Rivard’s ‘Etchings’ rooted in thought
“Etchings on the Edge,” opening Friday at Colburn’s 811 Gallery in Spokane, is a collection of etchings and aquatints by J. B. Rivard that spans nearly 40 years of printmaking. The 18 prints on display reflect Rivard’s thoughtful approach to making art.
“In general I attempted to construct images that have an emotional appeal,” said the Mead artist. “I used an emblematic blend of innovative and traditional elements to create convincing metaphors.”
In “Mind Trap,” a print pulled in the mid-1980s, Rivard placed a number of small images in a shroudlike center.
“I have described that as ‘mental detritus,’ ” he said. “It is suggestive of the unorganized nature of memory.”
A few years ago, arthritis made it difficult for Rivard to produce his labor-intensive etchings, so he turned his creative juices to a different direction.
“I’m told creative people are constantly doing what they do best — create,” he said. “When I could no longer pursue artwork, I decided that I wanted to write fiction. Even through I haven’t done anything very outstanding at this point, I’m having great fun at writing mysteries.”
Meet Rivard on Friday at an opening reception from 5 to 9 p.m. at the gallery, 811 E. Sprague Ave. Rivard will give a free presentation on printmaking between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Art shows in Colville
Two exhibits are under way through July 17 at the Colville Arts Foundation Gallery:
• “Expressions of the Cancer Journey,” a group show, is a multimedia exhibit featuring two- and three-dimensional art and poetry from cancer survivors and those who have lost their struggle with cancer.
There are paintings by Barbara Bosworth of Colville and Rachael Hill of Kettle Falls, Wash.; painted glass vessels by Sandra Hillson of Spokane; woodwork by Jerry Johnson of Kennewick; and sculpture by Jane Hall of Yreka, Calif.; and Carolyn Grew-Sheridan (1947-1996), formerly of San Francisco.
There is poetry by Lynne Rigney Schott of Kettle Falls and Bev Stoker-Drake and Sheila Shanti of Colville. Shanti is also showing soft sculpture and watercolors.
• The second show on view in the gallery is “The Garden,” a series of black-and-white photographs by Shelly Truman Murney of Davenport, Wash.
“The images from this project came about after many sketches with my camera: studying my gardens, paying attention to the delicate light of spring, and carefully looking into the microcosms of the plant life around me,” wrote Murney in an e-mail.
“In my work, I interpret nature by bringing it to a standstill momentarily with film,” she said. “By extracting moments from the natural world I am able to look not only at, but into these delicate, fragile spaces alive and emerging with growth.”
An artist’s reception is Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the gallery, 119 W. Astor, Heritage Court in Colville. Summer hours for the gallery are Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Ealy opens at Art Spirit Gallery
“I’m content working in oils,” said painter Don Ealy. “I haven’t mastered that yet.”
Others might disagree — including the editors of International Artist Magazine, who selected Ealy for inclusion in one of their recent “How Did You Paint That?” series of books.
The Spirit Lake, Idaho, artist appears in “100 Ways to Paint People and Figures” (International Artist, $24.99). He is one of 100 artists from around the world who explain how they paint people.
A number of Ealy’s character studies and expressive figurative paintings are included in his newest show, opening Friday at the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d’Alene.
“I love to paint people, but not formal portraits,” he said. “Sometimes it’s simply the way a shadow falls across a face that makes it intriguing.”
Also included in the show are a number of lush landscapes and rich still lifes painted in Ealy’s loose, impressionistic brush stroke.
“Most of the landscapes are locally inspired,” said Ealy. “I say ‘inspired,’ because when people ask ‘where is that?’ I have to say they probably won’t find in on the map. I tend to take liberties — like turning summer into winter, red to green, little things like that.”
Ealy said he needs the reality of things, but wants to interpret, to create interesting paintings as opposed to literal realism.
“More than 40 years after committing himself to the life of a painter, every Ealy canvas shows the hand of a master craftsman and the clear, calm vision of a mature artist,” said Art Spirit Gallery owner Steve Gibbs in a news release.
Ealy’s work has been shown in California, Chicago, New York and Tokyo.
An artist’s reception is Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 415 Sherman Ave. in Coeur d’Alene. The exhibit runs through Aug. 7.
Second Friday in Coeur d’Alene
The Art Spirit Gallery is part of the Second Friday Gallery Walk in Coeur d’Alene with open gallery receptions from 5 to 8 p.m. throughout downtown.
Among the other six Coeur d’Alene galleries is the Erlendson Art Glass and Coffee House, 116 E. Lakeside Ave. This art glass gallery has regular glassblowing demonstrations by owner Spencer Erlendson.
Other galleries that will be open include Angel Antiques and Art, 119 N. Fourth St.; The Devin Galleries, 507 Sherman Ave.; Frame of Mind Gallery, 119 N. Second St.; Painter’s Chair Fine Art Gallery, 223 Sherman Ave.; and Timber Stand Gallery, 210 Sherman Ave. in the Coeur d’Alene Plaza Shops.
Participating downtown businesses include All Things Irish, Christmas at the Lake, Galleria Bead and Trade, J.D. Gray’s Jewelry and Worthington’s Fine Antiques, No Moose Left Behind Public Art Project, Cricket’s Steakhouse, Java on Sherman, Iron Horse, Wild Bill’s Cookhouse and the Wine Cellar.