2016 REFLECTIONS AND 2017 ANTICIPATIONS
December 21, 20162016 saw many changes in the world and here in the United States. We had the most divisive Presidential Election ever witnessed on the planet.
Along with that weirdness, I experienced another wonderful year at my art. I was invited or juried into numerous shows and exhibitions. There was the local ART IN BLOOM invitational and once again my work was featured in the wonderful Wenatchee Washington ART ON THE AVENUE exhibition. The SOCIETY OF ANIMAL ARTISTS saw my sea turtle THE GREAT ESCAPE. THE ARTISTS FOR CONSERVATION exhibited my sea turtle bronze RETURN TO TURTLE ISLAND which also won an AWARD OF EXCELLENCE in the Vancouver, BC Exhibition. WESTERN VISIONS at the famous NATIONAL WILDLIFE ART MUSEUM in Jackson, Wyoming sold my series of RED BISON’S and painting PRIMORDIAL WANDERERS. The LOYALHANNA WATERSHED ASSOCIATION in Ligonier, Pennsylvania auctioned my CEREMONIAL VESSEL at their annual auction benefit. I was invited to show at the LOVELAND ART MUSEUM in Colorado for their Society of Animal Artists’ exhibit of ANIMALIA. I was also included in the UNCLAD exhibit in Seattle, Washington.
This year also saw me once again represented locally in the City of Anacortes at the SCOTT MILO GALLERY. This is the first time in quite a while that I have shown locally, wanting to ‘bring it home’ so to speak and resume a fine relationship with Kathline Khile at her gallery here in town.
At the MARY MARTIN GALLERY of Charleston, South Carolina I was honored with a large showing of my works during the month of November which included and featured my life size bronze of WHISTLING ST. FRANCIS. I am so honored, as it is about to be placed permanently at THE BROOKGREEN GARDENS in Pawley’s Island, South Carolina in their magnificent and renowned sculpture gardens.
Numerous works were shown and sold at the HARBOR SQUARE GALLERY in Rockland, Maine where I have shown with the owner and fine jeweler Tom O’Donovan for over 35 years now! We are discussing the possibility of doing a retrospective show in the not so distant future.
I also had a nice run of showing with an old painter friend from years back, JENNIFER BELLINGER GALLERY in Ketch-um, Idaho. Jennifer had a fine gallery and sold a number of my works in sculpture and then as she found her desires to spend more time at her painting, she closed the gallery. Jennifer is however still doing some special events with collectors from her past and I too will continue to send a few works to Jennifer for some of these upcoming events in 2017.
I have just released a small bronze of a bird in flight, SPIRALING RELEASE and it is jumping off the pedestals on it’s arrival!!! Along with that bronze, this year past has seen me create yet more pieces in wood, both large and small works.
I have begun a new relationship with a Santa Fe gallery, the SUGARMAN-PETERSON GALLERY. That relationship began with an immediate sale of a wooden sea turtle to a client from Portland, Oregon.
This past fall I also began a relationship with THE PHINNEY GALLERY in Joseph, Oregon, one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Along with the aforementioned, I continue to exhibit and be represented by THE COLUMBINE GALLERY of Loveland, Colorado, HOWARD MANDVILLE GALLERY of Kirkland, Washington. SCULPTURE WORKS of Texas who exhibit my work around the country at various library venues and RARE GALLERY of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
Everything considered, it has been a great year, even though it was ‘an election year’….and the weirdest one ever! We shall see what the future holds for ‘everything’!!!!
Now we are looking to 2017 right ahead!
I have lots to consider and to look at. As an artist with work in their permanent collection, I have been invited to exhibit at WESTERN VISIONS in September. This is the 30th Anniversary Year for the museum and therefore I do plan to attend the show with my Jane who also loves the museum and the folks involved with it.
For the past year and a half, I have been writing an illustrated poetry/story book. I have painted 24 illustrations and 15 drawings for this book. I am anticipating finding a publisher for it this year. Once published, I will plan a show of the entire group of illustrations and a book signing at a gallery of my choosing at that time. A very dear and close friend is my Editor and she has just sent the book off to a publisher for consideration. She is in the throws of a possible move herself and with that hopes to open her first art gallery which will feature my works. Once we know everything is in place for this gallery, we will release this information to the public!
Another event that I am part of thus far for 2017 is the NATIONAL SCULPTURE SOCIETY’S invitational A BLESSING OF ANIMALS exhibition which will start at THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT JOHN THE DIVINE in NYC and then it will proceed to THE NAPLES BOTANICAL GARDENS in Florida. My piece RAINFOREST DREAM, a blue/gold macaw will be the work shown at this classical event of animal art.
I will also have a one person show of paintings and sculptures with THE SCOTT MILO GALLERY here in Anacortes in the month of May and in March I will have several works included in the local Skagit Valley, SMITH & VALLEE GALLERY exhibit, THE BIRD INVITATIONAL in Edison, Washington.
I have just finished painting a collection of works from my visit to Monet’s Gardens in Giverney, France. I am excited about these paintings as I have longed to do this since I was a child dreaming of becoming a painter. Seeing, feeling and stealing some seed from his gardens was a major delight for me and very inspirational. I had the opportunity to meet a sweet artist who has spent his life painting and living in Giverney, he was very inspiring. While at Monet’s place I could feel his presence there with me, hence I have titled this collection, MY MOMENTS WITH MONET. I will soon make a decision as to where I will first show these paintings.
It was a very productive year, well spent and as you can see I have lots to do this year coming, both in work and in organizing my shows and life! And then too, there are my grand kids to think of. Joshua five and Lily three both visit here at Milkwood often and when here, the first thing Josh asks is: “Can we do an art project?” Often he has something in mind: “ Bubba, lets make an Osprey or Golden Eagle”. He loves wildlife and he already refers to himself as an artist. So there ya have it, I am now also a teacher.
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