Hi all! Thank you to everyone who came out to my Open Studio event. What a special weekend I’ll never forget. I also appreciate all the folks who came out to the summer shows. I’m still catching up and am looking forward to sharing more about those incredible experiences in my spring newsletter.
For now, I have some special events to share with you as we head toward the holiday season.
Artistic Portland Gallery has returned to our regular celebration of First Thursdays! Join us this Thursday the 6th, 4-6pm. See some of my new work there. Featured member artists Ann Mackiernan (glass) and Mark Clifford (photography) will be speaking about their work on display in the main window. Guest artist and abstract painter Andrea Lopez is exhibiting this month in the Annex. There is so much to see by all 24 local artists in our collective. 4110 NE Fremont, Portland.
This Friday I’ll be at Sidestreet Arts to celebrate the opening of, Another Realm, which includes a new collection of my primarily sculptural works. Join me for the First Friday Art Walk, 5-7pm. I’ve been looking forward to this show all year as the theme was so inspiring. Each mixed metal assemblage is over 90% reclaimed materials, including brass, stainless, copper and steel. Many of these sculptures have never been exhibited before. If you were at my Open Studio event, you probably saw some of these works in progress. This group exhibition includes artist: Melody Bush, Erica Gibson, Sharon Jonquil, Anna Magruder, Jeanne Steffan and me. It runs October 5th-30th, Wednesday-Sunday 12-5pm. 140 SE 28th Ave., Portland.
Lake Oswego’s Rain Spark Gallery is back and has found a new pop-up location for the holiday season! We were fortunate to secure another storefront on State Street downtown. The address is, 180 “A” Street, next to Salt & Straw. It runs November 1st through December 24th with the hours of operation being Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. Check Rain Spark’s Facebook page and my Instagram for the list of scheduled events such as artist talks, demonstrations and the return of the Lake Oswego Community Treasure Hunt. This fun tradition places handmade porcelain ornaments in 45 locations throughout Lake Oswego. This year’s theme is a butterfly. Read the daily clues to find the location of each ornament. Rain Spark Gallery is always a cozy, warm and friendly place for holiday shopping. See you there!
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or would like to schedule a studio visit. Enjoy the holidays if I don’t see you.
Thank you all for supporting me in the 10th year of Indio Metal Arts!
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So happy with this stained glass frame and centerpiece I designed and installed. Thank you Carrie and David for the opportunity to create this intoxicating addition to your veranda! More on this project in the upcoming spring newsletter.
LARGE SCALE
SMALL SCALE
CLIENT PHOTOS & DELIVERIES
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!
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.
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!
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.
FALL FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS in Troutdale at Glenn Auto Park, September 21st & 22nd. I’ll be doing demonstrations under the pavilion with 3 other Pacific Northwest Sculptors.
ArtReach Gallery. Pacific Northwest Sculptors joins the Northwest Stone Sculptors Association in a group show called, “Making Space“, October 12th-15th. This is in conjunction with the International Sculpture Conference held across the street at the Portland Art Museum. Opening Reception October 12th, 1-4PM.
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.
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.
LAKE OSWEGO FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS at George Rogers Park in Lake Oswego, June 26th – 28th. cancelled
SALEM ART FAIR & FESTIVAL online virtual show, begins at 9AM and ends Sunday at 9PM, follow this link to attend July 18th & 19th.
CHARBONNEAU FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS online virtual show with music and art, October 1st – 31st.
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.
Thank you for all your support.
Enjoy the Summer Season!
I’m excited to share this video that explains my latest sculpture!
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.
My fellow Pacific Northwest Scupltors member Craig Dorety, a light artist, was also featured. A total of four of us participated in the event around the city.
Thanks to the BEE for stopping by! And thanks to Portland Open Studios which is always a real treat for artists and visitors alike.
Portland Open Studios, 2019 – Sellwood Bee
I’m so excited to participate in the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon’s, Furball: Caturday Night Fever. It’s their biggest fundraiser of the year. It provides critical funding for FCCO’s well respected spay/neuter program for feral, stray and pet cats.
Me and several friends have donated a piece of art to their special event held at the Portland Art Museum on May 4th. Their live and silent auctions will feature over 100 packages of art, get aways and cat related gifts. Join in the fun with food, drinks and disco dancing! Get your tickets through their website. See you there!
Red Bird in Nest, 3’H on base
I really enjoy working with clients to bring joy to their lives through metal art. Sometimes people know exactly what they want while other times, through a consultation, a sculpture is arrived upon. Here are some recent pieces brought to life through this process.
Bamboo Forest – 95″H x 32″W.
The client wanted a piece that would be visible when the pocket door was closed. It had to be thin yet pop visually. Through a consultation I suggested this concept. It brought the outside landscape to the interior.
Reed Trellis- Steel rod of various diameter, 6.5’W x 6’H.
This was designed to be an elegant way to hide the neighbors garage. The evergreen clematis will be trained onto it.
Spiral Gate, 36″Wx42″H.
This homeowner has an affinity for the spiral design. I plasma cut this based on a pair of earrings. It was then custom fit to mount into the side yard gate.
Eiffal Tower – 8’H x 42″W
My client honeymooned in Paris with her sweetie. For their 1st anniversary she surprised her with this gift, an Eiffel Tower trellis for the garden.
Eternal Om – powder coated red with bell – 48″H.
During a tour through my studio the idea for this piece came to life. They found exactly what they were looking for.
CLIENT REVIEW: I met Shelly at The Home and Garden Show in 2016. I was attracted to her display of hearts that she had welded because I collected hearts for my husband after his stent surgery in 2013. Shelly had unusual and beautifully formatted hearts made of different metals, including barbed wired and I thought that was a serendipitous material to shape into a heart. I liked that Shelly used recovered and recycled material for her art and I also heard the passion she felt for her chosen art form. Even with our years apart in age and world experiences, I felt a camaraderie with Shelly and saw and felt her warmth and joy for the sculptures she created and for those with whom she worked. I knew I wanted a Shelly Durica-Laiche sculpture in our front yard.
She listened to my musings and almost intuitively understood my desires and made a beautiful gong that brings joy to me everyday as it reminds me of my upbringing in Japan.
Shelly brings talent and heart to her art!
INDIO METAL ARTS 