Creative burst
When Charlie Guthrie opened Never Ending Garden art gallery six months ago, she had five local artists showing several styles of artwork. Today, her showroom is filled with paintings, sculptures and glasswork in modern and traditional forms that represent the talents of 27 Northwest artists. “I haven’t even scratched the top of the iceberg for artists yet,” she said. “Now they’re not only coming in singularly, they’re coming in groups.” Guthrie, born and raised in the Spokane Valley, estimates that one-third of her artists live here. Others come from Spokane, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene to show their works in her gallery, at 14115 E. Trent Ave.
Marty Kaylor and his wife, Kathy, started creating fused glassworks two years ago in their home studio, Wildfire Glass Fusion, in Liberty Lake.
“I always wanted to express myself creatively, but I couldn’t ever draw a crooked line,” said Marty Kaylor, who found his niche creating unique layered glass that contains patterns and designs.
“My passion has developed into, I guess you would call it, architectural glass.”
Kaylor’s glass basins will soon replace bathroom sinks in homes that are custom-designed by N P Architecture. The two businesses wouldn’t have met without connections made through Never Ending Garden.
Being in a collaborative gallery allows artists to make connections that increase opportunities and open doors.
“Every artist knows at least three other artists, and they’re all in the same boat,” Guthrie said.
A trip through Never Ending Garden finds incredible examples of modern and traditional art. One popular artist layers her canvas and paints it in a style that becomes multidimensional. Her works circulate to shows throughout the country and fetch upward of $1,000 each.
Norma Ventris, president of the recently formed Spokane Valley Arts Council, said it’s not that the Valley was ever devoid of arts, but rather, that artists were scattered and had no means of connecting.
“There are those things out here, but they have not been pulled together,” Ventris explained. “We need that networking to pull them all together. That’s our goal.”
Six months ago a group of artists and art buffs started discussing what it would take to create thriving arts in the Valley.
Their first public meeting attracted 30 people. Now the council has bylaws and is close to getting its nonprofit status. They are looking for volunteers to serve on two boards: one that governs and makes decisions and the other that serves an advisory role. To help, call 924-4994 or 926-3957.
Initially, the group hopes to expand a variety of arts opportunities, including classes for kids, and to offer more art at area events. In the future, they dream about holding festivals.
“We hope to be able to touch the lives of children by teaching them art,” Ventris said. “We want to get into drama and music – all the fine art. We’re not going to stick to just drawing and painting.”
Funding will likely come from grants and donations from private citizens and businesses, since Ventris acknowledges that now isn’t the best time to ask city governments for money.
Murals are sprouting up in public locations, painted by kids and area artists.
The window to view newborns at Valley Hospital and Medical Center will soon have its own mural with a yet undecided design. That artwork is being painted by a north Spokane artist who is donating her time.
Barb Fatzinger, manager of the unit, said the project will get under way within the next few weeks. “We can hardly wait. We’re going to be beautiful.”
Jennifer LaRue, a local artist and freelance writer who works as an instructional aide for Central Valley School District, recently organized a mural project at Players & Spectators.
Three students from Barker Community Learning Center worked with LaRue and 18-year-old Vong Xiong to create two good-sized murals that portray children’s themes.
Although Xiong received a small stipend from Players & Spectators, he doesn’t consider himself a professional artist. Rather this endeavor represents an interest that began when he started drawing cartoons of superheroes as a kid.
“I’ve been doing art for as long as I can remember. It is something I do, and it will be a part of me for the rest of my life,” Xiong said.
As the former owner of a gallery in Auntie’s Bookstore in downtown Spokane, LaRue used art to help at-risk teens express pent-up emotions.
“Art is from the heart and soul; it’s therapeutic and no one has a corner on it.”
She believes if artists and businesses pulled together the result could be a sweeping brush that transforms unsightly vacant buildings on East Sprague Avenue into a gateway of culture.
“People tend to complain there’s no money for arts, but it’s just a matter of getting out there and doing it.”