From the
Gallery Red
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION
Valley Art Gallery
September/October 2015
We welcome you to the
2022 Main Street Forest Grove, Oregon
A r t i s t s ’ Re c e p t i o n Saturday, September 12, 2-4 p.m.
503•357•3703 www.valleyart.org
Valley Art welcomes artists
Gallery open Mon.–Sat. 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and special occasions.
Joanie Lilja, JoAnn Wellner and Irilla Swanson Complimentary refreshments will be served.
Valley Art is dedicated to supporting working artists and encouraging beginning artists. We exhibit exceptional artwork and offer art classes for the entire community at affordable prices.
Of Color and Light Two artists who specialize in acrylic, watercolor, and oil painting join with one who uses glass as her medium to communicate are highlighed in this Valley Art Newsletter. Joanie Lilja feels that the most versatile of her media is the acrylic, because, as she says, “You can add many unusual techniques to get different outcomes.” Listening to, and reading about, Joanie’s work, one almost gets the feeling that it is difficult for any artist to arrive at a point where the work, be it painting, pottery, glasswork, sculpture, is truly done. Again, says Joanie, “My process is one of
Valley Art board meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30p.m. These meetings are open to all who might like to attend.
constant correction and change through which I work to achieve the desired depth and richness of color and feeling. I also realize I need to know when to quit.” None of this is done in a vacuum. Joanie has learned a great deal by examining work by past and contemporary master painters. Combining that with the new practices and products that come along have allowed her to develop and expand her work. And, as a cautionary note in this age of sustainability, Joanie adds, “It isn’t always a success by the way. I do try to learn from my bad choices so as to not waste resources.” JoAnn Wellner is obsessed with glass and admits it gladly. Attending the Pilchuck Glass School, in Stanwood, Washington, Continued on page 2
Irilla’s Swanson
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Caught My Eye...
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Classes & Workshops for Everyone
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25 Years of Chalk Art
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Annual Artist Event in Nov.
Of Color and Light...
JoAnn Wellner
in 2014 was the realization of a long-time goal. The school gave her the opportunity to see many forms of glass art and meet artists from around the world. Starting in the world of stained glass, she has a more recent devotion to kiln-formed glass. World renowned artists have enhanced her work in the classes she has taken. She passes on what she has learned in her glass fusing classes at her downtown Hillsboro studio. As is the case with so many of our artists who show their work at Valley Art, JoAnn feels blessed by the experiences and the people that she has come to know through her artistry in glass. The product of two significantly different regions in this country, Irilla Swanson is influenced by her birthright of the American Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest, where she now lives. Add the Hawaiian Islands to those journeys, and you get the vividness and variety that comes through her acrylic, water color, and oil paintings. Coming to her art from backgrounds of
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teaching ballet and producing television has given her a perspective that allows her to share what she knows and help others communicate what they feel and what they want to say through their work. Irilla has been featured on OPB’s Art Beat and is a signature members of the Watercolor Society of Oregon. In her teaching, she often inspires students in the arts, which expands their creative spirit. To quote Irilla: “Although art is considered many different things…for me, it must transcend the mundane and have a lasting quality to nourish and inspire.”
Irilla Swanson
valleyart.org
Farewell to One of Valley Art’s Founders, Pearl Wright Pearl Wright, of Manning, was born July 10, 1917, and died Dec. 29, 2014. As one of the 12 founding members of Valley Art, Pearl felt that “Forest Grove and surround” needed some group that promoted art. A potter and painter in those early years, Pearl worked in her own studio and with other Valley Art members and friends such as Lois Stevens, Margaret Lisdas, Naomi Steinberg and Rosemary Bump. Pearl studied at Pacific University, Portland Art Museum School, Oregon School of Arts and Craft, Portland State University and at Menucha, the Creative Arts Community workshops in Corbett. During a 2006 interview she fondly remembered instructors Robert Coghill, George Johannsen and John Laurence. She lived on Sunset Drive in Forest Grove in the early 1960s with her husband, George, her two daughters and a son. George, who worked for Tektronix, began making clay for local potters. The Wrights and their booming clay business moved to Manning, off Highway 26, where Pearl continued painting and making high-fired pottery. They helped many young potters over the years, instilling their knowledge and love of their craft in others. Pearl had many exhibitions and appeared in many juried shows over the years. Besides Valley Art, she showed her art in galleries in Lake Oswego, Salem, Eugene, Seattle and New York. Her last show was a three-day event in Manning where her sales totaled $17,000. Pearl left a powerful legacy: our nonprofit Valley Art Association, which has continued to enrich and inspire our community—and will continue to do so far into the future. Thank you, Pearl. Together George and Pearl had two sons, George Dee Wright and Susan of Lebanon, OR, and Kenneth Homer Wright and partner Sandy Evers of Manning. Also surviving are twenty-six grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren.
Caught my eye... I’d like to introduce to you the new President of the board, Caroline Dau. Caroline has been involved at Valley Art for many years! She is the Chair of the Reception Committee; making sure each Artist Reception runs smoothly. She is also the Chair of the Volunteer Committee; searching for new volunteers and keeping the volunteers organized. Caroline has served as Vice President for the last year. Caroline is a dedicated member of our Valley Art Family! We are excited for her to step into the role of the President! Look here in our next Newsletter for a note from
Valley Art Association
Caroline as well as finding her usual recipes and thoughts in Caroline’s Corner. I’d also like to welcome our two new board Members; Howard Sullivan and Dianne Muhly! We are all looking forward to have you at the table! Howard Sullivan taught for the Forest Grove School District for many years and is currently the Executive Director of the Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce. Welcome to the board, Howard! Dianne Muhly is currently an artist at Valley Art. She creates wonderfully unique fused glass pieces. Welcome to the board, Dianne! —Dana Zurcher, Valley Art Board President
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Something for Everyone Art Classes & Groups SAVE MONEY ON ART CLASSES! Many classes offer a discount to Valley Art Members! Inexpensive yearly Valley Art memberships are available through the gallery front desk only and must be established before receiving member discounts.
Parents, need-based scholarships are available for up to 50% of class costs. Email education@valleyart.org to request assistance.
Quilting Studio Fridays, 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
This is an ongoing class and may be joined at any time. All levels, from beginning to advanced, are welcome. This is the time to do your own work, get expert advice on a special project, and meet with other local quilters. Join the fun! Register in person at the gallery. Cost is $28/year for Valley Art members and $43/year for non-members.
Forest Grove Camera Club Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. (no first Wednesday May-October)
The Forest Grove Camera Club is a member of the Photographic Society of America (PSA) and the Columbia Council of Camera Clubs. The club participates in a variety of competitions, evaluations and provides programs as well as field trips. To join, contact instructor Carol Berget at cberget@msn.com. Cost is a $25 annual membership / $5 students / $10 Associate memberships.
FAN: Family Art Night First Wednesday of the month, 5 to 7 p.m.
All supplies are provided and the projects are led by Valley Art members who enjoy artful play. Children, ages 4-12, must be accompanied by an adult. Drop in and plan on spending about half an hour on the art project. A $2 donation at the door is suggested. See our Facebook postings at “Valley Art Association” to stay in touch for updates. This class is facilitated by Skip Buhler and Jeanne Levy. For more information and to sign up, stop into Valley Art, or contact the Education Department at education@valleyart.org
Team Art: Creativity by Association Every other Thursday Sept. 10 & 24 and Oct. 8 & 22
From 10 a.m. to noon. Come to the back door and ring the bell. Bring a project to work on. All help and inspiration is free! Sign up in the gallery or contact Jeanne Levy, femminismo@yahoo.com or 503-341-9701 for more information. There is a one-time yearly cost of $15 for a Valley Art membership.
Need-based scholarships are available for up to 50% of class cost. Email education@valleyart.org to request assistance.
Learn something new in Valley Art classes!
All events and workshops take place in the Valley Art Gallery workshop space unless otherwise noted. Valley Art is located at 2022 Main Street in Forest Grove. Parking is available along Main Street and in the public parking lot located directly behind Valley Art, a half block to the west. Gallery hours are Monday–Saturday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Always stay up-to-date with Valley Art events at valleyart.org/events.
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Watercolor with Glennda Field Saturday & Sunday, September 12 & 13
Morning session runs 9 a.m. to noon, with a one-hour lunch break. The afternoon session is from 1-3 p.m. In this two-day class with watercolor teacher, Glennda Field, from Corbett, you will paint scenes from photos. Students will paint with watercolor and learn basic painting techniques and skills. Class work is based on demonstrations, working from observation, resource materials and emphasizes basic color theory as it relates to color mixing, and using vibrant, juicy colors. Come paint in a relaxed and fun environment. Six person minimum; 10 person maximum. Cost is $120 per person for the two-day workshop.
Oil Painting workshop/class Every first and third Tuesday (Sept. 1 & 15; Oct. 6 & 13) 1-3 p.m.
This ongoing water-soluble oil painting class for adults is lead by instructor Irilla Swanson, who has been featured on OPB’s Artbeat. All professional materials are provided: oil paint, oil painting paper and brushes and project photos— or bring your own if you prefer. Irilla will provide examples from nature, as well as help you capture your own ideas. There will be step-by-step demonstrations for beginners and problem-solving and direction for experienced painters. See Irilla’s website, www.irillaswanson.com. Space is limited. For questions, email irillaswanson@comcast.net, or call 503-285-4399. Cost is $120 for three-month session ($20 per class).
Children’s Drawing Wednesdays (Sept. 2, 9, 17, 24; Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28) 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Children ages 5-17. Gwyn Blanton is a trained professional and has worked and volunteered in the local schools. She is a skilled instructor for children and young adults of all ages. Fill out a registration form at the gallery and pay the instructor at the first class. Questions? Contact Gwyn at gwynblanton@yahoo.com or 503-869-3537. Cost for four sessions class is $45, $35 for siblings.
Saturday Adult Pottery Saturdays, September 12 to October 31, 11:00am to 2:00pm.
Learn to make pottery on the wheel or hand build with slabs and coils. Class is intended for new and returning students. Cost of clay is $13 – $14 per bag. Tool kits are available for $15 each. You must bring your own towel and apron. Class size is limited to 10 students, so sign up soon! Yearly Valley Art memberships are available through the front desk only. Please email instructor at huraytc@gmail.com to register for this class or call 971-200-0843. This is a teaching studio, so no production work or outside clay is allowed. Tuition for Valley Art members – $110, and non-members – $120.
Adult Pottery Wednesdays, September 16 to November 4, 6:30pm to 9:30pm.
Learn to make pottery on the wheel or hand build with slabs and coils. Class is intended for new and returning students. Cost of clay is $13 – $14 per bag. Tool kits are available for $15 each. You must bring your own towel and apron. Class size is limited to 10 students, so sign up soon! Yearly Valley Art memberships are available through the front desk only. Please email instructor at huraytc@gmail.com to register for this class or call 971-200-0843. This is a teaching studio, so no production work or outside clay is allowed. Tuition for Valley Art members – $110, and non-members – $120. Upcoming classes with Annie Tinnesand and Donna Bauermiller do not have dates set as of the newsletter press deadline. Please check our website at valleyart.org to see new classes as they are added.
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Sidewalk Chalk Festival Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary It’s hard to believe that the Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival has been taking place for 25 years. When the event began in 1991, only a handful of people participated. The sidewalk in front of Valley Art and its neighboring businesses was where the drawings were made. The participants brought their own chalk and the entry fee was $1 for children and $2 for adults. At that time the sidewalks were old and in poor condition and the chalk art squares and numbers were all drawn in place with white chalk. The first event was so well received that Valley Art decided to make it an annual event. Since then, new sidewalks with brass medallions in the corners indicating the square number have replaced the old sidewalks. The number of squares drawn on has increased each year and now encompasses not only Main Street, but also Pacific Avenue, 21st Avenue and College Way. The event has been recognized as a signature event for Forest Grove and has been advertised in as faraway places as Taiwan. There are many inquiries about our festival by people who would like to recreate it in their own towns. Some people have participated since 1991 and now bring their children and grandchildren to continue this fun family tradition. We hope you will help us celebrate this great milestone of our 25th Annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival on September 19th, 2015.
Caroline’s
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VOLUNTEER AT VALLEY ART— WE NEED YOU!! Valley Art needs some more wonderful, helpful, active members who would like to give a little time every month, or just for special events. We have many wonderful, helpful members—but we need some more as too much volunteer time burns people out. We are low on volunteers for: Gallery Sales Reps. Marketing Chalk Art and AAE 50th Anniversary year events Refreshment committee and 1st Wednesdays Some of these things are only once or twice a year and some are a monthly commitment. Please give volunteering at Valley Art some thought. It’s fun and often a good learning experience. Then come in and sign up in the volunteer book or call the gallery or Caroline Dau 503-747-7321.
Zucchini Appetizer
Here is a good summer appetizer and a great way to use up extra zucchini! 3 cups thinly sliced zucchini 1 cup Bisquick 1/2 cup chopped onion 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese 4 eggs, slightly beaten
2 Tbsp. snipped parsley (or 1 Tbsp. dried) 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 tsp. basil or oregano 1 clove garlic, chopped fine 1/2 cup oil
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all ingredients by hand and spread in greased 9 X 13 pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes. Cut into small bite sized squares. Serve warm.
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New Art Poster and Banners Celebrate Chalk Art’s 25th Two new banners will brighten the light poles of Main Street and surrounding blocks in time for the 25th annual Valley Art Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival. Ailie Coffey and Kara Vanderzanden, students in Philip Thias’ art class at Forest Grove High School, created the new banners that will replace the banners used each year since 2005. This year’s poster was created by Mira Zimmerman, also a high school art student. All three students will be featured artists at the event this year so please congratulate these young, talented artists when you attend the event on Saturday, September 19th.
Don’t forget to link your Fred Meyer Rewards card to Valley Art, at fredmeyer.com/communityrewards. Enrolling is easy and only takes a few minutes! Search for Valley Art Association or use #82811 when enrolling. Don’t worry, you will still acrue all your own personal award points—this is an extra! Each time you shop with your Valley Art-linked Fred Meyer card, Fred Meyer will make a donation to the gallery.
Ailie Coffey
Support Valley Art at Fred Meyer
Kara Vanderzande
Mira Zimmerman
Preregistration held in the gallery on September 16 from 5-7 pm or register on the day of the event, September 19, from 8-3 pm. Cost: $7 for current members of Valley Art or $12 for non-members. A tray of colorful pastel chalk is included with your registration fee. Adult volunteers are needed. Please call Roylene Read at 503-357-0311.
Annual Artists Event- Celebrating 49 Years of Perfection It’s late summer and the buzz about Valley Art is building as we prepare for another November Annual Artist Event. Forty-nine years—WOW! Members, please mark November 6th on your calendars for the opening Members Reception filled with the goodies we all look forward to: walls bursting with new art, enjoying reception foods and wine, mixing with friends, and of course shopping for great gifts for self and others. We love to extend to our members our deepest thanks for their support and will again offer the one-evening only shopping discount and other tokens of appreciation. Please bring along a finger food appetizer and/or bottle of wine to share and join us. The event for the general public runs November 7-22 with extended hours Monday-Friday 10am-6pm and 12-4pm on Sunday.
Our thanks goes to the June 23 mailing party who help in getting this newsletter from our gallery into your hands. Linda Wilke, Jack Howard, Bettie Perkins, Marcia Alajoki, Carol Benner, and Bev Camp.—what would we do without you? Want to join them? Email Linda at lmwilke54@gmail.com to join in on the next mailing party!
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Join the conversation! Scan this QR code to like Valley Art on Facebook. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S.P.S. POSTAGE PAID FOREST GROVE OR PERMIT NO. 5
Valley Art Association P.O. Box 333 Forest Grove, OR 97116
OF SPECIAL NOTE... Coming in September— Featured work by Irilla Swanson, Joanie Lilja and JoAnn Wellner. Save the date for their Artist Reception on Saturday, Sept. 12.
Join us for First Wednesday on September
We will be hosting Purple Cow Vineyards for wine tasting, offering snacks and you’ll get a first look at the new Featured Artist Show!
We’re open until 8:00 p.m. on the FIRST WEDNESDAY of each month. Please join us!
Valley Art Gallery presents
Featured Artists Show Irilla Swanson JoAnn Wellner
JoAnn Wellner
Irilla Swanson
The works of Joanie Lilja, JoAnn Wellner and Irilla Swanson
Opening Reception Saturday, September 12 • 2-4 p.m. Show runs September – October
2022 Main Street • Forest Grove, OR
Gallery hours are 11a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday Valleyart.org • 503-357-3703