Scholarship Show 2022

This April, the Gallery at the Park presents its 2022 Scholarship Show. The Scholarship Show is an exhibition of two artists: a visual arts MFA student who is enrolled in a university in Washington, Idaho, or Oregon and a student enrolled in the Columbia Basin College arts program.

Allied Arts Jurors Mary Dryburgh and Jan Nilsson selected Jordan Sabolick as this year’s MFA winner. They described Jordan’s work as being “an exemplary exploration of intimate home life.”

Jordan was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and began a formal drawing and painting education in 2014. He obtained a BFA from California Sate University in Long Beach and is currently an MFA candidate at the University of Washington.

The CBC winner is Amber Bamber, an art therapy student who began her artistic journey after using art as a way to meditate. Amber was selected by the CBC Art Department.

Gallery Administrator
Rae Ella Long and Erin Markee

This March, the Gallery at the Park presents a new 2D and 3D art exhibition from mixed media artist Rae Ella Long and ceramics artist Erin Markee.

Rae Ella Long began painting at 12 years old “out of a necessity for a form of expression and comfort.” She has always found it easier to express herself through painting than to do so with words. As she grew older, she became interested in pushing the boundaries of how far she could go with her art while using the materials she had been given.

When she was in high school, Long spent time as a teacher’s assistant for elementary school art classes, where she saw the teacher and students continually asking, “Why not?” about their artistic endeavors. Witnessing their incredible imagination furthered Long’s notion that art should have no limitations.

Long often adds 3D objects to do 2D surfaces, creating art pieces that have a mix of textures, mediums and repurposed objects. She draws inspiration from all things creepy and unusual, and she enjoys combining dark themes with bright colors and hidden meanings. She also has a softer side to her art, inspired by friends and family.

See more of Rae Ella Long’s work on Instagram at ‘creepy.in.color_rl’ and ‘queen_of_copper23.’

As a ceramicist, Erin Markee is attracted to working with clay because she finds the entire creative process of throwing, carving, glazing and firing to be meditative and uplifting. She particularly focuses on how she has to use earth, water, fire and air, referring to the union of the four elements as “extremely magical.”

Some of Markee’s most popular works have been her realistic mushroom sculptures. She believes fungi are an integral part of the natural world, spreading information between trees in forests and creating links between plants, trees, animals and humans. Fungi give nutrients to plants, but they can also kill them. Folklore even tells us of mushrooms formed in circles to create portals to the spirit realms.

For this exhibit, Markee explores the motif of a ring, which can symbolize life cycles, the flow of nature, harmony and unity, infinity, symmetry and balance in nature. She keeps this shape in mind as she finds inspiration in flora and fauna, drawing connections between the natural world and their cycles. 

Markee also aims to create a sense of duality within her work. You should be able to see something different from each side of a piece or by turning a piece upside down, hopefully encouraging people to view their own reality from a different perspective.  

This magical, imaginative exhibition from Rae Ella Long and Erin Markee will be on display at the Gallery at the Park March 1 through 26. The open house will be on Sunday, March 6, 1 to 3 p.m., and will feature live music from Joe Winters.

Gallery Administrator
Layers of Meaning

This February, the Gallery presents Layers of Meaning, a 2D and 3D show from Susan Steinhaus Kimmel and Jim Huber.

Susan Steinhaus Kimmel uses mixed media collages to express her appreciation for the beauty of materials and textures. With her paintings she endeavors to interpret not only the grand shapes of nature but also the intimate ideas from her imagination.

Jim Huber has always focused on exploring color, and he uses color in an abstract way to design thought-provoking paintings. With color, rhythm and harmony he creates layers of meaning.

The open house will be on February 6, and it will feature live music from guitarist Doug Rice and the presentation of this year's Condotta Award.

Layers of Meaning will be on display at the Gallery from February 1 through 26.

Gallery Administrator
Tri-City Quilters' Guild Show 2022

For the first featured show of 2022, the Gallery at the Park welcomes back the Tri-City Quilters’ Guild! The Guild has been regularly featured at the Gallery at the Park for more than 30 years.

Since its origination in 1982, the Tri-City Quilters’ Guild has been dedicated to promoting the art of quilting through education and fellowship. Today, its membership has grown to more than 300 quilters. Their goals include sharing information about quilting, creating comfort quilts for local agencies and enjoying other activities related to quilt creation, collection and appreciation.

Stop by the Gallery at the Park to see the Tri-City Quilters’ Guild’s raffle quilt for 2022. Every year, the Guild raffles a quilt made by local members, and the proceeds from raffle ticket sales go toward fabric and other materials used to create comfort quilts, which are given to local human service agencies.

This year’s raffle quilt, “Serenity,” was gifted by Cheryl Whistler Garrison. Garrison used a border print from Jason Yenter’s “Unusual Gardens” line, a bundle of fat quarters from Designs by JB, and the pattern “Log Cabin in the Garden” designed by Jason; however, Garrison substituted Jason’s printed panels with her own applique blocks, which she had once done in a class with Mary Sorenson. The exquisite quilting was done by Teresa Silva. “Serenity” measures 69” x 86”.

The Gallery will feature the raffle quilt alongside an anniversary quilt commemorating Karen Michael’s wedding, a collection of story quilts created in response to a challenge from Deb Snider, and so much more. These quilts showcase the Guild members’ technical skills and their love of both tradition and experimentation.

To learn more about the Tri-City Quilters’ Guild, visit their website at tcquilters.org.

Immerse yourself in the warmth and color of the Tri-City Quilters’ Guild Show at the Gallery at the Park from Jan. 4 through 29. The open house will be held on Sunday, Jan. 9, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Gallery Administrator
Gallery Aglow

This November and December, the Gallery at the Park celebrates the season with its holiday exhibition, Gallery Aglow! Stop by the Gallery to browse and shop for beautiful decorations and handmade gifts. Gallery Aglow will be on display until Dec. 24.

On Dec. 3 and 4, Friday and Saturday, the Gallery presents its annual Christmas Market. Stop by between 6 and 8 p.m. for free hot chocolate on the patio and complimentary craft kits for children. The event features live music starting at 6:30 p.m., with the Tubadours on Friday and the Swallowtail Irish Band on Saturday.

Gallery Administrator