The last Visual Arts Tour, back in October, filled the streets of downtown Spokane and beyond with curious culture-absorbers devouring the works of local and regional artists. Sure, it’s a little on the cold side out there right now, but tough it out — wear a scarf if you need to — and head out for a fine collection of 30 venues hosting everything from watercolor paintings anid photography to performance art. There’s a little something for everyone — you just have to get out there and see it.
1. ANDY’S BAR AND GRILL
1401 W. First Ave.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Lisa Ramsey’s “Pieces of Life” is a photographic collage inspired by Spokane’s First Friday. The good, bad, beautiful, young, old, new, used, animate and inanimate parts of life are pieced together with a wish for universal harmony.
2. AVENUE WEST GALLERY
707 W. Main, Crescent Court Skywalk Level
ILLUSTRATION | Diane and Dane Zahner’s “Drawings from the Past: Mother & Son” combines detailed pencil drawings from the pair’s life experiences. Dane is exhibiting drawings of unusual household and antique objects. Diane is exhibiting large, complicated drawings of tools, imaginative creatures and literary translations. The artist reception will also include music by Gary Burris on guitar.
3. BARILI CELLARS
608 W. Second Ave.
PAINTING | Brendan Genther’s work is all about texture, color and emotion. His complex and vivid abstract paintings easily capture viewers’ eyes. Linger a little longer at each canvas with a glass of wine and you’ll find much more in these paintings than through a casual observance. Preview Brendan’s work at bfgart.com.
4. BARRISTER WINERY
1213 W. Railroad Ave.
MIXED MEDIA | “Collaboration on the Parkade,” by David Buescher and Nathan Jenkins, is a mixed-media exhibit featuring a series of altered, large format photographs of the Parkade parking structure in downtown Spokane. Layered on the photos is a combination of vibrantly-colored acrylic paints and simple line work. Enjoy music by Lonesome Lyle Morse playing acoustic blues during the artists’ reception featuring a bistro buffet and wine.
5. THE BOZZI COLLECTION
221 N. Wall St., Ste. 226
MIXED MEDIA | Vibrant and playful use of color defines the abstract paintings of local artists Edward W. Gilmore, Jeffrey Loyd and Joy Mizzoni. Also on display are abstract explorations of the human form by artists Ginger Oakes, Sheri Ritchie, Rick Davis and Adam Scoggins.
6. THE BRICK WALL GALLERY
530 W. Main Ave., Skywalk level
PHOTOGRAPHY | “The Ghosts of Auschwitz” by Cole Thompson captures an unseen side of World War II. “I had not intended to photograph during my tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau. What could be captured that hasn’t been seen before? But, with every step I thought about those who walked here before me, so I photographed their ghosts,” Thompson said.
7. CAT’S EYE GALLERY
1 S. Washington St.
JEWELRY | Make a Fimo clay heart pin for someone special and enjoy art on display by Hunk-N-Hunk of Burning Art and Conrad Bagley Welded Works.
8. CHASE GALLERY IN CITY HALL
808 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.
MIXED MEDIA | “Explorations 13: Art from Five Regional Colleges and Universities,” brings together works in a wide variety of media by some of the best college artists in the region. Featured artists are Karie Cooper, Eric Edvalson and Inga Ilich from EWU; Claire Hart, Hanna Rose Lorenz and Elizabeth Martinez from Gonzaga; Ramon Cansino and Mary Schulte from North Idaho College; Seng Olsen, Kat Walker and Ayrn Fields from SFCC; Hannah Hirano, Carly Schneider and Amanda Turner from Whitworth.
9. CLEARSTORY GALLERY
1202 N. Government Way
PHOTOGRAPHY | “Listen to My Eyes” by Casey Lynch explores the intersections of motivation, skill, friendship and making a living in the faces and portraits of the people he cares about. His photos tell the subject’s story, his story and the elusive recognition of our life’s calling and what we are meant to be. The artist reception will feature music by Curran Long on acoustic guitar and hors d’oeuvres.
10. DODSON’S JEWELERS
516 W. Riverside Ave.
PAINTING | Paintings by Rwandan artist Emmanuel Nkuranga will be on display through the month of February and available to purchase as part of a fundraising event for Healing Hearts Northwest, a Spokane-based medical group that travels annually to Rwanda and performs heart procedures on at-risk patients. Meet Nkuranga at an artist reception later this month, on Feb. 22, from 5-8 pm.
11. ECHO BOUTIQUE
176 S. Howard St.
MIXED MEDIA | “Style with Substance” showcases artist Peggy Cannon’s vibrant and enthusiastic spirit through her multi-media work and her passion for color and form. “Art sisters” Melinda Melvin and Linda Malcom also express their personalities through mixed media art. Also on display is jewelry by Boise-based Union Studio Metals, whose founders Michelle Keller and Margarett Ritter use an organic mixture of silver, bronze, brass and copper to create comfortable and wearable art.
12. FINDERS KEEPERS JEWELRY GALORE
309 W. Second Ave.
JEWELRY | Finders Keepers will show off the work of its in-house jewelry designers, including owner Deena Caruso’s headbands, belt buckles and other handmade pieces that she creates for her label D. Caruso. Other unique, handmade creations will be featured, including resin pendants, earrings, rosary-style necklaces, knitted accessories and leather bracelets; as well as accessories and jewelry by Rebecka Anderson of Artishion Fox, and jewelry artist Nicole Chapman.
13. GRANDE RONDE CELLARS
906 W. Second Ave.
PHOTOGRAPHY | Whatever the subject matter, Andrea Parrish-Geyer’s photographic works endeavor to show that imperfections, insecurities and unplanned moments often reveal true beauty. She began her photographic obsession at 12 years of age when she “borrowed” her big brother’s SLR camera. She hasn’t given it back. Enjoy music by the Brent Edstrom Jazz Trio during the artist’s reception.
14. HISTORIC LIBERTY BUILDING
203 N. Washington St.
MIXED MEDIA | Don’t miss art by more than a dozen local artists, whose work will cover the walls of the businesses, retailers and galleries located inside the historic Liberty Building’s four floors. Artists whose work is featured this month include Richard Warrington, Kirsten Stobie, Kathleen Secrest, Bill Werle, Benjamin Grant, Owl Jones, Christina Deubel and others. The sale of any art on display during this month’s exhibits will benefit the family of Gabby LeDuc, a six-year-old artist-in-the-making who’s undergoing treatment in Spokane for leukemia. Enjoy live music from 5:30-8 pm, sponsored by Global Credit Union.
15. KOLVA-SULLIVAN GALLERY
115 S. Adams St.
MIXED MEDIA | Robert Kraut’s “Wrappings 2013: The Paintskin Continuum” features colorful and rich imagery in various media including paint, paint skins, prints and new, three-dimensional forms. Kraut earned his Master of Arts degree from Eastern Washington University and his 37-year career includes two decades spent as an active contributor to the New York City art scene.
16. THE LANDS COUNCIL
25 W. Main Ave., Ste. 222
PHOTOGRAPHY | “Beautiful Ruins of the American Dream” by Kathy Swehla is comprised of colorful, abstract photographs of the American dream: Detroit steel. Chevys, Fords and Dodges — once the symbol of U.S. freedom and progress — now lie corroded across the country. Swehla’s photographs reveal the abstract beauty of rust and peeling paint.
17. MARKET PLACE WINE BAR
32 W. Second Ave., Spokane Public Market
PAINTING | “Bright Colors” by Debbie McCulley features green, red, yellow and blue butterflies, wild animals and even wilder frogs taking flight on vividly-colored and imaginative canvases. Sample wine from EMVY and Bridgepress Cellars and enjoy live music by Brad Olmstead during the artist reception.
18. POTTERY PLACE PLUS
203 N. Washington St.
BATIK | The multi-step batiks by artist Toni Spencer feature everything from animals and nature to people, angels, bicycles, musical notes and instruments. Spencer has been a full-time, “24-hour-a-day” artist since 1981, and she finds inspiration and design in every aspect of her life.
19. KRESS GALLERY
808 W. Main Ave., River Park Square third level
MIXED MEDIA | “A Child’s Eye from West to East” features the art of Japanese students ages 6 to 12 of the Nishinomiya UNESCO Association. Their work is being displayed through a Sister City partnership with Spokane’s schools. Enjoy performances by musical ensembles from the Spokane Public Schools, presented as part of First Night Spokane’s Rising Stars, from 5:30-7:30 pm.
20. ROBERT KARL CELLARS
115 W. Pacific Ave.
PAINTING | Christina Deubel, an avid Pacific Northwest outdoorswoman, is displaying her colorful and detailed acrylic paintings of fly-fishing lures.
21. ROBERTS MANSION
1923 W. First Ave.
PAINTING | Recently created figurative oil paintings by Jacquelyn Wheeler will be on display. Wheeler enjoys capturing the mystery of her subject’s inner history that’s just out of reach and not always apparent to the eye.
22. SANTÉ RESTAURANT
404 W. Main Ave.
PAINTING | “Depth” by Rebekah Littlefield features dynamic paintings of deep emotion. Littlefield sees her work as an extension of herself, and her paintings depict life’s pain, fear, happiness and love.
23. SARANAC ART PROJECTS
25 W. Main Ave.
MIXED MEDIA | “Collage & Assemblage” features the work of artists Cory Peeke and Larry Ellingson. Peeke is a collage artist who re-contextualizes bits of collected ephemera to explore the transient, disposable nature of our culture and the need to create tradition and solidify cultural continuity. His collage work will be shown in one gallery, and in the next gallery visitors will find the work of Larry Ellingson in his first solo show. Ellingson’s work features large pieces of sculptural lost and found, salvaged junk and found objects accentuated with lights and sound.
24. SARANAC PUBLIC HOUSE
21 W. Main Ave.
PHOTOGRAPHY | “A Few of My Favorite Things” by Spokane native Kris Ogren of KCO Photography highlights urban landscapes and little-noticed objects.
25. SPOKANE PUBLIC LIBRARY
906 W. Main Ave., first floor
PHOTOGRAPHY | A closing reception for former Mexico-based photographer Marshall E. Peterson, Jr. showcases 15 photographs from the artist’s first book “Rock Tapatio—Live!” and a catalogue of work from his TV show and exhibition “Smoke Tapatio.” Acoustic performances by local musicians, raffle drawings and appetizers will also be featured at the reception.
26. STEAM PLANT
159 S. Lincoln St.
SCULPTURE | “The Art of Steampunk” showcases Steampunk creations by Robert LaMonte, Miriam Wilde, Kristy Carey and Karmen Naccarato. Steampunk refers to art and other creations made and inspired by a mix of sci-fi, industrial and Victorian materials. If you like H.G. Wells, Jules Vern and A. Conan Doyle, you’ll love this exhibit.
27. STEELHEAD BAR AND GRILLE
218 N. Howard St.
PHOTOGRAPHY | “Up Close with Fly Fishing Flies” features photos by Tony Roslund of John Newbury’s hand-tied, fly-fishing lures. Roslund’s specially lit macro-photography showcases every last detail of Newbury’s professionally hand-tied flies. Newbury will be on site tying flies during the artist reception.
28. TINMAN GALLERY
811 W. Garland Ave.
PAINTING | “Head in the Clouds” by Sheila Evans features lush, light-filled pastel paintings that can be described as fantasy botanicals. “I work from fading leaves and flowers,” Evans says. “These forms are much more interesting to me than their young, perfect counterparts.” Using leaves and petals, Evans creates winged creatures, stormy skies or whatever else enters her imagination.
29. TRACKSIDE STUDIO CERAMIC ART GALLERY
115 S. Adams St., Ste. B
POTTERY | Internationally recognized artist Deborah Schwartzkopf is exhibiting her latest pottery collection, comprised of thrown and hand-built parts pieced together to yield complex forms defined by animated lines and soft planes. “I find it rewarding and challenging to make pots people will use,” Schwartzkopf says. “I want my pots to live in the kitchen where economy and celebration infuse life with purposeful beauty.”
30. VINTAGE HILL CELLARS
319 W. Second Ave.
SCULPTURE | Working with wood, copper and wine barrels, John Dunning reclaims materials to create unique pieces of art and home décor. From wine-barrel stave furniture to decorative wall hangings, the inherent character of the various media Dunning uses is explored and often accented with light.
