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EARL OLSEN PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW

January 25th, 2012

Those familiar with Earl Olsen’s photography will be excited to know he is the featured artist for Brackenwood’s 2012 show. This time Earl takes us on a journey deep into the flora world. The images we have seen so far are exquisite glimpses of the details few of us every take the time to notice. That’s the gift of an experienced and talented photographer such as Earl.

This image might look somewhat familiar, but initially you may not be sure exactly what it is. Upon closer examination it begins to dawn on you that it’s a poppy but rarely have any of us taken the time to look so close. This photo is a poppy emerging from its casing and the colors and details Earl has captured here are remarkable! Silly Poppy!

Hope you can join us for the opening reception on Feb. 4th from 5-7 PM for Earl Olsen’s show of new work at Brackenwood Gallery. The show continues thru Feb. 27th.

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It is not often you get to know someone after they are gone. Anne and I have just had this experience. A few months ago we contacted Fara Wexler and asked her if we could host a Retrospective of the work of her late husband, Lee Wexler. She agreed wholeheartedly and the journey began.

We went to visit Fara, who we also did not know, at her home overlooking the ferry on Whidbey. The first thing that struck me was how gracious Fara was and then how much in love she was with her husband. They were lovers up to the end and you could feel it palpably when you entered the house. We began to tour the different rooms where the art we would be exhibiting was hanging. Each piece had a story behind it and as we went along Fara would fill us in on each one.
It turns out Lee was painting images of the Northwest before he ever laid eyes on this place! He loved the sea so there were many images of the water with tide pools or sun shining across the water and mountains in the distance. These were amazing to see in the context of their home because you could tell immediately where his inspiration he was channeling came from just looking out the window.

But beyond landscapes you could tell people were really important to this man. Not just any people but people who had interesting stories to tell. People waiting at bus stops…each person has a totally different look and demeaner and you begin to wonder… where are they going, or why does the lady on the bench look so tired? People who survived the Holocaust who don’t look sad and defeated and you begin to wonder… how do people who went thru such atrocities still find happiness? A stunning portrait of a beautiful woman “Behind the Bamboo Curtain” and you start to wonder… what happened to her? Is she in a concentration camp or just standing behind a bamboo door?

As you can tell, our tour was profound, not only because we came away in awe of Lee Wexler the artist but also because we were privy to an intimacy few ever experience between a lovely woman and her beloved husband. These two people were lovers, colleagues and artists that loved life and each other. What a gift it was to get to know them. We are honored and privileged to host this special exhibit.

I hope you also can come get to know them at the Artist Reception which opens Lee Wexler’s show on January 7 from 5-7PM. Fara will be here along with her son Mark. It promises to be an extraordinary event!

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WHAT IS ART?

September 30th, 2011

Have you ever pondered a question for a whole year? This year Sharon Shoemaker, Michel Tsouris and Robbie Cribbs delved into the question What is Art? and are ready to present their ideas in a new show at Brackenwood Gallery. The show opens Oct. 1 with an artists’ reception from 5-7 pm. On exhibit will be original art, videos produced by each artist, books by each artist and the ever present question for all to answer and think about, What Is Art? This image by Sharon Shoemaker was produced in the camera but photographing driftwood, then turning the camera. Her amazing kaleidoscopic images are a delight to see.

We hope that viewers will think about this question and come up with their own answers. You might even want to share them with us! As the world gets smaller and smaller and we all have more varied experiences, the question takes on new significance. These artists wrestled with the question by meeting regularly to share ideas and worked hard at creating what they think is art throughout the year. In the end, they are asking you the viewers, what do you think is art?  Hope you can come and join in the conversation.

The exhibit continues through October. 31, 2011

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COLOR & TEXTURE!

September 3rd, 2011

What a beautiful show! “These artists are not afraid of color!” remarked one person as they stepped inside the gallery and began scanning the work of our featured artists Anne Belov and Cheryl Kamera. The textures, colors and patterns blend together to create an exhibit of art that is truly sensual.

Anne Belov has been painting for 35 years. Her skill and expertise with various mediums really are on display in this show. This piece for instance called, “Crossing the Line” took many long hours just to draw out the patterns on the fabric, not to mention the hours of painstakingly painting the lines, making sure they show depth and then reflect off the vase. The roses are lush and the birds eye view of them on the background of swirling fabric that actually looks shiny, is spectacular!

Cheryl Kamera’s textile art stands on it’s own in this show. Her woolen shawls and incredible silks flow and glide around one’s shoulders making you feel like a work of art yourself when you don one of her pieces. Cheryl, who is a chemist by trade, has fashioned these one of a kind art pieces starting from pure white silk or wool then dying them and over dying them sometimes many times to obtain the depth of color and design she has in mind.

One of my favorite pieces is this magnificent silk and felted wool piece. Cheryl described how she made this piece: she started with dying the silk and dying cut velvet, then laying fleece over and under the silk and velvet in patterns. Next she rolls the piece gently up on a large plastic pipe and begins the arduous task of rolling and rolling for hours with hot water and sudsy soap to achieve this unique felted design. It is truly gorgeous!

Hope you can come to this show, it is stunning! We are so lucky to have the caliber of artists here on Whidbey that show at Brackenwood Gallery. It’s an honor to represent them and show their exquisite work!

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As we hung the show for sculptor Sharon Spencer and photographer Skip Smith we started to realize that the work from these two artists goes together in such a gestalt way. The work really compliments each other in a way that has actually created an atmosphere in the gallery, a kind of ‘Quiet Elegance’. Someone came in and said “I feel like I need to whisper because this work is so quiet and lovely.” But quiet doesn’t mean boring, no,  quiet means it makes you want to go slow and look closely because there are so many surprises and interesting twists and turns.

 

For instance, this amazing piece of Sharon’s. At first as you move close you think it is another one of Sharon’s paper creations, but then you realize it is bronze! You find yourself moving even closer to look over the top into the opening and voila! a gorgeous golden egg is revealed. This piece entitled, “The Offering” is a bronze burn out and was indeed originally made out of a paper substance with woven sticks and a fabric wrap. But now, it is bronze.

 

 

 

 

Skip Smith’s work is also filled with wonder. For instance, you wonder what in the world he took a picture of to get the image that appears on the paper. You would swear it was a painting, not a photograph. Skip is an expert at Lith photography, a process of development that takes great care and precision, which his work aptly demonstrates.

Hope you can make it to the Artists’ Reception on Aug. 6 from 5-7, but if not come have a quiet and elegant stroll between now and Aug. 29th.

 

 

 

 

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Brackenwood Gallery is located in Langley Washington and features a variety of painters, sculptors, graphic artists, glass workers and other local artisans.

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