Outstanding In Its Field Gallery is finally up and running, years after the COVID-delayed debut of the gallery was first planned by its owners.
In August, the gallery will present its second show, “The Dog and Cat Days of Summer,” benefitting Vashon Island Pet Protectors.
The show, on view from Aug. 5 to 28, will include works from seven Vashon artists, portraying the lively beauty of the island’s fuzzy and four-legged citizens.
Art will include oil paintings from Teresa McFall, Kristen Reitz-Green and Margaret Tylczak, original linocut prints by Lynn McClain and Annette Messitt, leather bas relief sculptures from William Cleaver and bronze bas relief sculptures and etched glass from Lindsay Hart and Jeff White.
Together, White and Hart comprise White Hart Art, and are the gallery’s owners.
Their new gallery, located at 10524 SW 188th St., is apty named — it is indeed out in a field, and housed in a remodeled shipping container that the Vashon Forest Stewarts once used for their wood kiln.
“When the Stewards were required to quickly move all the buildings off of their old location, we became the proud owners of the container,” said Hart. “After a months-long makeover, you’d never know it was once a dark, smoky workspace.”
Next to the gallery is the small island foundry run by White, who will conduct demonstrations of bronze sand casting during gallery hours. Specific times for demos will be listed on the gallery’s website, OutstandingGallery.com.
“We are so excited to finally have full gallery shows,” said Ms. Hart. “We had opened for the last VIVA Studio Tour, that was held in 2019, and then came COVID. After two, long, fallow years, we opened for the 2022 VIVA spring tour and now, finally, we are thrilled to host three full months of themed exhibits.”
Going forward, each show at the gallery will highlight and benefit a different island organization, with a portion of the proceeds from sold art donated by the gallery and the artists.
“Our goal is to support the art and heart of Vashon,” said Hart, who added that she and her husband were on the cusp of their third decade as islanders.
The First Friday opening for “The Dog and Cat Days of Summer,” will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 5, and will include the chance to meet the artists and enjoy a performance by singer-songwriter Kat Eggleston in the green pasture and gardens that surround the gallery.
The gallery’s July show, “Splash!” featured the photography of Terry Donnelly, oil paintings from Rose Belknap and Gretchen Hancock, original linocut prints by Lynn McClain, pastels from Jayne Quig and White Hart Art’s bronze bas relief sculptures.
The gallery will follow all CDC and Washington State COVID guidelines and requests that all visitors wear a mask while inside the gallery itself, and observe social distancing while on the grounds.
Outstanding In Its Field Gallery will be open from April to September each year, with monthly themed exhibits.
September’s show, “Of a Feather,” will benefit the Vashon Audubon Society. Shows planned for 2023 include “Into the Myths,” benefitting Vashon Friends of the Library, “Buds and Bugs,” benefiting the Vashon Garden Club, and a return of “Splash,” benefitting the Vashon Hydrophone Project.
The gallery will also be open for the VIVA Art Tours in May and December.
Regular hours are Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 5 p.m., and weekdays by appointment.
For an appointment, call 206.419.0199 or email info@outstandinggallery.com.