In the Mist, Now at Village Frame & Gallery

Cover of In the Mist: Giving Voice to Silence

A book of “Painterly” photography illuminated by poetry.

Cover of In the Mist: Giving Voice to Silence
Available at Village Frame & Gallery now

An ode to the ethereal wonder of mist, this spectacular collaboration is comprised of exquisite images from photographer Russell J. Young accompanied by nuanced poems from seven esteemed Oregon poets. With soft, pale breath, the mist casts an undeniable veil of silence wherever it reaches — from the glassy face of a pond ot the concrete underbelly of a bridge to the towering shoulders of a pine forest. These mist-clad Oregon landscapes and urban moments, along with their poetic responses, evoke the whisper of stillness. This book binds together poetry and photography in a relationship in which one is not excluded from the other, but rather both are met and bound and emerge as a new wholeness — a wholeness seeking that which is hidden in the mist and that which is revealed: silence, memory, breath.

In the Mist Photographer: Russell J. Young

In the Mist Poets: Margaret Chula, Cindy Williams Gutiérrez, Diane Holland, Andrea Hollander, Paulann Petersen (Oregon Poet Laureate Emerita), Donna Prinzmetal, Penelope Scambly Schott

In the Mist Introduction

“As the truest society approaches always nearer to solitude, so the most excellent speech finally falls into Silence. Silence is audible to all men, at all times, and in all places. . . . Silence is the universal refuge.”

—Henry David Thoreau, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack

This book is an artists’ collaboration of word and image, quietly multiplying further expression of the profound and fertile silence that Thoreau suggests is, ultimately, the deepest philosophy. Seeking the company of silence, photographer Russell Young spent over 10 years capturing the light and movement of these fleeting landscapes.

Interior of book with poem on left page and photograph of mist on right pageYoung and the poets of this volume approach the ineffable silences of mist-filled landscapes, places where air and water co-mingle. It is in the mist that the diaphanous veil between silence and sound, death and being, beauty and knowledge, seem most porous, where the possibility of silence and revelation draw near. In Young’s captivating photographs, the water-saturated air itself suggests a quiet introspection; a re-hydration of the self.

Margaret Chula, Cindy Williams Gutiérrez, Diane Holland, Andrea Hollander, Donna Prinzmetal, Penelope Scambly Schott, and Oregon Poet Laureate Paulann Petersen express as much in the silence between their words as with the words themselves, creating delicate containers of the beauty and mystery of a landscape touched by the Pacific Northwest’s rain-softened atmosphere. The lyric poems offer a momentary promise of a lifting of the mist or the nourishing enveloping of a deep fog—in landscape and in the self.

Each of the poems stirs in us the experience of mist and silence, evoking breath, memory, death, story, transition, and mystery–that which Prinzmetal observes is “half-hidden to us,” both visually and emotionally. What Holland describes as “a shimmer of mist . . . a thin indigo line,” Gutiérrez identifies as the “marmoreal breath of the world.” For Chula the mist soothes memory and lays to rest, temporarily, “the fear left behind.”

Interior of book with poem on left page and photograph of mist on right pageWorking together as a long-standing writing group known as The Portland Pearls, the poets collaborated with Young to respond to and draw inspiration from his evocative photographs. As in the intricate margins of a medieval illuminated manuscript, the words do not “explain” the images, nor do the images “illustrate” the poetry. Instead, in a centuries-old tradition of word and image, the photographs and poetry of this collection amplify each other and invite us as readers and viewers to enter into a near-sacred space.

It is no surprise that Thoreau, one of America’s great nature writers, sought the nexus of landscape, literature, and silence. So too do the photographs and poems of this book offer their spare gestures: our own self speaks to us through these images and poems of insight and heart, leaving room to bring forth our own breath, memory, or experience. Our encounters here within this book can awaken our own receptivity when next we wake to a mist-filled morning. The reader is invited into this space of reflection, a place of mystery captured by Young’s precision, a place where, as Petersen writes:

Silence has opened
its wide bloom.

Meg Roland Professor of English,
Marylhurst University

 

 

 

Important Dates this December

Downhill skier

Need something framed in time for Christmas? Bring it in by December 12th.

Downhill skier
By Claude Thebarge, available at Village Frame & Gallery

Great framing takes time, so bring your gifts of art and seasonal decor to Village Frame & Gallery this week to make sure they will beat Santa to your door.

Despite the business of the season, we will make sure your project receives the care an attention we have built our reputation on since 1999.

Shop hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm. at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219.

Have questions about whether or not we can frame something? Call us at 503-245-8001.

Holiday Hours at Village Frame & Gallery

In order to spend time with our families and friends, Village Frame & Gallery will observe the following special holiday schedule. We hope you are also able to spend time this season in the company of those you love best.

Thursday, December 24th: Closing at 4 pm

Friday, December 25th: Closed

Saturday, December 26th: Closed

Thursday, December 31st: Closing at 4 pm

Friday, January 1st: Closed

 

Multnomah Village Holiday Gala December 4th and 5th

Multnomah Village Holiday Gala poster

Multnomah Village Holiday Gala poster

Friday Night

  • Carriage rides at Multnomah Arts Center starting at 4:30 pm
  • Carriage rides at Key Bank parking lot starting at 6:15 pm
  • Robert Gray Panache Singers at Key Bank at 6:30 pm
  • Tree lighting with Santa at 6:42 pm in front of Village Beads
  • Riversgate Church Street Carolers in the street from 6:00 pm
  • Village Dental at Umpqua Bank with free treats and give-aways from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, raffle at 7 pm
  • Great shopping until 9:00 pm

Saturday

  • Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast with Santa at Lucky Lab 8:00 – 11:00 am
  • Gingerbread house making at Riversgate Church 10:00 am – Noon
  • Wilson Wave Caroling Noon to 1:00 pm
  • A wonderful holiday spirit all day long

Sponsors:

Umpqua Bank, Multnomah Village Business Association, Riversgate Church, Starbucks, SW Kiwanis, Thinker Toys, Healthy Pets Northwest, Switch Shoes and Clothing, Village Dental, Topanien Global Gifts, Multnomah Antiques, Village Beads, Jones and Jones Jewelers

For more information visit www.MultnomahVillage.org.

Suzanne Vaughan at First Friday December 4th

Colorful, stylized skyscrapers

Portals and Cityscapes paintings by Suzanne Vaughan

 

Meet Artist Suzanne Vaughan at Village Frame & Gallery this Friday

Headshot of Suzanne Vaughan
Suzanne Vaughan

Every good story starts at the beginning, and the start of Suzanne Vaughan’s tale lies deep within the heart of Auckland City, New Zealand. Even
as a young child, she absorbed and appreciated the intense vibrancy of the landscape, paying close attention to textures, shapes, horizons, and colors. As she evolved into a woman, she brought with her the inspirations of her childhood and stored them away deep in her subconscious, allowing them to simmer and expand. During the years post and prior to her relocation to America, Suzanne Vaughan’s passion for painting ignited. Her recent works, the Portal series and Cityscape series, embody that explosion of color from within and trace her progression through trying times.

Her painting process involves an energetic, flowing, and rhythmic application of paint. In the Portal series, multiple layers of pigments and tinted
glazes are overlaid generating a luminous glow that suspends flicks, drips, and brushstrokes of paint. Her Cityscape and Landscape paintings are treated with the sharp strokes of palette knives to build up heavily pigmented and textural layers that are often scraped to reveal merging and interacting color complexities. There is a degree of intuition involved, an element of surprise, a dynamic interaction with the unfolding images, color, and textural variances.

However, the most important part of the creative process is the way she can fully immerse herself into her works. Art is about creating an alternate world within reality, where the stresses and troubles of the world evaporate, and where there is only room for one thing: art. “I have to do it,” she says, “it is an ingrained and vital part of who I am.”

Portals and Cityscapes by Suzanne Vaughan opens Friday, December 4, 2015, 6 – 9 p.m. at Village Frame and Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219. This exhibit is open to the public, at no charge. Can’t make it Friday? Stop by during regular business hours, Tuesday – Saturday
10 am – 6 pm, throughout December.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak peek of this vibrant show:

Only One More Week to See Our Local Artist Showcase

Paintings and sculpture exhibit inside Village Frame & Gallery

Paintings and sculpture exhibit inside Village Frame & GalleryIt’s a feast for the eyes at the Gallery this month!

Looking for something to do this week that doesn’t include getting soaked and cold? We suggest soaking in some local art at Village Frame & Gallery, followed by dinner nearby. This month, in the Gallery: Anya Coxworth, Karen Story, Olive Eng, Patricia Giraud, and Violet Blackwood, with Denise Sirchie. The exhibition is free and open to the public during regular business hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, until the end of November at Village Frame & Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219.

Want to know more about these Portland artists? Read on …

Anya Coxworth

Artist’s Bio

Smoking volcano in the distance beyond a colorful river
By Anya Coxworth

Anya Coxworth is a self taught painter born in Flint Michigan in 1971 relocating to Portland Oregon in 1999. Inspired as a child by her artist father she began experimenting with color and lines. Anya has now been painting whimsical portraits, landscapes, and originals for 29 years. She has sold her work locally and internationally for the last 16 yrs. While in Portland she gave a lecture on her work at Portland Community College during the annual Artbeat event in 2006 and has donated pieces to Habitat for Humanity and Oregon Health and Sciences University benefit auctions. The Regional Arts and Culture Council of Portland accepted an original painting of Anya’s for the cities permanent collection. Anya currently resides between Portland and Yamhill Oregon. To view more work visit Anya Coxworth on Facebook and to commission work email her at anyamarie71@gmail.com.

Karen Story

Artist’s Bio

Bare tree branches against a blue sky with colorful snowdrops falling around them
Winter Trees by Karen Story

Majoring in printmaking and painting at PNCA in Portland, Oregon, Karen was the recipient of the Louis Bunce Scholarship award, the Printmaking Department scholarship award, and the Local 10 Scholarship award. Her work is owned by the Portland Art Museum and by many private collectors, and can be seen at Alberta Street Gallery (Portland, OR) and RiverSea Gallery (Astoria, OR).

Karen works primarily in encaustic, which guides the artist to work on the canvas in a direct and flexible way. This allows for unexpected changes in composition, form, texture, and color. Layering and removal of layers keeps this process-oriented painting method archealogical in nature, as there is much digging back into and revealing the often forgotten history of the painting. A certain non-attachment to the current phase of the painting develops, and allows for a freedom not experienced in other media.

Olive Eng

Artist’s Bio

Collage of Asian man in traditional dress layered with brightly colored blocks and circles of oranges and purples
By Olive Eng

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Olive Eng’s parents were originally from the Guangzhou province of China. Olive grew up with a unique blend of both eastern and western influences. The family moved to California when she was a teenager. After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from UCLA and her Master’s Degree from USC, Olive worked for the LA City Schools for 20 years. When it came time to retire, Olive moved north to Portland and moved into the Rose Schnitzer Manor. She began dabbling in painting, taking collage and water color classes at the Multnomah Art Center (MAC). Over time, Olive really began to develop her distinctive style of art using a blend of paint — both acrylic and water color — colored papers, print material and other mixed media.

Olive has shown her work at the Pacific Art Guild in Los Angeles, the Festival for the Arts in Lake Oswego, the Oregon Society of Artists, the Ageless Art Exhibit, part of the Oregon Alliance of Senior and Health services (now LeadingAge Oregon), and in 2011 had her first solo exhibit at Stonehenge Studio in John’s Landing.

Patricia Giraud

Artist’s Statement

Close up of hooves of race horses flinging dirt as they run.
By Patricia Giraud

The seeds for my imagery were planted long ago. I have always been intrigued by the complexity and immediacy of the natural world. My childhood days were spent outdoors, quietly exploring shallow streams, scooping up tadpoles, and seizing the opportunity to be near any animal but especially horses.

Working with horses for decades allowed the opportunity to observe how they function and think – to celebrate their form, their nature. Inspired, I began recording, through photography, the essential relationship between horse and rider. The process-rich medium of printmaking brought a new dimension to my explorations of nature on paper. Intaglio offers a variety of techniques with which to express anatomy, forms shaped by light and shadow, large forces at work and intimate moments.

Initially, the horse was chosen as a totem around which the nuances of relationship, trust, vulnerability and stewardship were considered. More recently, I have expanded those themes to include figures in natural environments–drawing upon memories while interpreting the shapes, textures found in the landscape.

Violet Blackworth

Artist’s Bio

Collage with dark figure of woman in front of gray landscape, a bright column of color is piercing her horizontally and a butterfly is flying away from the woman.
Unnamed by Violet Blackworth

I’m fortunate to have spent years in Spain, Paris, Berlin, and Tunisia, as well as traveling over the globe from Africa to Malaysia, Japan, Hawaii, Sri Lanka and India.Also I must give thanks to the fact that I grew up surrounded with good design, from an early age supplied with art materials. My father, John A. Kapel, the renowned designer, would give me advice at times, commenting briefly upon my collages, batiks, mosaics, masks and paintings. I sold my first works of art at ten, four batiks that resembled paintings, and ever since then I’ve been living and breathing art.

Among artists I’ve known in my life, Leonor Fini was most influential. She was my muse when I entered my twenties and started to paint in earnest, turning out dark very colorful semi-abstracts. Many depicted fantastic beings both beautiful and demonic—phantoms from dreams or nightmares
that tempted me, drove me, and pushed me to paint with intensity. Always I was tormented by an occult yet illuminating force—unknown, ephemeral, maybe magnificent, or perhaps fatal like an immense jungle flower concealing a venomous snake.

Other projects included a film in the 80’s that Fassbinder would have directed except for his untimely death, house renovations in styles from rustic to solar to Danish modern, ecological thinning of drought-stricken forest at risk of fire, and raising full-blooded wolves to live in the wilderness. Throughout, I continued my artistic work, moving from drawings and paintings to computer graphics when programs for art first came out.

Recently I spent some years in Tunisia painting on silk and designing clothes. Upon my return to the States, I shifted into photography. At the same time I developed a singular style in photo-montage. Initial works utilized photos from magazines and other publications — then I began to use photos I’d taken, combining work in “photopainting” with computer graphics for special effects.

Currently I work in three related but fairly separate mediums: photo-montage, photography, and a special technique I call “phainting,” creating works both painterly and photographic.

Denise Sirchie

Artist’s Statement

Mosaic bust covered in red, white, and black tiles, with porcelain flowers and hearts
By Denise Sirchie

My passion for art was awakened around the age of 9; I attended an art class every Saturday each summer through the age of 14. I was taught the basics: sketching, oil painting, pastels, charcoal, still life and portraiture by an inspiring, memorable teacher. As maturity permitted, a short train ride into Philadelphia allowed me to attend the Philadelphia College of Art. I acquired independence, a taste of city life, but more importantly.new eyes. I believe it was then that I began seeing not the ordinary, but the unique possibilities within simplicity.

After college and several years of traveling, I settled in California. Pottery lured my interest and after 4 years of mastering the wheel, clay and porcelain became my new best friends. Upon marrying and then the birth of my son, my art transitioned once more, this time through a child’s eyes: simplicity in form, with bold, contrasting colors … as innocent and beautiful as a child. A few years later, we migrated north and settled in Portland. Life was sailing along smoothly until an early diagnosis of breast cancer. Lights flashed, sirens screamed, treatments commenced, and realizations surfaced.

Therapy for my soul and mind was found in mosaics. I had always admired the media; my husband supported my interest and insisted I give it a try. Self-taught through the help of books and friends’ advice, I became immersed.

Ten years later, the passion to create and the desire to stay healthy is joined in a marriage of determination. The direction of my art is constantly in motion. The freedom that the media allows is alarming: the reason I love it so. As Ralph Waldo Emerson summarizes: “Artists must be sacrificed to their art. Like bees, they must put their lives into the sting they give.” Bzzzzzzzzzzzz

Thanksgiving Hours at Village Frame & Gallery

Autumn table setting with pumpkins.

Autumn table setting with pumpkins. Message overlaid is, "It's time to stop and give thanks with friends and family."

Village Frame & Gallery will be closed Thursday, November 26th, and Friday, November 27th, so we may spend Thanksgiving with our loved ones. We will reopen for regular hours on Saturday, November 28th.

We hope you will, likewise, be able to spend Thanksgiving with the people you are most thankful for and we look forward to seeing you after the holiday.

Need Gifts Framed?

Framing orders for Christmas delivery need to be dropped off at the shop no later than December 12th.

It’s Golden Ticket Time in Multnomah Village and Hillsdale!

Close up of part of Golden Ticket poster

It’s officially Golden Ticket time!  Nov. 16 through Dec. 31 participating Merchants in Multnomah Village and Hillsdale will be offering a special shopping program.  This is a great way to “Shop Local” and support local jobs and businesses! Village Frame Gallery will offer 10% off ready made frames and custom framing if you bring us a Golden Ticket from another shop.  And when you spend $10 on anything in the gallery, we give you a Golden Ticket to use for discounts, prizes or specials in other participating shops.

Golden Ticket poster

Multnomah Village Participating Businesses

Action Fast Photo

Annastasia Salon

Anne Bocci

Annie Bloom’s Books

Craft Factory

David Klick, LMT

Fusion Modern Organic Salon

Healthy Pets Northwest

Indigo Traders

Jacquelines Found & Fabulous

Jones & Jones Jewelers

Jules of Morrocco Clothing

Little Shop of Drawers

Maggie’s Boutique

Multnomah Antiques

Multnomah Family Care Center

Multnomah Village Dental

Northwest Wools

Peachtree Gifts

Peggy Sundays

Sarah J.

Switch Shoes & Clothing

Thinker Toys

Topanian Global Gifts

Village Beads

Village Family Dental

Village Frame & Gallery

Hillsdale Participating Businesses

Haircolor Salon Dirk

Hillsdale Veterinary Hospital

Other Worlds Games

Paint Pots Ceramic Studio

Paloma Clothing

Portland European Facials

The UPS Store

Food & Drink Participating Businesses

Baker & Spice Cakery

Dairy Hill Cream

Down to Earth Cafe

Driftwood Coffee

GiGi’s Cafe

Grand Central Baking

Hattie’s Sweet Shop

Maplewood Coffee & Tea

Marco’s Cafe

Medley Cafe & Tea

Nectar

O’Connors

Oak and Olive

Otto & Anita’s

Renner’s Bar & Grill

Salvador Molly’s

Sasquatch Brewing

Sip D’Vine

The Village Hut

Verde Cocina

Golden Ticket Gold Sponsors

Northwest Wools

Marco’s Cafe

Paloma Clothing

Village Frame & Gallery

Umpqua Bank

Golden Ticket Silver Sponsors

Hatti’s Sweet Shop

Jones & Jones Jewelers

Nectar

Healthy Pets

Hillsdale Farmers’ Market

Golden Ticket Bronze Sponsors

Peggy Sundays

Grand Central Bakery

Switch Shoes & Clothing

WYSE Kadish, LLP, Attorneys at Law

Thinker Toys

Annie Bloom’s Books

Haircolor Salon Dirk

Verde Cocina

Topanien

Portland European Facials

Maggies Boutique

Gigi’s Cafe

Indigo Traders

Advanced Massage Therapy

Seen in Multnomah Village – SCARY!

Village Frame & Gallery owner, Beth Nichols, and her husband, Scott, in their Halloween costumes

Portlanders, is this danger lurking in your home?

Our neighborhood is generally a safe, friendly place, but a couple of weeks, we spotted something truly scary that everybody needs to become aware of before somebody gets hurt.

Village Frame & Gallery owner Beth and her husband, Scott, in their Halloween costumes at Multnomah Village Trick or Treat event.
It’s true, this was spotted in Multnomah Village a couple of weeks ago, and is kind of scary, but in all seriousness, what you need to know about is:

Cheap Art Hangers are Downright Dangerous

One light-duty picture hanger with badly stretched hooks and a heavy-duty hanger made of much thicker, stronger metal
Click photo to enlarge

Heavy framed mirrors and artwork need heavy-duty hardware to keep the artwork and its owners safe. The hanger at the top of this picture was removed from artwork framed at an inexpensive home decor store. The  hanger is bent from the weight of the piece and threatened to release it’s hold. The hanger at the bottom is what an independent professional framer, like Village Frame & Gallery, uses for a heavy piece. Cheap hardware, nail-in picture hooks, and large-thread drywall anchors, can fail under loads greater than 25 pounds.

The Really Frightening Part

Imagine if this picture was hung over a bed! Or a child bumped the wall underneath it! Sure, we’re having some fun with this issue, but it’s no laughing matter when a heavy item comes crashing down onto someone. This is one area where quality absolutely matters.

Village Frame & Gallery can Help Make Your Artwork — and You — Safe

Please, check your artwork and mirrors today. If you see signs of hardware failure — the metal components are stretched, fasteners are pulling out, or anything else that looks suspicious — take down the item right away and bring it to Village Frame & Gallery. We will evaluate the materials used and make recommendations for hanging your heavy item securely. We have appropriate hardware and installation techniques for any kind of display you can imagine, on any surface.

Nobody wants to imagine the damage that might be caused by falling art!

First Friday Local Artist Showcase

Collage of paintings by Portland artists

Join us this Friday, November 6th from 6:00 – 9:00 at Village Frame & Gallery to meet Portland artists exhibiting in our new show.
Collage of paintings by Portland artists

Our Local Artist Showcase features Anya Coxworth, Karen Story, Olive Eng, Patricia Giraud, and Violet Blackwood, with Denise Sirchie.

Village Frame & Gallery is located in Multnomah Village at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219.

Can’t make it Friday? The exhibition is open to the public during regular business hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, throughout the month of November.

Trick or Treat Multnomah Village this Halloween

Don’t miss one of the biggest family-friendly parties of the year!

Rain or shine, it’s trick-or-treat time in the Village Saturday, October 31st, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Start at Starbucks on Capitol Highway to pick up your walking map, and parents can get a complimentary cup of coffee!

Then, make the rounds from business to business, get your picture taken for just $5 at the Harvest Photo Stage–all proceeds go to Neighborhood House–, play some games at the Kids Halloween Carnival, and finish up at Dr. Jensen’s for a special surprise treat.

Halloween in the Village is sponsored by the Multnomah Village Business Association. Follow the Multnomah Village events page or their Facebook page to learn more.

Halloween in Multnomah Village 2015 poster

 

 

Village Frame & Gallery, 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219 ● (503) 245-8001
Open Tuesday - Friday, 10am - 5pm, and Saturday 10am - 4pm, or by appointment.