Art scene gets a little wild, wacky

With tongue firmly lodged in their collective cheek, a group of anonymous amateur artists returns after a four-year hiatus with a new show of wild and crazy art objects. The long-awaited “DéjÀ Vu All Over Again: Looking Back at Life Through the Rear View Mirror with an Historical Lens… New Works by Laveda Marie Lipshitz” opens Friday for its three-day run in The Village Gallery at Kaufer’s Bookstore.

In the guise of their alter ego, “the reclusive Inland Northwest conceptual artist Laveda Marie Lipshitz,” the group collaboratively creates over-the-top sculptures from found objects.

“If you feel like a novice at art openings, you can be an insider here,” says a statement attributed to curator “B.M. Lost, Ph.D.”

“The artist – whose work lives up to and even surpasses her motto, ‘more is more’ – welcomes comments like, ‘Huh?’ ‘Wow’ or ‘Hysterical.’ “

The show opens Friday with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m., and continues on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.

All items are for sale and proceeds will benefit the Center for Organizational Reform, a Spokane nonprofit that “supports those who serve others” through workshops, research and classes on leadership and organizational health.

The center’s address is 601 W. Maxwell Ave.; its Web site is www.corhome.org.

‘Finely Crafted’ in Sandpoint

The fine craft work of 30 artists decorates the walls and pedestals of the Pend Oreille Arts Council Gallery in Sandpoint.

Among the crafters from across North Idaho are Mark Edmundson, Daris Judd, Susan Dalby, Barry Barush, Lynn Walters, Peter Mulbarger, Jo Roseborough, Lynn Piper and Daryl Baird.

Jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, fiber crafts, masks, baskets and mirrors are on display.

Stop by the opening reception on Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the POAC Gallery in the Power House at 120 E. Lake St. in Sandpoint. The work can be seen daily between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. through June 9.

CREATE shows ‘Giggling Goliards’

If you haven’t thought of papier mâché since childhood, “Giggling Goliards,” a visual art exhibit at The CREATE Place in Newport, Wash., is the place to be a kid again during May.

While these papier mâché designs aren’t kid’s stuff, they are wild and wacky forms created by sculptors Sherri Ballman of Deer Park, Rhea Giffin of Coeur d’Alene and Leata Judd of Bayview, Idaho.

The diversity of mostly figurative work “ranges from poetry and whimsy to political commentary uniquely expressed through the ancient medium of fine art papier mâché and mixed media,” says exhibit coordinator Clare Clark in a news release.

The art center, 900 W. Fourth St. in Newport, is open Monday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show opens Sunday and ends with a closing reception from 5 to 7 p.m. on May 28.

‘Barn Again’

The Smithsonian Institution exhibition “Barn Again: Celebrating an American Icon” is under way at the Museum of North Idaho in Coeur d’Alene through June 4.

The traveling exhibit looks at the origin and fate of the barn in its various roles as warehouse, factory and legend.

“Barn Again” is part of Museum on Main Street, a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Federation of State Humanities Councils.

The museum created a complimentary exhibit called “Life by the Barn” showcasing local barns and agricultural history. It will run until Oct. 29.

An opening reception is Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday is a free day at the museum.

Next Thursday at 7 p.m., Madeline Buckendorf will present a free talk, “Barns in Idaho: Monuments of Our Cultural Heritage,” at North Idaho College’s Todd Hall.

Museum admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children 6 to 16 (free for age 5 and under), $5 per family.

The museum, 115 Northwest Blvd., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information call (208) 664-3448 or visit www.museumni.org.

Gendron at Tinman

The Tinman Gallery on Garland continues its run of American Indian artist shows with the opening Friday of new work by Ric Gendron (Colville).

“Zero” features a series of acrylic paintings and small-edition, hand-pulled prints.

“Ric is one of a select group of Native American painters who is producing fine art dealing with Native American themes,” says gallery owner Sue Bradley. “He is constantly reinterpreting his cultural identity through painting so his images are not static.”

The opening reception is Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. at the gallery, 811 W. Garland Ave. The work is up through May 20.

‘Bear Necessities’

The first sighting of painted bears in Spokane is on the ground level of River Park Square. The four bears are the creative projects of Ken Spiering of Valley Ford, Debbie Hughbanks of Deer Lake, Marian Flahavin of Coeur d’Alene, and Mark Lanterman and Edger Snoddy of Spokane.

Eventually a roster of area artists will decorate 40 life-size fiberglass bears in individual motifs, all for the “Bear Necessities” campaign to benefit Spokane’s Ronald McDonald House charities. The bears will be placed in highly visible locations throughout the Spokane area where they will be exhibited until they are auctioned this fall.

Other galleries

• Glass artist Chris Chorvat is having his annual studio gallery sale Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 1007 E. 13th Ave. Call 217-0308 for more information.

• Tracy Poindexter’s first public art show, “African Americans in All Shades,” is under way at Liquid Life Espresso, 242 W. Sprague Ave. An artist’s reception is Saturday at 7 p.m.