Valley Art Association 2022 Main St. — P.O. Box 333 Forest Grove, OR 97116 503.357.3703 w w w. v a l l e y a r t . o r g

Gallery

From the

Valley Art Association—September/October 2007

A nonprofit organization promoting art in the community since 1966 Valley Art is dedicated to supporting working artists and encouraging beginning artists, while bringing out the artist within us all by exhibiting exceptional artwork and offering art classes for the entire community at affordable prices.

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alley Art general meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month at 6:30 p.m. All Valley Art members who would like to attend are invited. We welcome your input and look forward to your interaction.

Inspired by Nature Martha Denham ~ BASKETS Gerald Sticka ~ WILDLIFE ART Reception Wednesday, September 5, 2007

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artha Denham, a North Plains artist, believes pine needle baskets are similar to a clay coil pot. Like the clay pot, the basket is made by building up rows of coils into a bowl shape. The pine needles are made into a coil with each row of coils stitched to the previous row. “I like working with pine

Basket inspired by the forest by Martha Denham

needles because they can be very versatile,” Martha says. “For heavy duty baskets, I make larger coils reinforced with fiber or wire. More delicate baskets are made by using small coils. I’ve developed techniques in basket weaving where I can create all sorts of shapes by soaking the needles until they are pliable.

CONTENTS:

Current show . . . . . . . .1-4 Chalk Art Festival . . . . .5 First Wednesday . . . . . . .6 Classes . . . . . . .See insert Children’s Classes . . . . .7 Annual Artist Event . . . .7 Registration Form . . . . .8

Gerald Sticka

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION — FROM THE GALLERY

Inspired by Nature Continued from page 1 “In that state, I can turn the needle coils into loops and curls. Using this technique I’ve developed a three dimensional rose, a head of wheat and shapes that resemble sea plants. By adding a few organic beads made of stone, pearl or clay, I give my baskets an accent of color.” As to design, Martha says, “I gave up years ago trying to make baskets that fit the mainstream idea of what pine needle baskets should look like. I got too bored.” For Martha it was “more challenging” to create “shapes of items in my garden, or at the shore and in the mountains.” Hence her series of baskets: Tinker’s Garden, Ocean and Mountain.

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erald E. Sticka, a native of Oregon, grew up on a farm in the rural community of Gaston. His love of nature, and his desire to capture her grandeur prompted him to retire from a 30 year career as press foreman for the Oregonian Publishing Company, and pursue his interest in art. Gerald studied with Western artist, Roberta St. Louis, and his new vocation blossomed. He began sculpting in wood six years ago, to give his work a three dimensional feeling. Gerald spent 11 years on the Oregon coast as part owner of The Westwind Gallery in Pacific City and Natures Trail Gallery in Tillamook. During this time, he taught art through Natures Trail and Tillamook Art Association in Five Rivers

Baskets inspired by the garden, Martha Denham

“Too many people only look at what Mother Nature offers us; they really do not see the delicate balance or all the beauty she really holds.”

North Fork Herd by Gerald Sticka

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION — FROM THE GALLERY

Gallery. He has been a guest artist at some of the largest art shows in the Northwest. The most recent was in the summer of 2006 at Westport, where there were 160 attending artists. The most memorable art venture he ever had was during the summer of 1991. Gerald and a group of artists traveled all over the state of Montana showing their artwork in every city. He missed only one show in Great Falls when he decided to take a break and park his trailer on the edge of the Yellowstone river and fish for 10 days. Gerald has also been a part of The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited with his artwork. The most prestigious shows he has been involved in were “Celebration of Western Art” in Olympia, Washington, at the Tyee, and “Northwest Territorial Art Show” in Blewit

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Gerald Sticka

Baskets inspired by the forest, Martha Denham

Pass. The Bear Track Gallery is considered to show the top 50 artists in the Northwest. At first Gerald felt intimidated by all the big name artists, but later he felt good when they believed he was at the same level. His work is part of corporate and private collections throughout the Pacific Northwest, and in Japan, Germany, Australia and Canada. Both Gerald and Martha are longtime Valley Art members.

Green Wing Teal by Gerald Sticka

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION — FROM THE GALLERY

Inspired by Nature Continued from page 3

Three baskets with varied shapes by Martha Denham

Finely detailed bird by Gerald Sticka

Valley Art welcomes new board members

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elcome to our new board members Ginger Steele, Amanda Houston, Jerry Frye, Betsy Foster, Margaret Hoerber, Nedra Hathaway and Luther Schrock. And congratulations to our association for electing them. Everyone on the board welcomes their enthusiasm, knowl-

edge and experience. We are sure Valley Art will become better for having their help. Running any organization requires a wide range of skills, and with an all volunteer “army” such as Valley Art has, the more help we have, the better. Please join with us in welcoming these valued members of the Valley Art membership

who have decided to play a more involved role in the organization. Remember, we are always looking for other volunteers to gallery sit, help with receptions or input data into the computer. All you have to do is find a couple of hours a month or one hour every week to volunteer and you will help more than you can know.

Living Leaves carry hopes and wishes At 5:30 pm., on Tuesday, Sept. 11, there will be a table outside Valley Art Association, 2022 Main St., Forest Grove, so you can create a “Living Leaf” to hang on a tree in Forest Grove as a personal memorial or in remembrance of 9/11. The event originally began in 2002 to remember two local men, Rick Read and Bill Ward, who died in a Mt. Hood climbing accident. It was also a way to remember those who perished on 9/11. The leaves have served as a healing

process from the Iraq war, and following the 2004 tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and other tragic world events. You can construct your own leaf, write a wish, poem or name on it, and bring it downtown to hang on the Main Street trees. You may also use the supplies available at Valley Art. The leaves will add to the colorful appearance of downtown for the annual Chalk Art Festival on Sept. 15. Contact Jeanne Levy, 503341-9701, for more information.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION — FROM THE GALLERY

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Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival

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Association Web site — et out your knee www.valleyart.org. pads! Saturday, The Sidewalk Chalk September 15th, Art Festival is funded by marks the 17th annivercommunity grants and sary of the Sidewalk contributions from local Chalk Art Festival in individuals and businessdowntown Forest Grove. es. Come to Valley Art at As in years past, peo9 a.m. on Saturday, ple of all ages and talents September 15th, to regiswill create colorful master. Cost is $7 for Valley terpieces that border Art members and $10 for Main Street. The festival non-members. That draws hundreds of amount of money will participants and spectapurchase a large tors to the heart of Forest piece of sidewalk (temGrove each year. porarily) along with a Along with chalk colorful tray of pastel drawings, the 2007 festichalk (yours permanentval will include a Bizarrt ly). Scarecrow Show (the Come out and have lots theme this year is of colorful fun. “Balance”) and entertain- A 2006 participant begins her work of art. For more information, ment by Joe the Balloon please contact Roylene Read, Chair-Sidewalk Guy and Eartha the Ecological Clown. Chalk Art Festival, Photographs from past events are available for 503-352-2283 or 503-357-0311. view under the events section of the Valley Art

High school student's poster selected for the 17th annual Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival The artwork of Kristiann Lopez has been selected by the Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival Committee to be the official poster of the festival this year. The poster is very colorful and eye-catching and will be posted around town in the weeks to come. Kristiann is a student at Forest Grove High School and she majors in art. She was a recipient of a Valley Art scholarship which is awarded to promising students who majored in art last year. Because Kristiann's poster was selected, she will be a featured artist at the Sidewalk Chalk Art Festival this year. Please stop by and congratulate her when you come to the festival.

Thank you, volunteers

Thanks to our Mailing Party who worked on June 25, 2007: Linda Wilke, David Saucy Jr., Jeannette Saucy, Els Abma, Art Abma, Bev Walker, John Welch, Mary Welch, Max Faulkner, Alec Faulkner, Dick Lane, Ruby Lane, Joan Bolen, Mary Ann Mellbye and Pete Truax. We appreciate your help.

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION — FROM THE GALLERY

First Wednesday…

Please join us on Wednesday, Sept. 5, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m., for our artists’ reception at Valley Art Gallery, 2022 Main St., Forest Grove.

Philis Schmidt, watercolor artist from Lunaria Gallery, chats with Donna House, Valley Art volunteer. Tribal Art sisters, Patricia Latimer and Jo Anne Sayles, at First Wednesday.

Teresa Burgett and Marcella Gentzkow, two of the founding members of Lunaria Gallery, both had their work in the latest show at Valley Art.

Tom Allen and Lori Webb were two more artists from Lunaria Gallery attending First Wednesday in August.

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION — FROM THE GALLERY

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Children’s classes prove to be big hit

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ominique Sarafian, originally from Montreal, has been teaching art for 12 years. This summer she conducted several “fantastical” art classes at Valley Art. Sarafian tries to keep the classes “age appropriate.” She immerses the children in ideas by reading to them, showing them books with illustrations related to their subject and gives them not so much instruction, as inspiration. The children rely on their own imaginations and create from there. Using this technique she keeps them motivated and doesn’t let the process of making art become intimidating. Dominique Sarafian The students in one of Sarafian’s classes worked to create their own spaceships and the spacesuits they would wear. Another class worked on imagining their own mythological creatures, another “magical animals” with their own landscape. One class studied art and design while another was scheduled to do comic strip illustration. Valley Art hopes to keep Dominique Sarafian busy with more classes for the fall. Be sure to check out the class schedule on the back of the reception flyer.

Annual Artist Event coming in November The second letter for the Annual Artist Event has been mailed to the artists who responded to our first solicitation. We invited over 140 artists to bring their work in October for the Tuesday, November 6, member's night event and the annual artist “sell-ebration” from November 7th through December 24th. This annual event is a time when artists throughout our community can submit their work and have it displayed for sale at Valley Art. This year member's night will have the grand title of “PREFACE” — Pretty Remarkable Event and Fine

Art Collection Extravaganza. We expect you will definitely feel it's an extravaganza, since the gallery that night will be filled with new and exciting work by our regular artists and some new ones. The gallery will be open Tuesday, November 6, from 7-9 p.m. for members only. There will be a 10 percent discount on your total purchase that evening only. Now would be a good time to check the label on your newsletter and make sure your dues of $15 are paid. Besides the Annual Artist Event, there is a discount on Chalk Art Festival registration and on classes

you take at Valley Art. In addition, you will be helping sustain a totally volunteer nonprofit gallery that contributes so very much to our community. Wednesday, Nov. 7, the evening after member’s night, is the First Wednesday in downtown Forest Grove. The gallery will again be open late, from 5:30-8 p.m. There will be food, drink and entertainment both nights — and the opportunity to purchase real art at reasonable prices. Remember the 10 percent discount on member's night. We’ll see you there.

Return Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID FOREST GROVE, OR PERMIT NO. 5

2022 Main St. P.O. Box 333 Forest Grove, OR 97116

Valley Art Association

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 VALLEY ART ASSOCIATION — FROM THE GALLERY

September/October — Registration Form Mail or drop off form at Valley Art Gallery

VALLEY ART CLASS REGISTRATION FORM MAIL TO P.O. BOX 333 — FOREST GROVE, OR 97116

Please note: Pre-register in person at Valley Art no later than five (5) days before your class starts, or mail your registration to arrive no later than five (5) working days before your class starts. This allows time for teachers to prepare for every class, knowing how many students are registered. If classes don't fill five (5) days before each class starts, teachers will notify registered students of class closures before the class date.

PRINT CLEARLY ____________ ________________________________________ Class number

Class name

______________ Class begin date

STUDENT NAME __________________________________________________ Adult

Teen

Child

Age: ________

_______________________________________________________

Signature of Parent of Minor Student

________________________________________________________________ Mailing Address

City, State, Zip

Home Phone _______________________ Alternate phone ___________________ E-mail address: ___________________________________________ I learned of this class through: Prior VAA class

VAA Newsletter

Hillsboro Argus

VAA Web page

Another person

Other

PAYMENT DUE AT REGISTRATION Class Tuition $________ Cash Visa Check Check No. Class Fee $________ Fee Description: ________________________ Total: $________

Payment received by _____________________ (print name) ________________ Date paid Send registration and check for tuition and class fees to Valley Art, P.O. Box 333 Forest Grove, OR 97116. Visa payments must be made at the Gallery, 2022 Main St. in Forest Grove.