In support of his first solo exhibition with our gallery, we are releasing this digital exhibition catalog of Drew Michael’s work. This is a young man who is extraordinarily gifted; a deep feeler and thinker, and wonderfully talented. We are proud to show his work this March, and to bring his vision to Seattle.
“Return/Release/Restoration” – Elwha River Mask by Phil Gray
This lyrical portrait mask was commissioned by a client involved in and inspired by the Elwha River dam removal, and the resurgence of the wildlife in and around the river system.
2015 saw the collection of quite a bit of Northwest artwork by municipal and medical institutions in our region. The gallery was honored to work with institutions such as the City of Seattle, City of Tacoma, Ballard High School Foundation, University of Washington Medicine, and Swedish Medical Center to place artwork in public spaces and collections.
It is a pleasure to live and work in a region where art is considered an integral public asset, and celebrated for its power to provide a window on local history, contemporary issues, and its ability to heal. We thank these institutions for their support of local artists, and congratulations to all of the artists who had their work collected this year.
Swedish Hospital Edmonds Campus – with Jason Gobin (Tulalip) paddles installed.
The new Edmonds campus of the Swedish Medical Center now boasts five beautifully painted paddles by Tulalip artist JasonGobin. They were created especially for the lobby installation, to welcome visitors and patients, and give them a sense of Edmonds’ place and history.
A full set of the 18 prints making up RED: A Haida Manga, by Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas (below) was acquired by the City of Seattle for the Seattle Public Utilities 1% for Art program. We are looking forward to seeing where they pop up in the City’s buildings and galleries!
Cannonball Island – Mary Randlett – Silver Gelatin PrintSpindle Whorl by Andrea Wilbur-Sigo (Squaxin Island)
To give their new Olympia campus a local feeling, UW Medicine has selected photography by the renowned local artist Mary Randlett, and a satin-sheened spindle whorl by Andrea Wilbur-Sigo to complete their opening day collection.
The City of Tacoma has added four wonderful new pieces to their municipal collection, all by artists who live within Northwest Washington. Congratulations to Neeka Cook,Preston Singletary, Mary Randlett and Marvin Oliver!
Neeka Cook (Tlingit) – Chookaneidi FortressGlass basket by Preston Singletary (Tlingit)A Touch of Blue – Marvin Oliver (Quinault/Isleta Pueblo)
You may remember the soaring “Elimination of Innocence” triptych from Thomas Stream’s summer exhibition when it made its debut. The three paintings have recently become part of the collection of the Musee Boulogne-sur-Mer in France, which will soon house one of Europe’s only collections of contemporary Alaskan art. Other works by Stream were collected by major local corporate collections this year, and a gift of an original painting was made to a University museum in the Midwest.
Thomas Stream (Sun’aq Aleut) – Elimination of Innocence Triptych – Gouache on Paper.
We’ve put together a winter season catalogue that serves a few functions: ideas for gifts, updates on what your favorite artists have been up to, and an overview of our gallery’s incredible represented artists. Dive in and enjoy!
Thank you to weaver Lisa Telford (Haida) for showing us the techniques behind her incredible baskets and high heels! It was wonderful to sit with this fun, funny, and extremely talented artist and see the incredible amount of hard work, preparation and dedication behind each plait in her weaving. Lisa’s work can be seen at the gallery, and also in the Burke Museum’s permanent collection. Her high heels and high couture dresses made of woven cedar bark will knock you flat!
The end of the year approaches, and with it our annual holiday catalog, celebrating our amazingly talented artists. Celebrate the holiday season, support our artists and gallery, and gather together. Click below to enjoy!
Last night was a huge treat for the staff and our collectors, as glass artist Raven Skyriver and Seattle Aquarium veterinarian Lesanna Lahner gave a team talk at the lovely Pioneer Square wine bar Little London Plane. Raven, whose blown glass creatures are inspired by the marine life of the Pacific Ocean and beyond, spoke about his upbringing in the San Juan Islands, and how his connection to nature has directed his focus and his practice throughout his life. Lesanna, a pioneering young veterinarian, wowed us with wild stories about the marine animals in her care, and made us all think a little deeper about just how one would perform surgery on a fish. Thank you to Raven, Lesanna, Little London Plane, and all of our collectors who attended this very special event!
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.
Incorporating the bright colors of his Southwestern heritage into painstakingly silkscreened prints–often made with ten colors or more–he mixes that inspiration with the formal designs of the Coast Salish peoples of the Northwest, resulting in iconic, energetic works. Techniques such as embossing or foiling appear in many print series, bringing the sculptural traditions of his Northwest Coast heritage to bear in 2-D works.
Marvin is the son of Emmett Oliver (Quinault), creator of the massive “Paddle to Seattle” in 1989 that brought tribal members together to recreate epic canoe journeys down the Northwest Coast. The event has become an annual “Paddle” that lands in a different place each summer since. A participant since the early days of the journey, Marvin is able to tie his experiments in glass and modern media to his strong, solid roots in traditional culture.
In his lecture and demonstration, Oliver will demonstrate how he painstakingly pulls his serigraphs–color by color–and embosses them.
When is a print not a print? When it’s a glorious etched glass panel. This work was the result of a commission by a client who loved Susan Point’s poignant way of bringing together the elements of water and sky. The resulting artwork, “New Horizons”, was so successful that Point created the serigraphs Anvil Island State I and II from the original commissioned cedar and glass artwork.
In 2014 Duane Pasco created an unique totem pole for the gallery’s clients. It was raised in October 2014.
Pasco drawing a wing design.In-Progress Sun Face by Duane PascoCompleted Sun face on pole.Detail of formline on pole.Completed Pole with Duane and Betty Pasco
With the commission of this housepost for the interior of our clients’ home, they wanted their pole to celebrate the ecology of the Snoqualmie River Falls area. The completed pole honors the fauna and flora–eagles, hawks, salmonberries, beavers, bears, and skunk cabbage–that are part of the clients’ daily lives.
Carved for private collection in 2013 by David Franklin.