La Conner Weekly News - Your independent hometown award-winning newspaper

Expect to see an exciting array of art when Art's Alive opens at Maple Hall this Friday at 1 pm.

"Northwest Focus," this year's theme, was inspired by poster artist, greater La Conner resident and Town of La Conner Arts Commission member Craig Barber. "Craig's work in photography brought the word focus into it and all our artists are Northwest regional artists," said Sheila Johnson. She is a board member of the La Conner Arts Foundation, the 501c3 organization that plans and produces the show under a contract with the Town of La Conner. Its curator and director is Sylvia Strong.

You will see familiar Northwest landscapes in Barber's "Farming the Skagit Valley" series documenting farmers, farmworkers and the land they till. His photos have been shown in solo and group exhibitions in Europe, South America and North America.

"It's been a while since Art's Alive hosted fiber artists and we are very thrilled to have two who work in totally different disciplines," said Johnson. Terri Shinn's three-dimensional fiber art is inspired by roots, rocks and trees – especially their bark. According to the Art's Alive Facebook page, award-winning fiber artist and weaver Liz Moncrief hand dyes fibers for colorations that cannot be replicated.

New this year to the Invitational Show are artists Teresa Smith of Friday Harbor, Kristen Ingman of Bellingham, Deborah Henderson of Olympia, Joan Enslin of Camano Island and Anacortes resident Peggy Woods, whose coastal watercolors include extraordinary detail, rich color and contrast.

Skokomish Elder Dennis Allen is participating thanks to a new collaboration with the Stonington Gallery of Seattle, a premier gallery for masters of Salish art. At age 88, he explores the imagery of his ancestors, inspired by legends that have been passed down to him. "He creates from his heart and enjoys every piece that he creates," says the Stonington Gallery. The collaboration "is proving to be a wonderful way to include native artists," Johnson noted.

Barber, Janie Olsen of Monroe and Christine Troyer of Mount Vernon have all been invitational artists at previous Art's Alive shows.

Many invitational artists will be present at the opening gala this Friday from 5 pm to 8 pm. Upstairs, you can view works by the 50 artists in the Open Show. As always, you can nominate your favorite piece of art for the People's Choice award, which goes to the artwork that gets the most votes.

This is the third Art's Alive mounted under the auspices of the Foundation and the 38th since the inaugural show in 1985. The show is entirely produced by 36 volunteers who set up and tear down the gallery, hang the art and run the reception. Be sure to express your appreciation when they top off your beverage or refresh the hors d'oeuvres.

"We're very excited about this year's show and are looking forward to seeing it all come together," said Johnson.