Usually, when we talk about Wallingford Art Walk, we focus on Wallingford’s hub, centered around 45th and Wallingford. This month, we’d like to remind you that there are several spots further afield that participate. Maybe you live near them and want something closer to home, or maybe it’s time to stray a bit from the beaten path.
For example, Oasis Art Gallery is down at 3644 Wallingford Ave and conveniently located next door to Cantinetta: fine art and fine food, perhaps? This month, Oasis is hosting an opening for six artists during Art Walk:
The show is entitled “Details of the Spirit”, and of it Jeannie and Alex (Oasis’ owners) write:
We always enjoy moments where we can say “Things have come full circle.” To us it signifies a deeper connectedness between one another, our customers, featured artists, and community. This new exhibition entitled ‘Details of the spirit” features an incredible array of artwork that we are proud to share with you.
Three of the featured artists, Lena Leitzke, Andrei Engelman, and Valery Korotkov, by sheer coincidence happen to be from Russia and Central Asia. Their styles couldn’t be more different, but they each express their talent with the same passion and fervency. Having met Kelley Knickerbocker at a Chamber meeting last summer, this summer we display her mosaics – all done with an incredible level of accuracy and detail. After much success in his last show at Oasis, Daniel Fleming returns with an even deeper insight and perspective on Seattle’s icons and poignant moments in the Northwest.
A very important part of this exhibition is the artwork of Mark Nogaki, a talented man with Autism who we worked with in our former careers in social services. Mark was one of the first people to welcome us to our new jobs almost 12 years ago. A time when Oasis wasn’t even a twinkle in the eye. Now we proudly display his detailed drawings and welcome him to his first gallery show.
We sifted through the artists works on the web site and are sad to have to miss the opening (we’re out of town). Kelley’s mosaics challenge the traditional forms of the medium in delightful and beautiful ways, Valery’s oils appeal to the impressionist romantic in us, and the detail and quirky perspective of Mark’s work challenge what we usually think of in terms of developmentally disabled artists.
Seriously, grab a little wine and cheese at Oasis, a little dinner at Cantinetta, walk down to Gas Works and watch the city sparkle…can’t be beat.