By Laurelle Walsh
Imagine a land of snow and indigo, a land of stillness, deep blue shadows, cold, crisp air and glittering icicles. Before we know it, the Methow Valley will be cloaked in winter’s white and icy blue, and the holidays will be upon us.
Confluence Gallery & Art Center recognizes the coming of winter in its new exhibit, “In a Land of Snow and Indigo,” which opens Saturday (Nov. 15) with a reception from 4-8 p.m. The exhibit runs through Jan. 3.
With deep blue walls, rustic tree saplings, holiday lights and white feathers — that’s right, feathers — drifting across the floor, the gallery has turned into a wintry wonderland to highlight the work of 30 artists who submitted indigo-dyed silk, sculpture, pottery, paintings, glass, and paper cutouts in response to the show’s title.
“We want to invoke that warmth you get when you’re sipping hot chocolate by the fire, having just come in from the cold,” said Jennifer Molesworth, the show’s co-curator along with Nicole Ringgold.
They also wanted to tie art together with the holidays by including lower-priced pottery and ornaments in the exhibit that might inspire gift giving, Ringgold said. The gallery’s gift shop is also full of items just right for holiday giving, she added.
Gracing the walls of Confluence for the first time are the paintings of Margaret Kingston, the paper cuts and oil paintings of Seattle artists Nadia Hakki and Hannah Viano, and the hand-painted pottery of Twisp potter Tamara Abate.
Confluence Gallery & Art Center is located at 104 Glover St. in Twisp. The gallery is open Wednesday-Friday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. For more information go to www.confluencegallery.com or call 997-2787.
