It’s strange to see the lights off at the Artists’ Gallery. It’s so quiet with no one around. The artist family all express missing one another, though many stay in contact via phone, text and social media. So, what’s a creative family to do during quarantine? The artists are uniformly excited to see the bustling and vibrant Village scene to return. They miss seeing their favorite locals who pop in for wall art, but also shop for birthday, Christmas & wedding gifts. Artists miss catching up and sharing their personal adventures.
Karla Proud, Deni Porter and Susan Harkness Williams have all said keeping a positive attitude & staying physically active has helped immensely. Deni says, “The majority of my work is inspired by outdoor activity and landscape of Sunriver. I am grateful to be able to walk every day in this beautiful place. I am using this time to experiment with new techniques which may or may not be ‘gallery worthy’. I am equally eager to receive commissions for pet portraits. It’s the perfect way to provide art and social distance at the same time!”
Karla like most of the artists, found herself digging into her studio. First cleaning & organizing, then when inspiration struck, the pleasant detour of creativity began. As she dug into her gems and stones, Karla found she was suddenly creating a whole new series of one-of-a-kind jewelry. She is chomping at the bit for you to see them!
While activity and creativity reign supreme, others are taking this time to train a new puppy. Bonnie Junell added a new furry family member. This pup keeps her hopping while she also paints beautiful landscapes. Her recent commissions reflect the beauty of Sunriver.
Most of the artists are cleaning studios & Dori Kite is creating a whole new series of mugs and soap dispensers. Isn’t that perfect? You can fill her dispensers with your favorite antibacterial soap & sip your delicious hot beverage while you lounge by the fire.
Others are busy working away on commission pieces. Take Becky Henson for example. Her highest demand items include Transoms and side lights. Her collectors find stained glass pieces are great for privacy screening such as in bathroom windows but also for art as in a kitchen or living room. They can be hung or made to fit perfectly into an opening. Commissions for these items are welcome.
Bill Hamilton is loving his family and staying grateful. He’s painting and framing and planning out new ideas for his work. He is working to deliver paintings to several galleries out of state that carry his masterpieces. Deliveries must wait, but this is a constant for him. Bill always saves the best for the Artists’ Gallery. He has created a loyal following and is looking forward to share with you.
The artists are keeping a stiff upper lip but, like you, are wondering if there will be “bath tissue” when they next venture out of their seclusion. They are growing tired of their own cooking and are planning big celebratory social gatherings when it is once again safe to do so. The Gallery has gotten several suggestions on ways to celebrate once we are “’Rona free”.
Since no one has ever experienced anything quite like this before, the artists are all doing the best they can for their art, their community, their family, their art family, their mental health and their physical well-being. This and more fills their days and nights. It is highly probable that they are forever changed and there too, their artwork. You can check out what’s new any time on our website!
Contact information for individual artists can be found on our website.
Gallery Phone: 541-593-4382
We’re also on Facebook!
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