Robots and Watercolors  - March 28 to April 28

This month’s Gallery at the Park exhibit, presented by Michael Boynton and Steve O’Shea, epitomizes what makes the art world so imaginative and unique. Bring your whole family for a fun day at Howard Amon, and be sure to stop by the Gallery to enjoy Boynton’s “Robots” exhibition and O’Shea’s “Kid’n Around Cover Art” show.

For the past 13 years, Boynton has taught art classes at elementary and middle schools throughout the Richland area. He works with his students on a “Robots” project, where they create found object sculptures. Boynton and his students also discuss robots in history, news and pop culture, and they contemplate various philosophical robotics questions: “Can robots replace humans?” “Will robots become self-aware?” “Do robots have rights?”

As society continues to develop technological innovations, these questions become more and more relevant. Boynton cites an economic report from 2016, in which the Obama administration predicted that 83% of future low-wage jobs (referring to jobs that pay less than $20 per hour) would be replaced by automation.

“One area of concern is the use of robots for military purposes and enforcement of political ideologies,” Boynton states. “A portion of my art in this show attempts to struggle with that question and the morality surrounding it.”

For the exhibit, Boynton presents his Victorian-inspired steampunk work. Steampunk describes a sub-genre of speculative fiction that takes place in an alternate history where technological advancement happened sooner. Boynton has created a series of unique steampunk sculptures that depict robots doing jobs from the 19th century.

The other portion of the Gallery showcases the art of Steve O’Shea, an illustrator, graphic artist, watercolorist and architect from Portland, Ore. His watercolor images appear on the covers of Kid’n Around, a Seattle-based monthly publication for children.

The Gallery at the Park show features more than 30 of O’Shea’s original Kid’n Around covers, each one unique, whimsical and filled with bright colors and hidden details. O’Shea uses watercolor, colored pencil and ink to create these beautiful works of art. The themes of these pieces include imagination, learning, play, oceans and friends and heroes.

Boynton and O’Shea’s exhibit will be on display from March 28 to April 28. The reception will be held on April 2 from 1 to 3 p.m.

On display February 28th - March 24th

Black and White

PRINTS by MARY DRYBURGH/PORCELAIN by RUTH ALLAN is an exhibition by two eastern Washington artists and educators. Ms. Dryburgh and Ms. Allan have known each other for 20 years and this show is a reflection of their long involvement in producing art in their respective media. Their shared themes and characteristics result in a diverse but unified collection.
For this exhibit, Ms. Dryburgh chose to draw pieces from 30 years of art making in the field of woodcut and intaglio. This collection of her work all basically in black and white has a strong narrative base conveying stories about men, dogs, horses and houses and the beautiful curved earth. Dryburgh says, “In my opinion, art is always about communication.”
Ms. Allan’s ceramics provides a complement to the Dryburgh’ s prints with her selection of black and white porcelain vessels. Allan’s work also spans over 30 years where she has specialized in saggar firings and Raku firings. Allan’s ceramics evoke not an intentional narrative but a sense of mysticism. Allan adds, “I do like to inspire the viewer” adding, “I find black and white nuanced in a way color can sometimes lack or obscure.”
Though these two highly accomplished artists create separately, their work has a surprising unity. Join Mary Dryburgh and Ruth Allan at a reception opening their exhibit on Friday, March 3, 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the Gallery.

Gray Rock by Felicia Follum

This February, the Gallery at the Park unveils a new art exhibition based on the theme of social change. Stop by to see both parts of the exhibition: the Empty Bowls project and the artwork of Felicia Follum.

Follum’s exhibition celebrates the diversity in our community. While she acknowledges that many people do not consider the Tri-Cities to be particularly diverse, she argues, “If you are willing to leave your bubble of comfort, there are so many levels of diversity in the Tri-Cities that I’m not even sure how to define diversity anymore.” Follum invites anyone who is still skeptical to view her art and see our community the way she does.

Follum recently moved to the Tri-Cities from Laramie, Wyo., where she presented numerous exhibitions addressing important social topics such as religion, human trafficking and racism. She hopes to continue exploring culture and diversity with her exhibition at the Allied Arts Gallery. This body of work reflects the adventures she has had in the Tri-Cities and the diverse communities she has encountered here.

On the cultural relevancy of the exhibition, Follum states, “I believe that art has the ability to bring diverse groups of people together in ways that nothing else can.”
In conjunction with Follum’s art, the Gallery at the Park’s February exhibition will also feature our own community’s contribution to the Empty Bowls project, a national movement that aims to raise money and promote awareness for the fight to end world hunger.
Local artists have donated handmade bowls of various sizes, mediums and styles to the project. The Gallery also hosted three free one-hour workshops on how to create clay bowls by hand, which more than 40 community members attended on Jan. 7. All of these creations will be displayed and sold at the Allied Arts Gallery in order to raise money for the Tri-Cities Food Bank.

Follum’s artwork is a fitting companion for the Empty Bowls exhibition, as some of the groups she has spoken to in the Tri-Cities include homeless communities and refugees who have recently entered the United States – both of which are groups that the Empty Bowls movement will help. With her exhibition, Follum aims to shed light on the poverty hidden in our community. Attendees – even those who have lived here for their entire lives – will gain a new perspective on the Tri-Cities.

The Felicia Follum/Empty Bowls exhibition will be on display until Feb. 24., and the reception will be held on Feb. 5, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Desert Fiber Arts “Metamorphosis 2017”
January 3 – January 27, 2017

Artist Reception, Sunday, January 8, 1:00 pm

The Parkside Gallery will be embellished and warmed this month with beautiful hand spun and knitted lace shawls, woven baskets, hand-woven items for the home as well as clothing, art pieces and wall hangings. The show is always a delightfully colorful event that warms the heart in the cold days of January. There will be a display of looms and spinning wheels, along with docents demonstrating and available to answer your questions. Viewers will be seeing cotton as it is grown on plants, spun, and woven into lace tea towels, as well as wool going from fleece to finished lace. This show is educational as well as visually and emotionally stimulating.
Show coordinator Susan Schmieman says, “The theme this year “Metamorphosis 2017” is based on change of fiber to cloth, much like going from the cocoon to a butterfly. You will be amazed! Our featured artist for this show is fellow Desert Fiber Arts member, weaver and fiber artist Christine Simonen of Richland, WA.”
Be sure to stop by the Gallery to see the show and please come to our reception on January 8 where you may meet and talk with many members of Desert Fiber Arts.
Artwork pictured by Christine Simonen

Szulinski Award Winner Bobi WIlson

Through the continuing generosity of the family and friends of long-time Board member Bette Szulinski, Allied Arts is able to present this annual award. The recipient is a recognized member artist who has distinguished themselves with excellence of craftsmanship in a three-dimensional medium during the previous year. Bobi Wilson is our selection for the 2016 Szulinski Award.

Bobi’s work has been featured in galleries and events throughout Washington State receiving numerous awards. Bobi says “through jewelry, small sculpture and bookart, I discover and reveal the Magnificent in the Mundane and the Universal in the Everyday”. She uses traditional metalsmithing and bookmaking skills when she can. When she finds she cannot, she transforms metal, stone, wood, bone and paper into art meant to be held and explored. Bobi states she attempts “to find the connection and share it”- making her work both intimate and infinite in the palm of your hand. You are invited to view a special collection of Bobi’s artwork at the Gallery this month.

Visit the Gallery for our very special holiday reception Friday evening, December 9th from 6-8pm. There will be free gift wrapping, delicious treats, wine available for purchase, an artist demo and music performing throughout the evening by the Tri-City Dulcimers. Please stop in and enjoy the beautiful art and festive holiday spirit at the Gallery!

As December draws closer, Christmas cheer is spreading and affecting people everywhere, causing them to want to set up Christmas trees, hang stockings, decorate their houses and buy gifts for all their loved ones. Luckily, in a tradition going back 30 years, the volunteers of Allied Arts Association turn the Gallery at the Park into a one-stop shop for all things Christmas—just in time for the holiday season!

Do you want to give your friends and family presents as unique and wonderful as they are? Do you want beautiful, handmade wreaths and trees to decorate your house? Stop by the Gallery, located on Lee Boulevard near the entrance of Howard Amon Park, and celebrate the 30th anniversary of their special Gallery Aglow show.

Local artists contribute their incredible talents to the show, submitting items both beautiful and useful, such as ceramics, glassware, jewelry, fiber art and metal work. Unlike presents that can be found at a chain store, these items have been handcrafted with love and care, and each one is a unique piece by a talented artist.

The Gallery at the Park maintains one of the largest retail art collections in the entire Tri-Cities area. Allied Arts Association, which operates the Gallery, has served the community since 1948, providing Tri-Cities residents with a source of art and handicrafts. Every year through November and December, the Gallery at the Park hosts the Gallery Aglow show, featuring hundreds of works created by local and regional artists.

Not only that, but during this event, the Gallery also sells unique wreaths, trees and holiday decorations—all handmade by volunteers at the Gallery. All proceeds on these items go towards Allied Arts Association, which gives back to the community by providing scholarships and by setting up programs like Beads Behind Bars and Art Connection.

The purpose of these programs is make art education opportunities available to everyone in the community, no matter who they are. Beads Behind Bars allows eligible youth at the Benton Franklin Juvenile Detention Center to take beading classes and explore their creativity, giving them a greater sense of their own value, which will hopefully lead them to make better choices in the future. Allied Arts Association is only able to expand and continue these programs due to fundraisers and the generous support of the local art community.  

Gallery Aglow will run until the end of December. The Gallery at the Park is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

If you want to support a local business, help the community and get your Christmas shopping done all in one trip, just make your way over to the Gallery at the Park, located at 89 Lee Boulevard in Richland.