Mary K. Corp & Dennis Zupan
Mary K. Corp & Dennis Zupan

This May, Gallery at the Park is showcasing an exciting new 2D and 3D exhibition from Mary K. Corp and Dennis Zupan!

Mary K. Corp is a retired agricultural scientist and educator whose knowledge of nature and passion for exploring unanswered questions inform her creative voice. Her paintings are often inspired by the striking beauty she sees in everyday scenes and common objects.

Corp’s art captures nature and the environment, especially water, sunlight, and weather. Her paintings express her joy and exuberance about life combined with her positive attitudes, caring beliefs, and knowledge of rural lifestyles.

Corp has lived in the Pacific Northwest her whole life, yet she often travels the globe to visit new places, meet new people, and explore other cultures. She loves adventuring and searching for landscapes and creatures that will inspire new works.

“I hope that people viewing the art will find space in the painting to add to the story from their own imaginations,” Corp says.

Dennis Zupan is a potter and jewelry maker who has spent more than 30 years teaching those art forms in public schools, colleges, and universities. When creating jewelry pieces, he strives to make the silversmithing complement the stone it surrounds.

Zupan graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in art education before going on to earn an MFA in ceramic sculpture from Utah State University.

After falling in love with the beauty of Anasazi black-on-white pottery, Zupan took several workshops from a great Anasazi pot replicator, who taught him ancient pottery techniques of the Southwest Pueblo people.  

In 2014, Zupan had a stroke that stopped everything for a while. He lost a lot of his muscle strength and memory of his art skills; however, he was grateful for what he had left. He decided to slow down and start over, which is when he and his wife Betty moved to Washington. 

Zupan has continued to create pottery and jewelry in Richland, but he misses running into former students in Utah and hearing them say, “Mr. Zupan, remember me?”

The Corp & Zupan Exhibit is on display at the Gallery from April 23 through May 25. The artist reception is on Friday, May 3, from 5 to 7 p.m.

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2024 Scholarship Show
2024 Scholarship Show

Every year, Gallery at the Park presents a Scholarship Show to celebrate the unique work of student artists!

The primary exhibition is of a Visual Arts MFA student attending a university in Washington, Idaho, or Oregon. Jurors Mary Dryburgh and Tracy Walker selected Jill Kyong, a student at the University of Idaho, as the scholarship recipient and exhibition artist for 2024.

Jill Kyong creates sculptural wall art, furniture, and sculpture primarily out of wood. Her work has been juried in to exhibitions across the United States, including The Art Center Highland Park in Chicago and the Boise Art Museum where she won a juror’s award. She was recently invited to show at the American Association of Woodturners Gallery of Wood Art in St. Paul, MN, and is exhibiting work at JDS Gallery’s Pioneer Square Art Walk in Seattle.

Kyong creates beautiful works of art through minimalist forms and geometric proportions inspired by the tranquil beauty of the Pacific Northwest. She aims to capture the essence of nature’s magnificence juxtaposed against the tragedy of the human condition. 

Central to Kyong’s artistic expression is the theme of connection. She utilizes stones she makes from wood as symbolic representations of the human need to connect. When stacked, these stones embody strength and solidarity, but when separated, they serve as a poignant reminder of the challenges we face in establishing meaningful connections. Kyong also incorporates interactive elements like movable stones, cubes, and birds, which invite viewers to engage with the artwork, empowering them to shape their own interpretation and actively participate in the artistic experience.

Gallery at the Park’s Scholarship Show also features work from a student in the Visual Arts Program at Columbia Basin College. This year, the CBC Art Department selected Lee Ethridge.

Lee Ethridge is a graphic designer and video editor native to Washington. They are currently a freshman at Columbia Basin College completing their transfer associate degree and plan to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Film at Central Washington University.

Ethridge has created art their entire life, but has a special love for digital art, preferring to focus on the mixture of makeup, photography, and color grading.

The Scholarship Show will be on display from March 26 — April 20. 

The reception will be on April 7, from 1 — 3pm.

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J.E. Hannum, Jerry Johnson & Kevin Newcomb
J.E. Hannum, Jerry Johnson & Kevin Newcomb

This February, the Gallery at the Park presents an incredible and unique new 2D and 3D exhibition from artists J.E. Hannum, Jerry Johnson, and Kevin Newcomb!

J.E. Hannum is a contemporary abstract artist. He creates dynamic, cubist-style paintings, meticulously crafted with acrylic, oil, pastel, and charcoal. He uses brushes, palette knives, his hands, and many other tools to apply paint to canvas. 

Hannum uses his art to express the intricate relationship between modern living and the emotions we all feel. His work has been showcased at Evolv Design Collective Gallery in Kennewick and numerous businesses in the Tri-Cities area.

View more of Hannum’s work on his website at hannumfineart.com.

Jerry Johnson is a retired engineer and scientist who has been working in the medium of wood for the past couple of decades. He uses a lathe and various carving tools to create his art.

Johnson has exhibited his work in galleries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Illinois, and British Columbia. His pieces have also been shown in the 2022 and 2023 issues of “Masters of Contemporary Wood Art,” published by the Wood Symphony Gallery.

Kevin Newcomb has been making art for six years using rock and silver. He utilizes rock with unusual colors and tries not to use the same rock more than once. He carefully selects the rocks for a project before moving on to cutting and shaping.

Hannum, Johnson & Newcomb will be on display at the Gallery at the Park from January 30 – February 24.

The reception will be on Sunday, February 4, from 1 – 3 pm.

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Tri-City Quilters' Guild
Tri-City Quilters' Guild

For the first featured show of 2024, 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.

The Tri-City Quilters’ Guild was founded in 1982 by a small group of quilters. Since then, its membership has grown to almost 300 quilters. The Guild’s goals include sharing information about quilting history, patterns, techniques, and trends; creating comfort quilts for local agencies; and enjoying other activities related to quilt creation, collection, and appreciation.

Each year, the Guild presents a raffle quilt made by local members. All proceeds from raffle ticket sales go toward fabric and other materials used to create comfort quilts. Comfort quilts are regularly delivered to organizations in need such as the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, My Friend’s Place, and more.

The 2024 raffle quilt, titled “Good Day Sunshine,” was created by the Sew Scattered Stitches, a group made up of Judy Deneen, Michele Boston, Janelle Domarotsky, Tina Foley, Judy Gelhaus, and Katie Harris. The quilting was done by Dana Pearson.

The Gallery exhibition features the raffle quilt alongside quilts based on the theme “Inspired by Tradition.” The theme was chosen by the Tri-City Quilters’ Guild show chair, Renee Grabiec, and co-shair, Jodi Hassell. 

The exhibition also showcases quilts from the Guild’s featured member artist, Mark Palmer. Palmer particularly loves making quilts with machine embroidery, especially machine applique.

Learn more about the Tri-City Quilters’ Guild at tcquilters.org.

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Holiday Gift Show 2023
Holiday Gift Show 2023

From November 14th through December 30th, the Gallery at the Park is showcasing its 75th Anniversary Holiday Gift Show! Throughout the holiday season, the Gallery features beautiful holiday decorations, such as trees, wreaths, and ornaments, all handmade by Gallery artists and volunteers.

The Gallery also features art and fine crafts from more than 150 local artists. See photographs from some of the best local photographers; beautiful oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings; intricate pottery, glass, and wood-turned pieces; stylish scarves, hats, and other wearable fiber art; and the largest selection of handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces in the Tri-Cities.

Christmas Market

On Friday, December 2nd, and Saturday, December 3rd, the Gallery presents its annual Christmas Market. Enjoy a firepit and complimentary hot chocolate at a location perfect for viewing the Christmas Lighted Boat Parade! Then, step inside the Gallery to enjoy live music, shop the Holiday Gift Show, and receive free kids’ craft kits.

On Friday evening, the Early Birds and the Worm will perform in the Gallery, while Saturday’s music will be presented by the Swallow Tail Band. On both nights, youth will be encouraged to make complimentary handcrafted ornaments using materials and supplies provided by the Gallery.

Stop by the Gallery to enjoy the fun and see the beautiful lights!

Gallery Administrator