Pomeroy is a small farming community of about 1,340 in the farthest SE corner of Washington. Close to the Blue Mountains of the Umatilla forest and part of the Snake River, Pomeroy is just 30 miles from Lewiston Idaho, so it is about as “Eastern Washington” as one could get. This rural town is nestled in a tree lined valley between vast fields of wheat on the high rolling hills of a region of Washington State known as the Palouse.
In the past, the population of Pomeroy has mostly been composed of retired farmers, city officials and small business owners, but in the last 30 years new people have been moving to Pomeroy, seeking the peace and slower pace of rural life. This new demographic, plus the needs of long time craftspeople and artists in the community is now being served by the establishment of the Blue Mountain Artisan Guild. (BMAG), see more about BMAG in the article below.
The artists below represent the Pomeroy community. There are public art installations of murals in the small pocket park on Main Street, and the Flour Mill just up the highway also sponsors art exhibits in their cafe, as well as tours in their old-time flour mill. One of the art students from the high school painted a mural on the local swimming pool.
BMAG is the artistic hub and has provided a true impetus to the revitalization of Pomeroy, as well as the opportunity for its citizens to create and exhibit their work. To be sure, there will be more.
Introduction written by artist and past resident, Jennifer Carrasco
Pomeroy Courthouse
Mary M. Flerchinger is one of the founders of the Blue Mountain Artisan Gulld
“I live on a ranch in the foothills of the Blue Mountains 20 miles south of Pomeroy, WA. in the area called Peola. I was born in Lewiston, Id. in 1949 but lived most of my childhood in Wisconsin. I am married to my husband Steve for 50 years and we have 4 adult children and 7 grandchildren. We wheat farm and cattle ranch.
I have loved painting and drawing all my life but have recently become serious about my art. The beauty of Peola and the ranch inspires me and shows in my work. I prefer vivid colors and bold strokes. I would like my art to tell a story or portray a feeling.
My favorite subjects are horses, wildlife, and scenes. I recently tried portraits and decided I liked them. I have painted many subjects ranging from flowers to old rusty cars to lakes and fish. I enjoy experimenting with colors and ideas. I paint mainly in oils and acrylics. I am mostly self-taught but I have taken classes here and there over the years. I paint mainly from photos and sometime plein air. Expressing myself through my art is a good feeling. I also like to make people happy with a good painting of something they love. I am happy to do commissions.”
See more of Mary’s artwork HERE
“As a retired science teacher, homestead farmer and lifelong naturalist much of my art reflects my love of animals, nature and landscape. Other pieces mysteriously emerge from my imagination. I move between detail, realism and impression. I mostly work in watercolor, but I also use ink, acrylic and pastel. My main focus in my art is to authentically document and express my relationship to the world around me.
My daily art practice documents fun, fluidity and attention to form, color, light and shadow. In addition to creating art in my kitchen or studio, I carry my sketchbook along with pencils pens, brushes and portable paints with me practically everywhere I go. Enjoying local music and meals or waiting for appointments present more opportunities to sketch, capture characters and scenes and practice technique. Perhaps my favorite work is created on site in nature. En plein air painting in natural settings finds me in the mountains, on farms, in gardens and even in town.
My education is in Biology and Science teaching. Along the way I have taken several college art classes, but mostly I am self-taught starting as a small child. Currently, I am a member and have shown my art through the following organizations: Blue Mountain Artisan Guild in Pomeroy, WA, Blue Mountain Artists Guild, Dayton, WA, ArtWalla in Walla Walla, WA. Allied Arts in Richland, WA, The Dalles Art Center in The Dalles, Oregon, Pendleton Center for the Arts, Pendleton, Oregon. PAWA - Plein Air, Washington. My art has also been featured in several gallery shows and businesses throughout the region.”
See more of Helen’s artwork HERE
“I was born in Michigan State, raised in Western Washington and relocated to Pomeroy, Washington in 2015, where we owned a farm until this year. By trade I worked in the nursing industry until 2014. I’ve always loved photography and nature, so after relocating and no longer working, combining the two has made my heart happy! I have four grown children and am blessed to be a grandma to three beautiful grandchildren. My husband and I now live in Port Angeles, Washington which is in the upper northwestern corner of the state within the Olympic Mountain region. I love taking both scenic and wildlife photographs. It’s always enjoyable to find the beauty within our world!”
See More of Jaril’s photography HERE
“Our mission here at JD Brown Studios is to offer beautifully crafted paintings of some of the history of our community, Pomeroy Washington in Garfield County, where we were both raised. Our goal is to reproduce our patrons’ memories, by taking your photos and bringing them to life, in whatever setting you choose, and not just from Garfield County. We also offer quality, signed and numbered, Limited Edition Prints on smooth premium canvas, specializing in Scenic Rural Landscapes as well as Historical & Wildlife Renditions. Another important goal is to become prolific enough to give back to our community, through raffles, auctions and all-out contributions to the people and organizations who serve and help our community endure.
Satisfaction is guaranteed and there is no contract on Commissions, or custom original artwork. Commissions, if proofed for reproduction, will come with a Certificate of Authenticity, for your protection. Thank you for your support and for being a part of our passion of sharing nostalgic memories and giving back to our community.”
Visit JD’s website HERE
Gabriella Ball lives in a cabin in the Palouse region of Washington/Idaho, along with her husband and border collie. She worked at two local universities before retiring in 2011 and now volunteers at a charitable thrift shop.
She began painting when she retired, and enjoys painting with watercolors, acrylics and oils. She is active in regional art groups and has exhibited her work in juried, invitational and solo shows over the last decade.
Images of some of Gabriella’s paintings are posted at palousewatercolorsocius.com and pomeroybmag.com
“I was born and raised in Eastern Oregon without phone or TV. I got a BS in Engineering at OSU. I had my own business in Vancouver, WA doing surveying, engineering, and land development, until I retired in 2007. I have always had ranch type property, including a ranch in Colorado.
I have done scroll saw and wood carving intermittently from about 2000 on. I developed my own technique to use a scroll saw and Dremel tool to develop 3D drawings. I enjoy bringing a flat pictured to 3D. Charlie Russel of course is my favorite artist. His is a good way to pass cold winter days by wood carving I my shop.”
Wendi loves knitting, quilting, beekeeping, baking, canning, and vegetable gardening – all of which she considers artwork. She had not painted before September 1st, 2021 when she started her watercolor journey. “My daughter and I planned to paint together as part of her homeschool art curriculum, we purchased a book and a few cheap supplies and promptly began painting. When we did the first exercise and my painting really did look like a monarch caterpillar, I was hooked.”
In addition to homeschooling her daughter, Wendi and her husband own and operate a structural engineering firm. Their company, RPW Structural Engineering specializes in Post-Tensioned Concrete Podium Buildings. Wendi is responsible for all the duties except engineering. “Our engineering business requires a high level of detail and technical work, and I am happy to have painting as a creative outlet.”
One of Wendi’s favorite activities includes collecting and restoring Edsels--once considered the biggest flop in automotive history, the Edsel automobile is now highly collectible. “I joke that I first started dating the Engineer because I loved his cars and his dog.” In fact, cars and dogs have been a great love that the Watsons have shared for nearly 27 years. “I’m always up for a new border collie puppy, a swap meet, or drive in one of our vintage cars. I have an original survivor 1958 Edsel 4-Door Sedan I call Rizzo. She’s a little rough, but that makes me love her more.”
“The Engineer and I were both born and raised in Pomeroy, but we spent 25 years near Portland, Oregon where we created a 1-acre hobby farm growing lavender, sunflowers, and pumpkins for market.” Now that they are back home in Pomeroy, Wendi, and her family plan to build another hobby farm north of town. “This time I think I will try my hand at growing Christmas trees and merino fiber sheep. There are so many fantastic hobbies and interesting things to explore in this life. We are created to be creative, and that’s really what it’s all about; finding joy in the journey and the God who created it all!”
“As a child I spent all my summers on an Arizona ranch, baking mudpies under the scorching Arizona sun. Although my hands shaped the earth, it is the primal force of fire that completes my work. Earth, Air, Fire, and Water the four sacred elements that are the breath of life.
Each piece is thrown on the pottery wheel as no two pieces are identical. Each piece is an original, never to be repeated. As a professional potter, I am deeply influenced bybmy childhood in Arizona and Old Mexico, greatly admiring Native American skills. I use potter’s wheel and work in white stoneware clay and unleaded glazes.
I feel I have come full circle, working again in the “mud”, and hand painting designs freehand. I consider it a blessing to have my studio to work in everyday, creating works that reflect my love the west and the ancient peoples who came before us.”
“On my 16th birthday, my Aunt Bev, who was an Artist, gave me my first set of oil paints and brushes which I used o paint a picture inspired by one of my birthday cards.
When I moved to Oregon rom So. California, I met Barbara Thelen of Woodburn, Oregon. Who gave Art lessons in her home, this led me to a group of women who gathered every Wednesday to paint and we became friends for over 30 years. I learned much of what I know today, including colors, mixing colors, types of brushes and brush car, from these Wednesday afternoons. Many of those women have passed away now, but I still get together with a couple of them and paint, when I visit Oregon. I love to travel near and far and be inspired by scenery, nostalgia, nature, and people.
My favorite things to paint are places that I have been to and then le the viewer see the story behind the picture. I moved to Pomeroy in 2014 from Lewiston Idaho and was fortunate to discover the BMAG. The members have made me feel so welcome and is has renewed my love of painting and trying new things like Plain Air and Acrylics. It has greatly enriched my life.“
“I was born in Pomeroy, Washington in 1958, left Pomeroy after high school; worked in restaurants in Salt Lake City, Utah for ten years. Then I moved to Boise, Idaho and spent ten years there working as an air traffic controller. From there, I moved to McMinnville, Oregon, working at the McMinnville airport for the rest of his career. I moved back to Pomeroy in 2018 to enjoy the golden years with wife, Brenda, who is also from Pomeroy.”
“My interest in art began 2017 when Blue Mountain Artisan's Guild (BMAG) organized a night class for members in the community. Having never painted in my life, nor even held a paint brush, I nervously signed up for the class. We painted a scene on a pumpkin. The class was so enjoyable, I signed up for the following month night class. This time we painted chickadees on a branch in acrylic. The class was taught by Mary Flerchinger, one of the founders of BMAG. I was hooked after the second class and asked Mary if she gave individual lessons. She did and I signed up.
I have enjoyed painting for my own pleasure ever since. I will never be Grandma Moses, but am certainly having fun with my new hobby.“
“My painting experience began with latex and a roller. The canvas has now reduced from a wall to a size that fits on an easel! As far back as my great grandparents, painting has been an enjoyable pastime for many of my family members. I am blessed with this opportunity.”
Jennifer Carrasco is a previous resident of Pomeroy. She graduated with a BA in Art and Education from Washington State University and was a graduate student at the University of Washington, as well as attending two years of graphic technology, design, and illustration at Seattle Central Community College. In the '60s, she worked as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines and remained in the country for 16 years, painting and teaching art. From 1986 to 1996, Jennifer was an NEA artist in residence in five different states and traveled in Japan and Korea as an artist in residence in US overseas schools. Since the early '90s, she has managed her own mural business in Seattle.
Jennifer has combined personal interpretation, painstaking historical research and period details, into an innovative series of murals in private residences and commercial establishments from Hawaii to Dubai. Each of her projects has been an adventure, a collaboration where she works with clients to create unique and beautiful visual environments.
See more of Jennifer’s work HERE
Where to see Art in Pomeroy
Blue Mountain Artisans Guild
Newcomers to the Pomeroy area, Carol Wildman, Mary Flerchinger and other volunteer board members set up an official BMAG art center on April 30, 2010. The Guild’s central philosophy was to focus on all the arts and fine crafts, from quilting, to pottery and knitting, to painting, sculpture and photography. From the very beginning, the Guild has offered free art classes in the summer for children and has sponsored art and crafts exhibits in the high school during ball games and in various cafes, and restaurants, and at the Spinner’s Hall.
Through the generosity of Gary Houser and the Shepherd Foundation, BMAG was able to purchase their first art center building in 2012, and with the many donations from members and Pomeroy business, they were able to remodel and offer shows and classes for adults and children. Again in 2021, with the help of the Shepherd Foundation and BMCF of Walla Walla, Wa, the Guild was able to purchase an adjoining building and remodel it for art exhibits and classes, as well as install a kitchen and furniture for art receptions and community events.
BMAG exhibits fabric art, stained glass, woodwork, photography, all media paintings, leather, metal, jewelry, pottery and ceramics. Classes are offered in painting, crafts and pottery with a professional kiln for firing the clay ceramics and sculpture. All displays are organized by volunteers working with the Guild.
Visit their website HERE for complete with up-to-date offerings and photos of BMAG schedules and events, as well as a BMAG Facebook page HERE.
BMAGART is also maintained by Guild volunteers.
Public Art
Court House Statue by Randy Bowen
Garfield County Map Mural by JD Brown
Pool Murals
Pocket Mural