2nd & Blair Artists Holiday Open Studio Sale - This Weekend!

Visit the 9 artists participating in this years studio tour and sale at the 2nd and Blair Art Studios in The Whit - Eugene.
Roka Walsh, Barbara Gleason, Alison Shiboski, Michael DeBitetto, Chris Paulson, Betsy Wolfston, Susan Klein, Judith Sparks, and Mari Livie.
We're opening the event one night early this year – in celebration of the Oregon Ducks – on Thursday evening - December 1st from 5 - 8 pm. We continue on Friday evening, December 22nd from 5 - 8, Saturday December 3rd from 11 am - 5 pm and winding up on Sunday afternoon, December 4th from 12 Noon - 4 pm.
Don't miss this much anticipated annual show and sale!

Roka Walsh - Photographer and Digital Artist

Roka Walsh

"A thing of beauty can evoke an emotional reaction within us

and cause us to feel at peace, even if just for a moment.

Therein lies the “why” for doing what I do.

I love finding beauty in the world and re-imaging it for you to see." – Roka

After a brief love affair with close-up photography in the 80’s, I hung up my camera – due to the prohibitive costs of film photography. I ventured into jewelry, fused glass, product illustration and graphic design – always looking for an outlet for my creative spirit. When quality digital photography surfaced I was inspired to again pick up the camera, this time armed with deep skills in PhotoShop.

I am primarily a nature photographer and I love to get very close to my subject. Although I sometimes leave my work untouched, I love to create art using my photographs as primary elements of design.  From to real-life depiction to the abstract, I use the camera to reveal the beauty and mysteries often hidden from the human eye, or to simply tell a story.

Chris Paulson - Fused Glass Artist

Chris Paulson

The iridescent beauty of Chris Paulson’s fused glass art is timeless. Each piece is uniquely handcrafted using an ancient gradual heating and cooling technique dating back over 4,000 years.

Artistry and technical expertise transform the lustrous iridescent glass into contemporary functional art. A variety of pieces including platters, trays, picture frames, and coaster sets are available in a wide array of colors and sizes.

The lustrous, rainbow-like surface of the glass is suitable for everyday use, but nonetheless, should be treated with care. Chris hopes you and your customers will enjoy his fused glass art for many years to come.

Michael DiBitetto - Print Artist

Michael DiBitetto

My main focus is my interpetations of the landscape using intaglio printing as my main medium.The northwest exists for me as a dream shrouded in mist and fog,while at other times it can be a place of light and optimism. Here, the connection of the commonplace to the sacred is what I look to convey in my prints.

Mari Livie - Fibers & Ceramics Artist

Marie Livie

Mari Livie is wild about creating.  She’s been an artist since back when she was eating crayons and decorating herself with her baby food.  She was raised in the wilds of Alaska (though not by wolves), and has always drawn inspiration from that wilderness.  After a television free childhood, spent stitching her own fashions and wearing them out into the snow, she received her degree in Environmental Studies and Ceramics at University of Oregon.  

Currently, Mari is furiously working to generate an artistic cohesion between her two great loves, cloth and clay.  She draws inspiration from her two young children, her environmental studies background, and the natural world.  Although some of Mari’s work strikes upon environmental and social issues she is also intrigued with color and repetition, and often generates work to simply explore these phenomenon.

Barbara Gleason - Colored Pencil and Mixed Media Artist

Barbara Gleason

I have always felt at home in nature — captivated by its changes, its
animals and plants, and how organisms work together. My paintings of
nature – wildlife, plants, and landscapes—choose themselves when I
notice how the light falls upon a scene or animal. Playing with color, line,
light and shadow, I can easily get lost in the textures of feathers and fur.

2nd & Blair Artists Holiday Open Studio Sale - This Weekend!

Visit the 9 artists participating in this years studio tour and sale at the 2nd and Blair Art Studios in The Whit - Eugene.
Roka Walsh, Barbara Gleason, Alison Shiboski, Michael DeBitetto, Chris Paulson, Betsy Wolfston, Susan Klein, Judith Sparks, and Mari Livie.
We're opening the event one night early this year – in celebration of the Oregon Ducks – on Thursday evening - December 1st from 5 - 8 pm. We continue on Friday evening, December 2 from 5 - 8, Saturday December 3 from 11 am - 5 pm and winding up on Sunday afternoon, December 4 from 12 Noon - 4 pm.
Don't miss this much anticipated annual show and sale!

Betsy Wolfston - Handbuilt Ceramic Artist

Betsy Wolfston

"For the past 20+ years I have made my living as a professional ceramic artist. My work can be seen in many public art works around the country. I also show my work as a solo artist in professional art galleries on a national level. Much of my inspiration for my work comes from traveling abroad. I have traveled in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. From all of these journeys I have respectfully commemorated my findings into pieces of art for public showing and educating. All of my work is hand built one at a time and is suitable for hanging indoors or out.  Each year for the 2^nd & Blair Artist Open House and Studio Sale I create a new body of smaller works of art that are very affordable and make a nice addition to anyone’s art collection or as a gift."

Alison Shiboski - Fine Jewelry

  Alison is another guest artist at 2nd and Blair.  She has been a long standing participant in our annual holiday sale and this year she will be exhibiting in Betsy Wolfston's studio.  Her beautiful handmade fine jewelry is perfect for special occasions, with her line of wedding jewelry and focus on gold and fine gemstone jewelry.

 

 

Artist Statement

"I design and produce jewelry using precious metals and a variety of gemstones. We all seek to mark special occasions such as a weddings and anniversaries. I work in a personal manner to make designs that suit the occasions and the individuals.

I rely on traditions in form and function to guide me. Will a piece be comfortable to wear every day? Is it constructed of quality materials that wear well? This utilitarian approach is satisfying for me as the artist and for the recipient of my work.

I take delight that jewelry created from materials conceived in the earth generations ago will be worn and appreciated for generations to come.

My work is on display and available through the year at Next Twist in Eugene and The Real Mother Goose in Portland."

Judith Sparks - Painter

http://judithsparks.com/

You might recognize Judith's work from her iconic Eugene installation pieces in the Public Library Rotunda.  Her powerful silk banners with salmon imagery are suspended in the center of  a three story spiral staircase, becoming a walking meditation as you climb.  
In addition to her public art works, Judith creates, assemblages, 2-D works and sculpture.  As a longstanding member of 2nd and Blair Artists, Judith will be opening her studio for one weekend only during the Annual Holiday Sale Dec. 3-5th. 

"I am self taught in silkscreen, watercolor, acrylic, and airbrush on paper, canvas, and silk. I also construct iconic assemblages of found & fabricated objects. My work is informed by poetry, mythology, and Buddhism, and inspired by salmon, dogs, and all things earthly. I currently have a working studio in Eugene, OR, with the 2nd Avenue & Blair St. Warehouse artists." - Judith Sparks

Tracey Bell - Metalsmith

With inspiration drawn from natural and man-made surroundings Tracey creates wearable art that celebrates life both as a force of nature and an experience while discovering permanence and new meaning in typically short lived and forgotten elements of everyday life. 

Tracy Bell has moved her studio to ClaySpace at 222 Polk Street, Eugene. Visit her studio during our Holiday Show and Sale - It's just around the corner.

Susan Klein - Designer and Mixed Media Artist

Susan will feature her collectible mixed metal and stone jewelry, which includes colorful touches of torched enamels, resins, stones and found objects. A jeweler since 1991, she has sold to galleries, catalogs and museum shops across the US and Europe having a featured show in Milan, Italy. New for the 2010 Holiday season, Susan Klein will be showing and selling her new, 105 piece collection of artisan pewter and stone jewelry. A two and one half year project, her exciting new line has finally been released to the public as of September.

A textile, fashion designer and weaver of many years, she will also feature mixed media wooden framed and unframed collages using birch wood, metals, acrylics, canvas and found objects. Original frameable art cards and metal garden art is on her agenda to show and sell. All will be affordable to the Eugene community.

Betsy Wolfston Now Showing at Opus VII

Ceramic artist Betsy Wolfston, of the 2nd and Blair Artists, is now showing a selection of her work at the recently re-opened Opus Gallery, Opus VII. On display are her trademark house blessings and bowls as well as gorgeous collaborative mixed media wall pieces that incorporate curvilinear carved wood panels.