Peninsula Art League looking for talent

Juried art show to be held at Gig Harbor Civic Center this fall

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

The Peninsula Art League will be accepting entries for its seventh annual Juried Art Exhibition until July 15. Selected entries will be on display at the Gig Harbor Civic Center from Oct. 6 through Nov. 12. The Best of Show winner will receive $1,000.

“We usually have about 75 to 90 pieces on display during the show,” said PAL co-chair Cecile Anderson. “The City of Gig Harbor co-sponsors the exhibition because it promotes art in the city and attracts visitors who may want to spend some time in the harbor.”

Accomplished artists Joe MacKechnie and Dan Riley will act as jurors for the show. MacKechnie is an award-winning artist and signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society.

Riley is a member of the American Portrait Society, the Cottage Lake Artist Guild, the Northwest Watercolor Society and the American Society of Marine Arts. He has acted as president of the Eastside Association of Fine Arts and as vice president of the Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters.

Anderson is a member of the Fox Island Painters, who have formed a committee to organize the event this year. The committee includes Anderson, Ronnie Schneeman, Marlene Misura, Lynda Desmarteau, Nan Feagin, Charline Meacham and Feather Hilger.

The group meets each Wednesday at the Nichols Community Center.

“We’re an inspiration to each other,” she said. “We all work in different media, but we help each other. Sometimes we work on still lifes, indoors or outdoors, on the island. There are many beautiful places to paint on the island, so it’s easy. There are gorgeous gardens and waterfronts.”

“The Fox Island residents are very hospitable,” Feagin said. “We paint all year ’round.”

Juried Art Show awards

Best in Show: $1,000

First place: $700

Second place: $500

Third place: $200

Two Honorable Mentions $50 each, plus other awards

Juried Art Show calendar

July 15 — Digital Image /Slides entry deadline

Sept. 1 — Notification mailed to artists

Oct. 4 — Deadline for receipt of shipped paintings

Oct. 5 — Pick up hand-delivered paintings, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 6 — Show opens to public

Oct. 9 — Reception and awards at the Gig Harbor Civic Center

Nov. 13 — Pick up hand-delivered paintings from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Summer Art Festival

The Peninsula Art League will sponsor the 25th annual Art Festival from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 18 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 19 in downtown Gig Harbor.

Nearly 130 artists and craftspeople from throughout the Northwest will participate with paintings, jewelry, ceramics, glasswork, metalwork, clothing, basketry, mixed media work, toys and more.

For more information, call Festival Chair Carol Valstyn at 253-265-8139 or e-mail cfvalstyn@comcast.net.