O’Rourke Hosts Garden Party

Thu., May 20, 1999

Nina Culver Correspondent

With warm temperatures finally here, it’s time to think about the garden, what to plant and what art to put in. Yes, art in the garden, and we don’t mean just a pretty birdhouse.

In the past few years, more and more people have been adding functional and non-functional art to their yards and gardens. It could be decorative benches, wooden sculptures or ceramic figures.

Spokane artist Kay O’Rourke will host an “Art in the Garden” show at her studio from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. She will have several of her works on display as well as garden art created by others. The Gardeners of Spokane will also be on hand with plants available for purchase.

Yard or garden art is much more than just a pretty object, says O’Rourke. “It also brings something special and magical to the garden,” she says. “They’re taking the garden a step further and making it an environment.”

Participating artists include Craig Brudnicki, Virginia Carter, Laura Nuchols and Gina Freuen. Brudnicki will show benches, planters, chairs and tuteurs (forms for vines to grow on). Carter will have sculptures on hand; Nuchols will display hand-carved porcelain pottery and scratchboard drawings, and Freuen will have ceramic sculptures.

The studio is located at 15612 N. Little Spokane Drive.

Museum art sale

The Cheney Cowles Museum has been collecting donations for the Wall to Wall Art and Collectibles Sale to be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Wall to Wall office just east of the museum, 2306 W. First. Items up for sale include artwork, antiques, collectibles, jewelry and books.

Admission is free, and there will be no charge for parking. Proceeds from the sale will be used for the museum’s operation.

For more information, call the museum at 456-3931.

At First Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church will present a Creation Celebration Sunday at 3 p.m. The event will highlight the creative pursuits of music and art. A variety of paintings, photos and sculptures will be on display, and there will be hands-on art projects for children.

The Chancel Choir and Orchestra will perform “A New Creation” at 4 p.m. The work was composed by Rene Clausen, conductor of the Concordia College Choir in Moorhead, Minn. A reception will follow the concert.

The event is free, but a free-will offering will be collected during the concert. The church is located at 318 S. Cedar.

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