HAPPENINGS IN 2017
April 27, 2017For sure, 2017 was a fine year for my art life and work. Milkwood Studio saw lots happening and much work going out the doors to various shows and places of belonging.
It was a year of reopening some things. I began once again to offer a work of art to the local art museum’s annual auction. The Museum of Northwest Art in LaConner sold my work at their auction and I sold work once again at The Loyalhanna Watershed Association’s annual auction in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. It was so many years ago when living in Maine that I would go to that auction and show, held at the famous Rolling Rock Country Club, the home of Arnold Palmer. It was such a great show and from that exhibit, one of my works was acquired by the Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art.
Another auction that I continue to support is the Western Visions Show at the National Wildlife Art Museum in Jackson, Wyoming. Jane and I attended that show, for we wanted to see old friends, Bill & Joffa Kerr whom we had not seen in a few years. It was such a delightful exhibit and to see these true friends was a joy, along with some artists friends of old.
The Artists For Conservation held their show again in Vancouver, BC Canada and my work RETURN TO TURTLE ISLAND received the Medal of Excellence and was one of ten works selected to go on a visit to Qingdao City, China.
In my attempt to ‘bring it back home’, I once again reopened my local gallery relationship with Scott Milo Gallery in Anacortes, WA. I had a fantastical One Man Show and it was very successful. So much so, that I am scheduled for another show this coming August and right now am painting for that.
Also of local note, I did take part in the Annual Bird Invitational at the Smith Vallee Art Gallery in Edison, WA. It was so cool to be a part of that gallery, for many years ago I was showing work at the Edison Eye Gallery owned by Dana Rust, who has since passed away. It was sweet to be back to that charmed town also!
Then too locally, I had a bronze sculpture selected to be at a year long exhibit in the City of Anacortes at the Madrona Grove Sculpture Park. It has been wonderful to partake of
local exhibitions and to bring my work to the vision of local collectors…plus…I do not have to ship it…just carry it across the channel and deliver it before the show!!!
Other exciting news was that Brookgreen Gardens of Pawley Island South Carolina, installed in the gardens my life size bronze of WHISTLING ST. FRANCIS. This is my third work to be in the permanent collection there and I feel so greatly honored to have work in that magnificent old collection. This is where many works of some of my favorite sculptors from the past are seen along with the work of some of my honored contemporary peers. It is very thrilling!
Once again, the Wenatchee WA, Art On The Avenue acquired and installed my GATHERING OF OWLS and RETURN TO TURTLE ISLAND in their public locations. It has been incredible to work with those great folks over the years and I think that there are now more Osborne Sculptures in Wenatchee than any other sculptor to have had works selected to show in their venue.
The Society of Animal Artists took my small bronze of WHISTLING ST. FRANCIS to several exhibitions, beginning at The Hiram Blauvelt Art Institute in Oradell, NJ.
The National Sculpture Society juried my work RAINFOREST DREAM, the blue/gold macaw, into A Blessing of Animals Exhibition that opened at the Cathedral of Saint John The Divine in New York City and then on to The Botanical Gardens of Naples, Fl.
Also of note for me personally, I began to show at a new gallery owned by a long time friend who had a history of selling mywork at a former gallery that she worked at. Christina Stafford opened her own beautiful space in Healdsburg, CA and I have work in all of my mediums being shown with her at TheStafford Gallery. She had the unfortunate timing of having the many great destructive fires of Sonoma County upon her door steps as she opened her gallery. It was a daily concern as to whether to evacuate with art work or hold her ground. She held her ground with fellow artists of the area and all was saved.
I hope this year will bring her much success to help her maintain this awesome gallery space in that sweet town of Healdsburg.
Then too, there was a most interesting art worthy story for me. If you recall, I had an over 20 year history with The Martin Gallery, owned by Candace Martin in Charleston, SC. A couple of years ago, during a not so wonderful time for the gallery, I made the decision to withdraw my work and I did show elsewhere in Charleston. I did have a fine relationship with the owner of the gallery that showed my work, but it was simply not the same as what I had shared with Candace Martin. It had been like a marriage separation. In fact I recall many years ago, a female sculptor friend who had been in the art world for many years told me that finding a new gallery was like opening a new love relationship. It took time, courting, getting to know each other, developing honesty, etc.
The separation was difficult for both Candace and myself, for we were like family and truly did love each other as noted above.As Candace got her feet under her again, she humbly contacted me and after much discussion , I made the decision to rejoin her wonderful gallery at 18 Broad Street, Charleston…..we got back together. I wonder if that has ever happened with other artists and galleries that they have been that closely associated together for so many years?I am grateful!!!!
It was a big year, 2017, but it did not end at that point. For many years I have known and been friends with Robert and Susan Lynch who summer near Edison, on Samish Island. They had come to visit Milkwood Studio several years ago and over the years we meet each summer and in the winter when Robert comes up here from Galveston Texas to spend some days on the island.
I had been asked by a lady named Carole in Texas if I would consider having them raise the money, thru children’s cookie sales, to finance one of my 4 foot sea turtle bronzes, THE RETURN OF ANCIENT WISDOM to be installed on the Sea Wall in Galveston.
Carole has for many years taught children about the great sea turtles that come to the shores there to build their nests and drop their eggs. It was such a fine request from her and I gave it much thought, though, I did not think they could gather the needed funds from cookie sales alone.
I contacted Robert and he through his foundation and others in Galveston secured the needed funds to make this dream of Carole’s come to be! Isn’t that wonderful!!!! The turtle was installed and dedicated in November of 2017 at the Galveston Sea Wall.
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