Whitefish Goldsmiths is featuring work by Bigfork watercolor artist Deliah Albee. Deliah takes inspiration from one of her other passions, gardening. Her paintings are fresh and direct, with a flair for combining colors. Meet Deliah during Whitefish Gallery Nights, Thursday July 2, 2009 6-9pm.

The Purple Pomegranate - July - Sallie Bowen

The Purple Pomegranate, a fine craft specialty store, is featuring work by Butte painter Sallie Bowen during the month of July. Sallie has been painting for most of her life. Subject matter comes from her own experiences, travel, sketches, and recollections. Many of the paintings evolve and go through many changes. At times the transformation is a slow process, and at others, can marvelously "flow" from one stage to another with little effort. She is always surprised that something- the visual imagery- can come from "nothing", or no preconceived idea. Oftentimes, color is arbitrary, giving the work a more personal touch. Shapes come out of negative spaces and these "found shapes" must work with the "internal logic" of the paintings.

Sallie feels that to participate in art is to celebrate life. “Our short existence on this earth demands that we give full attention. Being an artist is both an honor and a responsibility to spend time wisely in producing the best work."

Meet Sallie during Whitefish Gallery Night, Thursday, July 2, 2009 from 6-9 PM. Sallie’s work will be displayed during the opening and throughout the month of July.

The Purple Pomegranate, located in downtown Whitefish, features handcrafted artware from artists across the United States. Representing more than 150 American artists, the store’s eclectic offerings include jewelry, ceramics, musical instruments, turned wood, glass art, fiber art, prints and paintings. Look for us on the web at www.purplepomegranate.com .

Stephen Isley Jewelry

Stephen Isley Jewelry Presents Acrylic Artist Stephen Licence

We are pleased to present Stephen Licence on the June 4th Gallery Night from 6 PM to 9 PM. In the past Stephen Licence has appeared in local fine art festivals in the Flathead Valley. His current schedule will not permit him to continue to particpate in these shows. Be sure to stop by Stephen Isley Jewelry to meet the artist and view his work. Stephen has shown in our gallery for eight years.

Stephen Licence is best known for his large acrylic on canvas paintings. His bold and striking style is evidence of his unique color pallet and sense of composition. He received his art education at the New York State University at New Paltz, the New York Institute of Technology, the San Francisco Art Institute and an independent study program in Europe through the New York Institute of Technology. He is an award-winning artist most recently garnering the coveted "Best of Show" ribbon at the Southwest Arts Festival.

His art conveys the simplicity and spirit of the West through primitive and contemporary interpretation. Images, patterns and symbols reminiscent of ancient cultures are infused and transformed into art that is new and fresh, yet somehow familiar and timeless.

Visit Stephen Isley Jewelry and Fine Art Gallery at 241 Central Avenue in Whitefish Monday through Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and on Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM throughout the summer.

June 4: Fused Glass Artist, Richard Parrish, at Jest Gallery.

Jest is pleased to welcome Richard Parrish whose exquisite kiln formed glass is a highlight in the gallery's collection. The show will feature functional objects as well as wall mounted panels and Richard's new tapestry series. Richard says of his work, "As an artist and an architect, I find inspiration in both the human-made environment and in the vast landscape of the American west where I grew up and live now. I am fascinated by the paradigm of the constructed and the natural. I find that it is critical to my existence to make things with my hands, using real materials. It is a way to access memories of past and future, both individual and collective." Please join us to meet Richard and find out more about his incredible work!

The Purple Pomegranate - June - Mimi Werner

The Purple Pomegranate, a fine craft specialty store, is featuring work by Finley Point ceramic artist Mimi Werner during the month of June. Mimi’s new work takes on two divergent paths. In the 30 years Mimi has worked as a ceramic artist, she has primarily focused on high fired, functional porcelain wares. Due partly to economic times and the ecological crisis facing the planet Mimi is experimenting with electric fired porcelain using discarded auto parts to stamp relief into functional plates and baking dishes.

The covered vessels in this show are a theme that Mimi keeps returning to in her work. These pieces are fired in a kiln using wood as fuel. The mark of the flame is left directly on the clay. By using copper wire, masking tape and other combustibles, unpredictable, smoky patterns are burned onto the clay. These pieces reflect Mimi's continued fascination with the chemistry of flame and clay as well as the ritualized act of incorporating these pieces into our daily lives.

Meet Mimi during Whitefish Gallery Night, Thursday, June 4, 2009 from 6-9 PM. Mimi’s work will be displayed during the opening and throughout the month of June.

Whitefish Goldsmiths

Whitefish Goldsmiths would like to invite you to this years first Gallery Nights of 2009, May 7th from 6pm-9pm. Vacation Memories will be the theme with original watercolors from Cabo San Lucas, Hawaii and many local river trips. Our featured artist will be Kathryn King. Refreshments will be served.

Stephen Isley Jewelry

Stephen Isley Jewelry welcomes you to the 2009 season of the Whitefish Gallery Nights. Be sure to stop by on Thursday May 7th during the extended hours 6PM to 9PM. While we are not featuring a particular artist this month, we represent many wonderful artists. Please stop by to see our fine jewelry, art and collectibles as well as Montana made furniture.

Our regular hours for May are 10AM to 6PM Monday through Saturday.

Jest Gallery - May - Laura Miller

Jest will be featuring new work by Laura Miller May 7-May 30. Join us for a Reception for the Artist during Whitefish Gallery Nights.

Sue Beardsley - May - The Purple Pomegranate

The Purple Pomegranate, a fine craft specialty store, is featuring work by Olney watercolor artist Sue Beardsley during the month of May. Sue feels that art, like life, is a journey, each following a path which she calls the creative process of discovery, exploration and choice. Sue chose watercolor as a medium for painting because it offers her the best opportunity to experience the complete process.

Sue has recently expanded her work into watercolor montage and collage which she especially enjoys because it creates an opportunity for visual impact with the element of shadow added to the versatility of the medium. Sue chooses to apply the montage and collage to still life paintings because of the varied approach that she can use. The use of watercolor allows maximum fluidity but at the same time can be explicitly controlled. Sue achieves the most visual impact by choosing to use all the characteristics that the medium allows.

Meet Sue during Whitefish Gallery Night, Thursday, May 7, 2009 from 6-9 PM. Sue’s work will be displayed during the opening and throughout the month of May.

The Purple Pomegranate, located in downtown Whitefish, features handcrafted artware from artists across the United States. Representing more than 150 American artists, the store’s eclectic offerings include jewelry, ceramics, musical instruments, turned wood, glass art, fiber art, prints and paintings. Look for us on the web at www.purplepomegranate.com .

Karen Leigh - October - The Purple Pomegranate

The Purple Pomegranate, a fine craft specialty store, is featuring work by Kalispell artist Karen Leigh during the month of October. Inspired primarily by the beauty and spirit of her native Montana as well as travels abroad, Leigh offers original watercolors and commissioned work. Karen states, “Always on the lookout for ‘accidental magnificence’, I am particularly interested in finding beauty in unexpected places and in painting the more intimate details of life around me.”

Karen is a fourth-generation Montanan who has lived in the Flathead Valley since 1970. A graduate of Montana State University, her primary interest has been transparent watercolor. Figures and portraits have recently become important subjects in her work. A full-time painter and signature member of the Montana Watercolor Society, she maintains a studio in the newly renovated Eastside Brick, formerly the local hospital. She also teaches privately and accepts commissions.

Meet Karen during Whitefish Gallery Night, Thursday, October 2, 2008 from 6-9 PM. Karen’s work will be displayed during the opening and throughout the month of October.

September - Marie Brittsan - The Purple Pomegranate

The Purple Pomegranate, a fine craft specialty store, is featuring work by Whitefish artist Marie Brittsan during the month of September. Marie’s bold, expressionistic artwork celebrates life and lifts the spirit. A former watercolorist, Marie uses layers of transparent acrylic glazes and applied texture to bring depth and intensity to her subjects. From abstract to representational, her colorful acrylic paintings carry energy and emotion.

Born and raised by the oceans and canyons in southern California, Marie developed a great love for the natural beauty surrounding her. She has painted since she was a child and the passion for painting has never faded. Marie speaks about her work, “When I am painting, my eyes become open again to the beauty around me. Color, light, shadow, form and energy are everywhere we look, always inspiring creative declaration. Music, emotion and Spirit have color, and I endeavor to capture those expressions in what I paint.”

Samarah Fine Art's September Show

Samarah Fine Art is proud to introduce new and original artwork by Chad Poppleton, Rusti Warner and Rolf Zillmer at their September show. Their pieces will be on display at Samarah throughout the month of September and a celebratory opening reception will take place on Thursday, September 4^th from 6:00PM – 9:00PM, as part of the 2008 Whitefish Gallery Nights. All are welcome to stop by and enjoy a memorable evening of wine and hors d’oeuvres by Ali Caters.

“Chad, Rusti and Rolf have been friends of the gallery for many years. Each of them has a unique style and voice as artists, so this show is a time for us to honor them and to showcase their talent.” Stated Rob Stern, Gallery Owner.

Chad Poppleton is a resident of Cache Valley, Utah, where his interest in art began at an early age. As a child, Chad spent most of his time at his family’s ranch where he was able to study and observe wildlife first hand. His respect for and affinity with nature has had the greatest creative influence on his artwork, and has made his paintings a true refection of his love for animals and the outdoors. Chad’s ability, not only to represent his subjects accurately, but to also capture their character, is what distinguishes Chad as a significant wildlife artist in his own right.

Rusti Warner is a Montana artist who grew up in Havre near several Indian reservations. Her time and friendship with those in the Native American community gave Rusti firsthand insights into the modern American Indian life. It was from this experience that Rusti’s interest in portraiture, artistic anatomy and oil painting began. Today, Rusti’s signature use of tonality infuses her paintings with a moody quality that makes her artwork so movingly sublime and peaceful.

Rolf Zillmer currently lives in Libby, Montana, and comes from a family of fellow artists. After spending the greater part of his life working in the arts, Rolf received an opportunity to photo-illustrate America’s national parks. This exposure to natural beauty refueled Rolf’s passion for painting and shifted his focus exclusively to fine art. Today, living in Montana, with its endless supply of reference material, has given Rolf the ability to develop and sharpen his skill as an acclaimed landscape painter.