By Robin Maiers
Special to the Reporter
How lucky Kirkland is! Two of our best art galleries (and there are others) continue to bring fine arts and crafts work before the public. Given the socio-economic misery of contemporary life, it amazes one that the arts (especially the finer arts) manage to flourish as well as they do, though not without struggle, for sure.
At the Howard/Mandville Gallery on Park Lane, co-owner Pat Howard is currently presenting the Winter Showcase Group of more than 60 painters and sculptors through Feb. 24. Of special note are painters Diane Ainsworth, Mark Boyle and Fred Calleri, oils; and Michael Holmes, Leo Osborne and Rosetta, sculptors.
There is some fine work by others as well: Rich Bowman’s oils; Craig Kosak, Romona Youngquist and Richard Boyers’ paintings; and Michael Ferguson’s pastel-like acrylics. In addition, Yingzhou Liu’s warm, yet vividly-realistic oils of fruits and flowers is engaging, and Jhenn Quinn Lewis’s delicately rendered oils of birds are a joy.
There are other delights as well: Connie Townsend’s comical “dog-driven” oils put a smile on your face, as do Fred Calleri’s unique oils of young girls and animals. The highlights of the show are all a delight: Mark Boyles’ oils, evocative of his travels; Diane Anisworth’s wonderful oils; Don Quades mixed-media abstract designs; Michael Holmes’ marvelous music-motif bronze sculptures; the works of Leo Osborne, and the amazing and dynamic-geometric designs in animal forms by the prolific sculptor, Rosetta.
Pat Howard will present the work of Teresa Sai in April and continues to showcase works by artists all over the map. A must see!
For information about Howard/Mandville Gallery, call 425-889-8212
Lakeshore Gallery
Also on Park Lane (across from Howard/Mandville) is owner Georgie Kilrain’s Lakeshore Gallery, featuring “Visions of the Northwest,” by water colorist John Ebner.
Kilrain’s long-term gallery owner-curator tenure and formidable knowledge of the arts is insightful about the changing nature of galleries and the relationship between customers and artists and the incursion of technology in these connections. Her point that customers should support artists is well taken and must be seriously considered for the integrity of the arts community to continue and for galleries to thrive. Her support of Northwest artists is salutary and welcome.
Kilrain showcases art and crafts work – textiles, fabric, jewelry and furniture (John Luke’s wonderful old-world natural wood designs are simple, stark and beautiful). The hand-crafted wood boxes of Richard and Jo Anne De Meules are similarly stark and beautiful (and yes, functional). Wonderful work in blown glass by Michael Church and the colorful and amazing work of Robin Larson’s fused glass on stainless steel are invigorating and compel you to want to acquire them all.
In addition to Jennifer Bowman’s blazing red puppies paintings, Barry McAlisters’ sculptures, and Lauren Osmolski’s abstract (and functional) candle holders, there is Jim Nilsen’s rich computer color-enhanced photography. And if you need gift cards, Lakeshore Gallery has available various cards by local artists – unique, delightful, all hand-crafted and reasonably priced.
Lake Shore Gallery is also a must-see gallery. How lucky Kirkland is!
For more information about Lakeshore Gallery, call 425-827-0606.
• The upcoming Opera and Musical presentation at Calabrisella Ristorante Italiano is set for Feb. 21, with two shows at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. It will be produced by yours truly and features young semi-professional performers of enormous talent doing opera arias and musical theater works – more about this in an upcoming article.
For information, call 425-822-7350 or visit Calibrisella.
Robin Maiers is a long-time arts enthusiast and house piano player at Calabrisella in Kirkland.
