Florence rocks with poly-rhythms of painterly pizzazz
July's second Saturday GALA Art Walk was one for the record books. Art tourists from near and far lined up well before 3 pm to board the Unser's Coastal Journey's Unlimited shuttle bus. The bus filled quickly and generous local artist Hap Ruebens filled her car with the overflow. Others made the trek in their own vehicles. We really need that double-decker London bus-without a bomb, of course!
Tour guide and award-winning artist Bernie Herr kept the passengers together during the five-gallery tour, regaling everyone with laughter and snatches of artful song.
The bus motored into Old Town to Frames of Florence to meet featured artist Regina Giandomenico, who greeted everyone with bursts of color and whimsy, especially the masked spirits and the jungle animals on parade. The crowd enjoyed refreshments and perused the gallery's other artful masterworks before strolling a couple of blocks to Oliver's Art, where Weldon Oliver showed off the oil paintings of his students and drew the name of a lucky Art Walker to receive an original Oliver painting.
The bus and auxiliary bus filled up for the short ride to The Lighthouse Inn, a longtime Florence hotel currently under new ownership. The inn that beams travelers from around the world - check out the map of pins in the hallway - is now featuring artwork in its homespun, cozy lobby. Featured artist is affable watercolorist Warren Davidson, whose gentle landscapes are perfect for this venue. The golden autumn scene, apparently a lengthy work in progress, evolved into a spectacular sight. Refreshments and lively conversation ensued until it was time to board the bus for the trip to The Gallery Above the Silver Lining.
Featured artist Irene Young is also a watercolorist but very different from Warren and Regina. Irene's popular Rhythm Rocks series includes big and bold paintings of combos of beneficent boulders in a rainbow of colors and shapes beating a world of musical moments. Irene has a new series of witty Indian paintings, sort of archeological petroglyphs of human and animal occupants. The Silver Lining Gallery atop the muggy dome was bursting with art lovers chatting and enjoying champagne and yummy comestibles.
There was so much convivial activity during the Art Walk, time flew, and it was nearly 5 pm when Bernie Herr herded the troops back on the buss for the final destination, the Galleries at the Florence Events Center, where a reception was in progress for the mixed media of Chaim Bezale and Yonnah Ben Levy, husband and wife who collaborate to produce stunning photo paintings.
Chaim explained the process of their art, from camera obscura when the artist traced the scene before the invention of the camera to chemical photography to digital photography. Chaim is the photographer. He passes on black and white or sepia prints rolled on rice paper to Yonnah who uses oil pastels or acrylics to color the scene in impressionistic glory, such as the three paintings reflecting an ocean sunset. Theirs is a process more sophisticated and painterly than colorizing photos, which was done before the development of color film. Yonnah is also a fine potter, and her creations fill the display case.
PhotoZone in Gallery Five at the FEC had not yet hung a new group of pictures to replace the current remarkable set.
The FEC displayed its Oregon Crafted sign; it too is included in the first weekend of the month studio tour at various locations in Lane, Lincoln, Benton and Linn counties, including a half-dozen Florence artists and several galleries.
In addition to the GALA Art Walk, that artful Saturday began with a reception at The River Gallery for photographer Shirley Collins, whose work is natural and Polaroid-enhanced. Shirley favors triptychs, three slightly different perspectives of the same scene, like a movie.
Following the GALA Art Walk, the party moved way up the highway to the Island Health Spa and Café, the day spa that relocated from the Callison Building in Old Town. The new elegant and refreshing spa includes a coffee shop and restaurant, as well as the artwork of Renaissance man DeVern Pinnock, longtime painter and musician and recently retired dentist. DeVern's relatively small oils painted on location en plein air reflect the beauty and serenity of the Florence area from Bender's Landing on the North Fork to Herman's Peak off the coast highway. The wintry scene there is particularly exciting. DeVern is also a consummate gardener, and many of his prize-winning rhodies also appear on canvas. He is also a connoisseur of classic cars, and one of them may have been represented in the parking lot!
Don't hesitate to visit and revisit all these art venues and all the others in town. The brand new Backstreet Gallery is planning musical soirees the last Wednesday of the month. So linger a while and be inspired and smile secretively like the Mona Lisa who has just heard the story of DeVern's Bathroom Art, and then get on board next month for another GALA Art Walk.
- Burney Garelick
© 2005 All Rights Reserved. Burney Garelick, The Siuslaw News, Florence, Oregon.
This article may not be reprinted or linked to without permission from the writer, Burney Garelick, and The Siuslaw News.