Visual Arts: Art Walk worth ‘Waiting’ for

Another huge First Friday Art Walk is lined up for downtown Spokane.

More than two dozen new shows open Friday including Lanny DeVuono’s “Waiting” at the Lorinda Knight Gallery.

DeVuono had the gallery’s kickoff show when it opened 10 years ago. Throughout the intervening decade, her work has commented on the complexity of contemporary social and political issues.

Many of the oil-on-board paintings in her current “History and Histrionics” series include fragments of modern technologies – mercury lights, oil derricks and airplanes – that intrude against her bucolic landscapes.

“The airplane is a loaded symbol,” says DeVuono. “It carries us aloft and enables us to seek human dreams; yet it has ominous qualities including the ability to carry bombs and potential nuclear destruction.”

Meet DeVuono at her artist’s reception between 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday.

First Friday receptions

Go at your own pace during this self-guided Art Walk. Many of the openings feature live music and light refreshments.

All receptions are on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. (unless otherwise indicated). After that, most shows are up through November and can be viewed during regular venue hours.

“Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, 808 W. Main Ave., River Park Square, third level – Oils on canvas by Laura Collins and live acoustic music by guitarist Abe Kenney.

“Art and Soul, 1601 W. Pacific Ave. – Works by Karen Swanson, Christophen Le’on and Joseph Graywolf.

“Artisans’ Wares, 1009 W. First Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – “New Quilts: In the Post-Consumer Tradition” by Rik Nelson.

“Artist’s Tree Gallery, 828 W. Sprague Ave. – “The Allers: Father and Son,” a retrospective collection of 60 years of watercolors by Bill Aller along with photographs by his son, Stuart Aller of Seattle.

“Auntie’s Bookstore Art Gallery, 402 W. Main Ave., second level (5-9 p.m.) – Inland Northwest chapter of Women’s Caucus for Art: works by Idaho artists Rhea Giffin, Kim Huender and Laurie Schafer, and Washington artists Nancy Hathaway, Patty Khusro and Teresa Sadler.

“Avenue West Gallery, 1021 W. First Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – Dennis Smith, Marilyn Matherly and Cheryl Halverson in “Organic Forms, Intriguing Textures.”

“Barrister Winery, 1213 W. Railroad Ave. – Art in the Alley featuring ceramics by Sarah VanHalder; acoustic blues by Lyle Morse.

“Caterina Winery, 905 N. Washington St. – “Garbage Art” by Jim Battell. Live music at 8 with Wayne Patrick, Brynna Lynea, Kevin Long, Four Years Blue ($4 cover).

“Chase Gallery, Spokane City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. (use Post Street entrance) – Works by Miriam Gregg, David Gross and Melinda Hannigan.

“Conexion del Tango, 122 S. Monroe St. (5-9 p.m.) – New pieces by Michael Klesert.

“Far West Billiards, 1001 W. First Ave. – Photography by Carey Eyer.

“Gallery of Thum, 106 S. Madison St. – Works by Jay Kleavland, Nienke Crick and Cecile Charles; live acoustic guitar by Jonathon Nicholson.

“Steve Gevurtz Studios, 423 W. First Ave., third floor – Spokane sculptor Gevurtz unveils six new bronze works and displays 50 paintings; sculpting and bronze casting demonstrations.

“GoodWorks Gallery, 1019 W. First Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – “A Slice of Ambiguity,” mixed media by Janet Hess.

“Grande Ronde Cellars, 906 W. Second Ave. – Works by Shirley Hackett.

“Interplayers Gellhorn Gallery, 174 S. Howard St. (6-8 p.m.) – “FLUX,” works by 20 Eastern Washington University seniors.

“Kolva/Sullivan Gallery, 115 S. Adams St. – Michael McCarthy’s “Fanciful Nights and Day Dreams” paintings and drawings.

“Kress Gallery, 808 W. Main Ave., River Park Square, third level – Paintings by EL Stewart, “Back up and Push.”

“Lorinda Knight Gallery, 523 W. Sprague Ave. (6-8 p.m.) – “Waiting,” oil paintings on wood by Lanny DeVuono; live acoustic guitar by Don Kush.

“Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2316 W. First Ave. – “In Focus: Regional Artist Spotlight, Carl Richardson”; Mutual Seduction: Cars & Costumes; Image and Imagination: American Indian Photogravures by Edward S. Curtis; Fibers of Life: From a Weaver’s View; Spokane Medicine: Heritage & Highlights.

“Peters and Sons Flowers, Gifts & Gallery, 170 S. Lincoln St. – Photography by Ned Fox.

“Pigeon Hole Gallery, 620 S. Washington St. – Tobe Harvey’s “Sketches Inspired by the Music of Beck.”

“Pottery Place Plus Gallery, adjacent to Auntie’s in the Liberty Building, 402 W. Main Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – Jana Wilhelmi’s mosaic work, “Remembering Albuquerque.”

“Prago … Argentine Cafe, 201 W. Riverside Ave. – Works by Dean Reiner; DJ Supervillian.

“Spokane Art School, 920 N. Howard St. (5-7 p.m.) – Student works in a variety of media.

“Thomas Hammer Coffee Roasters, 210 W. Pacific Ave. – Erica Hetland and Rachael Hill, multi-media; John Stephens, sculpture; Tim Ferguson, multiple mediums; Lori Hay, metal sculptures from farm equipment. Live music by Mark Rhodes.

“Tinman Gallery, 811 W. Garland Ave. (5-9 p.m.) – “Things We Love,” new landscape oil paintings by Ilse Kilian Tan.

“Trackside Studio, 115 S. Adams St. – Contemporary ceramic art by Chris Kelsey, Mark Moore and Teresa Brett.

“Women’s Business Center, 827 W. First Ave., Suite 121 (5-7 p.m.) – “Karen Mobley: Recent Drawings.”

Book artist in Colfax

Timothy Ely, painter and bookbinder, steps into the spotlight today at 7 p.m. as part of the “Meet the Artist” series at the Whitman County Library, 102 S. Main St. in Colfax.

Ely’s unique manuscript books are included in numerous museum collections including the Brooklyn Museum, Getty Center in Los Angeles, Museum of Modern Art in New York, National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The Colfax artist will talk about his work and different bookbinding styles. A small display of his work will remain up through November.

For more information call (509) 397-4366.

South Perry art show

Artists and crafters living in the South Perry neighborhood are exhibiting their work on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of “Girls Day Out.”

The second annual South Perry Neighborhood Artists Show takes place at the Liberty Park Florist and Greenhouse on the corner of Eighth Avenue and South Perry Street.

“The area surrounding the South Perry business district is home to many Spokane artisans,” says art show coordinator and jeweler Amy Mickleson.

Participating artists include jewelry maker Doree Desmond; sculptor Dan McCann; leather worker John Wojtulewicz; multimedia artist Theodora Sallee; and toy maker Renee Rahn.

Dukich’s ‘Brain’ opens

Spokane artist Tom Dukich’s latest musings over how viewers “see” art are reflected in his multimedia show, “Seeing with My Brain.”

The exhibit opens Monday in North Idaho College’s Boswell Hall Corner Gallery in Coeur d’Alene.

“We view everything within a context,” writes Dukich in an e-mail.

“No matter what the context,” he says, “it’s what you know about the art and your preconceived ideas and beliefs – and therefore your brain – that affects what you see.”

Dukich will lead a gallery walk on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. followed by a slide lecture/video presentation at 1 p.m. in Boswell Hall Room 102. An opening reception is in the gallery from 5 to 7 p.m.

View the work through Dec. 8. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Admission is free. For information call (208) 769-3276

‘Lubricating War Machine’

North Carolina artist David B. Brodeur explores the consequences of weapons and war in his exhibit “Lubricating the War Machine,” opening Tuesday in the Koehler Gallery at Whitworth College.

Brodeur creates images that bridge the space between the worlds of graphic design and art and initiate dialogue about social and political issues.

A reception is Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Koehler Gallery. Brodeur will discuss his work beginning at 7 p.m. The work will be up through Dec. 8.

The gallery, in the Whitworth Fine Arts Building, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. For more information call (509) 777-3258.