“Expressions of Winter” is displayed at Blakely Hall throughout January and February
Everyone has a different perspective of how they view winter—whether it’s the snow covered landscapes, children playing outside or nature’s solitude.
Over 25 local artists are displaying their own “Expressions of Winter” at Blakely Hall through January and February 2024. This is the first art exhibition with multiple artists and mediums to be curated by Highlands Council.
Issaquah Highlands resident Katie Weaver will display “Winter Evergreens I,” “Winter Evergreens II,” and Winter Evergreens III” at Blakely Hall. Each piece is created with acrylic paint on watercolor paper and depicts fresh forest scenes with big winter snowflakes.
Artist Diane Sarr is showing mixed media landscapes “Back Country” and “Early Breeze” in the exhibition. Her art features the tall timbers found in the Puget Sound region. She loosely applies watercolor, and then fills in details with ink.
Sarr utilizes maps around Washington to complete the landscape palette of her art, which suggests “man’s imprint on nature,” she says. The maps in these two pieces are archivally reproduced, enabling her to grayscale them. She then cuts and pastes the maps around the trees.
“These two pieces are unique as my largest format and departure from close-up views to doing landscapes,” Sarr says. “Furthering the pursuit of landscapes is inspired by my new surroundings from my recent move north from Kent to Lake Stevens.”
“Back Country” by Diane Sarr, displayed at Blakely Hall.
Her inspiration comes from our natural surroundings as an “observer and active participant” in the Pacific Northwest, she says. The inclusion of maps helps Sarr to subtly express humanity’s role in climate change and invites viewer conversations.
Another local artist, Tian Engelhardt, used alcohol ink to create her piece called “Dancing in the Mud.” She says the flow of the ink allows your imagination to dance.
“The inspiration behind my piece is watching my two-year-old grandson, playing in the muddy water and giggling,” she says. “His excitement brings me such joy, and I tried to embody that in my piece.”
Meet the artists and view their work during a family-friendly special reception with light refreshments and activities on Saturday, Jan. 27, from noon to 2 p.m.
