Join Vashon’s First Friday Gallery Cruise this week to see new art exhibits on view in town.
Most shops and eateries in town are also open as well during the gallery cruise hours, from 5 to 8 p.m. Make a night out of it, shopping, hobnobbing, dining and taking in the island’s art scene.
Granny’s Attic Art at Snapdragon
Granny’s Attic Art Show is back — Snapdragon Bakery & Café, and the adjoining Hastings-Cone Gallery, will host the show for the month of April. On view will be some of the remarkable art donated to the island thrift shop.
The art will be on sale beginning at 5 p.m. Friday, April 7. This is the fourth time Granny’s has held an art show — a tradition that took a hiatus during the time of COVID restrictions.
As is Granny’s custom for pricing works of art, when the value of a donated work of art can be determined, the work is then priced at roughly half that amount, depending on the condition of the art.
The show will remain on view at Snapdragon through April. In the meantime, other works of art, as usual, will continue to be available at the Granny’s Attic store, open from 12 to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.
Outstanding in its Field
Encounter the creatures of multicultural legends at the Outstanding In Its Field Gallery during its first show of the year, “Into the Myths,” opening from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 7.
The show features works from six Vashon Island artists inspired by epic tales and myths from around the world, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Vashon Bookmobile. The Gallery is located at 10524 S.W. 188th St. and is open from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and weekdays by appointment. For an appointment, call 206-419-0199.
The show will present Brian Fisher’s new works from his “Gilgamesh” series; carvings from Odin Lonning, a traditional Tlingit artist; Lynn McClain’s monoprints of fantastical creatures including the kitsune, a multi-tailed fox from Japanese folklore; Gail Hapeman’s stained glass panels depicting both the stars and the creatures that inspire astrology; and bas relief bronze sculpture and etched glass portraying Celtic myths from Lindsay Hart and Jeff White, the gallery’s owners.
The opening reception will include a visit from the Vashon Bookmobile featuring some well-loved books that explore myths and legends.
The gallery requests that all visitors wear masks while inside the small gallery.
Senior Center
Vashon Senior Center will host an encore reception, from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 7, for a retrospective of Ray Pfortner’s work, “Island Home — 29 Years of Photographing Vashon,” currently on view at the Senior Center.
Outstanding in its Field
Encounter the creatures of multicultural legends at the Outstanding In Its Field Gallery during its first show of the year, “Into the Myths,” opening from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 7.
The show features works from six Vashon Island artists inspired by epic tales and myths from around the world, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Vashon Bookmobile. The Gallery is located at 10524 S.W. 188th St. and is open from 12 to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, and weekdays by appointment. For an appointment, call 206-419-0199.
The show will present Brian Fisher’s new works from his “Gilgamesh” series; carvings from Odin Lonning, traditional Tlingit artist; Lynn McClain’s monoprints of fantastical creatures including the kitsune, a multi-tailed fox from Japanese folklore; Gail Hapeman’s stained glass panels depicting both the stars and the creatures that inspire astrology; and bas relief bronze sculpture and etched glass portraying Celtic myths from Lindsay Hart and Jeff White, the gallery’s owners.
The opening reception will include a visit from the Vashon Bookmobile featuring some well-loved books that explore myths and legends.
The gallery requests that all visitors wear masks while inside the small gallery.
VALISE Gallery
VALISE Gallery and O Sole Mio pizzeria are collaborating in April to present a benefit for the Vashon Food Bank — an art show called “Extra Cheese Pleeze, the Pizza Box Show.”
It’s an opportunity to give a helping hand while sharing wacky art and tasty pizza.
Many islanders have probably noticed a portrait of a shirtless young man inside every pizza box at O Sole Mio. That’s Mario. Using his image as a starting point and actual pizza boxes as the “canvas,” VALISE artists have created an exhibit that is playful, provocative, and zany — using a variety of mediums.
O Sole Mio has donated all the pizza boxes for the art. And at the opening of the exhibit from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 7, the pizza restaurant will also provide free pizza while collecting donations for the Food Bank. In addition, VALISE will donate 50% of its April art sales to the Food Bank.
“What a fun and wacky project,” said VALISE artist Bill Jarcho. “[I’m] so glad the O Sole Mio folks got on board and allowed us to immortalize their Mario pizza boxes and transform Mario into all sorts of wild things — from Super Mario to cosmic Mario to Mario Batman.”
“This show is a freewheeling homage to his presence in that box where he’s been residing for years,” said another artist, Gregory Burnham. “This will be his coming out party.”
The real Mario came to Seattle years ago and hails from a long line of New York City pizza restaurants.
Liz and Mike McConnell opened O Sole Mio in 2019, after many years of owning successful pizza establishments in Seattle.
“All of our pizza recipes came from Mario’s family,” said Liz. “He is a true character and embodied the 1970s like no other.”
Liz wanted to start a family pizzeria — the kind of place kids’ soccer teams could celebrate after a game. Mike was interested in creating a wine bar disguised as a ’70s dive bar. They put their two visions together for what is now O Sole Mio, in downtown Vashon.
Participating artists include George Wright, Robert Passig, Rachel LordKenaga, Jiji Saunders, Lenard Yen, Hita von Mende, Sharon Shaver, Bill Jarcho, Pascale Judet, and Gregory Burnham.
VALISE is open from 1 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The show runs through April 29. VALISE Artist Collective and Gallery is located at 17633 Vashon Highway SW — just a few doors down from O Sole Mio.
Vashon Center for the Arts
Clare Dohna and Terri Fletcher, Vashon artists and long-time friends, have collaborated to create a woods environment that will come alive with creatures and remnants of nature, in an exhibit opening from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 7, at VCA.
Dohna’s work in this show combines hand-carved faux bois (false wood) frames and her signature bright-colored tiles, fashioned into panels of characters and figures that evoke a sense of wonder and magic. Fletcher’s installation is a series of tall draping curtains, made of strands of thin twigs that have been embellished with carvings, crocheted pods and beads.
Work by Vanessa Lanza, a Gig Harbor artist, will fill the exhibit with large format, hand-burnished relief prints, taken from salvaged tree sections. They explore the growth rings and life cycle of trees native to the Pacific Northwest.
The VCA gallery shop will be filled with a collection of pottery by Liz Lewis, Marla Smith and Karen Fevold. With decades of experience, these potters incorporate beauty and functionality into their kitchen and household items.
The exhibits will run through April 30. Gallery hours are 12 to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. For more information, visit gallery.vashoncenterforthearts.org.
