Can Chalk Art Get Any Closer?

CAN you say "tomorrow"? Tonight at the gallery - September 19 - Roylene Read and Phil Thias and their Forest Grove High School crew were getting things ready for tomorrow morning.
Folks will be showing up beginning at 9 a.m. The streets must be closed off, however, and the stage set up for Big Mama Gayle and Her Sugar Daddies and the other musicians.
Joe Mishkin will make an appearance and develop outrageous balloon hats for those who stand in line and are patient. Each hat is a one-of-a-kind production and well worth the wait.
Thanks to Valley Art's helpers who swept the sidewalks. And thanks to the students who unpacked chalk, marked squares that were not numbered and lifted and toted. You are wonderful - all of you.
Chalk Art participation is $10, non-members; $7, members. You get a palette of colorful chalk and a square of sidewalk.
See you there!

Nearly Chalk Art Time!

EXCITEMENT reigns! Only one more week and then it's Chalk Art Festival on Saturday, Sept. 20.
Last evening there were Living Leaves hung on the tree along Main Street in Forest Grove in remembrance of 9/11 and other world shaping events.
We hope you can join with Valley Art on Saturday to enjoy the Chalk Art Festival, Bizzart Scarecrow display, Joe Mishkin the Balloon Man and Penny's Puppets. All day long, we'll have fun, fun, fun!
There is preregistration for Chalk Art on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 5 - 8 p.m. at 2022 Main St., Forest Grove. Call 503-357-3703 for more information. I'll include a photo of a Living Leaf - it's one in honor of everyone's "Creative Bone," since we really are all creative when we give ourselves the chance.

Chalk Art Festival is Coming!

TIME once again for everyone's favorite summer day - the day of the annual Valley Art Chalk Art Festival in downtown Forest Grove.
This year it falls on September 20 and there is new sidewalk to be had. The city has been busy putting in new sidewalks and thanks to Roylene Read, chairwoman, for coordinating things, there are bronze markers set in the sidewalks (by the workers) for Chalk Art. Now there are many more primo squares - nice, smooth, clean sidewalk.
A square and a large palette of colorful, rich pastel chalk is $10, or $7 for Valley Art members. On September 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. families and individuals will bring their drawings, knee pads, brushes, rags, spray bottles of water (to set the chalk colors, if they wish) and hand wipes and begin the work of making great sidewalk art.
This year there will again be live music, vendors, Joe Mishkin - the Balloon Guy and Penny's Puppets. Admission is free if you just want to watch and enjoy the balloons Joe makes for free (Valley Art pays him) and come see Penny's Puppets, too!
Valley Art Gallery is at 2022 Main St. in Forest Grove. Come by and check us out. Registration for Chalk Art begins at 9 a.m., but there is a special pre-registration this year on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from 5-7:30 p.m. at the gallery. Don't miss out on all the fun!

Valley Art Reception on First Wednesday.

It's the First Wednesday of the month, and besides Wednesday Market downtown, Valley Art Gallery welcomed artists Michael Orwick and Barbara Hertel.
They showed their lovely, wonderful work and we all enjoyed each other's company.
There was quite a crowd spilling in from the streets and we are glad for all the new exposure.
The welcoming reception table greets visitors and Elk Cove Winery offered tastings of their Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc. Yum!
Barbara Hertel, from Verboort, in the red jacket, visits with friends. Michael Orwick, in the blue shirt, talks with two women visiting the gallery. The lady in the blue is 101 years old. I wish I could tell you her name. She is a gem!

Here is one of Barbara's pots - "Four Moons." You can click on it to see it in more detail - and there is a lot of detail to it. She fires these raku pots in her back yard.
And here is one of Michael's paintings with the setting sun peeking through the trees. His paintings have a fairytale quality about them.
Last but not least I want to tell you how wonderful the front of the Valley Art building is becoming. Thanks to master metal worker, Eric Canon, we have quite a bit of added kinetic sculpture happening at the top of the building. I do so hope this video ends up in this blog space. Let's try it, shall we?

Annual Artist Event Coming Soon!

The Valley Art Association presents The Annual Artist Event, November 7-18. The theme is "Preface to the Holiday Season." Holiday hours during the sales event are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Opening night for paid-up members is Tuesday, November 6, from 7-9 p.m. There will be hors d'oeuvres, refreshments and music. Fun and surprises will abound and paid-up members will receive a 10 percent discount on everything they buy that evening only.
Memberships are $15 per year, and with the membership you get the newsletter, a discount on gallery classes and early entry to the Annual Artist Event.
You also will leave a legacy to future generations by your generous donation of dues and hopefully sharing your time and energy to ensure the tradition of art in the community.
Make your mark on the future! Join today. Call 503-357-3703 or visit the gallery at 2022 Main St. in Forest Grove. Regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Chalk Art is coming! - Oops! Now it's gone for another year.

Saturday, September 15, 2007, brought the annual Chalk Art Festival - the 17th annual, in fact - and boy was it fun! If you missed it ... sorry. That's all I can say. There were around 260 squares filled with colorful images; Joe Mishkin, the balloon guy outfitted us with hats and "space gear"; Eartha the Ecological Clown entertained us with magic and a huge inflatable earth ... what a time we had. The weather turned out to be perfect and Eric Canon had Valley Art's sign made for the front of the building.
Registration began at 9 a.m., with first come, first served. There was a long line and a few complaints, but everyone was really patient and we appreciate that.
We had musical guests, SCRAP set up a tent and kids could make appealing artwork from leftover items, and Forest Grove students painted awesome artwork on faces throughout the crowd.
The Bizzart scarecrow show, with the theme "Balance," was also well received, with several dynamic entries.
It was a totally fun day. Always the third Saturday in September, kids and parents alike enjoy this relaxing, hassle-free festival.
Come enjoy yourself next year. Either produce a work of art or have fun watching others.
Check out the photos on this page.

Our First Wednesday reception in September.

At our First Wednesday in September we welcomed Martha Denham and Gerald Sticka's show: Inspired By Nature.
The artists were on hand to meet the guests and there were delightful reception treats.

At First Wednesday in October we'll be celebrating Nature's bounty at harvest time. Stores throughout town will be open on this evening.

In November we will be holding a very special reception for the public - "Preface" - the prequel and prologue to the holiday shopping season. The gallery will be filled with all the newest work by our artists. From 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. we'll have entertainment, food and drinks.
Drop by and visit. See what our Northwest artists have been up to and work on your holiday shopping list.