Visual Arts Tour Fall 2010

KOLVA-SULLIVAN
The Ninth Annual "Archie Bray" show at Kolva-Sullivan was definitely worth the slog through sooty, torn-up streets resulting from Spokane's current reinvention of the Second Avenue area. What these exceptional artists do with clay is nothing short of amazing, and a testimony to the necessity and vitality of structured or critical review of one's work.

ON TO TERRAIN

Austin Stiegemeyer

They've struggled in the past with quality and capacity. Where some artists exhibiting might have really strong work, they didn't show enough to truly represent any range. Or the craftsmanship was sub-par, which can be true for any artist, even those who are studio-tested. This year, there were only a few works that truly fit the bill of "emerging" artist while many showed new talent that clearly were honing craft, content and concept. Some very good to really, really good stuff. 

I knew a fellow educator's son had work there (shown at right) but wasn't prepared for how strong his work was. Way to go Austin. I'd be thrilled to think he learned at least some of that from his high school art teacher, the incredibly-talented and so-much-more-even-tempered-than-myself, Mary Maxam.

And, following in no particular order, are other works that struck me. I could kick myself for not having a pen to write down names. But the images made an impression.