Funseth Paintings Focus On Street Scenes

Thu., July 13, 2000

By Julianne Crane juliannec@spokesman.com (509) 927-2158

Street scenes of old Spokane by oil painter Carl Funseth are in the spotlight this month at the Chase Gallery in City Hall.

Funseth, born here in the ‘30s, brings a romantic realism to his renderings of Spokane at a time when life seemed simpler and streetcars rumbled through downtown. Many of his paintings highlight the landmarks of his childhood, harkening back to the heyday of the Davenport Hotel and the development of the Fox Theater.

“His illustrative style is exacting,” says Karen Mobley, city arts director. “He works from historical photographs, faded newspaper clippings, and his rich childhood memories.”

There’s an artist reception tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. at the gallery on the lower level of City Hall, 808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. The easiest entry to the Chase Gallery is through the Post Street entrance. The gallery is open free to the public during normal building hours, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Making her marks

Printmaker Mary Farrell’s most recent body of work, “Stratta,” is hanging at the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d’Alene through Aug. 5.

Each of Farrell’s colorful, one-of-a-kind prints deals with layering of information. The pieces feature hand imagery and body prints using the thumb, palm and footprints of the artist.

Farrell layers one image at a time in a succession of transparent and opaque colors. Some images retain their individual integrity and identity while others merge into a system of layered marks.

“All of the final prints have been made from the same group of plates using different combinations,” says Farrell. The viewer can “follow the same images through all the different prints.”

On Saturday at 11 a.m., Farrell, an associate professor of art at Gonzaga University, will bring a number of her original plates and talk about her printmaking process.

“One of the most interesting aspects of art is how the artwork evolves, what the artist goes through to make the piece,” she says. “Frequently it is more interesting than the resultant piece.”

There’s also an artist reception Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 908 Sherman Ave. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In other galleries

Painter Edie Dunlap’s new series of “Market Women” in strong, bold colors and shapes are on display this month at Colburn’s Gallery, 208 W. Riverside.

These paintings in oils and watercolors feature Caribbean island and Mexican market women in bright native dress.

Meet Dunlap tonight during an artist reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Regular gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

River City Gallery in Post Falls is exhibiting Russell E. Dirks’ oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings through September.

Dirks’ paintings run the range from precise photo-realism to abstracts with broad gestural brushwork. Meet the artist on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m., at 203 E. Seltice Way, No. A. The gallery’s regular hours are Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The light-hearted “Play” exhibit of two-dimensional works runs through Aug. 11 at the Spokane Art School Gallery. Ten regional artists illustrate how play is an important vehicle for developing creativity and spontaneity.

Featured artists include Tresia Oosting, MacKenzie Hawley, Dan McCann, Karen Kaiser, Leslie LePere, Jo Fyfe, Tom Quinn, Jeanette Kirishian, Shani Marchant and Patty Haag. An artist reception is planned as part of the Live After 5 celebration on July 27 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Located at 920 N. Howard, Spokane Art School’s regular gallery hours are 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

The Pend Oreille Arts Council’s first Artwalk of the summer season, featuring works by regional artists, continues in Sandpoint through July 27. Self-guided tour maps are available at the Arts Council office in the Old Power House, 120 Lake Street, and the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce.

Correction

Last week in this space the hours for the Lorinda Knight Gallery were listed as Thursday through Saturday. The correct days are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.