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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Goodrich’s wood vessels will turn heads


The wood turned vessels of Ken Goodrich are part of the

For more than 70 years, Ken Goodrich of Moses Lake has been turning and turning … and turning.

“My interest in wood goes back to the mid-‘30s,” says the master artisan.

“My dad, in addition to being a farmer in rural Utah, was a high school wood shop teacher and he gave me my first wood-turning lesson.”

A number of Goodrich’s exquisitely turned wood vessels are among the dozen of objects being featured in the Annual Holiday Show at the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center during December.

Goodrich, after spending five years in the military during World War II, returned to Vernal, Utah, for a short time before moving to the Columbia Basin in 1951.

“We decided to come here because there was going to be water for irrigation farming,” he says.

He farmed full-time on family land 10 miles east of Moses Lake, “growing just about everything,” until he retired in 1989.

Almost every day since, Goodrich has headed out to his shop to create something beautiful from wood grown in Washington state and eastern Utah.

“Everyone has to do something,” he laughs, “and wood from ordinary shade trees can be turned into unlimited variations of beauty.”

The art center’s holiday show also includes fine crafts and original artwork from more than 40 artisans around the Northwest.

In addition to wood turned bowls, there are ornaments, jewelry, handmade soaps, and decorative and utilitarian pottery, says gallery director Ann Golden.

Other Moses Lake artists with work on display are Blythe Whiteley, hand-dyed silk scarves; Judy Rice, hand-woven baskets and hand-loomed rugs and scarves; and Ruth Grigg, handmade soap.

Also look for wood turned vessels by Jerry Johnson of Kennewick; pottery by Debby Kooy of George, Wash., Jim Neupert of Twisp, Wash., and Margaret Babcock of Cashmere, Wash.; jewelry by Kathy Constantine of Nordland, Wash., and Jan Cook Mack of Wenatchee; and handmade paper bowls and books by Jackie Cook of Grand Coulee.

The free museum, 228 W. Third Ave. in Moses Lake, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (509) 766-9395 for additional information.

‘Quarry Tile Gateway’

The “Quarry Tile Gateway,” created by Montana installation artist Robert Harrison, is being officially unwrapped today.

Quarry Tile Company, a longtime supporter of Inland Northwest artists, is celebrating its brand new architectural sculpture.

Harrison, known for his large-scale museum installations and site-specific outdoor works, has completed projects throughout North America and from Australia to England.

His absorption with architecture forms is reflected in the major elements of his work: the column, arch, door, window and spiral.

The “Gateway” installation is classic Harrison, with its colorful and striking arches and columns.

The free dedication begins today at 2 p.m. at Quarry Tile Company, 6328 E. Utah Ave. Call (509) 536-2812 for directions or additional information.

Urdahl’s holiday art

Each year sporting and wildlife artist Rick Urdahl opens his Cheney studio for an annual Christmas Art Show.

This year, for his 27th home show, Urdahl is displaying his latest watercolor and acrylic paintings. He will unveil his “2006 Christmas Goose” giclee print.

Urdahl specializes in realistic game birds and sport fishing scenes. Stop by on Saturday from 3 to 10 p.m. at his studio, 105 Sixth St. (at “I” Avenue) in Cheney. Call (509) 235-6094.

On Sacred Grounds

“Indirect Reflections,” a new display of multimedia objects by Tom Kliewer, is under way at the On Sacred Grounds Art Gallery in Valleyford.

The Tekoa, Wash., artist works in oil paint, photography, collage and pastels.

An opening reception is Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. The show remains up through Jan. 8.

On Sacred Grounds is at 12212 E. Palouse Highway (corner of Palouse and Madison). Call (509) 747-6294.

Ledger art demonstration

Native American artist Cheryl A. Grunlose (Colville) of Coulee Dam, Wash., is demonstrating ledger art on Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Art, Music and More in the Spokane Valley Mall.

“I know from our tribal history that women did not do this kind of art in the late 1800s,” writes Grunlose in a news release. Traditionally, men created ledger art.

“My work is different because I do my ledgers from a woman’s perspective,” she says. “My work is a reflection of what I know.”

Art, Music and More is located near Thomas Hammer Coffee in lower level of the mall, 14700 E. Indiana Ave. in Spokane Valley.

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