JULY 26, 2018 // 11
The ‘how’ of art
Bolerjack grew up in Kansas, where,
she said, “the landscape wasn’t the land.
The landscape was the sky.” The moon
and stars are themes that reoccur in her
work, drawing on traditional symbols of
the feminine divine to capture the won-
der and mystery of the natural world.
“I like to use references to spirituality
that aren’t connected to any one belief
system,” she said. Bolerjack uses work-
ing-class women and their children as
models, sketching people she meets from
many different backgrounds. “My work
is really my journal,” she said.
Bolerjack studied with a master en-
graver and art professor at the Universi-
ty of Arkansas. She had her first profes-
sional show at 17 years old.
Once the etching is finished, she will
apply pigment directly onto the met-
al plate, mixing and playing with ink
colors. Rag paper imported from France
will be placed on top of the plate before
it is run through an intaglio press.
Annie Eskelin, who is organizing the
tour for the third straight year, said the
appeal of the event is that tourgoers get
to see how and where art is created and
have conversations directly with the
artists.
“I love being inspired by not only
artists’ work, but how and where they go
about making it,” said Eskelin, who is
also the executive director of Astoria Vi-
sual Arts. “Sometimes it is part of their
kitchen, sometimes it is in a beautiful
garden studio, sometimes it is in a barn
— many of them are only open once a
year during Open Studios.”
COLIN MURPHEY PHOTO
Kestrel Gates paints part of a lamp in the HiiH Lights studio outside Astoria.
JAMES REYLAND ANDERSON PHOTO
Artist Susan Darms in her Svensen studio.
‘A lifetime of study’
Atmospheric landscapes and captivat-
ing portraits have made Robert Paul-
menn a familiar name in the Astoria art
scene. He is participating in the Open
Studios Tour for the fifth year from
Studio 11 in the Elks Lodge that will
showcase several artists.
Paulmenn will display plein air work
and demo drawings in early stages of
development, along with more finished
pieces. The artist enjoys the informal
work environment of a studio tour where
he can answer people’s questions about
materials, methods and process.
Paulmenn said some of his brief
sketches can take 30 minutes, plus 68
years, to complete. “A lifetime of study
goes into each piece,” he said.
Another popular location participating
again this year is the Hiih Lights Stu-
dio run by husband-and-wife team Lam
Quang and Kestrel Gates. From their
two-acre homestead where they raise
produce, sheep and chickens, the couple
JAMES REYLAND ANDERSON PHOTO
Renee Rowe scrapes on a large abstract oil
painting. She will have a pop-up studio at As-
toria Visual Arts’ new space.
JAMES REYLAND ANDERSON PHOTO
Chris Bryant works on a mixed-media assemblage at her studio gallery.
IF YOU GO
ASTORIA OPEN STUDIOS TOUR 2018
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 28 and 29
Where: 28 locations throughout the Astoria area
Free and open to all ages
More information is available at astoriavisualarts.org
creates handmade paper light sculptures.
Inspired by childhood memories of
moon festivals in Vietnam, Lam begins
with an armature fashioned from wire or
bamboo. Then paper handmade in house
from abaca and cotton is pressed and
applied damp onto the armature.
Once the sculpture is dry, Kestrel
paints each piece before Lam seals it
with wax and installs the electrical
components. Kestrel often paints the
pieces with natural dyes, including
black walnut and indigo, which she
grows in the garden.
For the Open Studios tour, the couple
will offer tours of their work along with
papermaking demonstrations.
Tour guides can be picked up at
Studio 11, RiverSea Gallery, Imogen
Gallery and most coffee vendors in town.
The Coast Weekend pullout guide can also
be used. CW