The abstract paintings of Elaine Dunham are just what we need to banish the dark of winter. Her playful, bright canvases are very welcome as the nights draw in. Using movement and color, patterns shift and dance in the energetic exchange that is Dunham’s speciality. Works like “Around Ashland” evoke a joyful response while the muted palette of “Swing Time Menagerie” creates a more thoughtful encounter. But taking in all of these paintings is a delightful experience.

Bandon High School art teacher Jen Ells showed her paintings earlier this year, and now fills the cases with her ceramic pots, bowls, and mugs in earth tones and soft colors.

All works are available for purchase.

Please join us for a reception for both artists on Sunday, December 3rd, at 2 pm in the Sprague Room. Refreshments will be served, and all are welcome.

Photo credits: “Around Ashland” and “Swing Time Menagerie” by Elaine Dunham; honey pots by Jen Ells.

The gallery is open during regular library hours, 1204 11th St. SW, in Bandon City Park. For more information about the gallery, visit the Bandon Library Friends and Foundation website, Bandonlff.org.

Curator Tracy Hodson assembled the work of 22 artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond, demonstrating the wide range of styles and materials these artists utilize to create their mosaics.

“I am so glad to be back after the Covid years, and I thought the best way to celebrate the return of this annual show was to throw as wide a net as possible. We are showing artists who work in the Classical vein, using marble, travertine, smalti–which is a glass that has been made specifically for mosaics for about 600 years, in Venice and Murano, Italy–gold, tile, and other sorts of natural specimens,” Hodson said.

“In addition to those who work in stained glass or pique-assiette– a modern form of mosaic art that uses broken or cut ceramic crockery shards. There are also glass-on-glass mosaics hanging in the window at the end of the hall, two of which were made by children, and we have two micromosaic jewelry makers this year. Both walls of the gallery are covered, and the cases are full. I don’t think even one more mosaic would have fit!”

The roster of mosaicists includes newcomers and returning artists from as far away as Oklahoma, Maryland, and Texas.

“And Brigitte Raison, who lives in France, sent a mosaic again this year,” Hodson said. “We have a solid list of artists who have stuck with us year after year, and more new ones than ever before. I hope that the show will bring in more new visitors than ever before, too. It’s not easy to see what’s happening in the mosaic world, as it’s not an art form many people know much about, and few galleries show it. As far as I know, we’re still the only annual mosaic show in Oregon, and I am dedicated to keeping it going.”

This year’s show includes work by two Bandon artists, Donn Klewitz and Bessie Joyce. Hodson’s own mosaics will be on display inside the library on the Long Wall, along with Winchester Bay painter Rebecca McCormick. Most of the mosaics in the show are for sale, and many of the artists accept commissions.

The 7th Annual Mosaic show runs through July 31st; the Mosaic Extravaganza happens in the Sprague Room on Saturday July 8th, at 2 pm. Refreshments will be served, and all are welcome.

The gallery is open during regular library hours, 1204 11th St. SW, in Bandon City Park. For more information about the gallery, visit the Bandon Library Friends and Foundation website, Bandonlff.org.

Article courtesy of Tracy Hodson. Art images, “January” by Jacqueline Iskander; “Paradise” by Peggy Jackson; “Whirling Dervish” by Dee Ruff; “On Mercator #2” by Kelley Knickerbocker.

Allison McClay is a true painter of the unconscious; her subjects are always experiencing more than what is obvious at first glance. She illuminates the psychological realities of those she paints, inviting you to relate to them intimately. Some of these paintings were made during lockdown, and evoke moods and situations that will be familiar to all of us: the half-finished projects started halfheartedly and then abandoned, the ennui as days at home stretched on and on, the claustrophobia of the early days. But this is not the only territory she explores in this show.

This time she brings us stories of early lighthouse residents: Mabel Bretherton who, with her two children, served as keeper of the North Head Lighthouse at Cape Disappointment from 1905 to 1907, and Cora, whose husband was keeper 20 or so years later. Cora came to a sad end (“Cora Jumps”), but the painting is a beautiful seascape that makes her decision a private one, made in solitude. Solitude is the overarching theme of this show, where the people she paints enjoy, seek, grab a fleeting moment of, or suffer solitude. And what makes these scenes so rich is Allison’s exquisite attention to detail, to each strand of curling hair on head or cat, or the intricacies of pattern in a dress or bedclothes. Her paintings keep us grounded in their reality through this sort of care, without sacrificing the surreal elements in such paintings as “Sunday in August.” In fact, that care enhances the effect of these subtle details that you have to look long to see. There’s always more going on in Allison’s paintings than meets the immediate eye. Take the time to look and find the deeper story in each of them; you will be well rewarded.

“In Solitude” runs through November 30th 2022 during regular Bandon library hours, Tuesdays through Saturdays.

The gallery is open during regular library hours, 1204 11th St. SW, in Bandon City Park. For more information about the gallery, visit the Bandon Library Friends and Foundation website, bandonlff.org.

Article courtesy of Tracy Hodson. Art images by Allison McClay: “Mabel’s Storm,” “Glora,” “Cora Dreams of Flight”

With the piece Oil Tanks, Glassman shot his image on B&W film immediately after the tanks had been painted grey. Using a red filter, he exposed and printed to push the negative’s contrast just enough to create a disorienting image of floating staircases in empty space. Yet what you see is what was really there, just slightly tweaked to create a puzzle that you have to decipher. Come peer through a knothole at what lies beyond, or notice that a seemingly B&W photograph is actually in color. The world is full of mysteries, but it can take an artist who sees from an unusual angle to show it to you. Thomas Glassman is such an artist, and we are pleased to welcome him to Bandon Library Art Gallery.

“The Unaltered Image” will be at Bandon Library Art Gallery until September 30^th 2022.

The gallery is open during regular library hours, 1204 11th St. SW, in Bandon City Park. For more information about the gallery, visit the Bandon Library Friends and Foundation website, bandonlff.org.

Article courtesy of Tracy Hodson. Art images by Thomas Glassman: “Reflections on the Hudson,” “Oil Tanks” 

Painter and collage artist Susan Lehman is a master of subtlety, whose work pushes the edge of what is possible in a two-dimensional medium. Using fabrics, fibers, mesh, paper, and sculpting paste, Susan creates an undulating surface, pocked with craters or rising up into wrinkles before she paints. She then applies acrylic paint, inks, and metallics, and may further manipulate the surface by scratching or otherwise distressing the paint. The result is a complex painting with sculptural effects that takes time to fully absorb.

The main series of works on display, “A Delicate Balance,” made during the last 14 months, is a direct response to the challenges of lockdown: isolation, fear of what’s outside, feelings of being lost and cut off, memories of the beauty of nature, and trying to find hope and a way back into the world. Using a limited but dynamic pallette of black, white, grey, and metallic golds and coppers, Susan summons feelings we all experienced during this period of forced isolation: that of being stuck inside, looking out at a world drained of color and life, our loneliness at separation from other people, dislocation as our usual routines came to a sudden halt. These works are delicate and precise, invoking both the inner storms and quiet lulls that marked this stressful time. But Susan doesn’t leave us there; she then takes us outside and into light and color with the three newest paintings, including “Looking Towards Shore,” with its lovely turquoise seawater and misty sky. She tells us it’s not over yet, but we’re on our way home.

Janice Horne’s “A Murder of Crows” is assemblage at its most whimsical and fun. Riffing on the noted intelligence of crows and ravens, as well as their reputation for being tricksters, Janice playfully assembles collages and sculptures to celebrate these fascinating birds. With a wide variety of materials and both a sense of humor and a great respect for her subject, she creates scenarios in which crows are messengers, carriers of the seed of life, or gatekeepers of Time itself. She imbues her crows with mystic power, yet Janice’s mini stories are grounded in the real activities of corvids. It is a pleasure to have these delightful pieces in the cases.

The gallery is open during regular library hours, Tuesday through Saturday, at the Bandon Public Library, 1204 11th St. SW, in Bandon City Park. For more information about the gallery, visit the Bandon Library Friends and Foundation website, bandonlff.org.

Article courtesy of Tracy Hodson. Art images “Looking Towards Shore” by Susan Lehman; “Tricksters of Time” by Janice Horn.

The collection highlights more than 90 works by an international roster of artists, with an introductory essay by curator Tracy Hodson, along with tips for navigating the online show.

A Source of Joy

With roughly 20 feet of hallway and two display cases, the library entrance provides a vibrant addition to Bandon’s public art spaces.

Tracy Hodson has curated art shows at the library gallery since 2015. It’s a role that lets her tap her art history training and share her creative process.

“It’s a source of joy,” said Hodson.

The gallery is operated by the Bandon Public Library. Exhibits and events are funded by the Bandon Library Friends and Foundation. Hodson joined the BLFF in 2014 and curated her first library installation the following spring. In addition to serving as the gallery curator, she presently serves as treasurer for the BLFF.

With support from the Friends, Hodson has built on the work started by the art committee. Gallery improvements in recent years include fresh paint on the walls, new lighting and a new hanging system. Hodson also increased promotion and expanded the gallery network of local and regional artists. Enticing professional artists to exhibit work in a community space was a challenge initially. But these days, juried shows are booked a year or more in advance, and work is often displayed in the library as well.

“People started coming to the library just to see the art, which is good for everybody,” said Hodson.

Hodson’s art training covered coursework in art history and the opportunity to develop a critical aesthetic eye. (She worked in the filmmaking industry in the San Francisco area for 15 years.) Now, she uses her knowledge and eye to select the best work she can find for Bandon audiences.

Exhibits feature a range of styles and subject matter, from contemporary black and white photography and abstract painting, to classically inspired mosaics. Two annually recurring shows are eagerly anticipated by audiences: the Bandon High School spring show and the summer mosaic show. This year, both annual events were cancelled as part of community efforts to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

A Silver Lining

The Bandon Public Library has been closed since March, along with countless other arts, culture and education venues. While library staff members explore innovative ways to keep library materials available through curbside pickup and mail delivery, the library art gallery is closed for the foreseeable future.

The sixth annual mosaic show is rescheduled for 2021. In its place, Hodson curated “A Silver Lining,” an online mosaic exhibition. The gallery show was scheduled for June, but Hodson released the online exhibit mid May, and the digital show has visitors from around the world.

“This is the first, and hopefully only, online show,” said Hodson.

Hodson is passionate about the art form, the history and the artists it attracts. She describes the mosaic community as generous and cooperative, eager to share knowledge and participate in community art projects. It was individual artists, as much as the art form, that drew Hodson to the medium.

Her excitement energizes audiences, making the annual mosaic show one of the most popular events at the library gallery. As a curator, Hodson encourages emerging artists and enjoys watching the progress of established professionals. As an artist, she embraces creative discoveries while acknowledging her internal critic.

“It’s a very challenging medium,” said Hodson. “These are lifelong artists.”

For “A Silver Lining,” Hodson reached out to the show’s scheduled artists and posted a call to artists on several mosaic social media sites. The response exceeded her expectation.

One virtue of a digital show is that there are no shipping charges involved, Hodson noted in her slideshow introduction.

“Another (virtue) is the ability to dismiss concerns about space, so this show has nearly 100 mosaics in it, which means I’m able to present to the gallery patrons, as well as all of you, a range of mosaic art that just can’t be accommodated in a physical show. I hope you will find this work as inspiring as I do. It’s our silver lining in the current, very dark, cloud.”

Nature is a dominant theme in mosaic art. Hodson observes that the natural world is often a source of inspiration for mosaic artists responding to the concrete quality of materials made from earth.

“A Silver Lining” includes representational and abstract compositions. Both styles require skill and practice. Hodson’s “Incarnadine” is an abstract depiction of her experience of physical illness. She designed the piece using marble, smalti, mosaic gold, amethyst, celestite, mica, freshwater pearls, and ammonite fossil, with various beads and rock specimens. For Hodson, the piece represents a turning point in her development as a mosaic artist– it’s the first abstract work she feels communicates the emotions she intended within a strong composition.

While many library exhibits showcase one or two artists at a time, mosaic shows routinely feature many artists. “A Silver Lining” highlights work by returning Oregon artists Kory Dollar and Vera Melnyk. Hodson was pleased to receive submissions from new contributors, such as English artist Tony Welch. Works by Hodson’s early mosaic mentor, Jacqueline Iskander of Oklahoma, are also featured. Iskander’s “In the Garden, Quietly” is part of Hodson’s personal collection. She says it’s the piece that made her say, “I want to do that!”

The exhibit is an excellent introduction to the ever-growing world of fine art mosaics. Many of the materials, such as stone, ceramic, glass and metal, have glossy or semi-reflective surfaces. That light-catching quality allows viewers to appreciate the dimensional detail in each piece, even in a photograph.

Works are grouped by the predominant materials used for each composition.
Section 1: Dressed or raw stone set in mortar
Section 2: Grouted tile, stained or specialty glass
Section 3: Found objects such as broken pottery, tiles, shells

Visit the Online Exhibit

Supporting Future Shows

Several works in “A Silver Lining” are for sale, and many of the artists accept commission requests. Audiences may use the information icon, (at the top right of the browsing window), to view details about each piece, including artists’ names and email addresses. Those interested in a purchase or a commission may contact artists directly.

The library does not charge commissions on art sales. The commission-free policy provides appealing flexibility for library shows, according to Hodson, since artists are not required to sell their work. Many artists choose to make contributions to the BLFF in support of the gallery. Voluntary commissions from “A Silver Lining” will be used for a shipping scholarship fund.

Artists and arts and craft groups interested in exhibiting work are invited to contact Hodson. The library display cases are available for community projects. The cases are ideal for small to medium-sized pieces, including sculpture, textiles, functional art, art d’objects and ephemera.

To learn more about the library gallery, or to contact Hodson, visit the Bandon Library Friends and Foundation website or the gallery Facebook page.

Mosaic images from top: “Multnomah in May” (detail) by Peggy Jackson, “If I were a Tree” by Jacqueline Iskander, “Crazy Horse” by Tony Welch, “Nexus” by Kath Jones, “Activate the Midline” by Lynn Adamo