preston Singletary. New limited edition bronzes designed by Singletary make their debut, alongside an exquisite selection of patterned glass baskets and limited edition prints.

For many years Singletary has been captivated by an old family story: when his great-grandmother was a child she raised a bear cub as a pet, and kept it for some time in her home. Inspired by the tale, Singletary designed a magnificent seven foot tall totem pole—including the prominent characters of the bear cub and his great-grandmother—and had it cast in bronze. With its rich patina and soulful details, this monumental bronze Family Story Totem is a testament to Singletary’s visionary design, and his continuing commitment to working with a variety of media.

The exhibit will also showcase a comprehensive selection of Singletary’s limited edition serigraph prints, as well as his Tlingit Glass Basket series, based on the woven bark and root baskets that have been made by Tlingit women for millennia.

Digital exhibition catalogue available.

Thomas Stream: Worlds in a Wing

Thomas Stream celebrates summertime with a new collection of original gouache paintings featuring the bird-life of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Stream’s paintings portray wildlife as we’ve never seen it: stylized creatures in brilliant flat-color hues, set against a white backdrop that illuminates their elegant curves and lines. Working with the tiniest of brushes to achieve the minute dots, spirals and hair-thin lines, Stream creates worlds within a single wing.

Digital exhibition catalog available.

Raven Skyriver: Oceanic

A Solo Exhibition

Raven Skyriver (Tlingit/Makah) returns to Stonington for a third solo exhibition with a new, audacious body of glass artwork. Skyriver’s realistic glass sculptures will focus o the aquatic life of the Puget Sound area, highlighting creatures such as salmon, whales, octopuses and seals. Using foil to connote the iridescent scales on a salmon’s skin, or coaxing the shape of a fin out of molten glass, Skyriver’s technique continues to develop and astound.

Digital exhibition catalogue available.

Treasures of the Northwest

A Group Exhibition

Haida master artist Bill Reid spoke of the “well-made object,” a term for the masterpieces created by the region’s artists for admiration, adornment and ritual use. The natural materials of the Northwest help make these objects possible: from old growth trees to soft goat furs, bone and horn to copper and grasses. The quality of these materials has inspired artists to craft objects of beauty throughout the centuries.

The term treasure speaks to a thing of rare occurrence; the execution of an idea, the combination of beauty and profundity behind an object. In this place where sea meets forest meets mountains, treasures are discovered in each cove and cranny. The joy of finding these treasures—whether it is a totem pole returning to the earth in the forest, or being surprised by a favorite artist—is part of the aura that surrounds the well-made object. The artists in Treasures of the Northwest Coast are individuals of rare talent and vision, and collectively honor Reid’s concept with their beautifully-wrought objects.

Joan Tenenbaum: Moons, Mountains & Mystery

Thomas Stream – Solo Exhibition

Thomas Stream (Aleut) has painted a new collection of gouache paintings inspired by the natural rhythms and habitats of the Northwest and Alaska. Influenced by the connections between shore and sea, land and air, tree-top and forest floor, Stream’s settings have grown ever more intricate. His environments often break through the panels drawn to contain them, spilling exuberantly out onto the white page beyond. Migratory birds and sea-dwellers inhabit Stream’s detailed tableaux, each rendered in his signature pointillist detail and bearing the traditional wood hunting hats of the Aleut people.

Journeys: Travels in the Natural and Spirit Worlds

A Group Exhibit

Red & Black

A Group Exhibition on the Power of Color

The deep power of black and the cleansing peace of red are dominant colors in Northwest Coast artwork. Red and black are utilized by tribal artists up and down the Northwest Coast, both in secret ceremony and in the most modern of designs. Black pigment—the background to most formline painting—was traditionally derived from grinding black iron oxide, or from charring animal bones. Red pigment—used for the inner details of figures—came from hematite, vermillion or red lead. These pigments were then mixed with salmon egg oil to produce a durable paint that found its way onto wood, stone and metal objects.

Stonington presents a selection of works by artists who pay homage to these graphic, bold colors and the power they invoke.

Raven Skyriver: Abyss

Raven Skyriver, a member of the Tlingit tribe, returns for his second solo exhibition with a new collection of his signature blown glass creatures. The result of years working under glass maestros William Morris and Lino Tagliapietra, Skyriver’s intense coloration and graceful lines prove his hot-sculpting aptitude and passion for the Northwest’s environment.

Hib Sabin: The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

Hib Sabin’s characters are at once the mythic guardians and protagonists of our dreams. Sabin’s spirit animals embody the essence of winter, and his new works bring the year to a close entrenched in spirit and vitality.

Rick Bartow – Retrospective and New Works

Stonington Gallery is thrilled to be featuring in October a solo retrospective exhibition including new works by Wiyot artist Rick Bartow. Bartow draws deeply from both Native American mythological archetypes and a deeply personal symbolic catalogue, encapsulating his characters in a maelstrom of colors and pulsating lines. He is able to transfer the moment of emotion straight into his work, whether in paint, pastel, ink or wood. Bartow’s twenty-year retrospective, Dog’s Journey, is currently traveling the country through January 2012, and can be seen first at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke followed by the Missoula Museum of Art.

Thomas Stream: In Flight

Graceful birds take flight at Stonington in Thomas Stream’s 2011 solo exhibit. Stream conjures a new body of exquisitely detailed gouache paintings that draw their inspiration from the iconic Aleut hunting headgear and the natural environment of his Aleutian ancestral homelands.

The Gifts of Trees

A Group Exhibition

As the sap begins to run we pay tribute to the indigenous trees of the Northwest and the myriad objects into which they are transformed. The iconic bentwood boxes, delicate halibut hooks, towering totem poles, ocean going canoes, and graceful woven basketry of the Northwest Coast peoples could never have been without the presence of these majestic trees. This group show presents works that honor the versatile uses of indigenous trees, as well as the traditional tools used for centuries to carve wood into enduring objects of beauty and power.

Staff Picks

Selecting from the choicest of the choice, the Stonington Staff has picked twelve works from the Gallery’s renowned collection to exhibit during the month of March. Each staff member has chosen two pieces with which we sense a deep connection that is felt when we encounter these works. From jewelry to carvings, textiles to prints, many of these pieces are the most striking from an artist’s greater body of work, while others carry an intangible resonance almost impossible to describe. These pinnacle works will be displayed with accompanying commentary by a Stonington staff-member, illuminating our perception of the piece and why it provokes such a distinct reaction in us. The process of selecting these pieces has been a wonderful experience for Stonington’s staff, and has reacquainted us with some of our favorite artists and works!

Hib Sabin: The Storyteller

Hib Sabin- “The Storyteller”. Hib Sabin’s signature piece for this exhibition will be a tribute to storytellers from all cultures whose signature role in culture will be honored in a carving depicting a Man/Raven transformation; titled “Storyteller.” The exhibit will also include a series of “Spirit Jars”; collaborations in glass with artist Peter Wright.

Shaun Peterson & Phil Gray: Southern and Northern Traditions

n October, Stonington Gallery is proud to showcase an exhibit of works by two equally gifted artists—Philip Gray (Tsimshian) and Shaun Peterson (Puyallup)—thus juxtaposing the Pacific Northwest Coast Northern style with that of the Southern. The art of each of these men conveys the essence of his culture’s historical roots, communicated in his own personal contemporary voice. Peterson draws upon the rich storytelling traditions of the Coast Salish speaking peoples of the southern coast. Gray’s classic northern style design, carving and painting are reminiscent of and equal to the works of the old masters.

Joan Tenenbaum: The Evolving Ring

In her 2010 Solo Exhibit, Joan Tenenbaum continues her passion for making small objects, focusing specifically on rings. From the bold and striking to the delicate and intimate, there will be big rings, small rings, curious rings, surprising rings, classic rings, adventurous rings and special ones from the heart.

Bracelets: A Beautiful Legacy

No other piece of jewelry is as culturally significant to the Pacific Northwest coastal communities as the bracelet. Bracelet cuffs are a medium on which well-known mythic narratives can be re-told in a continuous visual loop, where iconic characters tangle sinuously and familiar faces pop up in surprising ways. Their circular forms reach back to embrace ancient visual and oral traditions, while simultaneously stretching forward to usher them proudly into the future. Their flat shapes provide the ideal surface for engraving crests, patterns, floral designs and figures. This bracelet tradition has continued and flourished in the hands of today’s superb metal smiths. We have invited a select group of jewelers to each create a unique bracelet that pays tribute to this beautiful custom and represents their singular place in the Northwest Coast art world.

The Head Adorned: Helmets, Hats, Frontlets, Masks & Jewelry

Stonington Gallery presents The Head Adorned, a group exhibit that honors the rich heritage of headgear among tribes of the Pacific Northwest Coast. The sheer variety of headgear found in this region eloquently symbolizes the importance placed on these extraordinary objects. During ritual native dance and ceremony, the endless expressiveness of the human face is changed through adornment: the dancer is made huge and terrifying; rendered subtle and sleek; warped into otherness or morphed into the features of any familiar mythic character.

Join us at the exhibit opening when Fred Fulmer and his dance group, Lingit Kusti, will perform and Isabel Rorick will speak about her baskets. Don’t miss the unique opportunity when Bill Holm will lecture and present slides on the vast and fascinating history of headgear on the Northwest Coast. Wednesday, July 28th, 7 pm.

Rick Bartow: Paintings, Monotypes, Drypoints, & Sculpture

Rick Bartow’s art is cathartic for both artist and viewer. His bold, spontaneous and expressionistic approach allows the viewer to access and experience the process where art is made, both psychically and physically. The energy and dissonance exerted on the canvas and paper is frenzied, even manic, mirroring life’s challenges and chaos. And then it is worked through; Bartow (Wiyot) has immersed himself in the deep and calming waters of his native mythology, its connectedness to the natural world, and the mythic characters who inhabit it.

Balance is found and restored as revealed in the clarity and focus in the eyes of Bartow’s characters. They often gaze beyond the present; their sights resting peacefully on something just out of view: a future that appears to hold the possibility for solidity and peace.

Haida Masters

The Stonington Gallery will feature contemporary Haida art in March, including a rare opportunity to view and collect a limited edition Bill Reid 22kt cast gold “Grizzly Bear Medallion and Chain,” 1972. The Haida are from British Columbia’s Queen Charlotte Islands and are respected for their refined and elegant art traditions. The late Bill Reid is considered by many Canadians to be their country’s foremost artist and, as such, is featured on their twenty dollar bank note. Few of Bill Reid’s works are available for viewing outside of museum collections, most notable collections at the UBC Museum of Anthropology, the Provincial Museum (Victoria) and the new Bill Reid Art Gallery (Vancouver).

Stonington Gallery will aslo feature in March works by other leading Haida masters including a new sculpture, “T’samuus,” by Robert Davidson; spruce root weavings by Isabel Rorick; and argillite carvings by other well-known Haida artists.

Raven & Eagle: Love On the Northwest Coast

We conclude 2009 with a group exhibit that speaks to our love of the Northwest Coast. The Stonington Gallery artists have spent their lives immersed in the mythology of the Northwest Coast. They are the finest artists of our time and their singular effort to honor the Raven stories and other myths will bring a brilliant and stunning finale to the year!

Hib Sabin: Life Cycles

Hib Sabin imbues each of his carvings with a spirit power that can be strongly felt. Sabin’s characters play a role in allowing him to express and explore the beauty and acceptance he feels with life’s cycles of birth, death, and the journey in between and beyond. His cast of figues moves in and out of an ancient and timeless spirit world. In this exhibit, Hib will continue this exploration of animal spirit and the journey of life through his sculpture.

Thomas Stream: Striving for Balance

Aleut artist Thomas Stream explores what it is to be an Aleut man and artist in modern times. The Aleut culture was devastated by the relentless hunting of Sea Otter in the 19th century. The tragic result of this obsession was the near collapse of Aleut culture. More than a century later, Thomas Stream’s paintings are a splendid and unique portrayal of Aleut culture and its respectful relationship with nature. Thomas Stream is collected internationally and is a vital link to one of North America’s least known and most magnificent cultures.

Young Artists: The Next Great Generation

This group exhibition will be an introduction to a larger exhibit scheduled at Stonington Gallery in 2010 that will focus on the younger artists whose energies have been fueled by the past 60 years of cultural renaissance. The dedication, talent and passion of these young artists have propelled them into the ranks of the next generation of great artists. Among artists included will be Alano Edzerza, David Franklin, Phil Gray, Adam McIsaac, Shaun Peterson, Andrea Wilbur-Sigo and John Wilson.

Maynard Johnny, Jr. – Featured Artist

We have had the pleasure of working with Maynard for over seven years. Our favorite memory of Maynard, and one we will treasure always, was from the day the Stonington Gallery opened our Awakenings exhibition, August 16th, 2005. We had spent nearly two years planning the exhibition. During that time we had made many trips to British Columbia and spent many evenings writing the exhibition catalogue Contemporary Coast Salish Art. We were immersed in all things Coast Salish for two years. It was wonderful.

However, the full impact of the cultural importance of the exhibit really did not hit home until Maynard Johnny, Jr. got up and spoke at the Opening Reception. We had an open mic available for anyone who wanted to share thoughts about the exhibit. There were so many wonderful, interesting things said that day. But what will always come to mind are the comments Maynard made and how heartfelt they were and how difficult it was for him to speak to a crowd. Maynard expressed how much the show meant to him as a Coast Salish man and artist. He spoke of the sense of great personal relief and joy that his cultural heritage was finally being celebrated and how satisfying it felt that people wanted to learn and understand the cultures that were here long before the west was settled. It felt like so much bottled sadness had been released, and in its place a sense of hope.

Hib Sabin and Phil Charette: Masks and Other Transformations

A Two Person Exhibit

David Franklin: Solo Exhibition I

Thomas Stream: ALASKA – Wildlife Portraits, An Aleut’s Perspective

We are proud to present another incredible selection of new original gouache paintings by Aleut artist Thomas Stream. New characters emerge in his painted menagerie developed over the decades: the pesky raccoon, busy beaver, and regal elk are among his most recent subjects. These characters are all depicted in Thomas’s signature style, wearing the iconic Aleut hunting hats and set in the landscapes of our world that the artist respects and holds dear.

ALASKA — Life of the Arctic Tundra

Alaskan Sculpture and Basket Weaving

With Stonington Gallery’s annual foray into ALASKA, we are delighted to introduce a body of exquisite finely coiled grass baskets by Central Yup’ik weaver, Jane Wiseman. Jane gathers a variety of grasses along the banks of the rivers near her village in Chefornak, Alaska. She hand treats and dyes the grasses and dedicates hours to weaving beautiful lidded and open baskets, bowls, and trays.

The exhibit will also feature a breathtaking collection of new whalebone and ivory carvings from the Bearing Sea Inupiaq and Siberian Yupik carvers. Masterfully carved walrus ivory tusk and whalebone totems by Siberian Yupik artist Edwin Noongwook of Savoonga, St. Lawrence Island, whalebone dancers and hunters by Shishmaref Inupiaq artist Bill Jones; large whale scapula carvings by Inupiaq artists Edwin Weyiouanna and Richard Olanna; as well as a variety of other whalebone and ivory carvings from other Eskimo artists reflecting their lives and their culture.

Inspired by Love: Stonington Gallery Jewelers

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Stonington’s jewelers have created an exquisite body of work in celebration of the month of love.

Fits In Your Pocket

Opening simultaneously with a December group exhibit celebrating “Rain,” Stonington Gallery is proud to present a special body of work featuring small animal spirit carvings by the popular artist Hib Sabin: “Fits in Your Pocket.”  Not unlike prior works by Sabin, these explore themes of shamanism and the nature of animal spirits as manifested through spirit helper masks, spirit canoes, and spirit sticks; however, this exhibit focuses on these themes through similar items but all on a miniature scale — amulets, maskettes, mini canoes, and a lovely miniature Lyre boat

Joan Tenenbaum: The Artist Linguist – Translating Field Research into Wearable Art

September will witness Joan Tenenbaum’s newest body of work, in which she returns to her early years as a young anthropologist who traveled to Alaska to document a little known Athabaskan language in a small rural Alaskan village.

In previous work Joan has shown us her ability to translate the Alaskan landscape, animals, people, customs and artifacts into exquisite, wearable pieces of art. Now, for the first time, she demonstrates her remarkable talents in jewelry-making by telling the story of the language itself, the experience of being a field linguist, and the traditional stories she recorded and wrote down for the first time ever in the native Athabaskan language. Tenenbaum draws on her extensive vocabulary as a goldsmith to weave her own tale related to the documentation of one of the world’s most complex languages.

Art of Alaska: An Artistic Frontier

The diversity of Alaska’s landscape is mirrored by the extraordinary range of cultures that have adapted to and thrived over the centuries. From the Northwest Coast Native cultures of Southeast Alaska, to the Aleut of the Aleutian Islands, the Yup’ik and Inupiat Eskimos of the North Pacific and Bering Sea to the Athabaskan of Central Alaska, this exhibit will honor these ancient and still vital cultures and their art traditions.

Joe David: Personal Moments

Joe David’s PERSONAL MOMENTS is a reflection on the people and experiences that have influenced him personally and artistically. He’s been so inspired behind this exhibit, he’s “barely taken time to eat or sleep.” A fascinating side of Joe David and his vision of humanity is revealed through these human faces.

Winter Celebration

A Group Exhibition

WINTER CELEBRATION is a group exhibition celebrating the rituals and traditions surrounding the solstice season.

Loren White – A Solo Exhibition

LOREN WHITE’S work includes carvings in cedar and bronze as well as glass sculpture created during his recent residency at the Pilchuck Glass School. White (Non-Indigenous) makes cedar and glass sculptures that are another contribution to the expanding body of work which marries the traditions of Northwest Coast art and studio glass.

BERING SPIRIT

WORKS FROM THE ALASKAN, SIBERIAN YUP'IK AND INTERIOR ARCTIC CORRIDOR

BERING SPIRIT features ivory and whalebone carvings, Yupik masks, bentwood visors and cedar sculptures from the Alaskan and Siberian Yup’ik and Interior Arctic Corridor. Participating artists include Philip Charette, John Hoover, Scott Jensen, Peter Lind, Edwin Noongwook, Richard Olanna, John & Mark Tetpon and others.

Through the Eyes of the Northwest Coast Woman

A Group Exhibition

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE NORTHWEST COAST WOMAN is an exhibit celebrating the vision of the women artists at Stonington Gallery. This show features the work of 23 female artists spanning a wide variety of media and cultural references. Featured artists include April White, Susan Point, Debie Knight-Kennedy, Ruth Wilbur-Peterson and Nancy Taylor Stonington.

Awakenings – A Gathering of Contemporary Coast Salish Artists

Three years in the making, the AWAKENINGS exhibition and its accompanying book, Contemporary Coast Salish Art, present the work of 20 artists whose art ranges from traditional expressions in basketry and weaving to innovations in glass and metal.

Totem: Icon of the Pacific Northwest

Today’s contemporary totem poles serve as a tribute and remembrance to the native cultures and their artists who conceived of and so skillfully executed these monuments. With old growth cedar fast becoming a memory of the past this will be a rare opportunity of a lifetime to see so many contemporary masterpieces in one exhibition.