Northwest Designer Craftsmen at the Chase Gallery from 8/30/2011 to 10/28/2011
The current show at the Chase Gallery downtown Spokane at city hall features the Northwest Designer Craftsmen (NWDC). This unique organization started in 1954 to promote Artists in Washington, Oregon,Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The organization has always strived to maintain excellence of design and craftsmanship in clay, wood, glass, metal, fiber, and/or mixed media. In addition NWDC tries to raise the public's appreciation for fine craft.
The artists featured are:
Barbara Barnes Allen, Seattle, WA, Joline El-Hai, Seattle, WA, Gina Freuen, Spokane, WA, Deborah Gregory, Bellevue, WA, Carol Gouthro, Seattle, WA, Lin Holley, Seattle, WA, Lars Husby, Seattle, WA, John H. Killmaster III, Middleton, ID, Patty King, Seattle, WA, Jan Koutsky, Seattle, WA,Cheryll Leo-Gwin, Redmond, WA, Margo Macdonald, Vaughn, WA, Linda McFarland, Seattle, WA, Dorothy McGuinness, Everett, WA, Donna Prichard, Bellevue, WA, Denise Snyder, Bellingham, WA, Judy Zugish, Marysville, WA
These artists have clearly mastered craftsmanship in mixed media, kiln-formed Glass, enamels, ceramic, porcelain, quilting, terrecotta, slip-casted glazes, underglazes, gold leaf, patinas, glazes, ceramics-stoneware, polymer clay and acrylics, fiber, hand woven tapestry, cloth, watercolor paper, waxed linen, fiber–collage, fiber–mixed media, paper maché and basketry.
The feel of the show was somewhat abstract yet very uniform in the overall theme of mixed media craftsmanship. The quality of the work is exceptional especially the creativity and the acute attention to detail. I found the more I looked, the more I wanted to look closer. Although some of the pieces were simplistic other pieces had more than enough complexity to balance it out. I highly recommend taking the time to check this show out. If you miss this one, you'll be missing a real treat! Jeff Ferguson
Work Cited: Northwest Designer Craftsmen at Chase Gallery
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