Spring has arrived on Whidbey Island, and creativity takes flight. Or maybe I should say that creativity is for the birds. The eagles have begun nesting at Froggwell, the swallows have returned to Whidbey, and this morning I saw that the osprey had returned to their nest on a power pole about two miles north of Freeland.
In the Virtual Gallery this month, we have two artists that have a special interest in birds. Frances Wood will be showing her watercolors of her avian muses at The Rob Schouten Gallery this month, (along with sculptor Sharon Spencer). Frances’ birds have a spark in their eyes that comes from long observation of her feathered friends.
Georgia Gerber, a sculptor with an international reputation, also has long been interested in birds, as well as many other animals. Georgia doesn’t stop with the descriptive, she takes the forms, lines, and masses and bends them to her considerable will, ending up with something that is both bird and more than bird.
Her work ranges from the highly realistic to bordering on abstract, but always with an eye to the animals from which she receives inspiration. I hope this month’s Virtual Gallery will inspire you to visit both the Rob Schouten Gallery to see the work of Frances Wood, and Brackenwood Gallery where you can find Georgia Gerber’s work.
To read a WLM Feature about Georgia Gerber and her garden click here.
Anne Belov
Virtual Gallery Curator
Anne Belov is a painter, printmaker, cartoonist, and designated bad influence. In addition to curating the Virtual Gallery, Belov also blogs for Whidbey Life Magazine, organizes the Froggwell Biennale, is the author of four collections of The Panda Chronicle cartoons, and the soon to be released children’s book, Pandamorphosis. You can find her paintings at The Rob Schouten Gallery and her cartoons at http://yourbrainonpandas.com
Georgia Gerber
Georgia Gerber’s Information
For more information on any of this work, contact the artist. All work is original and copyrighted by the artist.
Frances Wood
Frances Wood’s Information
For more information on any of this work, contact the artist. All work is original and copyrighted by the artist.
The Featured Artists’ Gallery is sponsored by Walking Woman Productions and has been created as a means for Whidbey Island visual artists to bring new and/or experimental work closer to the public eye. While Whidbey Island is well-represented by several high-quality art galleries, for the un-represented artist there is a lack of venues in which to show ones’ work. Established and emerging artists alike may utilize the Featured Artists’ Gallery to exhibit new work, gain experience and receive feedback. All work exhibited is for sale. Please visit the website link provided for each artists’ complete contact information. Artists are invited to participate by the gallery curators, if you think your work is suitable for a show, please contact us at info@whidbeylifemagazine.org.
