In the “Showcase in Bloom” art exhibit, 24 local artists are displaying more than 60 new works in the spacious front room of Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery in downtown Port Townsend. This new exhibition is an expansion, a stepping forward by these artists, whose work has been on display only in the Best Gallery’s rear space until now. The new show fills the entire gallery with color, beauty and inspiration in the form of art! Watercolors, oils, ceramics, fiber art, metal sculpture and photography are among the art forms on display.

The Showcase Artists, selected by consulting juror Gloria Lamson, come from a variety of backgrounds. Many have had careers in fields other than art, and are now reveling in the creative process.

“I love to paint humanity,” says Jeanne Edwards of Port Angeles. “A painting contains a living experience — always moving with beauty and the descriptive quality of light.”

The artists find inspiration in the deep woods and high mountains, in kitchens and on patios, among fellow creatures, from the Salish Sea and drenched sky. And Larry Crockett of Port Townsend paints simple pleasures: a tart beverage, a steaming mug, three olives splashing into a martini glass.

“My objective is to evoke a fond memory … something that causes a smile,” he writes.

Egor Shokoladov of Port Angeles mixes media — oil, watercolor, a 14th-century technique called etching — to express his thoughts.

“I am particularly inspired by humor,” he writes, adding that he seeks to “bring positive vibes into the world.”

The Northwind Art Jeanette Best Gallery is open 12 noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays; it stays open till 8 p.m. for Art Walk on the first Saturday of the month.

For lots more information about Northwind Art’s gallery shows and classes at Northwind Art School at Fort Worden, visit https://northwindart.org.

“Open Up to Action” is a course — for beginner to intermediate artists — that is all about observation. In this workshop, you’ll learn to see the essence of a model’s pose in as little as one minute! This is gesture drawing.

“For those used to slow and calculated drawing only, it will be an extreme departure from your comfort zone. But with practice, you may find the approach to be exhilarating and satisfying, increasing your powers of observation and analysis!” teaching artist Jim Bradrick says. “We will work boldly, drawing with blunt tools such as crayons or graphite sticks, to discourage the temptation to get into too much detail. Beginning with poses of five minutes, we will work our way gradually to shorter poses. Class sessions will be intense and FUN!”

There will be a clothed live model at each of the four evening sessions. For more information, see https://northwindart.org and click on Courses.

The Jeanette Best Gallery in downtown Port Townsend is your classroom, and master animator Jim Bradrick is the teacher. Over a long career, Jim has had broad experience in 2D animation, illustration, comic books, advertising art, and video games. In addition to a great variety of freelance commissions, he as worked for Dark Horse Comics, Humongous Entertainment, Microsoft Research, Hidden City Games, Starwave Corporation, and Iwin Studios Division 90. With a particular passion for hand-drawn animation, he maintained an animation blog called Acme Punched!, creating nearly 200 instructional and informational posts over seven years. The blog was listed among the Top 100 Animation Blogs.

Standing up is not a one-time event – it takes fortitude. In relationships, at work, in conversation, with our own habits, we are called to stand up again and again, in matters big and small.

A 6 week committed series with Anneli Molin-Skelton

Often we have to stand alone. And anyone who has been in a long term relationship (parent, friend, child, partner) knows the power of learning the right moment to “stand down” when conflicts arise. So how do we embody this necessary practice? In this series we will mine the innate wisdom of our bodies to investigate:

Who do we stand behind, beside?
Where are we afraid to stand up?
What won’t we stand for anymore?
How do we stand our ground when the ground is shaking?

Let’s ask these questions together and allow our bodies to answer.

Attributions to Kathy Altman.

This is an Open Floor Movement series. Open Floor movement practice uses universal principles of movement to anchor us in ourselves and our lives. It is a mindful dance inquiry; a place for creative focus and loving attention through movement. No previous experience needed and all are welcome.

A six week Committed series Wednesday evenings May 17th – June 21st, 2023

6:00-8:00pm

Price:
$130 for the series.