Artist’s work molded with passion and joy

Valerie Seaberg often spends whole days hunkered down next to a smoking pit fire near her studio that sits in the shadow of the majestic Teton Mountains.

“Clay is currently the big love of my life,” says the mixed media artist whose work is part of the sixth annual Clay Invitational show opening Friday at the Art Spirit Gallery in Coeur d’Alene.

“It is so elemental,” she says. “When I work, I roll up my sleeves and take off my shoes. I shape forms with pounding feet, flattened hands and delicate fingers. The process is both down and dirty, and incredibly sensuous.”

Once satisfied with the shape of a vessel, she pit-fires it.

“I like to imagine my pieces to be something dug out of the ground, some natural form or ancient artifact,” says the Wilson, Wyo., artist.

“Ancient Wave,” one of her sculptural works in the Art Spirit show, was weeks in the making. It was pounded into shape and then impressed with fossils, shells, eucalyptus buttons and sea anemone.

After bisque-firing the piece, Seaberg buried it in sawdust and other organic materials, burning it for a few days until it achieved a smoky, earthy look.

She finished the piece by weaving long pine needles around the rim.

“Coiling pine needles is an ancient craft,” says Seaberg. “It requires time and great patience. It is a slow art which I believe is the antidote to modern life.”

The other 16 clay artists in the show include Washington ceramists Jenny Andersen of Bainbridge Island, John Benn of Shelton, Eric Nelsen of Vashon, Steve Sauer of Port Orchard, John Taylor of Renton, Al Tennant of Coupeville, Donna and Jeff Tousley of Loon Lake, and Richard Bohn and Gina Freuen of Spokane.

Potters from Idaho are Melanie Candia of Coeur d’Alene and Curtis Hoard of Driggs. Rounding out the show are Dennis Meiners of Jacksonville, Ore.; Mika Negishi Laidlaw of Mankato, Minn.; Peter Pinnell of Lincoln, Neb.; and Rosalie Wynkoop of Helena.

The Art Spirit Gallery, 415 Sherman Ave., is part of the Second Friday Artwalk in Coeur d’Alene with a gallery reception Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The show runs through June 4.

Coeur d’Alene Second Friday

Other downtown Coeur d’Alene galleries participating in the Second Friday Artwalk include:

“ Angel Gallery of Fine Art & Antiques, 423 Sherman Ave., is exhibiting work by gallery artists.

“ Cisco’s – Hunters of the Past, 212 N. 4th St., specializes in sporting and Western art, and 19th century American Indian and cowboy artifacts.

“ Devin Galleries, 507 Sherman Ave., is hosting an artist reception for Spokane painter Melissa Cole.

“ Erlendson Art Glass, 116 E. Lakeside Ave., is showing handblown glass by Spencer Erlendson and other Northwest glass artists.

“ Frame of Mind Gallery and Framing, 119 N. 2nd St., is highlighting pottery by Bill Meehan and paintings by Carrie Stuart Parks, Carl Funseth, Barbara Peretti, Jim Carkhuff and Nona Hengen.

“ Mosgrove Gallery, 211 Coeur d’Alene Ave., No. 101, is exhibiting recent ceramics by Tim Mosgrove.

“ Northwest Artists, 217 Sherman Ave., is spotlighting two- and three-dimensional works by regional artists.

“ The Painter’s Chair Gallery, 223 Sherman Ave., is showing new paintings by owner Stephen Shortridge.

“ Additional venues displaying artwork include: Summer’s Glass, 211 Sherman Ave.; All Things Irish, 315 Sherman Ave.; Christmas at the Lake, 517 Sherman Ave.; Rivers of Art, 110 N. Fourth St.; and Worthington’s Fine Antiques & Gifts, 210 Sherman Ave.

EWU’s BFA exhibition

Six Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates are showing their work in the Eastern Washington University Gallery of Art in “Art & Fear: 2005 EWU BFA Senior Exhibition.”

Opening Friday, the exhibit includes a variety of media and styles.

Participating artists include: Jillian Foster (mixed media, printmaking), Cliff Hall (sculpture), Linda Lawrie (sculpture), Jamie Nadherny (painting), Joel Nelson (blown and cast glass), and Jacob Wellman (drawing, painting, installation).

Meet the artists Friday at the opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m. in the gallery. The exhibition will be up through June 3 in the Art Building at Seventh and I streets in Cheney. The free gallery is open to the public weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Happenings at the MAC

“Monet is moving on,” says Joyce Cameron, director of development and communications at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

“An Impressionist Eye: Painting and Sculpture from the Phillip and Janice Levin Foundation” is ending its two-month run at the MAC. “Sunday is the last day to see this magnificent collection,” Cameron says.

The museum, 2316 W. First Ave., is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“ “Spokane Timeline,” an educational exhibit, opens Saturday and will be up for approximately two years.

“Over a century of Spokane history translates into a three-dimensional tapestry of personal stories,” according to the museum’s Web site.

“Museum collection treasures tell of family, community and business adventures from fur trade and fire, through aviation and ticker tape,” the site says. “Names like James Glover are familiar; others are little-known but important for their contribution to Spokane life.”

Cameron says the museum staff “will change out parts of the exhibit periodically to keep it fresh over the next 24 months.”

“ Showing in the Orientation Gallery is “Tattooed Ladies and Gentlemen: Marilyn Lysohir and Ross Coates.”

The show is the third in this year’s exhibit series featuring leading regional contemporary artists. Lysohir and Coates will discuss their creative styles during a gallery talk on June 3 beginning at noon. The work is on view through June 30.

The next “In Focus: Regional Artist Spotlight” exhibit includes David Kraisler, Heide Oberheide and Ann Porter (July-August).

Tozzi premieres at the Met

In her first solo exhibit, Julie Tozzi of Spokane is showing a series of small, impressionistic watercolor and oil paintings during May in The Met Gallery.

“I started painting with watercolors when we were living in Rosalia several years ago,” says Tozzi. “Inspired by the lonely beauty of the Palouse, I painted an old homestead out there and realized that I had many more paintings in me.”

An open artist’s reception is Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. The exhibit is available for free public viewing Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in The Met lobby, 901 W. Sprague Ave., and to ticketholders during performances.

‘Ride the West’ artists

Jennifer Sather is the featured artist during the 2005 Ride the West All Breed Horse and Trade Expo opening Friday at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center, Havana and Broadway.

Her watercolor painting, “Billy Bonney’s Getaway,” is being used as the program’s cover art.

“Jennifer’s unique and innovative watercolor technique using dark vibrant colors and reverse highlighting won her the honor this year,” says show manager Susan Rae. “Her painting leaves you feeling you are caught in the middle of the action as the getaway ensues.”

Sather will be at the show during its three-day run to answer questions about her work.

Other artists attending the expo will be John Peterson of Kettle Falls, Wash.; Laurie Heuckman of John Day, Ore.; and Vern Hopkins of Spokane.

On Friday the gates are open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Day tickets are $8 in advance, $10 at the gate (ages 9 and under admitted free). A separate ticketed event begins Saturday at 7:15 p.m.; admission is $6.

‘May Flowers’ at Colburn’s

An artists’ reception for “April Showers Bring May Flowers” will be Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Colburn’s 811 Gallery, 811 E. Sprague Ave.

The show, which runs through May 25, features floral paintings by Dian Allison, Betty Bradley, Shirley Erlandsen, Thelma Giampietri, Emma Randolph, Dixie Slater and Dian Zahner.