Go west, young man, to Ritzville
The Historic Ritzville Days returns this weekend with a new twist: its first Western Art Show.
On Saturday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Ritzville’s downtown Pioneer Plaza will be given over to two dozen Western and outdoor artists.
Leading the pack is Fred Oldfield, known as one of the premier painters of the American West.
“Fred is sort of an ambassador of Western art,” says Steve McFadden, publisher of the Ritzville Journal and a volunteer with the Ritzville Downtown Development Association.
“We thought our show would be too small for a guy like him,” McFadden says, “but he called and said he’d like to come. It seems he made a stop in Ritzville in 1928 on a Depression Era wagon train and has always had a place in his heart for the town.”
Oldfield was born in Alfalfa, Wash., in 1918 and grew up on the Yakima Indian Reservation near Toppenish. He is nationally renowned for his realistic narrative paintings of cowpokes and dusty trail rides.
Another favorite subject is sweeping Western landscapes such as “Snow Lake in the Totoosh.”
Oldfield has received hundreds of awards including having “Fred Oldfield Day” declared by the governor on March 18, 2003, his 85th birthday. That same year he released a teaching video about palette knife painting called “Paint Like a Cowboy.”
“Fred is a great man,” says cowboy cartoonist Jim Lisk of Ritzville. “We showed together several years over at the Western art show in Toppenish.”
Both Oldfield and Lisk will be making art during the Ritzville Western Art Show on Saturday.
Other artists setting out their wares include cowboy painter Jack Fordyce of Yakima; sculptor Gabe Gabel of Sagle, Idaho; cowboy cartoonist Daryl Reed of Homedale, Idaho; equine artist Vicki Keeling of Duvall, Wash.; and pencil artist Don Greytak of Havre, Mont.
Eastern Washington artists signed on to participate also include John Rankin, Teri L. Cody, Cheri Lisk, Linda Kubik, Miles Athey and Stephanie White of Ritzville; John and Jean Richards of Paha; James Bauer of Wilbur; Don Nutt of Coulee City; and landscape painter Scott Melville of Spokane.
Other Historic Ritzville Days activities include the unveiling of the city’s latest public art piece, created by Larmar Thiel of Ritzville. The metal sculpture features a likeness of longtime local photographer Albert M. “Bert” Kendrick.
Live music by the Kettle Creek Bluegrass Band starts at noon, along with a sneak peek at the Ritzville Classic Car Club show.
Crosswalk images
Sometime around February, Dave Tanner of the North by Northwest film production company and Kent Hoffman from Marycliff Institute began working with about a dozen young men at the Crosswalk youth shelter in downtown Spokane.
The project involved giving the young men disposable cameras and the opportunity to tell their life experiences through photographs.
The result is a stirring photo exhibition at the Community Building downtown revolving around “Life in Hell” and “Finding a Way Out of Hell.”
“Some of their pictures tell the story of how trapped they feel in a life that often seems either violent, meaningless or both,” says Hoffman in an e-mail.
“They also have pictures that offer hopeful images of how they might step out of the difficulty and despair of their lives,” he says.
Photographers showing images are Bernard Collette Jr., Brendon Flagg, Sloan Hermen, Josh Kiefer, Josh Lorekovich, Mike McCormick, Eric Newcome and Josh Ogle.
Each photograph on exhibit is priced at $100, with 25 percent going to pay for the cost of production and framing, and 75 percent going to the young artists.
The free exhibit is in the foyer of the Community Building, 35 W. Main Ave. The doors are open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Art in the Garden
Spokane artist Kay O’Rourke’s annual “Art in the Garden” sale takes place Saturday between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. in her garden at 3123 W. Ninth Ave.
More than 20 artists are setting up temporary shop along side the perennials, annuals, herbs and vegetable plantings that are for sale by the Gardeners of Spokane.
A wide variety of artwork includes Gina Freuen’s fanciful clay vessels; Paula Galloway’s furniture art; Rik Nelson’s recycled fish sculpture; Louse and Chemyn Kodis’ house novelties; Jason Sheldon’s hammered painted metal; and Jon Lepper’s artisan jewelry.
In addition there will be prints by Dede McKay; Jill and Sean Smith’s pottery and metal maids; William Simmons and Kara Lloyd’s furniture and sculptures; Amy Mickelson’s art jewelry; John Wojtulewicz’s braided leather goods; Dara Allison Harvey’s paintings; and Marshall E. Peterson’s photography.
Also available will be Karen Mobley’s paintings and drawings; Tresia Oosting’s garden carts; Karen Wolf’s Color of Africa baskets; Fiona Balck and Heath Anspach’s jewelry; Sue Bradley’s paintings; and garden sculptures by O’Rourke.
Center Place shows
Three exhibits are on view during May at Center Place, 2426 N. Discovery Place in Spokane Valley.
Displays include the “East Valley School District Student Art Show” and the painting collection of James Harken.
Rounding out the exhibits are “Spring Paintings” by Spokane Valley artists Betty Jo Cook, Erin Griffin, Don Hiatt, Anna Rector, Susan Rohrback and Anne Sherrodd.
View the work Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (509) 688-0300 with questions.
Othello’s gallery
The Old Hotel Art Gallery is showing the “Othello Junior and Senior High School Art Show” through next Thursday.
Michael Lewis’ students from Othello Senior High School are: Lisa Kumai, Victoria Lodahl, Elias Sandoval, Nick Hudgens, Elia Gonzales, Ruby Fuentes, Anahi Ramirez, Judy Valdez, Samantha Rubio, Karla Guerra, Valentin Muro, Jared Johnson, Ashley Amoruso, Melanie Gonzalez, Jose Mondragon and Glenda L. Ramos.
Gretchen Durepo’s students from Othello Junior High School are: Alex Vargas, Pepe Lozano, Alan Garza, Juan Gonzales, Jared Rodgers, Cesar Sanabia, Marcos Alfaro, Leo Mora, Kyle Duke, Janessa Reyes, Ociel Romero, Jose Ramirez, Alfonso Zavala, Topacio Guajardo, Nora Sanchez, Joseph Simpson, Henry Boersma, Jacob Tovar and Jacob Cuellar.
The Old Hotel Art Gallery is at 33 E. Larch St., Othello. Call (509) 488-5936 or go online to www.oldhotelartgallery.com.
On Sacred Grounds
Roberta McSparrin’s painting show, “Living Water,” is on display in the On Sacred Grounds Art Gallery through June 6.
McSparrin’s oil and watercolor paintings include landscapes and ocean scenes.
On Sacred Grounds is at 12212 E. Palouse Highway in Valleyford. Call (509) 747-6294 for directions.
Uniontown artists
The Artisans at the Dahmen Barn in Uniontown, Wash., are celebrating a “full barn” the weekend of June 2 and 3.
The nonprofit group gives area artists and craftspeople workspace, as well as the opportunity to showcase their creations and sell directly to the public. Artists will be on hand to answer questions about their work.
Also under way is the “Spring into Summer Exhibit” of new work by the resident artisans. The exhibit includes watercolors, pastels, acrylic paintings, mixed-media items, jewelry, ceramics, and textile art including batik, embroidered and quilted items.
Artisans at the Dahmen Barn is located on Highway 195 at 419 E. Park Way in Uniontown, 16 miles south of Pullman. Look for the big white barn behind the magnificent wheel fence.
The barn is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (509) 229-3414 or go to www.ArtisanBarn.org.