“Langley, located on the south end of Whidbey Island is an artists haven. South Whidbey accessed by ferry from the mainland at Mukilteo is a destination for all things artistic. We have sculptors, painters, potters, photographers, woodworkers, jewelers, musicians, actors, weavers, dancers and writers, Oh My!!
Art is our middle name and we celebrate that fact in many ways from monthly art walks, an Art Trail leading to studios far and wide hidden in the woods. There are galleries, public art on the streets and in private gardens and most recently Langley has been designated as a “ Creative District” that recognizes the concentration of arts facilities and opportunities in and around the downtown core. We enjoy 38 outdoor sculptures/works of art within the 5 blocks of downtown Langley in addition to six galleries including a working glass studio in the old firehouse plus a rotating gallery at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts (WICA)”. Karen McInerney
“I feel a connection with the natural world. I am comfortable when animals are around, and my sculpture has always been inspired by their beauty and grace. Inspired, but not confined. I enjoy pushing shapes beyond realistic – sometimes for a whimsical effect, sometimes purely for the rhythm of the lines and my sense of aesthetics. I believe that my most successful work could be stripped of its figurative elements and the underlying forms remain beautiful.
I also enjoy narration, especially as a part of my public installations. I try to engage the viewer’s imagination by presenting a moment in an incomplete story. By suggesting a theme and a feeling, viewers find themselves providing details. Making art brings me joy, and to know that my art brings joy to others seems to me about the best bargain ever made. When I am able to share my creativity I feel that I am contributing. It gives me a sense a purpose.
The latest news from my studio is the launching of my new website, to see, click HERE. It features available sculpture, as well as a wonderful chronological gallery of my major public artworks from the first installation in 1983 to the pieces just recently created for First Hill Park in Seattle”.
Georgia Gerber, Interview by Delores Peck, June 2021
Georgia Gerber, as we already mentioned, is the mother of Laura Hudson. Art truly does run in this family! While Laura is a painter, Georgia is a sculptor. "Though I am considered a 'bronze sculptor', the actual medium I work with is clay," she says. She spends her day in the studio, well, sculpting, although there are times when planning and creating armatures (for support) must be done.
Inspired by nature, mostly animals, Georgia creates works that are lovely and timeless and charming and grand. Many of them are life-sized and publicly displayed in parks and other common areas. She has works in Wichita and Seattle as well as many in Langley. Rachel, the Pike Place Market Mascot, familiar to every Seattle resident and tourist, is Georgia's work.
At one time Georgia cast most of her own work herself, even the larger pieces for public display. But gradually she began to use a bronze studio in Oregon to mostly complete the process, though, they return the work to her for the final metal tooling and patina. "For many years," she told us, "I actively pursued public and private commissions. I am still open to them, but have slowed down and now focus on smaller works. One very practical reason for that is that, for some reason, bronze has become heavier as (I've) grown older!"
Covid, fortunately, has not impacted Georgia's artistic life as much as it has many others. "To my surprise," she says, "after the first few months of the pandemic, interest in my work actually began increasing. I put that down to people who were spending so much more time at home turning their attention to their environment and thinking about adding art to their lives." We are fortunate that Georgia will continue in her sculpting. The world is indeed a better place with her work making it more pleasing! See more of Georgia's work HERE
“The first chapter of my career found me living in the city and travelling the American west seeking answers in the National Parks. While I had not intended to make "western" paintings the influence of the landscape and wildlife was undeniable. Now, my travels around the west are done. My life, and my work are about the land and the creatures with whom I live. And the goal for my work has changed. Rather than make paintings that tell a story I'm much more interested in making paintings that share a feeling. My work explores the inner world where things are felt more than seen. I am making representational paintings about emotional experiences”.
Born raised near Seattle, Craig's dedication to making art has been life-long. Early recognition and support for his work led to studies at the Art Center College of Design and a thirty-year career as a graphic designer. In 1995 he became the first web designer at Microsoft and helped build the foundation of the Internet we use today. In 2004 he quit his day job to pursue the dream of painting seriously. In 2011, Craig began a new adventure by purchasing five acres of rural forest on Whidbey Island where he built a modest home and standalone studio. He started working there full time in 2012 and the focus of his work began to turn inward. Since then Craig has produced a growing variety of paintings which, over time, have become somewhat more expressive and abstract. The work to integrate these seemingly disparate styles is ongoing. Visit his website by clicking HERE
BOHO Art by Potter creates visually brilliant and original 3D art on a vertical axis. Their one of a kind art poles are carved, embossed and painted on solid cedar with bright and beautiful, wild and whimsical themes from nature and other favorite things. Cats and teapots, roadrunners and flowers, butterflies, turtles and ocean creatures, their charming designs are painted with a dazzling acrylic palette and finished with three coats of glossy spar varnish. The art poles are created to be sturdy enough to display outdoors in the garden, but are lovely enough to be the centerpiece in any setting. They range in size from 14 inches, for display on a table or cabinet, up to six feet tall. See more information HERE
“I've always thought of spinning on a potter’s wheel as an apt metaphor for life. Things go so much better if you start out properly centered. I try to create art that fosters the same peace of mind and sense of wellbeing I find when gazing at the starry night sky. That's why most of my pots feature accurate constellations. I throw my work on a potter’s wheel, with fine-grained local white clay, carving designs into the leather-hard surface after it is trimmed. Pine needles gathered in the nearby mountains fuel the raku firings and infuse the clay with a smoked, natural look. The final surface is hand painted”.
Born in Pomona, California in 1952, Joan Govedare grew up on Catalina Island and in the Santa Ynez Valley of Southern California. She moved to Washington State in 1972, and to Whidbey Island in 1990, where she lives and has her studio today. Having had a constant and early experience in ceramic studios, she has been developing her own techniques since 1970. Joan’s father, an astronomer, engendered in her an interest in the stars, which remains a large influence in her work today. Joan currently has her work at the Rob Schouten Gallery in Langley Washington. See more of Joan’s artwork HERE
“Born and raised on a family dairy farm, I learned early a strong work ethic. My Quaker mother and grandmother made sure I learned to knit and sew well, my father taught me how to handle and understand equipment and animals. Years later, in my early 30's, I encountered weaving on a dare from a friend. I resisted, but fumbled my way through a first warp; I still have that piece of cloth, which shows glimmerings of my future aesthetic. The fumbling has for the most part ended, but the steady forward progression of inner-directed learning and experimentation has never ceased. About ten years ago, I invested in my first computer-assisted loom; the learning curve was daunting and lengthy. Working with technically advanced equipment has enabled me to create weaving that sometimes approaches my wildest dreams”.
“On the rural Island where I live it is common to come across sheep grazing in a pasture, cows curled up under a tree in the summer shade, or a group of hens pecking at the grass along the fence lines of their pens. It may be the calmness of the animals or the simplicity of the scenes, but these moments convey a sense of peace. This is what I try to bring to my studio. I begin with images of the animals, allowing their forms to determine the composition. I then let my intuition and whimsy play with colors and paint marks until the animals have come to life and the hues are balanced. My hope is that these paintings carry with them that same easy feeling that inspires me. I want them to bring joy and a comforting charm to the homes they live in”. See more of Laura’s artwork HERE
Laura Hudson Interview by Delores Peck, June 2021
The sensations of rural living - the sounds of chickens and crickets, the smell of hay and sunshine - come to life when you look at Laura Hudson's paintings. There are flowers, bunnies and blue chickens all feeling comfortable and homey. It's obvious that Laura loves her home, her family and her work. And she should. Her work is wonderful, colorful, whimsical and charming.
Family obviously means much to Laura. "My mom, Georgia Gerber, makes bronze sculptures of animals," she says. Growing up with her is probably one of my biggest influences and inspirations." We couldn't resist including Georgia's profile in this edition of Small Community Focus, so you will see hers following Laura's. This month, SCF is a family affair.
Covid has naturally effected Laura's artistic career. "I had my paintings up at two local restaurants and would sell a lot of work that way," she says. "When Covid-19 shut everything down, so did one of my sales outlets. The other way I was impacted was my kids' preschool closed for a few months, which meant they would often end up in my studio with me. It wasn't as productive of a time, but we have some good memories from it." Nevertheless, she remains upbeat about it. "I think all artists are always a little/a lot scared that they won't survive off of their art and Covid-19 really upped that panic," she told us. "I am so grateful when a painting sells and I get to keep on going. I love being able to work solely as an artist."
And Laura works hard at what she loves. She works on three to five of her acrylic paintings during the day. She likes, she says, to have a lot of work going at once. Someday, she told us, she would like to turn a barn she owns into a gallery. "Sometimes, I think of making really outrageous paintings," she say, "or trying to go completely abstract. I always imagine myself getting pretty out there when I am older." We will be eager to see what happens!
“Making pots is both personal and universal. As a maker of utilitarian pots, my design decisions are based on the needs of function as I stretch my aesthetic and engage my visual vocabulary. Elegance of line and fullness of form are aspects I continually seek in my work. I distil both my ideas, designs and forms to their simplest components, for I wish to imply the ultimate strength of a pot -- to enhance and even magnify musculature of form and tautness of surface.
Borrowing from centuries of tradition and adding simple modern design elements, I make my flame-ware cooking pots for stovetop, oven, broiler, grill, hearth. I am enamored with the endless possibilities and challenges inherent in making flameproof cooking pots. And because of the many considerations I must entertain while designing and making pots that include ruggedness, simple practicality, beauty, and elegance of form; I am engaged in thoughts of cooking methods, local foods, international recipes, and tabletop culture”.
See more information HERE
LaChaussee Blown Glass - Dan and Joi LaChaussee
“Joi and I have owned and operated a glassblowing studio on South Whidbey Island for 33 years. Langley is our home and our community. Of course, our community also includes Clinton and Freeland, but it is Langley that is the center of art, entertainment, and education. The quantity and quality of inspirational people and organizations that have given us and our art opportunity and direction is a fantastic asset, that makes our success more possible and more enjoyable. Our Langley community is very unique in the world and country as far as the focus on the arts, facilitating its success, and its exposure in our town. By extension of its many visitors and advertising campaigns that exposure is far reaching”.
“It is with great fondness that I say thank you so much to Rob Schouten Gallery, Island Arts Council, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, NW Arts Alliance, and our Langley community. Sincerely, the LaChaussee family”.
“My life as an artist has always been intertwined with my love of nature and wildlife. My rural studio is surrounded by forests, gardens, fields and ponds. Located on Whidbey Island, in Puget Sound, salt water and snow covered mountains inspire me on a daily basis. After earning a BFA in Silversmithing from the School for American Crafts in Rochester, NY, I began my career as a metalsmith.
Over the years, I have developed several techniques that allow me to combine metal, nature and color. One technique involves piercing sheet metal with a jeweler's saw, and adding hand colored resins. These resins are as tough as they are beautiful, which is critical when used in belt buckles. I also work with hammered copper or silver to create boxes, cuffs, and earrings. I add my beloved flowers and animals by gilding with 23K gold. I use my torch to create beautiful patinas.
I show my work at Penn Cove Gallery in Coupeville, Rob Schouten Gallery in Langley, and Shop One in Rochester, NY. And serval of my pieces are exclusively on the Platinum NW Gallery, HERE. See more work on my website, click HERE
Hand Wheel, wood, bronze, steel by David Gignac. Langley Park
Don Wodjenski, photographer of Langley’s public art
With over 40 years involved in Whidbey Island arts organizations, Don Wodjenski continues to remain active in the island arts community. A retired visual arts instructor and practicing artist and musician living in Langley, Wodjenski continues to photograph, lathe turn wood pieces, and play saxophone in two jazz combos. See more of Don’s work HERE
Wazmini III Courting His Bride by Hank Nelson. Langley CC office
Boy and his dog, bronze by Georgia Gerber. 1st Street
Grass Cutter, bronze by Georgia Gerber. So Whid Museum
Hope, the Wishing Whale, bronze by Georgia Gerber. Seawall Park
Fish Vane II, stainless steel by Wayne Kangas. Clyde Alley
Rob Schouten Gallery & Sculpture Garden was established in 2008 and has been located in Langley since 2017. The gallery primarily showcases the work of noted Whidbey Island and Northwest professional artists. The gallery exhibits fine quality painting, sculpture, glass, jewelry, printmaking, ceramics, encaustics, woodworking, fiber arts and mixed media. Monthly changing exhibitions feature the work of the island’s regionally, nationally and internationally known artists and are sure to delight the most discerning art collector. Located in downtown Langley at 101 Anthes Avenue. You can see more about the gallery HERE
“Langley on Whidbey Island has become one of the premier art towns in the Puget Sound region. Visual and performing arts are a mainstay of the island economy, and the island is home to many well-known artists in a variety of media. Galleries, studios, and outdoor sculptures displayed all over town make Langley a well-liked destination for art lovers”. Rob Schouten
Museo is a contemporary art gallery known for showing regionally and nationally acclaimed artists in a variety of mediums, sizes and price points. From its beginning almost 20 years ago, Museo has consistently shown excellent art in it's beautiful, open and light-filled gallery space. Purchased in 2018 by Seattle artist, Michael Dickter and Nancy Whittaker, Museo continues that legacy, with new shows monthly that inspire and delight. Located at 215 First St, downtown Langley. See more about Museo HERE
“With public art all around, art galleries and performance spaces in all four corners, and artist studios galore, the arts in Langley is thriving and growing. The arts are important in here, I think it might be one of the essentials, after shelter & food and it shows”. Nancy Whittaker
Callahan’s Firehouse Studio was founded in 2009 by South Whidbey native Callahan McVay. Located in the historic Langley Firehouse, we offer a unique experience to visitors by designing and producing all our art inside our retail shop. Guests are able to interact with our amazing staff and learn more about glassblowing as glass art is created before their eyes. Located at 179 Second Street, downtown Langley and open daily from 10am - 5pm. See more information HERE
The Whidbey Art Gallery, doing business for over 25 years, offers high quality fine artwork by local artists who have been juried into the gallery. Their art includes paintings (oil, watercolor, acrylic and encaustic), photography, digital art, colored pencil, printmaking, wood and stone carving, jewelry, glass, metal, sculpture, and fiber art. Unique among Langley galleries, they provide juried artists the opportunity to display and sell their work on a daily basis as well as take a part of the operations and decision-making processes of the gallery. Whidbey Art Gallery is located at 220 Second St in downtown Langley. The gallery also features an online store. See this and more information HERE
For over 25 years, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts has produced, presented, and supported artistic endeavors, educational initiatives, and cultural events that celebrate and enrich the lives of people in our region. Our typical seasons include dance, film, humanities, music, and theatre programming. In addition to offering performances, screenings, and lectures, we provide a venue, The Lasher Gallery, for local fine, decorative, and applied artists to share their work. Located at 565 Camano Ave, Langley. See more information about WICA HERE
Established in 2005, Artworks Gallery represents 16 local Whidbey Island artists who exhibit original art in a wide variety of media. Exhibitions change quarterly and include watercolor, acrylic and oil paintings, ink drawings, encaustics, wood artistry, jewelry, glass and garden art, fiber art, and Pacific Northwest photography. Starting on July 3rd, Artworks Gallery will present Music in the Courtyard, a series of summer events planned for the return of Langley’s First Saturday Art Walk. All first Saturday summer music events are free and will be held in the courtyard in front of the Artworks gallery.
Artworks Gallery Summer Hours – 11-5, Wednesday - Monday, and 11-7 on the first Saturday of each month. Closed Tuesday. Located in the courtyard at 221 - 2nd Street, in downtown Langley. See more HERE