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A VISIT TO THIS GALLERY IS BOUND TO MAKE AN IMPRINT
IMPRINT GALLERY OFFERS QUIRKY STATUES, CONTEMPLATIVE PAINTINGS AND PRINTMAKING POSSIBILITIES
By NANCY McCARTHY
FOR COAST WEEKEND
CANNON BEACH — At Imprint
Gallery, there aren’t any paintings
of radiant sunsets or majestic
coastal forests. It’s not a gallery
focused on ocean scenery and a
beachgoer’s lifestyle.
Instead, the gallery features
quirky sculptures that draw smiles
from observers, paintings that
cause contemplation and mugs
and bowls that prompt playful-
ness.
Upstairs, visitors can try their
own hand at art in the printmak-
ing studio where weekend drop-in
demonstrations are planned in the
spring, summer and longer fall
workshops will be held.
Owners Mike and Jane Brum-
field have taken their experience
as operators of previous galleries
in England and Boise, Idaho, and
applied it to their new gallery at
183 N. Hemlock St., in the former
site of Haystack Gallery, which
closed last year after more than
30 years.
“We have people who were
Haystack shoppers who will walk
into the back room to see a piece
they saw before and suddenly
realize this isn’t Haystack Gallery
anymore,” said Mike.
After she left as director of
the Cannon Beach Gallery last
fall, Jane wasn’t sure what her
next step would be. Then, at just
about the time Mike told her he
wanted to end his retirement and
open a new gallery, the Hay-
stack space became available.
“It was a little serendipitous,”
Mike said.
For the past few months,
until the gallery opened April 1,
“we’ve been in a blur,” he added.
They contacted artists whose
work they enjoy and with whom
they had built relationships from
their previous galleries. The
artists come from Britain, Texas,
NANCY McCARTHY PHOTO
Small ceramic shot cups
by Erik Haagensen feature
whimsical figurines designed
to draw smiles.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Imprint studio manager Alisa Vernon
instructs a group in the techniques of
printmaking.
NANCY McCARTHY PHOTO
A life-sized jack rabbit was created
by Yvonne Herbst with needle-felt-
ed wool over a wire sculpture.
British artist Jane Andrews
studies character, identity and
survival skills in her own life
through her surreal paintings.
Georgia, Virginia and Illinois, and
more are being added, including
several from the Northwest.
Their interest is in mixed
media, sculptures and ceramics,
said Jane, who, as a teenager,
organized art shows in her local
church hall in England, where she
grew up. She studied sculpture in
college but decided she enjoyed
curating other artists’ work better
than being an artist herself.
“We do have eclectic tastes,”
said Jane. “They are more than
decorative items or landscapes.”
The pieces they are showing
include the dreamlike wire and
ceramic human-animal hybrid
sculptures that Virginia artist Ag-
gie Zed calls “scrap floats.” The
lifelike felt jack rabbit and birds
created by former Pixar illustrator
Yvonne Herbst are craft turned
into art.
Angelia Purviance, of Corval-
lis, explores the stages of child-
hood through her full-color inta-
glio prints, a copper-plate-etching
process. The paintings of Port-
lander Mark Andres reflect the
initial feelings he experiences
when he goes to a place for the
first time. A darker side of life is
captured in the surreal paintings
depicting character, identity and
survival strategies by British artist
Jane Andrews.
For those who enjoy a little
humor to accompany their snacks,
the ceramic cups, bowls and
shot glasses by Erik Haagensen,
adorned with bicycling porcu-
pines, drummer lions and other
whimsical figurines will do the
NANCY McCARTHY PHOTO
NANCY McCARTHY PHOTO
James Tisdale, of Austin, Texas, cre-
ated this sculpture, which greets
visitors at the Imprint Gallery.
job.
Upstairs at the gallery are
more etchings and prints, both
framed and unframed.
In addition to the print displays
is a printmaking studio where
drop-in linocut printmaking
demonstrations will be offered at
1, 2:15 and 3:30 p.m. Saturdays
and Sundays from April through
August. Participants will try the
tools and produce an artwork with
the guidance of studio manager
Alisa Vernon. Cost for the hour-
long sessions is $15.
Drop-in drypoint printmak-
ing demonstrations also will be
available on Fridays in July and
August, and longer workshops are
set for fall.
“We have never done any-
thing educational before in any
As part
of her
Mardi Gras
Continuum
series, Heidi
Preuss Grew
created this
stone-
ware and
porcelain
sculpture, ti-
tled “Riding
Lieutenant,”
following a
trip to New
Orleans.
of our galleries,” Jane said. “The
demonstrations are for someone
who has never done printmaking
or some who’s done printmaking,
but not that technique.”
The Imprint Gallery has joined
Cannon Beach’s Gallery Group
and looks forward to participating
in the group’s events, including
the upcoming Spring Unveiling.
Having so many galleries in
one town is a benefit, Mike said,
especially when the galleries
feature different artists.
“We don’t look at it as compe-
tition,” he said. “When galleries
are concentrated in an area, they
thrive on each other.”
The other gallery owners have
welcomed them, Jane added.
“We appreciate their encour-
agement and support,” she said.