Inaugurating Our New

Gallery Space with

Two Exhibitions in April!

First Thursday

April 4th, 5-8pm

Hib Sabin: Small Pieces

    Facing Forward: A Group Mask Exhibition

HIB SABIN :

Small Pieces

Hib Sabin’s large sculptures of wise ravens and soulful owls have long been collector favorites. In Small Pieces Sabin is inspired by Southwest rock fetishes and shamanic tools, presenting an accessible collection of miniature works, including animal sculptures, masks, talking sticks, amulets and fetishes.

Fetishes are small sculptures—often in the form of animals—that hold personal and spiritual value. Often the size of a palm or fist, they are meant to be handled—smoothed with the fingers—and carried close. The more they are handled the more beautiful they become, and Sabin’s fetish-inspired pieces have a hand-worked patina to reflect this. These sculptures are less formal and more personal, bringing peace, calm and connection to their owners.

FACING FORWARD:

A Group Mask Exhibition

Through the first months of 2013 the Stonington Gallery will pack up and move two doors down the block: from 119 S Jackson St to 125 S Jackson St. As our first exhibition in our new space, Facing Forward brings the focus on the human face. Masks change our features, hide our identities, protect our skin and transform ourselves. Helmets, hats and jewelry will also make appearances in this exhibition, as they are other ways of embellishing and adorning our faces. Our carvers, painters, weavers and jewelers will consider the idea of the human face and the way in which we adorn it, while celebrating the new face of Stonington.

Stonington Gallery is Moving:

Enjoy Our Moving SALE!

Watch Raven Skyriver

Live in the Hotshop!

PRATT Fine Arts Center

Photo Courtesy of MoG

Saturday, March 16th

6pm - 9pm, FREE

Raven Skyriver will blow glass in the Pratt hotshop this Saturday evening, free to all comers. If you’ve missed Skyriver in action at the Museum of Glass, this is your opportunity to feel the heat!  This three-hour residency is part of Pratt's Spring Open House.

Located at 1902 S Main St  Seattle, WA 98144
(206) 328-2200

Courtney Lipson:

Century Project

Lecture: Sunday, March 3rd at 2pm

Century Project was commissioned through Stonington Gallery in Seattle, and is a multi-media work that records the life patterns of one man; key events and their surrounding energy, lessons and skills learned. Beginning ten years before his birth, the timeline illustrates life events and personal journeys until age 90....hence the name: Century Project. Because the subject is in his fifties, the latter portion of his life is forecast, illustrating natural events like deaths and births, and unknown possibilities including intent and wishes. It is a meditation on the past, present, and future.

The micro-mosaic portion of Century Project measures 2 inches high and 100 inches long--an inch represents one year. It is comprised entirely of glass seed beads and gemstones, over which colored grouts were applied to seal the micro-mosaic and manipulate the colors and textures, giving depth. An estimate counts the number of beads at approximately 75,000.

This multi-media project is a collaboration of forces; micro-mosaic by Courtney Lipson, framed in walnut by Alan Rosen, mounted in front of a backlit transparency of images from the universe created by Curtis Wong, and music accompanies this timeline--the overall vision of the client.

The Century Project will be on display in Seattle, WA at Stonington Gallery starting March 3rd, 2013.

Raven Skyriver:

Live in the Museum of Glass Hotshop

As the winner of the People’s Choice and Artists’ Choice Awards at the 2012 Museum of Glass Auction, Raven Skyriver has been awarded two glassblowing sessions at the Museum hotshop this winter. Skyriver is quickly becoming one of the most respected names in Northwest glass, and the chance to watch him work live is not to be missed! We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity to see a rising maestro in action.

Select works blown during these sessions will be available in his Stonington solo exhibition--Oceanic--in May 2013. Please contact the gallery with questions regarding special commissions or purchases of work.

Hotshop admission is included with Museum of Glass ticket price. Skyriver and his team will work through the day, with a break for lunch.  

For more information, visit the Museum of Glass website: http://museumofglass.org/visiting-artists

Treasures of the Northwest:

A Group Exhibition

Haida master artist Bill Reid spoke of the “well-made object,” a term for the masterpieces created by the region’s artists for admiration, adornment and ritual use.  The natural materials of the Northwest help make these objects possible: from old growth trees to soft goat furs, bone and horn to copper and grasses. The quality of these materials has inspired artists to craft objects of beauty throughout the centuries.

The term treasure speaks to a thing of rare occurrence; the execution of an idea, the combination of beauty and profundity behind an object. In this place where sea meets forest meets mountains, treasures are discovered in each cove and cranny. The joy of finding these treasures—whether it is a totem pole returning to the earth in the forest, or being surprised by a favorite artist—is part of the aura that surrounds the well-made object.

The artists in Treasures of the Northwest Coast are individuals of rare talent and vision, and collectively honor Reid’s concept with their beautifully-wrought objects.

Hib Sabin :

The Journey

Transformation, vengeance, yearning, the search for safety and self, and the journey home: these are the themes that imbue Homer’s Odyssey. In his 2012 solo exhibition renowned carver Hib Sabin is inspired by this ancient epic and bases his newest body of work on its eternal lines. Carving in juniper wood, Sabin has skillfully captured the spirits of owls, birds of prey, transformed creatures and humans for decades. He now focuses on the Odyssey to bring a new layer of myth to life.

Joan Tenenbaum:

Moons, Mountains & Mystery

A Generation Rises:

A Group Exhibition

A generation is rising—can you hear it? It’s the sound of brushes and adzes scraping cedar, and the hum of computers and clicking of mice. A group of young artists are coming into their own—can you see it? It’s metal and glass, wood and hide, paint and pixel and pencil.

Young Native artists are claiming their artistic birthright, and finding inspiration in the art forms of their ancestors. Born in the 1970s and 1980s, they are the vanguard of formline design, learning from their elders and family members, and confidently striding in new directions. As the first generation to grow up with computers at their fingertips, many of these artists are making use of digital design, printing and fabrication.

Stonington Gallery has been honored to watch the work of this burgeoning generation evolve. Helping to guide and support the careers of these artists continues to be a duty that we happily take on, and includes many surprises along the way.

Thomas Stream:

A Solo Exhibition

Alaska:

Far and Away, Up Close

Stonington proudly presents new art from across Alaska in our annual focus on the region. Featured are works by Larry Ahvakana (Inupiaq), Kathleen Carlo (Athabascan), Perry Eaton (Alutiiq), Allie High (Tsimshian/Haida/Aleut), John Hoover (Aleut), Anna Hoover (Aleut), Susie Silook (Siberian Yupik, Inupiaq), Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Dawn Wallace (Aleut) and whalebone and ivory carvers from the Bering Sea coastal villages and islands. Included for the first time are works by Siberian artists whose homeland and culture are separated from Alaska by a narrow stretch of water.

Journeys: Travels in the Natural and Spirit Worlds

A Group Exhibition

Summer is a time for journeys. Animals are on the move across the land and water, and humans pile into cars and canoes seeking adventure. Whether we trek miles from home or travel from our armchairs, our spirits are refreshed by weather and wandering. This group show honors travels in the natural and spirit worlds with a selection of works from varied media and perspectives.

Beyond Beyond :

Barry Herem Solo Exhibition

Veteran artist Barry Herem returns with a new body of work in metal, glass and wood. His formline experiments in mixed media continue to evolve in dramatic new directions. Herem’s vibrant, elegant work is made possible by fifty years of artistic experience.

Stonington Lecture

Received Boundaries:

Stasis & Change: An illustrated talk by Barry Herem

July 8th, 6pm

For most people the zeitgeist of world-wide iconoclasm and boundary breaking, i.e. liberation, is old hat, almost old school, except that it's still going on in many areas. Looking back on nearly 50 years in the modern "renaissance" of Northwest Coast Indian style art - which lies below the beat of both modernism and post modernism in North American art generally - we can see where it had to go, and has. I want to show you something of how, what, when, where and right now. Also something about my work.

Steal the Sun, Feel the Heat:

A Group Exhibition in Glass

Legend says that Raven brought light and warmth into our world. He found the Sun where it was hidden and stole it away in his beak. Even as it scorched and burned him, Raven held on until he could hang it in the sky.

Today, Native artists are using his fiery gift to create exquisite work in glass. By shaping molten globs from the furnace and blasting complex patterns onto surfaces, these artists are giving myth new form in glass.

 Featuring work by Joe David, Marvin Oliver, Preston Singletary, Raven Skyriver, Joe Fedderson, Larry Ahvakana, Andrea Wilbur Sigo, Susan Point, Courtney Lipson, Hib Sabin/Peter Wright, Janet Walker and Alano Edzerza.

Stonington Lecture: Raven Skyriver

MONDAY, June 18th 6:30pm

Glass artist Raven Skyriver (Tlingit/Makah) will present his first lecture at the gallery, touching on his artistic influences, technical process and deep love for the Puget Sound ecosystem. Skyriver's fascinating background includes working and teaching with the Pilchuck Glass School, and blowing for William Morris, Lino Tagliapietra and Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen. His solo work focuses on realistic, soulful representations of the animal life of the Northwest, connecting Skyriver to his hometown of Lopez Island and his native heritage. FREE

Light refreshments, free parking after 6pm & no ball games scheduled in the area!

Spirits in Wood & Glass:

Hib Sabin & Peter Wright

Hib Sabin is well-known to Stonington’s clientele for his expressive juniper carvings inspired by shamanistic beliefs. Sabin’s limited edition bronzes have been lovingly crafted by fellow artist Peter Wright since 2000, but recently the two have embarked on a creative collaboration of their own. Combining Wright’s love of glassblowing with Sabin’s exquisite carvings, they have created the Animal Spirit Jar series. Both men have long been fascinated by indigenous art forms, and these vessels harmoniously combine flavors from mythic traditions across the world. Each of Wright’s glass vessels gracefully echo the forms of Sabin’s fetish figures, and the craquelure patterning on the glass creates a strong counterpoint to the textured wood carvings.

Red & Black:

A Group Exhibition on the

Power of Color

WEAVE:

Contemporary Northwest Coast Weavers

Weaving is a way to communicate stories -- a language unto itself spoken only by weavers. The Pacific Northwest Coast has been home to a variety of ancient and distinct weaving traditions unique to each of the region's Native cultures. Contemporary weavers are engaged in continuing and developing this ancient art form in traditional and new media. This exhibit celebrates the vitality, creativity and commitment of the weaving community and its success.

Participating artists will include Merle Anderson (Haida), Joe Feddersen (Colville), Chloe French (Tlingit), Chepximiya Siyma' Chief Janice George and Skwetsimeltxw Buddy Joseph (Squamish), Deborah Head (Tlingit), Chief Tsi'li'xw BIll James and Che top ie Fran James (Lummi), Courtney Lipson and Scott Jensen (Non-Indigenous), Marvin Oliver (Quinault, Isleta Pueblo), Kay Field Parker (Non-Indigenous), Susan Pavel (Non-Indigenous), Karen Reed (Chinook, Skokomish, Puyallup), Betty Pasco (Suquamish), Isabel Rorick (Haida), Kathy Rousso (Non-Indigenous), Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Mary Lou Slaughter (Duwamish), Mary Snowden (Non-Indigenous), Gail Tremblay (Onondaga, Micmac) and Diane Douglas-Willard (Haida).

Raven Skyriver:

Abyss

Raven Skyriver, a member of the Tlingit tribe, returns for his second solo exhibition with a new collection of his signature blown glass creatures. The result of years working under glass maestros William Morris and Lino Tagliapietra, Skyriver’s intense coloration and graceful lines prove his hot-sculpting aptitude and passion for the Northwest’s environment.

Nathan Gilles:

Nobility of the Salish Sea House Post

The new year begins with the arrival of the monumental Nobility of the Salish Sea House Post by Nathan Gilles. This 12-foot sculpture honors the Native peoples and ecosystem of the Salish Sea area.

The human figure on this post represents the great leaders of the Coast, both past and present. In his hands he holds an adolescent wolf; below him are two Elwha River Chinook Salmon; an eagle perches above, an intrinsic part of the natural cycle of death and rebirth.

When creating the eagle on the house post, Gilles was reflecting upon habitat conservation, environmental stewardship and restoration.

Gilles, who is non-indigenous, was a carver for the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe for six years, collaborating with lead carver Dale Faulstich. He has lived on Native reservations around Washington and studied Halkomelem and Lushootseed—two distinct languages of the Coast Salish.

Stonington Artist Talk:

Nathan Gilles

Solstice Masquerade:

A Group Exhibit

With the Winter Solstice looming, the time for ceremony and gathering begins on the Pacific Northwest Coast. Masks danced by firelight illuminate the darkness and engage our imagination with stories, myths and magic. Stonington's incomparable artists close 2011 with a deep bow to the poignancy of winter and the ceremonial traditions which make it such a powerful and beautiful season. Please join us on Saturday, January 28th, 1pm for Nathan Gilles’ Artist Talk and the Blessing of the House post. Gilles’ talk will include a slide presentation of historic photographs honored in the design of the House post. FREE.

Hib Sabin:

The Stuff Dreams are Made of

Hib Sabin's characters are at once the mythic guardians and protagonists of our dreams. Sabin’s spirit animals embody the essence of winter, and his new works bring the year to a close entrenched in spirit and vitality.

Artist Lecture: Hib Sabin

Exhibit Talk

Scott Jensen:

Speaking Cedar

Master carver Scott Jensen reveals a new body of carvings in November: pieces that will once again prove why his works are some of the most sought-after in the Northwest art world. Jensen carves at the highest technical level; captured in his masks, boxes, bowls and poles is the unmistakable quality of the pieces carved by the old masters.

Joan Tenenbaum:

A Sense of Place, The Ways We Connect to Our Earth

In her 2011 solo exhibition, Joan Tenenbaum will explore the ways in which traditional peoples have rooted themselves within their landscape in order to embrace life.  Her work this year will again derive from her ever-deepening understanding of the Alaska Native communities where she lived and continues to visit. 

With her usual meticulous craftsmanship and attention to fine detail, Tenenbaum has created exquisite wearable jewelry expressing such themes as the seasonal subsistence cycle in her Alaskan family’s community, and how tradition and beliefs tie the community to their landscape. She explores how traditional travel narratives embody a mental topographic map and recount each stopping place along a well-traveled route. And she honors the salmon, who give their life to everything in their landscape.

Scott Jensen:

Exhibit Talk

2 pm

Joan Tenenbaum: Artist Lecture

A Sense of Place, The Evolution of an Idea

2 pm

Rick Bartow:

Retrospective and New Works

Stonington Gallery is thrilled to be featuring in October a solo retrospective exhibition including new works by Wiyot artist Rick Bartow. Bartow draws deeply from both Native American mythological archetypes and a deeply personal symbolic catalogue, encapsulating his characters in a maelstrom of colors and pulsating lines. He is able to transfer the moment of emotion straight into his work, whether in paint, pastel, ink or wood. Bartow’s twenty-year retrospective, Dog’s Journey, is currently traveling the country through January 2012, and can be seen first at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke followed by the Missoula Museum of Art. 

Rick Bartow:

Exhibit Talk

12 pm

The artist will speak at Stonington Saturday, October 15, 12pm. The lecture titled  One Dog Man will explore this body of work, and reveal more about his artistic process and background. Free and open to the public.

Contemporary Tlingit Art:

A Group Exhibit

Living on the west coast of British Columbia and southeast Alaska for millennia, Tlingit society has produced generations of noted artisans. Patterned basketry, Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving, and soulful totemic figures from the past now inspire a new generation to continue these rich traditions today.

Clarissa Rizal:

A Language of Tlingit Robes

Clarissa Rizal debuts paintings and collages in her first solo exhibit at Stonington. An accomplished Tlingit weaver and painter, Rizal incorporates the ancient formline designs of her culture into her fully contemporary art. The paintings and collage in “A Language of Tlingit Robes” explore the theme of Tlingit robes in vibrant cubist style.

Thomas Stream:

In Flight

Graceful birds take flight at Stonington in Thomas Stream’s 2011 solo exhibit. Stream conjures a new body of exquisitely detailed gouache paintings that draw their inspiration from the iconic Aleut hunting headgear and the natural environment of his Aleutian ancestral homelands.

Alaska:

A Group Exhibit

The Alutiiq, Aleut, Tlingit, Athabaskan, Inupiaq and Yupik tribes of Alaska offer some of the most profound contemporary art in the nation. Some native artists draw inspiration from connections with their ancestors, while others cultivate a new style all their own. Stonington continues its focus on the Alaska arts scene by presenting new works in wide-ranging media from all over Alaska’s wild artistic frontier.

The Gifts of Trees

As the sap begins to run we pay tribute to the indigenous trees of the Northwest and the myriad objects into which they are transformed. The iconic bentwood boxes, delicate halibut hooks, towering totem poles, ocean going canoes, and graceful woven basketry of the Northwest Coast peoples could never have been without the presence of these majestic trees. This group show presents works that honor the versatile uses of indigenous trees, as well as the traditional tools used for centuries to carve wood into enduring objects of beauty and power.

Courtney Lipson:

Vision

The ability to see, to feel and dream, to think, to project—all may be described by a single word in the English language: vision. Lipson’s June exhibit of micro-mosaic beadwork jewelry stems from a creative maelstrom of ongoing projects—beading a mural, learning Chilkat weaving, designing Tlingit beadwork—and reflects her many-faceted ideas, skills and vision.

Duane Pasco: Lecture

Canoes and the Canoe Journey

2 pm

Duane Pasco, master carver of the Northwest Coast, believes that everything one could learn about Pacific Northwest Coast art and culture is contained within the canoe.

Hib Sabin:

New Bronzes

Stonington Gallery is honored to present in May a small selection of new Hib Sabin limited edition cast bronze sculptures. These sculptures, cast from Sabin’s original juniper carvings, are admired for capturing the spiritual essence and rich painted quality of his originals. Singing ravens, dreaming owls and spirit masks will all be present.

Barry Herem:

A Passion for the Coast

Barry Herem’s prolific forty year career has been spurred by inspiration derived from the fundamental Northwest Coast forms and his years of canoe adventures in the fjords and inlets of the Inside Passage. In his third one-man show in as many years, Herem creates another inventive body of work in a wide variety of media that will include soulful new sculptures in wood.

Drums and Rattles:

Sounding the Northwest's Ancient Tradition

Imagine a time on the Pacific Northwest Coast preceding all man-made sounds—the thrush at dawn, robins at dusk, Pacific winds blowing through the giant fir and cedar trees, rain. Then add some of the earliest man-made sounds—the boom of drums, the shiver of rattles, the resonant sound of voices in song. Whether they are sounded loudly through the night or admired for their artistry, each instrument adds another wonderful sound to the continuously evolving soundtrack of the Pacific Northwest. It is a rich and magnificent history and will be honored by a host of Stonington’s finest artists.

Janet & Owen Walker:

Trade Beads

Strands of dentalium shell, strings of glass beads and pendants of fossil ivory artifacts embellish the glittering jewelry made by Janet and Owen Walker. Known for their exquisite metalsmith work, the Walkers turn to the antique trade beads of the Northwest, utilizing their bold colors and unique shapes to create exquisite adornment.

Janet & Owen Walker: Lecture

Beads of the Fur Trade: Before and Beyond

Artists and trade bead collectors, Janet & Owen Walker, will discuss the history of trade beads; their identity, origin, manufacture, use, and how they got to the Pacific Northwest.

Staff Picks

Selecting from the choicest of the choice, the Stonington Staff has picked twelve works from the Gallery’s renowned collection to exhibit during the month of March. Each staff member has chosen two pieces with which we sense a deep connection that is felt when we encounter these works. From jewelry to carvings, textiles to prints, many of these pieces are the most striking from an artist’s greater body of work, while others carry an intangible resonance almost impossible to describe. These pinnacle works will be displayed with accompanying commentary by a Stonington staff-member, illuminating our perception of the piece and why it provokes such a distinct reaction in us. The process of selecting these pieces has been a wonderful experience for Stonington’s staff, and has reacquainted us with some of our favorite artists and works!

Raven Skyriver :

On the Brink

Raven Skyriver’s masterful use of glass to capture the strange and beautiful essence of Puget Sound sea-life confirms that his artistic star is swiftly on the rise.

Skyriver grew up on the shores of Puget Sound and has cultivated a lifelong obsession with the aquatic life forms of the Northwest Coast.  In “On the Brink,” he expands his repertoire to include land animals, such as Frog and Raven, creatures deeply iconic to the Tlingit and all tribes around the Northwest.

Through his vividly rendered glass creations Skyriver reminds us that we are tied to the ecosystems around us, and the panoply of life which they nurture. Not all of the animals represented in his work are endangered, but all are deeply impacted by the presence of the human population. The detailed perfection of his animals brings home the urgency of his message: we must be aware of our impact, lest we tip the balance and lose these incredible creatures forever.

“On the Brink” also indicates Skyriver’s unique perspective in the world of contemporary glass and Native art: at just 28 years old, this innovator has a finger on the pulse of two traditions, and stands in a liminal place of exciting change and interaction. Drawing upon the education he received through working with glass maestri William Morris, Karen Willenbrink-Johnsen and Lino Tagliapietra, these experiences allow him to realize his works with remarkable technical complexity and heart.

THE GREAT POLE TRADITIONS OF
THE NORTHWEST COAST:

An Exploration of Totemic Imagery

We will conclude 2010 with Stonington’s annual winter theme exhibition. This year we decided to go for the gusto. Among the Stonington Gallery artists are the finest carvers on the coast. And great carvers love the challenge of a totem pole, welcome pole or house post and so we will devote December to the great tradition of the pole on the Northwest Coast.

Hib Sabin:

The Storyteller

Hib Sabin- “The Storyteller”. Hib Sabin’s signature piece for this exhibition will be a tribute to storytellers from all cultures whose signature role in culture will be honored in a carving depicting a Man/Raven transformation; titled “Storyteller.” The exhibit will also include a series of “Spirit Jars”; collaborations in glass with artist Peter Wright.

Hib Sabin:

Exhibit Talk

Saturday, 2 pm

Hib Sabin's December exhibition, The Storyteller, will be a tribute to the rich history of storytelling among all peoples, primarily of the Pacific Northwest Coast cultures. Sabin will discuss the significance of storytelling and share his favorite tales in his animated and eloquent way.

Marvin Oliver:

Solo Exhibition

Marvin Oliver is the personification of the Northwest Coast art renaissance. As artist, curator and teacher he has shaped and influenced contemporary regional art from every direction. His large public art sculptures contribute to Seattle's dynamic cultural experience, while his experimental nature and vast cultural knowledge are a catalyst for a body of work that literally breaks the mold. Blown glass Shaman Spirit Boards, a blown and fused glass Tlingit Style Warrior Helmet, Quinault Clam Gathering Baskets woven from molten strips of glass, and an 8 foot bronze Orca dorsal fin are each included in the body of work Oliver has created for his November Solo Exhibition at the Stonington Gallery. Oliver has led the way towards integrating new media with the protocols of the ancient arts of the Northwest Coast, and has done so with a master's eye for authenticity, beauty and spirit. We look forward to sharing this exhibition with you. Exhibit tours with gallery staff may be arranged with one day's notice.  

Robert Davidson Lecture

The Massett Pole Raising

Thursday, December 9th, 7 pm

Stonington Gallery is honored to present a lecture by renowned artist Robert Davidson who will share the experience from the historic day in August 1969 when his totem pole was the first to be raised on Massett, Haida Gwaii in living memory. Please call ahead to reserve a signed copy of his recently released book Four Decades: An Innocent Gesture that commemorates that day forty years ago.

To reserve a seat, please RSVP.

206. 405.4040. art@stoningtongallery.com.

Tickets $5.

Jewelry:

A Group Exhibit

Stonington Gallery is recognized for representing the finest, innovative jewelers who continue the rich cultural tradition of body adornment among the cultures of the Pacific Northwest Coast. For thousands of years the people of the Coast have worn beautiful jewelry reflecting their appreciation for fine craft, elegant design, and cultural tradition. Stonington's jewelry artists honor this legacy and help to ensure it deepens and strengthens.

Marvin Oliver: Exhibit Talk

2 pm

Gene Tagaban Lecture

Storytelling and Songs

7 pm - Gene Tagaban, noted Northwest Coast storyteller and musician, will share his love for stories and song. Tagaban recently opened The Urban Longhouse in Bellingham, WA and will also discuss his dreams for this space.

Shaun Peterson and Phil Gray:

Southern and Northern Traditions

In October, Stonington Gallery is proud to showcase an exhibit of works by two equally gifted artists—Philip Gray (Tsimshian) and Shaun Peterson (Puyallup)—thus juxtaposing the Pacific Northwest Coast Northern style with that of the Southern. The art of each of these men conveys the essence of his culture’s historical roots, communicated in his own personal contemporary voice. Peterson draws upon the rich storytelling traditions of the Coast Salish speaking peoples of the southern coast. Gray’s classic northern style design, carving and painting are reminiscent of and equal to the works of the old masters.

Joe David:

Found Objects

Nuu-chah-nulth artist, Joe David, reminds us of an amazing aspect of Northwest Coast art and culture: its on-going ability to adapt to change and to incorporate the modern with the ancient— one of the most telling signs of a resilient, ever-evolving, living culture. In his current exhibit, Found Objects, Joe David transforms the discarded and forgotten into art; a solution that resonates deeply with his ancestral and personal narrative. David’s pieces honor his people’s history, while uniquely synthesizing his own artistic self-expression.

Joan Tenenbaum:

The Evolving Ring

In her 2010 Solo Exhibit, Joan Tenenbaum continues her passion for making small objects, focusing specifically on rings. From the bold and striking to the delicate and intimate, there will be big rings, small rings, curious rings, surprising rings, classic rings, adventurous rings and special ones from the heart.

Shaun Peterson: Lecture

Joan Tenenbaum:  Lecture and Slide Show

“Pivotal Moments: Change as Inspiration.” Joan will recount the events that triggered major course changes in her life path and show how her life and work evolved as a result.  The presentation will be accompanied by hundreds of visual images of the places she has lived and her jewelry work as it developed over the span of fifty years.

Thomas Stream:

Aleut Paintings

Thomas Stream’s paintings are a tribute to his Aleut ancestors and the striking beauty of natural wildlife. His bold use of color and his eye for intricately detailed pattern have evolved over the course of the past two decades. His newest body of work continues an ongoing exploration of these themes.

Perry Eaton:

Sugpiaq/Alutiiq Masks

Perry Eaton carves traditionally based Sugpiaq/Alutiiq masks deeply rooted in the rich culture of Kodiak, Alaska. Eaton’s emotive masks are patterned after the ancient forms of the Alutiiq, who believed that each mask possessed its own spirit.

Katie Bunn-Marcuse: Northwest Coast Silver Bracelets, Reflections of Culture

Alano Edzerza:

New Works

Tahltan artist Alano Edzerza broke onto the Northwest Coast art scene in a whirlwind of energetic, modern design. Each new body of work from this dynamic young artist is a deeply
personal exploration of the mythic structure that permeates Tahltan culture. Utilizing such modern materials as glass, steel and giclée prints, and using digital design to aid his vision,
Edzerza has brought an electrifying contemporary sensibility to the ancient art forms of his people.

Bracelets:

A Beautiful Legacy

No other piece of jewelry is as culturally significant to the Pacific Northwest coastal communities as the bracelet. Bracelet cuffs are a medium on which well-known mythic narratives can be re-told in a continuous visual loop, where iconic characters tangle sinuously and familiar faces pop up in surprising ways. Their circular forms reach back to embrace ancient visual and oral traditions, while simultaneously stretching forward to usher them proudly into the future. Their flat shapes provide the ideal surface for engraving crests, patterns, floral designs and figures. This bracelet tradition has continued and flourished in the hands of today’s superb metal smiths. We have invited a select group of jewelers to each create a unique bracelet that pays tribute to this beautiful custom and represents their singular place in the Northwest Coast art world.

The Head Adorned:

Helmets, Hats, Frontlets, Masks & Jewelry

Remembering the Sacredness of the Four Seasons:

The Haida Weavings of Isabel Rorick

Stonington welcomes the traditional Haida basketry of Isabel Rorick with her solo show: Remembering the Sacredness of the Four Seasons. Rorick gathers natural materials on Haida Gwaii in the traditional method and painstakingly weaves them into gathering baskets. This show highlights four particular baskets, each of which honors the spirit of a season. These subtly patterned pieces remind us to reflect on and celebrate the natural bounty surrounding and providing
for us.

Bill Holm Exhibit Lecture

7pm—“Headgear” by Bill Holm,

Marvin Oliver a Visiting Artist at the Tacoma Museum of Glass Hot Shop

Barry Herem: Exhibit Talk

JUNE 27th, 2 pm

Barry Herem:

New Forms for (and from) the Northwest Coast

On June 3rd, Stonington Gallery opens an exhibition that will demonstrate how Barry Herem continues to assimilate his masterful understanding of the traditional coastal motifs with his own bold, contemporary aesthetic; thus, expanding and developing the art form in authentic and disciplined new ways using modern materials.

Herem’s artistic voice is inherently elegant, fluid and suitable to the most modern settings and sensibilities. This exhibition will highlight Herem’s imaginative new works consisting of nearly twenty pieces in steel, stainless steel and refined and pigmented concrete works, all suited for permanent installation in gardens, developing structures and public or private interiors. Herem’s monumental new steel “Raptor Gates,” half-inch steel pedestal steles, and concrete sculptures are ideal as architectural details for the Northwest vernacular. Each cast concrete piece is the stunning result of the collaboration between Barry Herem and Mike Olsen.

Erik Sandgren :

Landscape & Seascape Paintings

For the first time Stonington Gallery will be featuring paintings by Erik Sandgren as a complement to Barry Herem’s sculptures. Sandgren is a watercolor artist who portrays Northwest landscapes and seascapes.

Scott Jensen:

New Carvings

Stonington Gallery is eager to host in May an exhibit that will feature new works by both Scott Jensen and Courtney Lipson during this special year when these two artists are to be married. Among the new works will be his recognizably Scott Jensen Tlingit inspired carvings including new masks, a bowl and a rattle. Also for the first time, the gallery will be exhibiting Jensen’s Plains and Plateau style bead work. Jensen’s attention to detail and rich, subtle carving style transcends our modern world and connects with a time that was pristine and inspired by the natural world and the beauty, power and magic it engendered.

Courtney Lipson:

Micro-Mosaic Jewelry

Courtney Lipson's jewelry gets more exciting with every new exhibit. In this new collection, Lipson continues her process of replicating the unique patterns found in nature. A focus of this new body of work will be rings in celebration of Jensen's and Lipson's August wedding. These new pieces will be in Lipson’s signature micro-mosaic glass seed bead and grout designs; expect new earrings, necklaces and her intricate and beautiful cuffs as well.

Rick Bartow

Paintings, Monotypes, Drypoints, & Sculpture

In April, Stonington Gallery is pleased to present two solo exhibitions: Rick Bartow (Wiyot) and John Wilson (Haisla). These two artists offer interesting contrasts in the arena of contemporary Native art.

Rick Bartow's art is cathartic for both artist and viewer. His bold, spontaneous and expressionistic approach allows the viewer to access and experience the process where art is made, both psychically and physically. The energy and dissonance exerted on the canvas and paper is frenzied, even manic, mirroring life's challenges and chaos. And then it is worked through; Bartow has immersed himself in the deep and calming waters of his native mythology, its connectedness to the natural world, and the mythic characters who inhabit it.

Balance is found and restored as revealed in the clarity and focus in the eyes of Bartow's characters. They often gaze beyond the present; their sights resting peacefully on something just out of view: a future that appears to hold the possibility for solidity and peace.

John Wilson:

Haisla Masks

John Wilson's art is a studied contrast to the bold expressionism of Bartow. Wilson, a Haisla artist is currently studying with Dempsey Bob, Stan Bevan, and Ken McNeil at the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art in British Columbia, is finding his connection to culture and community through elarning and mastering traditional Haisla art. Wilson is most inclined to carve masks and has the rare ability to bring forth soul and personality in his carvings. Technically the work is accomplished, however what elevates traditional Northwest Coast masks to art is the artist's ability to imbue a life-like essence in them. A mask is a subsitute or stand-in for a mythic or real person and should evoke a sense of life and spirit even when not being worn or danced. Wilson's traditionally executed art resonates with life and the human spirit.

Haida Masters

The Stonington Gallery will feature contemporary Haida art in March, including a rare opportunity to view and collect a limited edition Bill Reid 22kt cast gold "Grizzly Bear Medallion and Chain," 1972. The Haida are from British Columbia's Queen Charlotte Islands and are respected for their refined and elegant art traditions. The late Bill Reid is considered by many Canadians to be their country's foremost artist and, as such, is featured on their twenty dollar bank note. Few of Bill Reid's works are available for viewing outside of museum collections, most notable collections at the UBC Museum of Anthropology, the Provincial Museum (Victoria) and the new Bill Reid Art Gallery (Vancouver).

Stonington Gallery will aslo feature in March works by other leading Haida masters including a new sculpture, "T'samuss," by Robert Davidson; spruce root weavings by Isabel Rorick; and argillite carvings by other well-known Haida artists.

Eyes on the Northwest Coast

The Stonington Gallery will be featuring small collections of work by Gallery artists during the month of February. This exhibit will allow the gallery to showcase the finest art being created along the Pacific Northwest Coast. Featured artists will include Rick Bartow, Robert Davidson, Alano Edzerza, Dale Faulstich, David Franklin, Jason Gobin, Barry Herem, Scott Jensen, Courtney Lipson, Adam McIsaac, Duane Pasco, Shaun Peterson, Susan Point, Hib Sabin, Raven Skyriver, Joan Tenenbaum, and Andrea Wilbur-Sigo.

Of special note is a new work in glass by Raven Skyriver. This latest hand blown and sculpted glass masterpiece, "Devilfish," explores Skyriver's twin passions: the sea life of Puget Sound and glass blowing. "Devilfish" is a glorious sculpture by one of the region's most visionary and technically brilliant glass artists.

Raven and Eagle:

Love of the Northwest Coast

We conclude 2009 with a group exhibit that speaks to our love of the Northwest Coast. The Stonington Gallery artists have spent their lives immersed in the mythology of the Northwest Coast. They are the finest artists of our time and their singular effort to honor the Raven stories and other myths will bring a brilliant and stunning finale to the year!

Joan Tenenbaum:

50 Years of Jewelry Making; The Depth and Breadth of a Fifty Year Passion

Come Celebrate in September with Stonington Gallery as we mark Joan Tenenbaum's 50th anniversary of making jewelry.  Joan will present a new body of work reprising all the themes that are dear to her heart. Her humble beginning work from 1959 and the early 1960's will be juxtaposed with stunning new creations. From the debut of new wedding ring designs to abstract landscapes and cuff bracelets, from spiritual figurines to elegant necklaces and bold one-of-a-kind rings, those who have followed Joan's work for the past several decades will find familiar themes treated in an entirely new manner.

Hib Sabin:

Life Cycles

Hib Sabin imbues each of his carvings with a spirit power that can be strongly felt. Sabin's characters play a role in allowing him to express and explore the beauty and acceptance he feels with life's cycles of birth, death, and the journey in between and beyond. His cast of figues moves in and out of an ancient and timeless spirit world. In this exhibit, Hib will continue this exploration of animal spirit and the journey of life through his sculpture.

Joan Tenenbaum: Gallery Talk

Joan Tenenbaum will talk informally about her jewelry work and how it has developed over the years. She will talk about her creative process, how she develops her ideas, how she selects gemstones and materials for her designs, will answer questions, and she will share tales of some of the experiences, teachers and other jewelry artists who have influenced her.

Weaving Wisdom and Warmth: Contemporary Master Weavers of the Northwest Coast

This highly anticipated group exhibition will showcase Stonington Gallery's extraordinary weavers including Nancy Burgess, Chloe French, Clarissa Hudson, Bill and Fran James, June Parker, Betty Pasco, Susan Pavel, Ruth Peterson, Karen Reed, Isabel Rorick, Mary Lou Slaughter, Malynn Wilbur Foster, and Jane Wiseman. Artwork inspired by weaving will also be included such as weaving and textile design micro-mosaic beadwork jewelry by Courtney Lipson, glass Salish baskets by Marvin Olver, etc. Weaving is a seminal art form within all the communities up and down this coastal region and this exhibition will honor this tradition with a breathtaking collection of the finest weaving from every corner of the Northwest Coast.

Weaving Demonstration

Many of the artists participating in the October Weaving Exhibition will demonstrate the traditional processes of basket weaving, blanket weaving, and spinning wool.

Scott Jensen: Aleut Hat Bending Demonstration

7 pm

Scott Jensen has a passion for Aleut hats and will be steam bending a hat live at the gallery! Of all the traditional steam bent objects on the northwest coast, none are more challenging than the famed Aleut hat. Scott's Aleut hats are legendary, the finest being made today. Please join us for this special evening with Scott Jensen and gain a wonderful insight into one of the coast’s most exquisite and rare objects.

Thomas Stream

Striving for Balance

Aleut artist Thomas Stream explores what it is to be an Aleut man and artist in modern times. The Aleut culture was devastated by the relentless hunting of Sea Otter in the 19th century. The tragic result of this obsession was the near collapse of Aleut culture. More than a century later, Thomas Stream's paintings are a splendid and unique portrayal of Aleut culture and its respectful relationship with nature. Thomas Stream is collected internationally and is a vital link to one of North America's least known and most magnificent cultures.

Raven Skyriver

New Works in Glass

The Stonington Gallery is pleased to present works by glass artist Raven Skyriver. Skyriver spent his childhood on the Olympic Peninsula and has chosen to use his spectacular finesse in glass to honor the sea creatures that inhabit the waters of the great Pacific Northwest Coast.

Skyriver joined the William Morris Glass Team in 2003 and has also worked with Lino Tagliapietra’s team at The Glass Factory in Ca’dora, Brazil.

Paul Owen Lewis: Gallery Talk

Acclaimed award winning author and illustrator, Paul Owen Lewis, will share how he came to create Storm Boy and Frog Girl, two popular Northwest Coast themed children’s books, and will discuss the imporant influence his friend and mentor Bill Holm has had on his work.

Robert Barratt: An Eye for Beauty

Robert Barratt, in collaboration with fellow carver Todd Wells, has created an exhibit that explores the architectural and decorative elements of Northwest Coast art. The collection includes carved doors, feast dishes, rattles, and masks.

Courtney Lipson:

A Closer Look II

This year’s exhibition is inspired by a collection of precious stones that Courtney has acquired through the years. This body of work shows the breathtaking evolution of this remarkable young artist’s work.

Alaska:

Celebrating the Art of the Bering Sea Coastal Region

Featuring Alutiiq Artists Perry Eaton and Lena Amason.

Barry Herem

New Works in Wood and Steel

The contributions by Barry Herem to contemporary Northwest Coast art are numerous and important. Herem first fell in love with Northwest Coast art as a young man doing surveying work in S.E. Alaska. Always fascinated by the Northwest Coast art and culture, Herem's true love for the art form was cemented when he saw the famed carvings of the 19th century Tlingit master artist, Kadjis du axtc, in the Whale house in Klukwan, Alaska. From that time on, Herem devoted his life to Northwest Coast art. He is a leading scholar, writer, lecturer, and artist on the subject. His fluency in the language of formline is juxtaposed with his love and of and openness towards modern materials, establishing new possibilities for interpreting and expressing Northwest coast art. This show will include a selection of work in corten steel, carvings in cedar, acrylic paintings and serigraphs.

Barry Herem:  Gallery Talk

What is a Masterpiece? The Great Art of the Northwest Coast

Small Treasures of the Northwest Coast

In June, Stonington Gallery will feature a group exhibition focusing on small scale sculpture, paintings, prints, and jewelry. The exquisite detail of well-crafted Northwest Coast art is often highlighted best in the smaller pieces you can hold and experience intimately. This exhibit will be full of work that has been carved on laps, held in pockets, painted with small brushes and created with the knowledge that art is well appreciated when viewed up close.

Nancy Burgess: Weaving Demonstration

Shaun Peterson: Gallery Talk

Young Artists:

The Next Great Generation I

This group exhibition will be an introduction to a larger exhibit scheduled at Stonington Gallery in 2010 that will focus on the younger artists whose energies have been fueled by the past 60 years of cultural renaissance. The dedication, talent and passion of these young artists have propelled them into the ranks of the next generation of great artists. Among artists included will be Alano Edzerza, David Franklin, Phil Gray, Adam McIsaac, Shaun Peterson, Andrea Wilbur-Sigo and John Wilson.

Andy Peterson: Carving Demonstration

David Franklin: Carving Demonstration

Lecture with Duane and Betty Pasco

Featured Artist:
Adam McIsaac

New Dimensions:  Collage & Silhouette

Jay Haavik:
Carving Demonstration

Adam McIsaac :
Carving Demonstration

Featured Artists:
Andy and Ruth Peterson

Andy and Ruth Peterson are featured in a two person exhibition of carved sculpture and hand blown, slumped and etched glass. Andy Peterson is considered one of the leaders of the Coast Salish renaissance. Andy's design and carving are emblematic of a mature artist at the height of his career. Ruth's glass sculpture is remarkable for its originality and grace.

Owen and Janet Walker:
Wax Carving and Casting Discussion and Engraving Demonstration

to see photos of the Demonstration

Scott Jensen: Steam Bending a Box
Courtney Lipson: Jewelry Making Demonstration

to see photos of the Demonstration

Henry Van Calcar: Carving Demonstration

Featured Artist: Maynard Johnny Jr.

We have had the pleasure of working with Maynard for over seven years.  Our favorite memory of Maynard, and one we will treasure always, was from the day the Stonington Gallery opened our Awakenings exhibition, August 16th, 2005. We had spent nearly two years planning the exhibition. During that time we had made many trips to British Columbia and spent many evenings writing the exhibition catalogue Contemporary Coast Salish Art. We were immersed in all things Coast Salish for two years. It was wonderful. However, the full impact of the cultural importance of the exhibit really did not hit home until Maynard Johnny, Jr. got up and spoke at the Opening Reception. We had an open mic available for anyone who wanted to share thoughts about the exhibit. There were so many wonderful, interesting things said that day. But what will always come to mind are the comments Maynard made and how heartfelt they were and how difficult it was for him to speak to a crowd. Maynard expressed how much the show meant to him as a Coast Salish man and artist. He spoke of the sense of great personal relief and joy that his cultural heritage was finally being celebrated and how satisfying it felt that people wanted to learn and understand the cultures that were here long before the west was settled. It felt like so much bottled sadness had been released, and in its place a sense of hope. Maynard is an extremely sensitive, reflective man and in that moment of listening to him and watching him I was more grateful for having the great fortune to be a witness to the cultural resurgence or "awakening" that is coursing through so many of these tribal lands. The paintings and prints Maynard created for that show remain some of our personal favorites. Maynard Johnny, Jr.'s art has been featured in several museum exhibitions including the Seattle Art Museum's S'ababeb-The Gifts: Pacific Coast Salish Art and Artists in which his work also graces the cover of the exhibition catalogue. Maynard is a painter; his painting has clarity, confidence and grace. The ultimate success and transcendence of both northern and southern coastal art depends on the artist's intellectual and intuitive sense of line. Like writing, music, poetry, Pacific Coastal art has stylistic conventions that must be honored; and then within those constructs the artist has the freedom to express himself. A tight, awkward composition is readily evident and comes from the artist being uncomfortable with the language of the lines of this art style. One must draw and paint for years before the natural grace of a line is second nature. Johnny's art is fluid, taut, undulating and brilliant, as exemplified in his "Killer Whale" painting. His love of the art and a dedication to his culture has made it a joy to represent Maynard Johnny, Jr. and a pleasure to know him.  

Scott Jensen Studio Tour

Transformation and Change on the Pacific Northwest Coast

2008 culminates with our annual theme exhibition. This year we explore the mystery and magic of transformation and change. In Northwest Coast myths and legends, humans, animals, and supernatural characters tranform interchangeably. Living is a process of change and transformation - physically and spiritually. We look forward to exploring these ideas in their many manifestations

Hib Sabin and Phil Charette:

Masks and Other Transformations

David Franklin

A Solo Exhibition

Courtney Lipson

A Closer Look

Mary Randlett - Slide Show and Lecture

Renowned landscape photographer Mary Randlett, will discuss how her northwest painter friends have been an important inspiration behind her photography. Please RSVP by October 9th.

This Coast Salish Place

This will be our third exhibition to focus exclusively on the profoundly gratifying cultural renaissance taking place within our regional Coast Salish tribal communities. The passion, time, commitment, and education that has propelled this renaissance will be exemplified in This Coast Salish Place.

ALASKA -- Thomas Stream

Wildlife Portraits, An Aleut's Perspective

We are proud to present another incredible selection of new original gouache paintings by Aleut artist Thomas Stream. New characters emerge in his painted menagerie developed over the decades: the pesky raccoon, busy beaver, and regal elk are among his most recent subjects. These characters are all depicted in Thomas's signature style, wearing the iconic Aleut hunting hats and set in the landscapes of our world that the artist respects and holds dear.

ALASKA -- Joan Tenenbaum

Connecting Culture with Landscape

Joan Tenenbaum explores traditional Yup'ik and Inupiaq style Ulu Knife Jewelry through her as always impeccably created jewelry. Brooches, pendants, earrings and an incredible cuff bracelet convey Joan's close associations with and understanding of the Alaskan landscapes and Eskimo cultures.

ALASKA -- Life of the Arctic Tundra

Alaskan Sculpture and Basket Weaving

With Stonington Gallery's annual foray into ALASKA, we are delighted to introduce a body of exquisite finely coiled grass baskets by Central Yup'ik weaver, Jane Wiseman. Jane gathers a variety of grasses along the banks of the rivers near her village in Chefornak, Alaska. She hand treats and dyes the grasses and dedicates hours to weaving beautiful lidded and open baskets, bowls, and trays.

The exhibit will also feature a breathtaking collection of new whalebone and ivory carvings from the Bearing Sea Inupiaq and Siberian Yupik carvers. Masterfully carved walrus ivory tusk and whalebone totems by Siberian Yupik artist Edwin Noongwook of Savoonga, St. Lawrence Island, whalebone dancers and hunters by Shishmaref Inupiaq artist Bill Jones; large whale scapula carvings by Inupiaq artists Edwin Weyiouanna and Richard Olanna; as well as a variety of other whalebone and ivory carvings from other Eskimo artists reflecting their lives and their culture.

ALASKA -- Courtney Lipson

Ravenstail Jewelry

Courtney Lipson expands her body of micro-mosaic glass seed bead jewelry to include the traditional Northwest Coast geometric Ravenstail band and diamond weaving patterns, using black, white and gold beads.

ALASKA -- Hana Von Krenner

Athabaskan Beadwork

Hana Von Krenner continues to exhibit a masterful skill in traditional Northwest Coast and Athabaskan bead work styles and techniques.

Scott Jensen

A Solo Exhibition

The long awaited second Scott Jensen solo exhibition will be sure to astound. Like his previous collection of work, these carvings are without compare. Jensen's style is imbued with a love and respect for the early Tlingit masters who created some of civilization's greatest masterpieces. With every carved ovoid and painted u-form, Jensen pays homage to the elegant and complicated relationship between form and line; the multi-layered tension between positive and negative space; this formline language has adorned art for the Pacific Northwest Coast native tribes for millenia. Scott will give a guided tour of the exhibit Saturday, June 7th at 2 pm.

Annual Duwamish Tribe Gala Dinner and Art Auction

Honoring Seattle's First People

You are warmly invited to join a celebraion of Duwamish culture and Northwest art hosted by the Museum of History & Industry (MOHAI). Enoy a vibrant live show by Gene Tagaban, a cocktail reception and silent art auction, performance by TIlibshudub ("Singing Feet"), and a traditional live auction of valuable art from Northwest artists such as Preston Singletary and Marvin Oliver.

Proceeds from the gala will benefit Duwamish Tribal Services (DTS), a nonprofit organization that provides critical support to nearly 600 tribal members.

When: Sunday, June 08, 2008
4:00 pm doors open
4:30-7:00 pm live show, reception and silent art auction
7:00-8:30 pm traditional feast and live art auction

Where: Museum of History & Industry
2700 24th Ave. E, Seattle| (map it!)

Festive cocktail attire. Free parking available onsite.

Masks & Panels

This group exhibit will illustrate the sculptural and dramatic three dimensional aspects of masks, as well as the elegance and grace of two dimensional low relief carvings and paintings. Both are emblematic of Northwest Coast traditions. It will also be a wonderful way to share the importance of the mythological characters and legends of the coast.

Currently at Stonington

With the coming of Spring, new work is flowing into Stonington! Rain or shine it's always interesting and run to drop into the Gallery to check out what's new in Pacific Northwest Coast and Alaskan art.  In March, 2008, Stonington Gallery will feature a variety of works including a phenomenal argillite Wasco Bowl (Wolf/Killerwhale transformation) with removable dorsal fin by Christian White, the foremost Haida carver of this material found in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Known for his lovely flowing lines, intricate inlays and interesting and sometimes whimsical subject matter, Christian's Wolf Bowl is a jewel. The Gallery is proud to be able to make this piece available to  its collectors.

Also featured will be hats and baskets by Isabel Rorick and Nancy Burgess;a unique colorful Small Glass Kachina and other glass works and prints by Marvin Oliver; glass panels, paintings and prints by Alano Edzerza; and a large selection of new ivory and whalebone carvings from the Inupiaq Eskimos living in the Bering Sea coastal region of Alaska.   

Inspired by Love

Stonington Gallery Jewelers

With Valentine's Day around the corner, Stonington's jewelers have created an exquisite body of work in celebration of the month of love.

RAIN: A GROUP CELEBRATION

Stonington Gallery and its staff are as confident as ever that we live in the most spectacular place on earth – the rich, verdant and beautiful Pacific Northwest.  We also acknowledge that without the very thing that many dread come the fall and winter months every year -- that is RAIN -- our region simply would not be as lush and wonderful as it is.  From the Cascades on the mainland to the rain forests on the Olympic Peninsula, and from the Canadian Cascades out to the Pacific coast -- our region nestled in the midst of this vibrant valley witnesses a weather system that has fed and nurtured the development of rich cultures along our coastline for centuries. Provided with an abundance of food from the land and sea as well as materials for sea canoes, shelter, tools and clothing made from old growth forests, Native cultures in our region were able to take the time to develop a complicated and intricate art form that has lasted through the millennia.  Therefore, we, along with our Gallery artists from our jewelers to our painters to our carvers, pay tribute to Rain – for without it, all of the beauty that surrounds us now may never have come to be just quite the way that it did. 

HIB SABIN: FITS IN YOUR POCKET

Opening simultaneously with a December group exhibit celebrating “Rain,” Stonington Gallery is proud to present a special body of work featuring small animal spirit carvings by the popular artist Hib Sabin: “Fits in Your Pocket.”  Not unlike prior works by Sabin, these explore themes of shamanism and the nature of animal spirits as manifested through spirit helper masks, spirit canoes, and spirit sticks; however, this exhibit focuses on these themes through similar items but all on a miniature scale -- amulets, maskettes, mini canoes, and a lovely miniature Lyre boat.

Alano Edzerza:
Northwest Coast Formline Art in
Glass, Pencil, and Acrylic

For the first time, Stonington Gallery is proud to host a solo exhibition of new two- and three-dimensional works by young up-and-coming artist Alano Edzerza. Edzerza belongs to the Raven clan of the Tahltan Nation located in northwest British Columbia east of the Tlingit and north of the Tsimshian.  Edzerza’s glass sculpture and two-dimensional works have widespread appeal for their modern interpretations of the traditional principles of Northwest Coast formline art. Edzerza clearly understands and internalizes the traditional and formal aspects of Northwest Coast art, while successfully marrying them with modern aesthetics, as exemplified in his etched glass boxes and panels. The formline designs that traditionally graced the iconic steam bent boxes or wooden wall panels are now etched into glass, while the lids and bases remain old growth cedar.  The outcome is exciting contemporary work merged with the foundations set by the great art of the old masters. His works can be found as the centerpiece of either the most chic, modern home or one with the most traditional of Northwest Coast art collections.

Angela Swedberg:
The Art of Medicine

Angela Swedberg's blown glass and beaded sculpture draws inspiration from the objects common to the tribes of the Plains and Plateau: gourd rattles, sacred necklaces, and ladles. Swedberg, world renown for her tradtional quill and bead work, and particularly for her show work for Appaloosa's, is taking the traditional bead work and incorporating it with hand blown glass. This body of work was created while Swedberg was dealing with a serious illness. The creation of the pieces was healing and inspired her to develop work that addressed the importance of ritual objects in the healing arts of all native tribes, though these items are representations, not actual items used for ritual.

Swedberg States: "The Native American concept of 'medicine' is much different from the modern world's concept of it. Their healing process concerns not only the physical, but the mental and spiritual worlds as well. One is not whole when the others are out of balance. Power and healing come from many different sources: animal, plant, and the forces of the earth. This exploration in glass is inspired by the people around me that are currently dealing with medical uissues, as well as other problems that life throws at you. It may be that I'm getting older, or it may be a sign of the times, but in my world, there are more friends that have been battling cancer and other life threatening health problems. I want to help them all, but for the most part all I can do is pray for them and send positive thoughts. This got me thinking about what traditional healers did, as well as what they used for healing people. I decided to show the beauty of certain items used to heal. I am making each item as a prayer for better health and recovery to those around me."

Swedberg's good friend, Joe David, whose work is simultaneously being featured in November at Stonington Gallery in the "Engraved in Tradition" jewelry exhibit, also explores the healing powers of amulets and jewelry. Both artists are renowned for their wealth of knowledge of tribal cultures as well as their refined craftsmanship. The opportunity to see a body of work honiring sacred healing objects by both of these artists is a rare and wonderful opportunity.

Engraved in Tradition-
A Jewelry Exhibit

Jewelry making is an acient tradition of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Tribes from the Columbia River north to Alaska engraved and carved elaborate jewelry. Most well known are the engraved silver braceletes of the Haida and Tlingit tribes. The Stonington Gallery has strived to nurture this tradition by focusing on contemporary jewelers whose work contributes to this rich and long tradition. This November's group show, "Engraved in Tradition", will feature the Stonington's jewelry artists and highlight work by Joe David, a Nuu-chah-nulth artist renowned for his carving, painting, and jewelry.  David's jewelry will allude to the important use of small amulets or jewelry as powerful and important tools to aid tribal Shamans in their healing work.

Other participating artists include: Steve Brown (Curator Emeritus, Seattle Art Museum's Northwest Coast Native Art), Joan Tenenbaum, Jay Simeon (Haida), Jerry Hill, George Estrella, Lois Bertolino, Bill Bedard (Haida), Courtney Lipson, Owen and Janet Walker, and Jean Regal Westgate.

Lecture Series

Wednesday, 7pm  $5 admission

Please join us for an evening with Scott Jensen, November 7, 2007 when he will discuss the body of art that will be created for his SOLO EXHIBIT as well as the old works that have inspired his career. Please call to reserve tickets. Admission $5.

Lecture Series

Wednesday, 7pm  $5 admission

Please join us on Wednesday, October 17th at 7pm for an evening with artist and scholar, Barry Herem, for his lecture on KADJIS DU AXTC, A TLINGIT MICHELANGELO.  The style of Kadjis du axtc (circa 1750-1850) is recognized in several known works, the most famous of which are the houseposts of the Whale House in Southeast Alaska.  Images of reproductions of this man's work by Steve Brown and others in the 1980's will be included.  Please call to reserve tickets.

Lecture Series

Wednesday, 7pm  $5 admission

Please join us for a special lecture with Joan Tenenbaum, THE ARTIST LINGUIST, TRANSLATING FIELD RESEARCH INTO WEARABLE ART, on Wednesday September 12 at 7pm.  Joan will share her experiences from her years spent living with the Athabaskans and Eskimos in Alaska.  It is a story made all the more remarkable after learning how her memories are translated into her exquisite jewelry. Joan will also be available to sign copies of her re-released book, DENA'INA SUKDU'A: TRADITIONAL STORIES OF THE TANAINA ATHABASKANS. Please phone or email for tickets. 

Joan Tenenbaum, The Artist Linguist

Translating Field Research into Wearable Art

September will witness Joan Tenenbaum's newest body of work, in which she returns to her early years as a young anthropologist who traveled to Alaska to document a little known Athabaskan language in a small rural Alaskan village. 

In previous work Joan has shown us her ability to translate the Alaskan landscape, animals, people, customs and artifacts into exquisite, wearable pieces of art.  Now, for the first time, she demonstrates her remarkable talents in jewelry-making by telling the story of the language itself, the experience of being a field linguist, and the traditional stories she recorded and wrote down for the first time ever in the native Athabaskan language.  Tenenbaum draws on her extensive vocabulary as a goldsmith to weave her own tale related to the documentation of one of the world's most complex languages.

Joan Tenenbaum will share her experiences from her years spent living with the Athabaskans and Eskimos in Alaska and be available to autograph books at 7pm on Wednesday, September 12.  Please call to reserve tickets.  Admission $5.

Thomas Stream

An Aleutian Presence

Aleut painter Thomas Stream’s newest paintings will be featured, including much-larger-than-life portraits of Alaskan wildlife cultural icons Raven and Stellar’s Jay each painted in a 5’ x 7’ format.

Art of Alaska:

An Artistic Frontier

The diversity of Alaska's landscape is mirrored by the extraordinary range of cultures that have adapted to and thrived over the centuries.  From the Northwest Coast Native cultures of Southeast Alaska, to the Aleut of the Aleutian Islands, the Yup'ik and Inupiat Eskimos of the North Pacific and Bering Sea to the Athabaskan of Central Alaska, this exhibit will honor these ancient and still vital cultures and their art traditions.

Courtney Lipson

Patterns

Inspired by the traditions of European mosaics and Native American beadwork, PATTERNS will showcase Courtney Lipson's micro-mosaic jewelry, exquisitely composed from glass seed beads set into hand crafted silver and gold backings.  Lipson's new jewelry collection will focus on the rhythm of patterns found in nature as well as hand crafted objects such as baskets and blankets.  In conjunction with Joe Feddersen's new print series, PATTERNS will be both an intense and delicately woven experience

Joe Feddersen

New Dimensions:  Collage & Silhouette

PATTERNS will also showcase the distinguished printmaking of Joe Feddersen.  Feddersen's prints, much like his blown glass, utilize patterns to examine the changing cultural landscape.  Traditional Plateau designs combine with the pattern of modern items such as tire treads.  Feddersen currently has a large installation piece at the Smithsonian, National Museum of the American Indian in New York City.  In conjunction with Courtney Lipson's exquisite jewelry, PATTERNS will be both an intense and delicately woven experience.

Celebrate Puget Sound

A Group Exhibition in Conjunction with
Puget Soundscape

CELEBRATE PUGET SOUND is intended to honor and celebrate the history, cultures and ecology of Puget Sound and its watershed.  With this exhibit, the Gallery hopes to provide a better understanding of what was here before, determine where we are now, and contemplate what the future holds for Puget Sound. 

To this end, Stonington Gallery has spearheaded a two month community-wide event to coincide with its exhibit.  PUGET SOUNDSCAPE: A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF PUGET SOUND THROUGH ART, ECOLOGY AND CULTURE will illuminate the issues facing the Sound and open a dialogue among the community to examine the complexities of these issues.  Stonington Gallery is excited to be joined by a number of the area's finest cultural organizations and other local businesses who all will be offering compelling and diverse programming and experiences that will enlighten, entertain and hopefully solidify our support for saving the Puget Sound ecosystem, and, in turn, boost awareness to a larger audience including both local residents and tourists alike.  With this summer celebration we hope to set a precedent for the future by encouraging people to come together and utilize the resources and knowledge available through a wide variety of institutions whose mission it is to preserve the history, culture and ecological state of one of the nation's most spectacular natural settings, our very own Puget Sound.

Visit WWW.PUGETSOUNDSCAPE.COM for additional information about the community wide celebration.

Joe David

Personal Moments

Joe David's PERSONAL MOMENTS is a reflection on the people and experiences that have influenced him personally and artistically.  He's been so inspired behind this exhibit, he's "barely taken time to eat or sleep."  A fascinating side of Joe David and his vision of humanity is revealed through these human faces.

Rick Bartow

The Origin of Song

Rick bartow continues to work in a turbulent and expressionistic style that explodes onto the surface of the paper.  Provocative and exciting, Bartow's work in THE ORIGIN OF SONG resounds with ongoing themes of animal/human transformation, focusing closely on the spiritual importance of birds in his Wiyot culture.

Winter Celebration

A Group Exhibition

WINTER CELEBRATION is a group exhibition celebrating the rituals and traditions surrounding the solstice season.  Participating artists include: Yukie Adams, Robert Barratt, Rick Bartow, Steve Brown, Joe David, Robert Davidson, Dave Franklin, Barry Herem, Scott Jensen, Courtney Lipson, Marvin Oliver, Duane Pasco, Shaun Peterson, Isabel Rorick, Joan Tenenbaum, Loren White and more. 

Myths' Immortal Characters

Hib Sabin: A Solo Exhibition

    MYTHS' IMMORTAL CHARACTERS is a solo exhibition featuring new juniper and bronze works by Hib Sabin.  Hib creates a cast of figures that move in and out of the spiritual world and represent a certain ancient timelessness. 

Stonington Gallery proudly presents MYTHS' IMMORTAL CHARACTERS, a full color 24 page catalogue highlighting Sabin's work and experiences, available for $10 at the gallery.  Please contact Stonington at stonington@qwest.net or (866) 405-4485 to place an order.
 

Jean Ferrier

A Solo Exhibition

JEAN FERRIER'S exhibition features handmade books and mixed media paintings on paper and wood.   Ferrier's handmade books are exquisitely detailed with hand painted illustrations and text in calligraphy.  Her books honor the important tradition of storytelling among the northwest coast tribes and provide an excellent format for her nuanced figurative paintings. 

Loren White

A Solo Exhibition

LOREN WHITE'S work includes carvings in cedar and bronze as well as glass sculpture created during his recent residency at the Pilchuck Glass School.  White's cedar and glass sculptures are another contribution to the expanding body of work which marries the traditions of Northwest Coast art and studio glass.

Classically Northern

Celebrating Northern Formline

CLASSICALLY NORTHERN celebrates the complex design system coined "formline" by noted artist and scholar Bill Holm.  Participating artists include Robert Davidson, Phil Gray, Allie High, Scott Jensen, Mark Preston, Wayne Price, Isabel Rorick, Tim Runyan, Jay Simeon and April White.

Thomas Stream

A Retrospective

THOMAS STREAM: A RETROSPECTIVE highlights the 30+ year career of this talented Aleutian artist.  The expressive and finely detailed gouache paintings feature local flora and fauna adorned with traditional Aleut hunting visors.

Bering Spirit

Works from the Alaskan & Siberian Yup'ik and Interior Arctic Corridor

BERING SPIRIT features ivory and whalebone carvings, Yupik masks, bentwood visors and cedar sculptures from the Alaskan and Siberian Yup'ik and Interior Arctic Corridor.  Participating artists include Philip Charette, John Hoover, Scott Jensen, Peter Lind, Edwin Noongwook, Richard Olanna, John & Mark Tetpon and others.  

...To See a World in a Grain of Sand...

Micro-Mosaic Jewelry by Courtney Lipson: A Solo Exhibition

...TO SEE A WORLD IN A GRAIN OF SAND...takes a close look at the world, recreating details such as butterfly wings, flowers, and feathers in Courtney Lipson's unique mosaic style. 

Borne of Myth & Fire

Celebrating Northwest Coast Art in Glass

BORNE OF MYTH & FIRE presents an elegant collection of northwest art fusing traditional themes with new media. Participating artists include Jewels Durham, Joe Fedderson, Phil Gray, Barry Herem, Scott Jensen, Ed Archie NoiseCat, Marvin Oliver, Andy Peterson, Ruth Peterson, Shaun Peterson, Lillian Pitt, Susan Point and Preston Singletary.

Dimensions

Exploring Scale through Monumental Sculpture and Intricate Jewelry

DIMENSIONS presents the contrasts between two equally significant Pacific Northwest Coast art traditions: monumental sculpture and jewelry.  Exhibiting the grand with the diminutive demonstrates and celebrates the pervasive role of art in Northwest Coast cultures.  Participating artists include Steve Brown, John Goodwin, Jerry Hill, Courtney Lipson, Wayne Price, Jay Simeon, Joan Tenenbaum, Janet & Owen Walker, Connie Watts and Jean Regal Westgate.

Winter Solstice Exhibition

A Celebration of the Season

WINTER SOLSTICE EXHIBITION pays tribute to the season of tradition, honoring community spirit and celebration.  Participating artists include Yukie Adams, Robert Barratt, Joe David, David Franklin, Barry Herem, Scott Jensen, Maynard Johnny Jr., Duane Pasco, Shaun Peterson, Wayne PRice, Thomas Stream, Isabel Rorick, Hib Sabin, Jay Simeon, Loren White and others.

Through the Eyes of the Northwest Coast Woman

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE NORTHWEST COAST WOMAN is an exhibit celebrating the vision of the women artists at Stonington Gallery.  This show features the work of 23 female artists spanning a wide variety of media and cultural references.  Featured artists include April White, Susan Point, Debie Knight-Kennedy, Ruth Wilbur-Peterson and Nancy Taylor Stonington.

Awakenings

A Gathering of Contemporary Coast Salish Artists

Three years in the making, the AWAKENINGS exhibition and its accompanying book, Contemporary Coast Salish Art, present the work of 20 artists whose art ranges from traditional expressions in basketry and weaving to innovations in glass and metal.

Jean Ferrier

Paintings on Wood and Paper

Jean Ferrier's exhibition of mixed media painting on cedar panels celebrating characters and mythology from Pacific Northwest Coast culture demonstrates the innovation that she brings to the tradition.  Jean has developed into one of the most accomplished painters in the region.

Courtney Lipson

Micro-Mosaic Jewelry

Courtney Lipson's glass beaded jewelry honors the tradition of mosaics on a micro scale.

Hib Sabin

Journey to the Interior

Hib Sabin's sculptures focus on themes of looking inward, figures within figures, and travel through time and space, from birth to death.  Hib has studied the mythology of the Northwest Coast native cultures and interprets them in his Juniper carvings.

Totem

Icon of the Pacific Northwest

Today's contemporary totem poles serve as a tribute and remembrance to the native cultures and their artists who conceived of and so skillfully executed these monuments.  With old growth cedar fast becoming a memory of the past this will be a rare opportunity of a lifetime to see so many contemporary masterpieces in one exhibition.