Pacific Northwest Sculptors

Sculptors share knowledge and resources

Activities

Mask Making with Russ Ford

I will begin with the fact that the last time I worked with clay was in grade school so it was with both excitement and trepidation that I signed up for the workshop.

The first day was at the Oregon Society of Artist classroom with Russ. There were over 14 people in the room ! I saw many that I knew and saw many new faces.

My attempts to film that day did not go as planned so I made special effort to capture day 2. Russ collected our masks and took them to his studio for a bisque firing.

The video below begins with some pictures of the art surrounding us when we ventured into Russ’s studio. You will see where we glazed our pieces, the glazes I used for my pieces followed by video of filling the kiln, removing the hot pieces, placing them in the raku cans, then the pieces are removed to be cooled in a water trough.

The PNWS Newport Group Show ‘Into the Depths’ is June 3 through July 30, 2023

This multilevel facility has 3 floors for classes, displays and activities. It’s located directly above the beach in Newport’s Nye Beach Area.


Our 2017 group show at the Newport Visual Arts Center was well received, and we are once again invited to exhibit in the 1100 s.f. Runyan Gallery, right on the ocean at the Nye Beach turnaround during the height of the summer tourist season! The theme is “What do you see in the Sea?” This show underscores an important renewed interest in sculpture in cities up and down the Oregon coast, and further promotes sculptural opportunities for both public and private venues, all encouraged by the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts. We look forward to seeing a wide range of sculptures that best express the strength and spirit of your personal creative vision and your commitment to quality, because this is the perfect opportunity for you to promote both your work, and the significance of sculpture in general to the Oregon Coast, and to the art world beyond.

Show submissions open March 20, 2023 with an April 20, 2023 deadline. Look for the submission application form with the February PNWS Newsletter. Artists receive 60% of sales. There are no entry fees. Submit jpeg images of up to 3 sculptures in any medium. Artwork must fit through a 33″ x 90″ door opening. Wall pieces may not exceed 25 lbs. Entries will be juried by the PNWS Show Committee. We encourage and welcome your participation in the production of this exciting show, including assistance with social media outreach, artwork transport, show set-up, and more of which will be further detailed in the submission form.

PNWS Show Chair, Katie Sallos

Opportunities and space for you to present talks, and/or provide workshops during the show at NVAC will be available, and warmly welcomed! PNWS Show Committee

September Meeting at Portland ADX

Portland ADX makerspace will host our September 2022 meeting.

Our meeting this month will take place at Art Design Xchange at 417 SE 11th Avenue, Portland.

The space is home too many creative types in many disciplines. We are invited to meet their members and see the space. Here some detail around Kelly and Blue the team at ADX

Kelley is founder and owner of Art Design Xchange (ADX), a Portland based makerspace and creative hub for artists, designers, builders, makers and innovators that has been going strong for over 10 years. She is the author of two books: Cartopia, Portland’s Food Cart Revolution, and Portland Made, The Makers of Portlands Manufacturing Renaissance.

Blue is a Portland based mixed media artist and the community manager of Art Design Xchange. Blue’s work focuses on the relationship between all things, activism, and social justice initiatives. His pieces range from realism, to gestural, and abstract. He strives to have his subjects embody the spirit of the thing rather than be a copy. Blue’s primary mediums are; acrylic paint, mixed media and resin on wood, wood-burning, and colored pencils.

Wander/Wonder: A Sculptured Dance Happening at Price Sculpture Forest

Wander/Wonder: A Sculptured Dance Happening at Price Sculpture Forest

You are invited to a Sculpture Forest first: an immersive professional dance performance interacting with sculptures along our Forest trails. We are honored that famed choreographer Eva Stone selected the Sculpture Forest to create “Wander/Wonder: A Sculptured Dance Happening” and present it for the public with a professional dance troupe. The dancers are national caliber professional dancers who perform at venues such as McCaw Hall, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and now at the Sculpture Forest, too! Each short performance is directly related to and inspired by the art and environment that surrounds it. The movement-artist dancers include Leah Terada, Mary Sigward, Zsilas Michael Hughes, Hannah Simmons, Joh Morrill, Julia Y. James, Hutch Hagendorf, Emily Schoen Branch, Kaelyn Lefferts, and Ivana Lin.

This event will occur Saturday August 27 from 1:00-3:00pm. You can arrive anytime during then since the dancers will be repeating their short sculptural interplays at each selected sculpture throughout the two hours, and you can walk from one to the other. We recommend showing up between 1:00-2:00 so you have enough time to see them all in action. Overflow parking will be provided at a generous supporter’s property across the street. A $20 donation is suggested, with proceeds to benefit the Good Cheer Food Bank and the Sculpture Forest, though it is also pay what you can and everyone is encouraged to come regardless of ability to pay.

Come and join us for a whole new experience Where Dance Enhances Sculpture and Nature.

www.facebook.com/events/378934390971174

www.SculptureForest.org

Dancer Julia James for Wander/Wonder: A Sculptured Dance Happening at Price Sculpture Forest

June 22nd, Wednesday Night meeting

This month we will meet one of our more Northern members, Ulrich Pakker.

Ulrich shares, on his website Ulrich Pakker Studios – Stainless Steel Fountains and Sculptures. ​”My artistic process creating metal sculptures, fountains and public art begins by visualizing the proposed artwork in as many ways as possible. With public art spaces, different hours and days produce different lighting and changing populations. Will collectors have a bird’s-eye view of the art or will it be a garden focal point? How will climate affect a fountain’s materials? What is the expected longevity of the installation?”

Everything influences me and my process.
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See you online, via Zoom.

President’s Message: New Show Opportunities for PNWS Members

We have several excellent show opportunities taking shape: Newport Visual Arts Center, Oregon Society of artists, and Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River.

In September 2017, we mounted a juried exhibit at the Newport Visual Arts Center. It was an impressive collection of work by our members. We have been invited to produce another show at this excellent facility next year. Oregon Society of Artists has also expressed interest in a sculpture show. This will be our first show collaboration with them. It’s another excellent opportunity to share work and attract new members. Finally, we have initiated discussion with Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River for a show.

We need your support as these opportunities take shape. Shows, especially the out of town exhibits, require a number of volunteers. We have done this before. We have documented the necessary tasks. We have over a dozen volunteers interested in organizing shows. What we need: Three teams, one for each show; One leader for each team; One Show Coordinator to oversee dates, documentation and details. The team concept will distribute the time commitment fairly. The rewards outweigh the responsibilities.

2019 ISC - PNWS -4
Pacific Northwest Sculptors and Northwest Stone Sculptors Association show in 2019 at ArtReach Gallery included 40 sculptures.

We all benefit from these events. In the past, volunteers who helped create, transport and set up shows have enjoyed participation, camaraderie and connections made through their efforts. We need your commitment asap so we can move plans forward for next year. Contact Chas Martin to help us return to high profile public exhibits.