Artists of the Pacific Northwest:
A Contemporary Virtual Exhibit
As a native Seattleite, I have always had a special place in my heart for the artisans of the Pacific Northwest. I wanted to highlight different visual arts for this exhibit, and have chosen paintings, photography, and glass, that while vastly different, all have one thing in common: each one was created in the Pacific Northwest.
Painting:
Max Grover is best known for the colorful, playful paintings he shows in West Coast galleries. He has illustrated many children’s books and his imagery is featured on greeting cards, posters, and promotional material for many prestigious organizations and non-profit foundations. Max’s primitive, naive painting style is full of charm and whimsy. As a painting teacher and public speaker, Max shares his secrets of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary with both children and adults. Max Grover lives and paints in Port Townsend, Washington (http://maxgrover.com/)
Max Grover’s whimsical style appeals to the child in me. It reminds me of visits to Pike Place Market, and the art I have enjoyed there over the years. I would love to decorate a kid’s room with these colorful and creative designs.
Max Grover, Red Car Driving Down Road, 1993, Port Townsend, Washington.http://www.fountainheadgallery.com/pages/artists/max%20grover/Grover%2011.06/Max%20Grover%20RedCarDrivingDownTheRoad1993.html
Max Grover, Table Top Airstrip, 1993, Port Townsend, Washington.http://www.fountainheadgallery.com/pages/artists/max%20grover/Grover%2011.06/Max%20Grover%20TableTopAirstrip1993.html
Glass:
Dale Chihuly, who was born in Tacoma, Washington in 1941, has become an internationally celebrated personality in contemporary art and design whose prominence in the field of contemporary studio glass is unmatched. He is a generous and charismatic individual with a forceful personality, who ceaselessly promotes himself and his material—glass—to audiences around the world. For those who might question the influence of a single artist on what has become a sizable international community, try imagining what the early American studio glass movement—or international glass today—would be without Chihuly. It is impossible to deny the magnitude and pervasiveness of his influence. (http://www.chihuly.com/essays/oldknow_2003.html)
Dale Chihuly’s glasswork amazes me. The more I see, the more I cannot believe what he is able to create. I especially love his public, and museum installations, that allow his works to be enjoyed every day, by everyone. The impossibility of what he creates makes me look forward to any chance to view his works and contemplate his genius.
Dale Chihuly, GONZAGA UNIVERSITY RED CHANDELIER, 1995, Spokane, Washington.http://www.chihuly.com/installations/public/Art/gonzagaB.html
Dale Chihuly, VENTURI WINDOW, 1992, Seattle, Washingtonhttp://www.chihuly.com/installations/sam92/Art/p2_Img0001B.html
Dale Chihuly, PINK AND WHITE SEAFORM INSTALLATION, 1987, Tacoma, Washington.http://www.chihuly.com/installations/tam/Art/CdTAM2_039_87.752.s28_XB.html
Photography:
Josef Scaylea was a longtime resident of Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Josef served as chief photographer of the Seattle Times for 35 years. His incomparable photographs were the showcase of the Seattle Times Pictorial Magazine, making him the best known photographer in the region. He earned more than 1,000 commercial, pictorial and press awards including West Coast Press Photographer of the year (ten times) and one of the top ten Press Photographers of the Nation (again, ten times). His pictures have appeared in Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Life, The Saturday Evening Post, and numerous other leading magazines.“If my pictures give pleasure to people, that’s enough for me.”- Josef Scaylea (http://www.seattlegallery.com/bio.html)
Josef Scaylea has been a favorite of mine, ever since I met him as a child at my father’s frame shop. His photographs capture some of my very favorite views of Seattle, and are particularly special for me. His shot of the Blue Angels in Quintessential Seattle is the same view from my grandparents home, and is a sight I have enjoyed every year during Seafair. Copies of Quintessential Seattle, Lake Washington Mist and Horses in Poetic Motion, hang in my grandparents home, and are beautiful reminders of all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. I think that my love for black and white photography started with Josef Scaylea.
Josef Scaylea, Quintessential Seattle, 1978, Seattle Washington. http://www.seattlegallery.com/index.html
Josef Scaylea, Lake Washington Mist, 1962, Seattle, Washington.http://www.seattlegallery.com/index.html
Josef Scaylea, Seattle Spring, 1964, Seattle Washington.http://www.seattlegallery.com/index.html
Josef Scaylea, Horses in Poetic Motion, 1960, Woodinville, Washington.http://www.seattlegallery.com/index.html
8 comments
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July 14, 2010 at 4:37 pm
amyinaction
Michelle,
Great post! The Pacific NW has some wonderful artists who do amazing things with glass, photos and painting. I love going to Pikes Market and perusing the arts and crafts sections. Glass work is one of my favorites crafts and some day want to visit the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. Dave Chiluly glass work is amazing and so beautiful.
I especially like your piece on Max Grover. I had never heard of him before but have seen is artwork. I too find it whimsical and your right it would be great in a child’s room or anywhere children are.
Josef Scaylea does beautiful photography. It is a shame that I am not familiar with him or his work. I enjoy his use of black and white photography, for some reason black and white photos seem more authentic and real to me. Black and white photography seems to capture the real emotions of the subjects.
Excellent Post! I enjoyed your exhibit!
July 16, 2010 at 8:38 pm
christopher.d
This is SO neat! I went to the Chihuly Exhibit at the Pittsburgh Aviary since they incorporated the works with the growth and lights. It was very impressive. I had considered doing Chihuly but I don’t know anything else about the Pacific Northwest or glass art for that matter.
But I knew as soon as I saw the pictures of the glass art. It was just amazing to see. My sister lives in Redmond, but I have made several trips down there and the photography is equally as impressive.
I think that Max Grover is a great example that modern day art doesn’t have to be creepy, abstract, absurd, or misunderstood to be considered art. I really like the few that you showed.
As always, you have included the appropriate information. Great gallery!!
July 17, 2010 at 8:06 pm
Jessica
I really like Josef Scaylea’s photography. Thank you for sharing his work. If I had seen his work growing up, I think it would be hard not to fall in love with black and white photography.
July 19, 2010 at 7:51 pm
Denis McNiel
I think you did a wonderful job with your blog. I lived in Seattle for 8 years. I love and miss Washington. I also love black and white photography. I think it truly captures the beauty of the subject. There aren’t any distractions of color. I have seen Scaylea’s work before and love it. I love the “Seattle Spring” photo. I loved seeing Mt. Rainier every morning. I think Chihuly’s glass work is amazing! The colors are beautiful and it’s mind boggling to see glass transformed into a flower or seashells. Simply amazing!
July 20, 2010 at 2:15 am
gloverc3
Neat theme choice! I haven’t spent any time in the Pacific Northwest (Alaska doesn’t really count…), but I’m going to Seattle for a week this summer and I’m pretty excited. I like the diversity of the works you chose. The paintings are super cute (naive, but refined; he didn’t paint haphazardly like a child might), the glass work is really beautiful (I love the shells!), and the photographs are very interesting, though not all from after 1975 (the black and white contrast is my favorite part). Did Max Grover have a particular reason for painting in such a simple way? It’s just so different from the norm.
It seems like the Pacific Northwest is a place that really fosters a great art community. It’s neat that you have been so influenced by a lot of this art since you were young, it’s probably shaped the type of art you enjoy today! Nice job!
July 20, 2010 at 2:25 am
tknight8blog
This is a very informative post! I personally have always loved the Pacific Northwest, especially Seattle, and I believe it has so much to offer. It’s nice that you chose a region as your theme. I believe I have seen some of Max Grover’s work myself in Seattle, and it is truly amazing how simple, yet whimsical and insightful it is! I was wondering, however, despite them all being from and working in the Pacific Northwest region, if there was any other reason that you picked these specific artists, which is still theme related? For example, is there anything in these artists’ works that is easily seen to have been influenced by the Pacific Northwest? I can see what Scaylea and Grover have to offer as far as representing the Pacific Northwest, but is there anything Pacific Northwestern about Chihuly’s work, or did you pick him simply because he’s an amazing artist from the area? I find it fascinating hearing about the arts firsthand from someone who was actually around to experience it! Great job!
July 21, 2010 at 3:39 am
gina
Grover’s works are bright and primary and remind me of childhood and happiness. I really like how you did this on native North-Pacificers, it really adds a nice dimension. I would love to see Chihuly’s red chandaleir, that is really an incredible work of art and so complex. He has every reason to be forceful, he is a true artist after all. That Venturi Window is breathtaking, and I can only wonder how it feels to stand in front of such art. I want to take a trip south just for these works of art! Finally, Scaylea’s horses are haunting with that background and misty sky. Truly haunting, this is one I think I will research as I would love to own a copy. You did a great job and I really enjoyed this tour. Thank you.
July 21, 2010 at 4:39 pm
mikkismentionables
Great job on your post, I am from the Pacific Northwest and was traveling there last week. I actually kept an eye out for works by these artists. I also loved how you incorporated three different art mediums in your Pacific Northwest Genre. Each are very unique and amazing to look at. Good job.