Quintessential creations

A patchwork of new shows opens this week during Spokane’s First Friday Art Walk.

Certain to be a crowd pleaser is “Imaginations Unleashed,” an exhibit of exquisitely handcrafted quilts in River Park Square’s Kress Gallery.

The monthlong textile art event showcases the work of well-known quilting instructors and authors Pamela Mostek of Cheney; Rita Hutchens and Marty Browne of Sandpoint; Terrie Kralik of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; and Jean Van Bockel of Bayview, Idaho.

The show also includes works by leading Inland Northwest quilters Linda Anderson, Lorraine Gilliland, Ramona Petrie and Cheryl Wichterman of Spokane; Lynda Lynn of Newman Lake; Judi Conroy and Jean Fredericks-Shute of Spokane Valley; Borg Hendrickson of Kooskia, Idaho; and Patti Ormsby of Coeur d’Alene.

A reception runs Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Other events scheduled during September in association with the exhibit:

• A group show of local quilters is set for Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., in the Atrium Court on the street level of River Park Square. This one-day event is in addition to the “Imaginations Unleashed” exhibit upstairs in the gallery on the third level.

• Book signings and quilting demonstrations in the Kress Gallery by Hutchens and Van Bockel on Sept. 22, 5 to 8 p.m.; and Kralik and Mostek on Sept. 29, 5 to 8 p.m.

Romanian artists

In another unique show, Alin Comnoiu, an oil painter from Romania, is joining Romanian-born artist Ioana Rogers of Spokane at Pottery Place Plus, 402 W. Main Ave.

Comnoiu is traveling to Spokane from Romania for the opening, says guest artist coordinator Jan Moulder in an e-mail.

“It has taken a lot of persistence on his part,” says Moulder, “and positive thinking and letter writing on ours to get him a visa so he can come to Spokane.”

Comnoiu will be showing a series of romantic, rural country scenes. Rogers is displaying her highly decorative painted eggs.

There also will be Romanian food and music during the reception from 5 to 9 p.m. in the gallery adjacent to Auntie’s Bookstore in the Liberty Building.

More openings

All receptions during the First Friday Art Walk are from 5 to 8 p.m. (unless otherwise indicated):

• Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, River Park Square, 808 W. Main Ave., third level – “An Array of Metal” by Rolfe Hebert and Nicola McGowan of Hebert McGowan Ornamental Metals, Ltd.

• Art and Soul, 1601 W. Pacific Ave. – Construction art by Mary Jo Lants; mixed media and handmade bead jewelry by Karen Swanson; watercolors, giclee prints and ink drawings by Rhedi.

• Artisans’ Wares, 1009 W. First Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – Fine craft and art by more than 70 regional and national artists.

• Artist’s Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Ave. – Sarah Edwards’ whimsical abstracts, Amia’s modern florals and JoAnne Bailey’s hand-woven works.

• Avenue West Gallery, 1021 W. First Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – Patti Reiko Osbold, paper origami and Japanese dolls; and Nadine Kay Sherman, watercolor paintings of bird of paradise.

• Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. – “Art in the Alley.”

• Estudio Felisa Arte, 612 W. Garland Ave. (7 to 9 p.m.; also Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) – Multimedia works by Felisa Carranza.

• Gallery of Thum, 106 S. Madison St. – Watercolorist Jack Rogers, commercial illustration, teaching and museum pieces. Live music by the Duke Family.

• GoodWorks Gallery, 1019 W. First Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – New works by gallery artists.

• Grande Ronde Cellars, 906 W. Second Ave. – Works by mixed-media watercolor artist Janice Puente.

• Kolva/Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. – Ceramics by Trackside Studio artists Chris Kelsey, Mark Moore and Teresa Brett.

• Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. – “In Focus: Regional Artist Spotlight, Carl Richardson.” Free admission to all museum exhibits between 5 and 8 p.m.

• Pigeon Hole Gallery, 620 S. Washington Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – Drawings by Garric Simonsen.

• Spokane Art School, 920 N. Howard St. (5 to 7 p.m.) – Faculty art show.

• Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters, 210 W. Pacific Ave. – Randy McCrea’s environmental and recycled art. Live music

• Tinman Gallery, 811 W. Garland Ave. (5 to 9 p.m.) – “Wings over Garland,” new neon sculptures by Ken Yuhasz.

• Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. – Grand opening of this new contemporary ceramic gallery with objects by Chris Kelsey, Mark Moore and Teresa Brett.

• Women’s Business Center, 827 W. First Ave., Suite 121 – Children’s book illustrator Shelly O. Haas.

Other Friday activities

The following places feature art but no reception:

• CenterStage, 1017 W. First Ave. – Work by Jerry and Ingrid Elena Pavia on the Art Wall on the second floor.

• ComedySportz, 227 W. Riverside Ave. – “Interactive Improv Experience,” 8 p.m.; free admission to the first 15 people who stop by between 5 and 6 p.m.

• Far West Billiards, 1001 W. First Ave. – Works by local artists.

• Global Credit Union, 726 W. Riverside Ave. – Look through the windows and take in the artwork.

• Liberty Cafe, 404 W. Main Ave. – Representational artworks by local artists.

• Lorinda Knight Gallery, 523 W. Sprague Ave. (until 6 p.m.) – “Seam: A Family Geography” with ceramics by Mardis Nenno and sculpture by Bobby Tilton.

• Mootsy’s, 9 N. Washington St. – Works by local artists.

• Spokane Transit Authority Plaza, 701 W. Riverside Ave. – “Remembering Natatorium Park” display.

American Indian art

More than 60 contemporary and traditional items created by American Indian artists will be up for auction Saturday between 5 and 7 p.m. during the 85th annual Spokane Indian Days Powwow in Wellpinit, Wash.

A number of Plateau and Plains Indian artists are contributing auction items, says George Flett (Spokane). There will be paintings, jewelry, wearable art, tepees, corn husk weavings and basketry.

The powwow runs from 5 p.m. Friday through Monday evening, says Flett. During the event award-winning American Indian artists will be showing and selling their work.

The Spokane Indian Reservation is about 50 miles northwest of Spokane. Recreational vehicle parking is available.

Jundt’s gallery walk

J. Scott Patnode, director/curator of Gonzaga University’s Jundt Art Museum, will lead a free walk through the new exhibition “Recent Gifts and Acquisitions” on Friday at 10 a.m.

The show runs Friday through Oct. 11. A public reception is Sept. 21, followed by a free public lecture by architect Ron Tan at 7:30 p.m.

The exhibit includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, watercolors, photographs and ceramics by more than 40 local, regional, national and international artists from contemporary to old masters.

For more information, call Karen Kaiser, assistant curator for education, at (509) 323-6613.

WSU’s Gallery II

“Survey Says: SEXY,” an exhibit of new work by Spokane’s Megan Martens, is up through Sept. 23 in Gallery II in the Fine Arts Center on Washington State University’s Pullman campus.

Visit the free gallery weekdays from 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. For more information call (509) 335-8686 or see www.finearts.wsu.edu/galleries/.

Balazs at Rocket

One of the many art techniques local artist Harold Balazs is known for is his incredibly beautiful enamel painting.

Each time he would create one of these imaginative pieces, he would first sketch the design and then cut a cardboard stencil.

In his latest show, “Behind the Scenes at the Studio,” Balazs has taken many of his original stencils and reworked them into new, two-dimensional pieces.

“These stencils offer an interesting contemplation on positive and negative imagery,” says Tinman Gallery owner Sue Bradley in a news release.

“When used in the enameling process, the stencil produces an absence of pigment, defining the image by omission,” says Bradley. “When re-presented against a mat, the stencil is the positive design, although with the absence of color.”

The free show is up through Oct. 7 in the Rocket Bakery, 24 W. Main Ave. in downtown Spokane.