The Island Gallery presents the exhibition Budding Out, new work by the gallery’s artists, in March.
The show includes ceramics by Dave Berfield, Joe O’Brien and Ken Pincus; fiber art from Tom Johnson and Jacki Moseley; furniture and sculpture by Reid Anderson, Sean Carleton, Michelle de la Vega, KT Hancock, David Kellum, Jeff Ludwig and Chris Thompson; plus monotype prints by Renee Jameson.
The show starts at 6 p.m. Friday, March 3 with an artists’ reception. The exhibition runs through March 31.
About the Artists
CERAMICS
Dave Berfield (Bainbridge Island)
Dave Berfield, originally from Pennsylvania, has a background in art and art education, and studied ceramics at the University of Hawaii where he received an MFA. In Seattle, he learned enameling techniques and for more than 35 years collaborated with many artists, including painter Jacob Lawrence, on large-scale public murals, fixing enamel images to steel. His company was called The Porcelain Company.
The Lawrence enamels in Seattle’s Kingdome were Barfield’s work and were moved to the Seattle Convention Center when the Kingdome came down.
More recently he built a prototype mural with artist Ellen Forney, painted with porcelain enamel on steel, for the Sound Transit Capitol Hill Station opened in March, 2016.
Joe O’Brien (Bainbridge Island)
Joe O’Brien, educated at the University of Washington (BA, Art Education) and in ceramics at Northern Illinois University (MA, MFA), has exhibited throughout the Midwest as well as the Northwest and operated a custom ceramic tile business for many years. He collaborated with Jacob Lawrence in the designing and creation of a ceramic mosaic mural for the city of New York and designed a porcelain enamel mural for the Orlando International Airport. More recently he has proposed a ceramic mosaic mural for the Washington State Capitol.
Ken Pincus (Portland, Oregon)
“The pottery that I make stems from and is inspired by two different sources. One is the Arts & Crafts boom that flowered in the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s. Enrolled at the University of California at Santa Cruz in the mid 1970s, I studied pottery for two years with Al Johnsen and earned a BA degree. Several years after that, in 1982, I went to Japan where I studied pottery for about four years in the Mino area (Tajimi City and surroundings) near Nagoya, mainly with a potter named Yoshihiko Yoshida.
“Just as people age and may provide lessons for life, so too does pottery that is still with us after many centuries. A centuries old bowl from the Momoyama Period in Japan, held in the hand, can tell a potter much about his craft. The old pots inspire me.”
FIBER ART
Tom Johnson (Bainbridge Island)
“This body of my work — which is created by taking multiple layers of fabric, manipulating, sewing, cutting, and washing them to make the fibers ‘bloom’ — had a serendipitous beginning. I had fabric remnants from a variety of architectural and interior design projects. I started experimenting with layering, sewing them in lines at close intervals, cutting and washing, in an effort to create a soft, tactile, dog-friendly throw for our sofa.
“The results got my creative juices flowing. I quickly saw lots of possibilities, determined which fabrics worked best and how this newly created ‘Ridge and Furrow Chenille’ could be used. Benches and ottomans soon followed. ‘Ridge and Furrow’ designs for the wall, as well as a ‘quilt,’ developed simultaneously. The process continues to excite me and take me in new directions.”
Jacki Moseley (Bainbridge Island)
Moseley began felting in 2012 after being attracted to the texture and dimension of felt for many years – fascinated by its properties, how to make it, and how to make things with it. She has most enjoyed making bowls, vessels and wall hangings.
She also worked with beads, sewing them onto her creations, which are made with merino wool.
She uses both wet and needle felting processes, where the wool fibers become intertwined to create a design and/or a form.
She recently moved to Bainbridge Island from California.
FURNITURE AND SCULPTURE
Reid Anderson (Seattle)
Originally from Wisconsin, Anderson mixes classical wood furniture with modern design and interpretations. These pieces are part of a collaborative series with other well-known artists across the county, ranging from professors, independent artists, and film designers.
Other works can be seen in the permanent collection at the Museum of Wisconsin Art.
Sean Carleton & KT Hancock (Seattle)
Sean Carleton of Carleton Fine Work and KT Hancock of Velvet Nugget Studios initially connected through Instagram in 2014. A collaborative design effort was begun and catalyzed by Hancock and Carleton’s keen eye for craft, art and design. Steel and brass fabricated settings cradle large-scale gemstones that exude illuminated luxury and preciousness to its surroundings. In vivid color the emeralds emit both clear and green light that allude to the place of its conception, the Emerald City and the Evergreen State. The colored light is then refracted off a cube shaped crystal held in the sculpture’s center. Distortions that occur within the central crystal spread light and color onto the adjacent surfaces.
Michelle de la Vega (Seattle)
Michelle de la Vega is a Seattle based installation artist, designer and welder. Her work has a distinct visual voice, and her large scale projects are immersed in social practice and community building. She has been making metal furniture and sculpture for the last 8 years, and greatly enjoys collaborating with her partner Jeff Ludwig.
de la Vega has also been an international spokesperson for the tiny house movement due to the well-known 250-square-foot home she designed and built for herself 10 years ago.
David Kellum (Port Townsend)
Living and working in Port Townsend, Kellum designs and builds residential and commercial wood furniture that allow him to join together his creative and technical abilities.
He creates graceful, contemporary pieces that highlight the natural beauty of the wood and make the most of a valuable natural resource, providing lasting beauty and utility with outstanding craftsmanship.
Jeff Ludwig (Seattle)
Jeff Ludwig is a master metal smith and artist who has worked in Seattle fabricating the highest quality architectural, furniture and sculptural artifacts for the last 25 years. He was the designer and creator of Seattle’s celebrated Horses Cut Shop.
Ludwig and his partner, artist Michelle de la Vega, create art and furniture together when they’re not teaching dance or off fishing and camping.
Chris Thompson (Port Townsend)
Chris Thompson, an artist who recently moved from northern Michigan to Washington, is committed to fine wood working. He is an avid collector of both antique woodworking tools and rare and exotic woods, reflected in the range of functional and sculptural pieces he creates, from beautifully grained boxes and book stands to whimsical birdhouses.
MONOTYPE PRINTS
Renee Jameson (Bainbridge Island)
Renee Jameson was born in Western Washington and received her BFA from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.
She is a monotype artist living and working on Bainbridge Island. Currently she is the printmaker liaison for the Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN) setting up the print studio for the BARN.
She has work represented in private collections in Santa Barbara, La Jolla and Bainbridge Island.
The Island Gallery is located at 400 Winslow Way East, Suite 120.
For more information, call 206-780-9500 or visit www.theislandgallery.net.
