The artists at the Artists’ Gallery Sunriver have much to be thankful for. During the COVID quarantine,
both residents and visitors have demonstrated support by continuing to visit the gallery and make
purchases. It may not be the gallery’s best sales year, but it certainly has been a memorable one.
Multiple new artists have joined the gallery and slower work hours have allowed existing artists to
blossom. Displays at the gallery have never been better.
One of the new artists at the gallery is Christian Murillo, a natural landscape photographer specializing in
mountain compositions. Murillo focuses on capturing minimalistic patterns, dynamic light, and unique
moments in time. His photographs are printed on metal and provide a truly fine art approach to the
medium. The pieces humble and inspire with the grace and power of mountain landscapes. They also
highlight the vulnerability of alpine environments to climate change. These compositions motivate the
viewer to get outside to enjoy and protect the wilderness areas that enrich humanity so greatly.
Mosaic artist Jesica Carleton is as talented as she is prolific. That is a good thing because her work
moves out of the gallery door quickly. Carleton says that she is happiest when creating a piece that is
vastly different from the last, either in subject, style, colors, materials, shapes, or best yet, all the above.
She loves how mosaic brings many diverse pieces together to make a whole new unique creation and
sees a great parallel with her art and humankind. Carleton’s pieces provide a wide range of both
subject matter, size, and pricing. There are fantastic statement pieces, small, delightful pieces –
something for everyone to love and a great idea for gifts.
Also, relatively new to the gallery is jewelry artist Amy Pfeiffer. Earthy, organic, and grounded in nature
describe the artist’s aesthetic. She is inspired by the earth’s geology, flora, and fauna. Collecting rocks
and minerals throughout the western US and Canada, Pfeiffer later turns these earthly treasures into
the stones she uses to enhance her jewelry creations. Reflecting nature, her jewelry can best be
described as organic. All metal is hand forged, and she uses recycled metals whenever possible.
Occasionally she incorporates gold collected in Alaska into her designs, featuring stones she has
personally collected, shaped and polished into her jewelry. Christmas elves will be extremely interested
in reasonably priced gifts.
Painter Bonnie Junell has a personality that is as dynamic as her wonderful creations. Junell is a co-
owner of the gallery and her work has delighted collectors since the gallery opened. The artist considers
herself an expressive realist plus impressionist painter. She desires to convey moods, emotions and
energy with textures and color, and she is successful in achieving this desire. Bonnie’s large statement
pieces, many of which are sweeping vistas of Central Oregon, are breath-taking. Many collectors do not
have the wall space for a large piece so Junell has accommodated those needs with a wonderful
collection of miniatures – sweet hummingbirds and other creatures. She has just delivered a series of 6
x6” oil paintings on stained wood that represent specific Birth Month flowers and hummingbirds. These
pieces are a perfect “one of a kind” gift. The artist is also well known for her popular “Sip and Paint”
classes that are held monthly at the gallery. (Classes are currently being held with masks and social
distancing.) Classes are great fun aside from producing a piece of art that you can be proud to hand in
your home and are a great idea for a family gift.
Content provided by By Deni Porter
Recent Comments