September 1st, 2010
Art on tap in La Conner
La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum
October 1-3 Quilt Fest 2010 will feature applique quilts, specialty vendors, and a silent auction in Maple Hall and the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum. This year the annual event is being organized by the Applique Society. Look at the laconnerquilts.com wet site for workshops, quilt walk and other events.
New exhibits open during Quilt Fest: “Double Take” with quillt artists Helen Remick and Janet Kurjan and “Constructed Inquiries” Tapestries” with Linda Rees and Carolyn Price Dyer.
Museum of Northwest Art
October 9- January 2, Thomas T. Wuksib paintings will be on exhibition in the main floor galleries. Portraits of Seattle’s cultural society are featured using collage, abstraction and multiple renderings to capture the likenesses of generations of members of several families. Large-scale landscape paintings will also be included. The museum’s permanent collection, on the second floor, will also be new for the opening reception on October 9, 2-5PM.
February 1st, 2010
Upcoming Art Events in La Conner
The La Conner Quilt and Textile Museum in Historic Gaches Mansion has two new exhibitions! The work of Luar Schwarz Smith, “Imagery and Imagination”, is on view on the second floor galleries. It coincides with the release of her new book “Secrets of Digital Quilting - from Camera to Quilt”. The third floor galleries are filled with work from the Whidbey Island Surface Design Association. Much of the work is “expressed through basketry, weaving, wall art, 3-D are, quilting and wearables. These exhibits will be on until March 28, 2010. For additional information about the museum go to www.laconnerquilts.com
The Museum of Northwest Art is showing a retrospective of the work of Whidbey Island artist Maxine Martell until March 3, 2010. Simultaneously, Nancy Callan is exhibiting her work in the Benaroya Glass Gallery. Family Ard Days will be January 23 and February 20th - pre-registration is required due to space limitations. For hours and contact information please go to the web site www.museumofnwart.org
October 2nd, 2009
Paint Me A River - Art Meets History
M onths ago, a number of accomplished local artists were asked to submit pieces that reflected their personal interpretation of some facet of our local history. As a result, the Skagit County Historical Museum is delighted to present this exhibit with over 75 original works rendered in paint, glass, bronze, neon, photography and multi-media, revealing the wide variety of interesting, amusing and surprising responses that our history can inspire. You are invited to enjoy this unique exhibit and perhaps share your own interpretation of the history of this beautiful place called Skagit.
Saturday, October 10th 4:00-7:00pm, celebrate with us! Enjoy wine, hors d’oeuvres and live music with “Mr. Entertainment” Jack Hamilton, acoustic guitarist/vocalist, as you meet the artists and tour the show.
The Skagit County Historical Museum is located at 501 South 4th Street at the top of the hill in historic La Conner, WA. Call 360-466-3365 for more details or visit www.SkagitCounty.net/Museum.
September 28th, 2009
Upcoming Events in La Conner
La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum
Washington State’s only quilt museum is located at 703 2nd Street in La Conner, Washington in the Historic Gaches Mansion.
September 30 marks the opening of Play With Your Food: The Delicious Quilts of Sandy Bonsib. What can be more appealing than quilts and desserts? Sandy Bonsib, author of nine books, creates both quilts and desserts based on the recipe and food colors which inspire the name. Delight in Strawberry Shortcake and Chocolate Truffles or Key Lime Pie; both the quilts and desserts can b3e found in Sandy’s newest books! While her quilts look complex, the quilts in the dessert series use simple blocks! A teacher by profession and a quilter by passion, Sandy holds a graduate degree in education. Be sure to stop in the Museum Store to pick up a free recipe for Sandy’s Chocolate Chip Cookies! This show runs thru December 27, 2009. For more information contact the La Conner Quilt & Textile Museum at 360-466-4288 or check out the website at www.LaConnerQuilts.com.
September 23rd, 2009
Bunnies, Bambi’s and Owls, Oh My!
T here are lots of wonderful reasons to live in the Shelter Bay neighborhood of La Conner…the marina, the water, the golf course, the terrific people…but an extra special reason is the variety of wildlife that also call Shelter Bay home.
Granted, they often chew up my garden-chomping off tomato branches and blossoms before I have tomatoes, and nibbling the leaves off even my favorite Hostas. And I curse them under my breath as I see the newest damage. But even with those small indiscretions, they have my loyal friendship.
I love watching the bunnies hop along my back fence and the deer quietly move through the yard as the sun sets. In the wee hours of the morning, when the owl in my neighbor’s tree hoots softly to his owl friends, instead of being angry that I’m awake I enjoy the serenade.
Often, on my way home, I spot a doe, and what I think must be a yearling, wandering across a yard or along the street…off in search of some new delectable treat from some garden or another. And I think to myself: What a treat to live here. It’s an absolutely beautiful setting, and I love my community and my neighbors. And who cares if I’m short a few tomatoes. Well, okay, I care. But I’ll gladly share them with my wildlife friends. They need to eat their fruits and veggies too.