Art and Friendship

Spring Unveiling 2013 brought to town sunny skies, lots of art lovers, and a stream of visitors to the galleries.  But more than just visitors or clients: friends.  Over the years the galleries see many of the same familiar faces and deep friendships form between artists, gallery staff, and clients. People look forward to seeing each other at events like Spring Unveiling and Stormy Weather Arts Festival where they can visit and catch up with each other’s life events, vacation plans, and art purchases.

Icefire Glassworks gallery co-owner Suzanne Kindland related a story: Each year Icefire holds a sale beginning the Saturday of Labor Day weekend.  The event is so popular that a long line forms before the gallery opens at 8:30 am. The line forges friendships, as people see each other from year to year. A couple from Missouri would fly out specifically for the sale.  They had a friendly competition with a couple from Seattle, vying for first place in the line.  One year, they vowed that they would win, so they brought their gear (warm coats, comfy beach chairs, tarps, thermoses, etc.) and got in line at 9:00 pm, the evening before the sale.  They camped out all night!  And they did win.  Of course, that was the year the Seattle couple couldn’t make it…..

Northwest by Northwest gallery owners Bob and Joyce Lincoln said that a direct result of their friendship with sculptor Georgia Gerber and owners of the remodeled Village Center Joe and Roxanne Fritsch was the installation of ‘Seal Twist’, a bronze sculpture by Gerber. ‘Seal Twist’ enjoys a permanent home outside the Windermere Real Estate office.  All parties share in their commitment to public art as a way to create an inviting gathering place for visitors and the community.  Gerber was also recently commissioned to sculpt a mother harbor seal with a pup as part of  a Year of the Seal project to be installed at Alki Beach in West Seattle.

Metal sculptor Greg Congelton and Primary Elements Gallery owner, Stephanie Ansley, connected with a common love of animals and respect for each other’s philosophy of life. He and his wife, Jeane, have attended every Spring Unveiling Event since the gallery opened 12 years ago. The concept of Primary Elements Gallery being the natural elements makes Congelton’s work a good fit. ‘Old Faithful’ is a new 48” sculpture of  a whale made from welded metal mounted on a recycled boat propeller. Ansley commented on what makes this piece special, “The metal that is in the sculpture was once part of the earth; now it is transformed into an image of a creature that is part of the ocean. Man has been in awe of the size and taken advantage of the bounty from this great creature. Now civilizations protect this great creature.”

Bronze Coast Gallery manager Melisa Colvin explained the gallery-client bond, “People often have emotional responses to art and share very profound experiences with us, leading to meaningful conversations and deep friendships.”  The gallery has many clients who drop by with goodies to share and updates about their lives.  Colvin said that her relationships with various artists has helped her with her own artwork and she has formed a special friendship with Matthew Gray Palmer and his wife Danielle. “My husband and I always take some time away from work to be with Matthew and Danielle; we have so much in common.”  Palmer was recently in Cannon Beach for Spring Unveiling and delivered many new, stunning works, including an American Kestrel made from welded steel, bronze, and wood titled ‘Falco Sparverius.”