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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 2017)
2 // COASTWEEKEND.COM Printmaker Stirling Gorsuch chosen for AVA artist residency COURTESY ASTORIA VISUAL ARTS Artist Stirling Gorsuch at work ASTORIA — Astoria Visual Arts is delighted to welcome artist Stirling Gorsuch to work in its studio (80 11th St.) in Astoria, rent-free, as part of the AVA artist-in-residence (“AVA a-i-r”) program. The resi- dency runs Jan. 1 through April 30. Gorsuch, whose work is widely known regionally, has worked almost exclusively in the realm of printmaking the last six years, including mixed media, combining prints with drawings, paintings and collage. He plans to use the AVA a-i-r studio to work on larger-scale paintings. The planned pieces will be done on rag paper and panel using oil paint. The format size will be 18 inches by 24 inches and larger. Gorsuch will be working across media as well (monotype and painting, linocut and watercol- or, for example). Gorsuch’s work is driven by a curiosity about how the natural COURTESY ASTORIA VISUAL ARTS “Summer Ends” (2017), a 13-inch by 19-inch linocut/monoprint by Stirling Gorsuch world develops. From memories and drawings, he depicts places he has visited as starting points to build on. He focuses on these par- ticular locales, contemplating their history, while rediscovering them through the creative process. “As I spend more time revisit- ing these places, I become more enamored with their complex natural history, and the rich visual experience accompanying them,” he said. “In consideration for new images, I’m searching for a story in the landscape that I can accentu- ate through visual means. Signs of geological activity, or indications of how weather has shaped the land are examples of what fasci- nate me as an observer.” During Astoria’s Second Satur- day Art Walk in February, Gorsuch will showcase completed works and works in progress. AVA a-i-r is designed to encour- age the creative, intellectual and professional growth of local artists. The program is supported by mem- bers of Astoria Visual Arts and the generosity of Astoria Coffee House & Bistro and Merry Time Bar and Grill. Artist Wendy Harmon holds her first Astoria show ASTORIA — Wendy Harmon, a local al Artist Award, as well as a Gover- nor’s Citation. She went on to do a visual artist originally from New yearlong residency at a Zen Buddhist York City, will have her first show monastery, where she studied brush in Astoria at The Wake Gallery (160 work with Kazuaki Tanahashi, author 10th St.) in January 2018. The open- ing reception will be held during As- of “Brush Mind.” toria’s Second Saturday In 2001, Wendy en- tered the MFA program Art Walk on Jan. 13. at Johnson State College Harmon spent much with the VT Studio Cen- of her childhood at The ter. There she received a Metropolitan Museum Partnership Award from of Art and, later, at The MICA and Pilchuck, NJ Center for Visual Art where she studied every day after school. glassblowing with Sonja Summers were spent at Wendy Harmon Blumdahl, who nomi- art programs at Skid- nated her for a Corning Award. more and Carnegie Mellon. Harmon has exhibited all over the She received her BFA from Mary- land Institute College of Art in 1995, U.S. and is in various collections, and in 1996 had four solo shows in including that of Patrick MacDonnell, one month, was awarded an Individu- author of the comic strip “Mutts.” PHOTOS COURTESY WENDY HARMON A piece by Wendy Harmon