Spokane First Stop For Masters’ Works

Thu., Dec. 18, 1997

Beverly Vorpahl Staff writer

Spokane art lovers have the first chance in the nation to see and buy the 40 pieces that comprise the Masters Etchings and Lithographs Exhibit at the Douglas Gallery downtown.

The next time these works by Rembrandt and Renoir, among others, are available will be in March in New York City at the New York Art Exposition.

“The people of Spokane are getting the first chance to see and purchase these incredible works of art,” said Danni Douglas, co-owner of the gallery with her husband, Dennis.

To view the etchings and lithographs is to view the original artwork, produced from the very plates created by the master artists.

A group of four art collectors bought 10 of Rembrandt’s original copper etching plates, which were then cleaned of congealed and crystallized ink that had formed residues. The cleaning process took five years, but was done without reworking or altering the plates. The pieces now produced from the plates are like those the artists would have generated themselves centuries ago.

Michael Schwartz, one of the four collectors, framed the first etchings from the newly cleaned plates. And, because he works with the Douglases, he made them available to the Spokane gallery before the New York exposition.

Before the new pieces were printed, a year-long search for special paper and ink was undertaken to produce the standard and integrity Rembrandt strived for in his 17th-century studio, Schwartz said.

A limited number of etchings, in relation to worldwide demand, has been produced, Douglas said.

The Masters Etchings and Lithographs exhibit at the Douglas Gallery, 120 N. Wall, will be available for viewing and purchasing through Jan. 3.

Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

New gallery open

There’s a new gallery in town - Geer Gallery & Studio at 8 S. Monroe.

The works of local artists will be featured monthly, said David Dodson, co-owner with Marcena Geer.

Geer’s artwork is the first to hang in the gallery, which will also serve as her studio.

“Our goal is to feature a variety of mediums, from photography to sculpture,” Dodson said.

There are plans to use the studio portion for classes or seminars. Gallery hours are 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.

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