First Friday and Studio Tour make for vibrant weekend of art

Buckle up for one of the best weekends of the year for visual art on Vashon.

December’s edition of Vashon’s First Friday gallery cruise will place on the evening of Friday, Dec. 6. And then, the next day, artists all over town will throw open their doors for the first day of the island’s annual Holiday Studio Tour.

Here’s what’s happening.

STUDIO TOUR

It’s that time of the year again — a chance to go on a treasure hunt for art, all over Vashon and Maury Island, for two glorious weekends in a row.

The 2024 Vashon Island Holiday Studio Tour, presented by Vashon Island Visual Artists (ViVA), will feature 44 studios and galleries representing more than 150 artists on the tour.

The tour, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Dec 7-8 and 14-15, is a chance to see Vashon’s artists in the places where they create their art and shop for one-of-a-kind holiday gifts.

For more information and an interactive tour map, visit vivartists.com.

FIRST FRIDAY

Dig Deep Gardens

Pam Ingalls’ annual December exhibit of oil paintings will open from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Dig Deep Garden’s Greenhouse Gallery.

The show, “Seeing Light,” includes 40 paintings of interiors, cityscapes, still lifes, and figures in a new collection featuring subjects both local and far away. Daryl Redeker will serenade gallery-goers with his guitar at the opening.

The show will run through December, and be part of the VIVA Art Studio Tour.

Swiftwater Gallery

Stop in at Swiftwater Gallery, in the center of Vashon town, to peruse new and gift-able works made by the more than 50 members of the gallery — all local artists who create works in a wide range of mediums and price ranges.

The gallery will be open on First Friday, during WinterFest activities on Saturday, Dec. 7, and is also a stop on the Holiday Studio Tour map.

VALISE Gallery

VALISE Gallery’s collective of artists is offering up their traditional holiday show of small works, this year called “Beyond Measure.”

The show, as usual, is filled with edgy, eye-catching gift bargains priced to sell. Look for 5-inch by 5-inch artworks, as well as some slightly larger pieces as well. Prices range from $40 and $200.

VALISE members Bill Jarcho, Sharon Shaver, Pascale Judet, Dot Cherch, Rachel LordKenaga. Robert Passig, Lenard Yen, George Wright, Stephen Schildbach, Hita von Mende, Jiji Saunders and Gregory Burnham all have work in the show.

The show opened in November and will continue as part of the Holiday Studio Tour. Regular gallery hours, after the tour, will be 1-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Vashon Center for the Arts

Vashon Center for the Arts’ annual show of miniature works will open from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Vashon Center for the Arts. The show — also a stop on the Holiday Studio Tour map — includes works in a wide price range. Also on view will be fine jewelry by local jewelry legend Eric Heffelfinger, in VCA’s gift shop. Find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.

Vashon Senior Center

Vashon Senior Center will host a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, featuring abstract artist Sally Jean Fox and her exhibition, “After the Harvest.” This collection explores themes of transition, rest, uncertainty, and the possibilities that emerge from darkness.

Although the show debuted in November, the Dec. 6 reception will unveil new smaller works.

Fox, author of “Meeting the Muse After Midlife: A Journey to Meaning, Creativity, and Joy,” believes that creativity is accessible to all and offers a pathway to joy, even during challenging times.

“Pursuing what lights us up can guide our way, especially during uncertainty,” said Fox.

VashonMade

Annie Brule will be the featured artist at VashonMade, an art spot that showcases work by local artists, at 9922 SW Bank Rd.

Brule creates lively artwork to connect nature lovers with the flora and fauna of Cascadia and the Pacific Northwest. Fine art prints, blank notecards, and fun nature stickers are some of the studio’s most popular products, and new products in 2024 include kitchen towels and tote bags.

Brule also creates artwork for museums, nature centers, and magazines. She works closely with Indigenous educators in Washington and is a member of the curriculum team for Tend, Gather & Grow, an Indigenous ecology curriculum for Washington, Oregon, British Columbia and Alaska. Find out more about her work at anniebrule.com.

Vashon Library

Photography students studying under the tutelage of Vashon photographer Ray Pfortner in a recent multi-week workshop, “The Key To Compelling Photographs: Composition,” will have an exhibition of their work, with an opening reception from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Vashon Library.

The shows will feature 14 photographers, including Pfortner, showing three photographs each, with a total of 42 pieces. These are from workshop assignments vetted over two feedback sessions at the library in November. For many, this is the first show of their work.

The show will remain up until Dec 18. Visitors can vote on their favorite piece in the show and ribbons will be awarded.