Anchor Auction!

On Friday, December 2nd, Anchor Art Space is having an auction to fund the launch of our new project, Anchor Access.  This project is being created to further the kind of programs that Anchor Art Space has pursued for the past several years as we move forward with a new format.  Anchor Access was created by a group of artists interested in bringing interactive and dynamic multidisciplinary exhibitions, events and education to the community as well as the region.

  

Join us December 2nd (conveniently the same night as the Holiday Art Walk in Anacortes) as we kick off Anchor Access.  Auction preview will occur from 11-4pm and bidding begins at 5:30pm. The event is free to attend and donations in all forms are welcome. Money raised during the auction will go directly towards the operating costs of Anchor Access.  Thank you to everyone who has generously donated already!

The deadline for donation has been extended to November 20, 21, 22 from 1-4pm, at Anchor Art Space.  We are seeking works of art as well as other items/experiences of interest.  There is also a online submission form available on our website.




For more information on how to donate please call 206-919-3893
or contact info@anchorartspace.org

See you all there!

The Way Things Are

John Feodorov
October 7- November 19
Artist talk November 5th 4:00pm

This marks Anchor's 2011 schedule wrap up with John Feodorov's, The Way Things Are.  The exhibition has a mix of painting, prints, installation, video, music, a little bit of everything really.  In Feodorov's own words,

"My work meanders around meaning and identity as well as the ways we seek to locate them within our lives. Sometimes this search can seem like an act of desperation—a longing for a Something, an Other, that may or may not exist. Intentionally ambiguous and dreamlike, they imply a meaningful narrative that often does not exist outside the mind of the viewer."

Feodorov, besides his various accolades, has also been featured in the well known PBS series art:21 in the Spirituality episode.  Be sure to stop in sometime before November 19th to experience this powerful show.

http://www.johnfeodorov.com

http://anchorartspace.org



Glowen/Davidson at Anchor

Coming up this Friday, September 30th at 6:30pm, Margaret Davidson will present a slide talk on her new book Contemporary Drawing: Key Concepts and Techniques.  The book discusses the surge of drawing in the art world as something that exists separate and unique from painting.  It also discusses a number of artists who have chosen to break the traditional boundaries separating artistic styles.  Books will be available for purchase and Margaret will be available for signing. Read the full synopsis here.

After Margaret's talk, Ron Glowen will give a short presentation on his installation currently up through October 1st.  During that time, he will discuss how Como Orchards/Montana came to fruition.  Including how the idea began and its evolution to the installation at Anchor.  Heavily layered, if this piece has drawn you in as it has so many others, you won't want to miss this opportunity.  Ron will also be available to answer any questions.  

We are extremely lucky to have the opportunity to listen to both these wonderful artists speak on their work and we look forward to seeing you all there!

Margaret Davidson/Ron Glowen
September 30th, 6:30 pm

http://www.margaretdavidson.com/book/book.html

Save the Date!

Jane Alynn Reading and Reception

On Sunday, September 18th, 4:30pm, Jane Alynn will be holding the launch of her first full-length poetry book, Necessity of Flight at Anchor Art Space.  Poet Susan Rich describes Alynn's poems as transforming "lived experience into the natural realm of wonder."  Alynn is also the author of Threads & Dust, a chapbook published in 2005, by Finishing Line Press.  Recently, she has recieved a William Stafford Arard from the Washington Poets Association.  Following the reading will be a reception and book signing. 

Jane Alynn Official Website

We are looking forward to the event.  Hope to see everyone there!

Orchards, Gardens and Birds

Ron & Kathryn Glowen
Reception: September 2, 6-9pm

The month of September is proving to be an exciting one.  Anchor is very proud to present work by Ron and Kathryn Glowen as they make their triumphant return to the space since November 2009 when "tangle" first opened at Anchor (read more about that show here as it traveled to Eastern Washington this past spring)  Their show "tangle" helped set the bar that Anchor has been identified with and this month's "Orchards, Gardens and Birds" does not disappoint.  It is colorful and obsessively prepared, signature qualities of the Glowen's work.  Running through October 1, the reception is today, September 2, 6-9pm. 

*Also during the month of September, Anchor will be hosting two literary events. Sunday, September 18th, at 4:30pm Jane Alynn will be reading from her new book of poetry "Necessity of Flight".

Necessity of Flight by Jane Alynn

 At the end of the month on Friday, Sept 30th at 6:30pm, Margaret Davidson will be presenting a talk on her newly published "Contemporary Drawing: Key Concepts and Techniques". We look forward to seeing you at these free events in September!

For more information Contact Anchor.

Julie Lindell: New Work

Julie Lindell brings exciting new work to Anchor this month.  For the past several years, Julie's ceramic works have been represented at Anchor and this month's show features newly constructed assemblages along with selected ceramic sculpture.  This past year has been a busy one for Julie as she was included in COCA's Heaven and Earth II outdoor installation at Carkeek Park.  As well as, Transformation, a group exhibition of reclaimed/recycled art at the Seattle Art Museum Gallery.

The exhibition at Anchor runs August 5th through August 27th, with the reception tonight, August 5 (5-9 pm).
More information on our website:  www.anchorartspace.org

Today also marks the first day of the Anacortes Arts Festival (August 5, 6, 7)!  The focus gallery at the port includes on of Anchor's own Jasmine Valandani. 
See you in Anacortes for this fabulous art weekend!

view from other tree

Ries Niemi & Sheila Klein

The official opening isn't until Friday, June 1st, but the show is up now.  Ries Niemi and Sheila Klein are sharing Anchor through July 24.  View from other tree is an installation based show.  Niemi's wall work is priced individually, but while at Anchor can be read as a visual sentence.  His work at Anchor combines lessons learned from musicians at Anacortes' own What The Heck Fest, and the common practice in consumer culture of tossing objects aside.  Niemi explores the question of what makes an object precious or trash.

On the other side of the space, Sheila Klein's closet-like installation is neither narrative or representational.  Her work invites the viewer to enter the work, and think of art in a less traditional way.  Klein's work can be worn, sat on, touched and even hugged.  "New Trade Route" contains a variety of pieces that can be worn directly out of the gallery.  Also at Anchor, in the video room, are three of Klein's videos; "Run'er way Detour", "We're Busy", and "Comfort Zone: The Process".

  

Even though the official opening is July 1st, 6-9pm we are open to the public now, so stop by and get a look. 

See you at Anchor!

June at Anchor

Today, Friday June 3rd, is the Anacortes Art Walk.  The weather is absolutely gorgeous and is showing no signs of changing.  If you have somehow missed Gail Grinnell's work, make sure you fit time in your schedule to stop by and spend some time absorbing this truly unique work.  We will be open until about 8 pm tonight.

This also means we are in the final throws of Gail Grinnell's work dominating the front room at Anchor.  tinker, tailor will be up through June 11th, at which time (1:00 pm) Gail will be coming in to talk about her work and the process of making it.  This is a great opportunity to ask Gail any questions you may have. 

The following week will be a busy one, Sheila Klein and Ries Niemi will be spending a week installing their work.  The show will be able to be viewed starting June 17th, and the official opening will be July 1st.  Start planing your visit(s) to Anchor now, the weather is only looks to be getting better!

See you at Anchor!

Margaret Davidson's Contemporary Drawing

Anchor Artist, Margaret Davidson has just released a book with Random House, Inc.  Contemporary Drawing: Key Concepts and Techniques is now available for your consumption.  You can find it HERE, to purchase through Amazon. 

In her book, Margaret discusses the surge of drawing in the art world and "delves into the essential and far-reaching concepts of this medium, exploring surface, mark, space, composition, scale, materials, and intentionality in turn."  Drawing, as something separate and unique from painting, is not subject to the same traditional thoughts as other forms of art.  Contemporary Drawing, offering a broad perspective on this field of art, is illustrated by a large number of contemporary artists, "Drawing has come of age."  Check it out!
(from Random House's Synopsis).


Congratulations to Margaret!

Bonus Round!

We were lucky enough to have a friend of the gallery come in and take photos of tinker, tailor, mender, maker.  They turned out really nice.  You might have seen them here, facebook, or on our website, but we thought we'd give it another turn in the spotlight.  They photos are beautiful, if you haven't had the chance to experience Gail Grinnell's work, hopefully they inspire your visit.  If you have seen the work, hopefully they inspire you to see it again...Through Saturday June 11th.

See you at Anchor!

Review Session

It looks like we have a couple people who like the show.  Check out the reviews on The Stranger's site.  It is always nice to get such positive feedback. Thanks Friends!
The Stranger - Out of Town

In other news, Anchor's show calender is changing slightly.  Due to unforeseen circumstances Helen Gamble is unable to participate in Anchor in June.  It is unfortunate, but we've come up with a fix.  Gail Grinnell's show will be extended through mid June and Ries Niemi and Sheila Klein will begin their installation the following week.  Sorry about any confusion.

tinker, tailor, mender, maker

March has been an exciting month for us at Anchor.  Thank you again to everyone who was a part of it.
This past week has been especially busy with a reading by Alex Kuo, visits from Sherman Alexie, music by the Savage Jazz Trio, not to mention the beautiful work we all got to experience by Jasmine Valandani and Steve Peters.  April is just around the corner though, and with it a new show.  Gail Grinnell's tinker, tailor, mender, maker will be opening this Friday, April 1st (6-9 pm), during the Anacortes Art Walk.

Gail will be presenting an exciting spacial investigation using charcoal on vellum, and ink, acrylic and coffee on cut polyester.   

"Of late, the focus of my drawings and installations has become more and more directed towards finding the oddities and holes in my relationship to the world around me and measuring, fitting, dressing and mending them in anyway I can."  - Gail Grinnell, as told to Sam Wildman, 2011 (excerpted). 

Check out Gail's statement about her works here.

The show will run from this Friday (April 1) to May 28.  Having had a chance to visit her studio, we can tell you, Gail's work is proving to be stunning.  Definitely a can't miss opportunity.

See you at Anchor!

Valandani/Peters Discuss Work

Sunday, March 27th, 1-4pm, Jasmine Valandani and Steve Peters are coming to Anchor to discuss their work.  Jasmine Valandani will be talking about the current exhibition in relation to her process, materials and intention.  Composer/sound artist Steve Peters, will be speaking about his current sound installation at Anchor, Chamber Music 9: Northern Light (For Julius).  The piece was made for the purpose of accompanying Valandani's traces and based on an hour long recording of Anchor while empty.  It references the mysterious phenomena of "auroral sound" associated with the Northern Lights.  Along with his work, Steve will discuss intentional listening where, weather permitting, he will guide visitors on a listening walk of the neighborhood.  This is a wonderful chance to learn and discuss the intriguing work that has been on display at Anchor this month, plus it is the last day to see the show.  See you there!

http://steve-peters.blogspot.com/

http://jasminevalandani.com/home.html

http://anchorartspace.org/

Alex Kuo at Anchor

March is an exciting month for us here at Anchor, we've been fortunate to show Jasmine Valandani's thought provoking work traces, made even more so when put with Steve Peter's sound installation Chamber Music 9: Northern Light (For Julius).  This month also brings around something new for those of us at Anchor.  Alex Kuo, award winning writer and documentary photographer has chosen us to help launch two new books!  On Friday, March 25th at 7:00, Anchor hosts a reading and reception for Kuo.  There will be an introduction by Sherman Alexie and Music by The Savage Trio.  A few days before our event, on March 21 at 3:00, Watermark Books (also in Anacortes) will be hosting a "Meet the Author and Signing" event. We feel extremely fortunate to be part of this event.   We are expecting a pretty large turnout, so if you are planning on coming by (which we sincerely hope you are), try to make it a bit early as space may become an issue.  Looking forward to seeing you all soon!

http://www.alexkuo.org/

Friday, March 25th, 7:00 pm

216 Commercial, Anacortes

Traces

Anchor opens a new show this Friday, March 4th, 6-9.  Jasmine Valandani, "traces", will feature installation and works on paper.  We have been extremely excited about this exhibition and are also proud to be featuring one of the Anchor crew's own.

Alongside "traces", Steve Peters, sound artist from Seattle, will be presenting a site specific work derived from the empty space in which it inhabits.  Chamber Music 9: Northern Light (for Julius) draws inspiration from the mysterious "auroral sounds" associated with the Northern (and Southern) Lights.
For more information check out Steve Peters' Blog.

Hopefully you will all be able to check out this unique show.  Remember, the opening is 6-9pm this Friday, March 4th, and will be running through the 26th.

Jonsson Talks Art

Through the end of the month at Anchor and through March 2nd at MONA Theodora Jonsson's works will be available for your viewing pleasure.  On top of that, next Saturday, February 26th at 2pm, Theodora will be giving an illustrated Artist Talk at MONA.  She will discuss her inspirations behind her glass works as well as the wider range of work and experience that are the motivating factors behind her themes and processes.  So, when you're planning next weekend's excursion, make sure you fit in some time to listen to this artist on the rise.

Remember, MONA, February 26th, 2pm.

Bending Space

Installation by Lanny Bergner

Last night kicked off Anchor's 2011 show calender with a bang!  Thank you to everyone who came out to show their support!  We had a great time.  So far, "Bending Space" has been getting some really positive feedback.  Check out The Cascadia Weekly's article: "Bending Space" with Lanny Bergner.  The show includes three main installations "Constellation Maker 3", "A Gaggle of Baskets", and "Bending Space", along with some smaller works.  Remember, the works are site specific, so you'll never see it the same way anywhere else!

Constellation Maker and A Gaggle of Baskets

Constellation Maker

Bending Space

Bending Space and Lanny

Photo Credits to Lanny Bergner
http://home.wavecable.com/~lbergner/


On top of all that, our Moving Image Room is currently filled with not moving image, but glass work by Theodora Jonsson.  Theodora's "Whale Bones" are also currently on display at MONA.  Her painted and etched glass forms are inspired by the mysteries of natural science and native stories of animal spirits.

Pliocene

White-Beaked Dolphin Call

The show will be up through February 26th, so make sure you come by and see it!

News from ARAC

Anchor welcomes back Jean Behnke from her residency at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Colorado.  Despite a few snow induced bumps and bruises along the way, Jean made some great prints.  Here are some photos of Anderson Ranch and the prints for your viewing pleasure. 

As for updates on Anchor, next week marks the first opening of our first show for 2011!  We are so excited to have on display Bending Space and installation by Lanny Bergner.  The opening is next Friday, Feb. 4, from 6-9pm.  We look forward to seeing you all there!