Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2016
 

2015 was a good year!  

We continue to have clients who love placing REAL art on their walls of their businesses. 

We had the support of local businesses who shared their talent and expertise.
We began our year focusing on projects in public spaces. Thank you Affordable Framing for "hanging with us".  

Blink and you'll miss it!

(You may have blinked and missed this one!)

We took over a downtown location to create a pop-up gallery space. Fast and furious, we couldn't have done this without the help of the Salem Convention Center and Jim Eastridge who lent us the space next to Magoos Sports Bar.
Blink was a perfect venue for showcasing many talented artists and to also bring out our ArtBlox machine.  It was a fun week!
 

Repair and Relocate

7 large art panels graced my kitchen for a week while Alison O'Donoghue repaired the damaged surfaces.
In little time, the artwork was back in it's place, thank you again Affordable Framing. This engaging artwork continues to give patients something to dream about while waiting for their loved ones at the hospital.
Thank you Salem Health.

We continued to visit artists studios

While traveling to Florence, Italy, we loved sneaking peaks of artists in their studios.
All the artists we met had the same dedication and love for meeting and talking about their art. 

 



Lights, Camera, Action

Being interviewed by Carla Sonheim was a highlight for me this past year. 
I've known Carla for many years and I've watched her expand her creative palette. 
She's painter, illustrator, and creativity workshop instructor known for her fun and innovative projects and techniques designed to help adult students recover a more spontaneous, playful approach to creating! Check her out! 

Beyond the gallery door and into the community

We've watched the Oregon Artists Series Foundation GROW and bring sculpture to our downtown. 
I am fortunate to work with such an outstanding board who's main focus is bringing art to our downtown community.

 



Partnerships strengthen the vision!

We joined forces with Capitol Toyota to bring a different kind of door show to Salem.  We were able to raise money for the Oregon Artists Series Foundation.   

Capitol displayed artwork throughout their dealership, art was reproduced on door panels and for each test drive, the dealership donated to OASF...thank you Scott and Carrie Casebeer for thinking outside the box!

Big projects are in our future!

We are fortunate to work with Salem Health and bring artwork to the new Salem Hospital Rehab building. This is a "work in progress" by two sensational artists, Kristin Kuhns and Jeremiah Williams.  

May I take your photo? 

A threesome of myself, my husband Alan and friend Rich Harcourt traveled to Cuba in November. We were called the "Three Amigos".  

We visited artists studios and set out on our own art project with photography.
With a polaroid and three cameras, we experienced an unforgettable trip. 

Our line started with "May I take your photo?", then progressed to friendships, laughter and our walking away in gratitude and admiration for these wonderful people.

Hallie Ford Museum of Art
A continued friendship and a must see. 

We have continued our partnership with Willamette University's Hallie Ford Museum of Art.  So many things to see!  A great place for that perfect artful gift.

Last but not the least...

Lucky for us.  

We are working with new businesses AND established businesses, each of them are dedicated to having art on their walls.  

You can always give us a call to arrange a time to look over your existing artwork as well as suggest new works for your home or office.  

Give us a call
503-581-3229

www.zeekgallery.com

Happy New Year!
xo

From Start to Finish...

This Spring, we removed a large mural by Alison O'Donoghue from the Salem Hospital's coffee and gift shop. (commissioned by the Salem Hospital Foundation)
The large colorful painting had a few damaged areas near the bottom edge where carts had accidentally hit it.

Randy and Dave from Affordable Framing (supermen!) were able to remove the seven large panels, they truck them to my house where my husband Alan repaired the damaged panels.
After the repair work was completed, Alison drove down to Salem for a day, she repainted the damaged areas and re-sealed all the panels.

It was a fun day of turning the kitchen into a large studio, we had every surface holding a panel for Alison to repaint.

After all the panels were good and dry, Randy moved all seven to the shop at Affordable Framing and he began the re framing.

When all was completed, we needed to return all the panels to the hospital and find a good home for the entire 21'.  We needed a place where it could be seen by many and not near an area where damage could happen again.  

After looking at many locations, we found a few spots where many people would enjoy them while visiting the hospital... BUT because this mural is 21' long and couldn't be carted around to various places for us to try on for size, I played with photoshop by virtually placing them onto the wall to see how it would look.  (see below)

From the computer, I was able to play with the seven separate parts. Most long areas were hallways where people pass by and wouldn't really enjoy them.  After much discussion and an okay from Alison, we decided to frame them into three different sections to fit a room.  We found the perfect place, the second floor of building A where many people need to wait for their loved ones after surgery. We measured and remeasured to make sure the piece would fit in between the fire alarm, plug ins and TV set.   

Yesterday, we were able to finally hang the mural. (see below) 

It fills the space and adds so much color to this waiting area.  

Thank you to Randy and Dave from Affordable Framing.  They measured, drilled and attached the secure hangers on the back and then hefted the heavy pieces in place.    

After placing all the chairs and tables back into place, I stood taking these final photos before leaving.

While walking away I was stopped by a woman who was sitting in a chair nearby.   She smiled at me and said "Thank you, I love this...it makes me happy and it helps me take my mind off of why I'm here"

That made my day.

I'm a sucker for ceramics.

I love clay.  After 30+ years of working in a ceramic studio, I know it's a part of me that will never go away.  Ask me about a certain pot and how it's fired and I'll carry on like I'm talking about Leo, my grandchild. When picking up a mug, I still can't help myself from flipping it over and looking at the bottom.  Potters...you know what I mean?

Recently, I was invited to visit Ariel Zimman in her studio at the Ford Building in Portland.

Ariel invited me to stop by and see her latest work in progress.  She had read on my website how I'm working with clients, trying to find unique art for homes and office spaces.  

Meet Ariel....

Walking into the Ford Building, I couldn't help but notice the many studio spaces.  I found myself peeking in at a glass studio, photography hanging on walls in the hallways and easels holding works in progress throughout the entire building. 

Ariel's work spoke for itself.

The wall pieces flowed down the wall with such fluid movement, I couldn't help taking photos from various angles.  

The studio was filled.  

Inspirations.

Tools.

and some silliness.

After our visit, I had to take a few parting shots of her little pod pieces.  

Watch for this girl, she has ambition, drive and a lovely spirit.  

Thank you Ariel for allowing me the opportunity to meet you and 

breathe in the smell of damp clay.  

    

aaaah 

One of those days.....

Do you ever have "one of those days?" 




I love setting off for a walk with my camera.  I am constantly amazed at what I see...patterns, textures and details for inspiration.



Walking and looking can take me twice as long to get from point A to point B.  Looking up, looking down.

I think most artists play this game with nature.


Color sprouts from muted backgrounds. 

Shading


Contour line drawings in the sky.


Repetition of patterns


Textures and layers of color forming an assemblage


abstract patterns


Sculptural


Explosive energy


Form and shapes


Forshortening


Found Objects


Watercolor


Hard edges

Take a walk and look up, look down...enjoy these warm days.