When I first met Connie Zhou @studio___888 I was impressed with her vision to create a zine highlighting six local artists in Portland. In this digital era it’s refreshing to return to an analog format, to shoot with film and produce a paper publication. She interviewed, styled and photographed the artists herself while Linda Wong created makeup looks that were inspired by each artist’s work. It’s an honor to be included in this project with these talented ladies! Join us to celebrate the release of this first issue!
Rain Spark Gallery opening at the Lakewood Center for the Arts, Lake Oswego.
Hi friends!
It’s the holiday season and time to relax, enjoy friends and family, and share gifts with others.
Thanks for checking out my third newsletter of 2024. I’m grateful to be able to connect with you! I appreciate the support whether I’ve known you for years or we just met. Below I share how to connect with me and see my work in person.
This weekend I’ll be at the Wild Arts Festival December 7th & 8th! I’m looking forward to giving a presentation during the “Lightning Talks” on Saturday the 7th at 3:30pm. Come for the music and art while supporting the Bird Alliance of Oregon. Psst, I’m offering two free tickets to this festival today in Lake Oswego at the Rain Spark Gallery.
The seasonal holiday Rain Spark Gallery is back! It runs November 26th – December 23rd. Read more below about our special events, the community treasure hunt, raffle and more. Come visit the work of these 30 local artists at the Dee Denton Gallery at the Lakewood Center for the Arts.
Check out the latest goings on at Indio Metal Arts in this newsletter. Sign up for my email if you’d like to have them delivered straight to you first!
An exerpt from the Newsletter below…
“Hi friends!
Thanks for checking out my second newsletter of 2024. I’m grateful to be able to connect with you! I appreciate the support whether I’ve known you for years or we just met. Below I share how to connect with me and see the work in person. I also reveal my remaining shows of the year, information on a live demonstration and two new galleries that represent me.
I hope you’re having a great summer where you are. Perhaps the longer days are allowing you to get outside? My wish is that you’re spending the time doing what you love to do. I hope the warm days are allowing for more movement in all areas of your lives.
Things are humming along in my studio. I’m a maker, that’s how I process my life and find meaning. I explore lots of concepts, feelings and design through steel. In the summer, it’s definitely easier to work late if I look out the window and it’s still light outside. See below where I share many images of some of my newest sculptures.
This weekend I’ll be at the Chehalem Art Affair! Clink the link to watch a video of last year’s event. It’s a sweet little show in a forested setting with live music, wood fired pizza and wine. The weather looks like it will be perfect! This is the 20th anniversary of the event for Larry and Debi who host it on at their property. They are both potters and this is also the location of their studios!
Later in the fall and winter I’m excited to have been juried into two shows: The Salem Arts Festival September 13th-15th in Bush’s Pasture Park as well as the Wild Arts Festival December 6th-8th. I’m also looking forward to giving a live demonstration on metal shaping and an artist talk at the Dragonfire Gallery for the Earth & Ocean Festival.
The first of two new galleries for me is the wonderful artist run Gallery 408 that just opened in May in Camas, Washington! The second space I talk about is accompanied by a video. In it I describe my first delivery to Green Space Design which represents me now in Salem.
Please join me, Sunday the 23rd of October, for an artists talk at Sidestreet Arts gallery, 3-4PM. I’m looking forward to sharing the stage with and learning more about these talented artists. If you missed the opening of Another Realm, this is the perfect time to experience the exhibition before it closes on the 30th.
Artists include: Erica Gibson, Kendall Clay, Melody Bush, Anna Magruder, Jeanne Steffan, Sharon Jonquil and me.
Sidestreet Arts 140 SE 28th Ave., Portland, OR Open Wednesday – Sunday 12-5PM Shop the show online.
2 Bubbles in the Seaweed trellises, reclaimed materials, 6’Hx2’W
Copper Whirling Orb, 29″Wx45″H
SMALL SCALE
Sprig Bundle with Red and Blue Flowers, 30″Lx10″W
Songbird on Willow Branch, 24″Hx5″W
Poppies with stainless steel, 3′-6’H
CLIENT PHOTOS & DELIVERIES
Lotus Orb, 4’Hx29″W
This Stainless Whirling Orb is set in a side yard rock garden.
Planetary set in a lush landscape by the front door.
A creative client tuned this Yarn Orb into a fire pit. What a great idea!
SQ Monolith, 5’Hx16″W
WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
ASSOCIATION OF LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS TOUR, June 21st. Seven Portland area private gardens were available for viewing on a self guided tour. I had the pleasure of placing work throughout the gorgeous landscape of one of the homes. Thank you to the Smith’s and Elida from All Oregon Landscaping!
Orb Tower, 3′-7’H Association Of Landscape Designers Tour 2019
Raised Beds, 12″x12″
Yarn Orbs, 10″-28″W Association Of Landscape Designers Tour 2019
PORTLAND MODERN HOME TOUR, June 1st. I built this piece for a client as their home was being remodeled by M.O. Daby Designs. It’s mounted in the cavity of a pocket door and is visible when the door is closed. This home was among the 8 included on the tour.
Bamboo Forest – laser cut design detail
Bamboo Forest – laser cut design set in recess of pocket door- 95″H x 32″W
FULL HOUSE FOR CAREER DAY. Thanks to the 8th graders from Bridger Elementary School who stopped by WatershedPDX to see the space. They had the chance to talk with several artists and other small business owners. It was a pleasure to meet them all and share my story with them.
ARTISTIC PORTLAND I’ve exhibited with this co-op for three years and am so proud to work with these 40+ fabulous artists. I’ll be doing a demonstration with several other artists 11-4PM as part of the day time festivities. Stop by for cake and celebrate with us. There is so much planned.
DANGER GARDEN I’m so grateful to have my work mentioned in Loree’s web blog. I had the pleasure of meeting her at Cracked Pots last year where she picked up one of my Condo Planters. What a delight. Thank you!
SHOW SCHEDULE 2019
MULTNOMAH ART CENTER GALLERY Pacific Northwest Sculptors present, “Unmatched Pairs”, which is a collaboration between its members. There are 10 pairs of artists. On exhibit will be one piece from each person and one of their collaborations. September 6th – October 1st. Opening reception Friday, Sept. 6th, 7-9PM.
LOCAL 14 at the World Forestry Center, October 4th – 6th.
PORTLAND OPEN STUDIOS at my studio, 5040 SE Milwaukie Ave, two weekends in a row, October 12th & 13th and 19th & 20th.
RAIN SPARK GALLERY seasonal gallery in Lake Oswego, 310 SE State Street, #108. I’ll be giving an artist talk December 26th during the 5-7PM reception. October 24th – December 29th.
SHOW SCHEDULE 2020
OSA MONOTYPE PARTY Honored to be included with 35th other artists to raise money for the non-profit, Oregon Society of Artists. All artists create prints on Saturday that will be hung that night for the reception. It’s going to be fun time. Hope to see you there!
Opening Reception February 1st, 6pm – 8pm.
First Thursday Reception February 6th, 6-8pm.
2185 SW Park Place
HOME AND GARDEN SHOW Invited to showcase 7 of my largest pieces in the landscape exhibit section of the show at the entrance, the Expo Center, February 20th- 23rd.
CELEBRATION OF CREATIVITY First Look Gala includes live jazz and hors d’ oeuvres, $10.00. Free entry Friday- Sunday. Southminster Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, March 5th – 8th.
BONSAI AKIRA OPEN STUDIO Come and visit the display garden in its glorious springtime beauty. I’ll have my work among the plants and bonsai. April 25th, 11-5pm. On Ellis directly off Milwaukie Ave.
THE GATHERING OF THE GUILDS which includes my guild, the CREATIVE METAL ARTS GUILD will be held at the Oregon Convention Center, May 1st – 3rd. Six guilds will show their work: Wood, Glass, Bead, Weavers, Metal and ceramic. See me in Booth 1-M. cancelled, possible virtual show.
RAIN SPARK GALLERY seasonal gallery in Lake Oswego on State Street. New website for online sales in progress now, check back for updates.
I think these videos do a great job of showing what went into building this latest sculpture. It’s a 6’H steel figure based on a piece from a Kwakuitl village known as Fort Rupert, Vancouver Island, B.C. Canada.
I’m very excited to be delivering this commission next week to a property on the edge of Forest Park with a view of the Willamette River. What a beautiful setting!
My client has an interest in native art from around the world. He owns a collection of hand carved wooden pieces acquired during his travels. He wanted a life-sized figure for the landscape in that style. We went through several books of images to find this First Nation’s figure which I recreated in steel. The original black and white photo of the piece was taken in 1894. It’s from a Kwakiutl village known as Fort Rupert, B.C., Canada. I’m grateful to spend the time exploring this style of work from the first people in the PNW, a region I call home.
To simulate the rough aged wood I used all reclaimed materials esspecially with texture: steel from underground oil tank, reclaimed diamond plate, defunct water heater tank. 6’H x 18″W.
I’m excited to be on the cover and inside the Sellwood Bee. It’s a local SE newspaper that’s been reporting on the community since 1906!
I was interviewed during the 2018 Portland Open Studios Tour. It’s an annual event where 100 artists open up their work spaces and invite the public in for demonstrations and discussions. It’s a self guided tour for two weekends in mid-October.
INDIO METAL ARTS 