High Desert Gallery of Central Oregon

Press Release: Ingrid Lustig, Oregon Artist, Represented by High Desert Gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ingrid Lustig Represented by High Desert Gallery.

Sisters Oregon - June 25, 2007 -- €“High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing -- €“ An award winning fine art gallery specializing in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond and Stellar Custom Framing is proud to announce the representation of regionally acclaimed Oregon artist, Ingrid Lustig.

"I live in the High Desert of Oregon and look to this seemingly simple, yet truly complex landscape for the foundation of my paintings. My paintings always have mountains and open spaces in them to mark the land where I live. As a second layer, my work is about our relationship with the  unconscious, signified by portals, doors, figures, or animals,"€ comments Lustig.

"The four elements of fire, earth, water and air are emerging as major components of my work. These elements embody the universal law of change -- that the natural world is always in flux and that life contains both peace and chaos,"€ reflects Lustig.

"Over the last several years we have followed Ingrid's work and have been captivated by her use of color, texture and symbolism.  We are honored to represent her in Central Oregon,"€ states Myrna Dow, Gallery Director.  "Ingrid'€™s work is a wonderful complement to High Desert Gallery and truly adds a dimension to our Sisters Oregon fine art gallery.  We look forward to having her original paintings grace the walls of our downtown Bend, Oregon fine art gallery scheduled to open in the fall of 2008."

About Ingrid Lustig:  A professional artist for 20 years, Ingrid works with acrylic on canvas and paper with a strong devotion to color and form used in a symbolic way. "I like to keep my paintings fresh, so they look like they are still in the process of being created, even when they are finished."  Ingrid moved to Bend, Oregon in 2000 from Pendleton, where she was executive director of Crow's Shadow Institute for the Arts, on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.  During the '70s, she worked for wildlife conservation groups, including three years as director of a predatory animal center in the California mountains near Reno, Nevada. Her nonprofit group traveled to schools to bring the message that predators like wolves, bears and cougars are an essential link in the ecosystem.   Ingrid holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Washington State University at Pullman.  She has enjoyed success as an artist and painter and exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the Northwest.  In addition to her professional art career, Ingrid is the Education Director for Arts Central, the Central Oregon regional arts council located in Bend, Oregon.

High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon, the Art & Soul of Central Oregon is honored to exclusively represent Ingrid Lustig in Central Oregon.  For more information on Ingrid and the gallery please call toll free at 1-866-549-6250.   High Desert Gallery'€™s website can be found at www.highdesertgallery.com and their online art sales gallery can be viewed at www.highdesertgallery.biz .   

"Animus,"€ an original acrylic on canvas by Ingrid Lustig.  All rights reserved and copyright © 2007.  Use of images is restricted and prohibited without prior written permission.   Members of the media wishing high resolution images for news publication are encouraged to contact the gallery.  High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon content copyright © 2007.  Art & Soul of Central Oregon and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

Press Release Contact:
T Dow, High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon
PO BOX 519 Bend Oregon 97709 Phone: 541-388-8964 
Web Site: www.highdesertgallery.com  Gallery Blog: www.highdesertgallery.info

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“Through The Envelope,” and into our hearts. Thoughts by Paul Alan Bennett and John Simpkins.

In preparation for their upcoming show, we asked John and Paul to provide a sneak preview of an image or two and craft some thoughts on the theme, “Through The Envelope.”

This special once a year show is not to be missed!  Call the gallery (1-866-549-6250) to obtain your invitation.  Plan now to attend ...   

“Through The Envelope”
Artist Reception for Paul Alan Bennett & John Simpkins
High Desert Gallery – Sisters Oregon
August 11, 2007

A sneak preview and some thoughts ...

Paul Alan Bennett

"Through the envelope" can mean so many things- endless things.  It can mean a veil or curtain that hides things but those things can still be sensed or shadows seen.  It could mean the envelope of the present through which the past peeks out now and then- when history comes to light unexpectedly.  It can mean the envelope of skin or fur or feathers or scales that the spirit dances within.  Likewise, the envelope of youth or old age.  We are all on a moving train passing "through the envelope" of time.  Or it can mean a letter, a stamp, stationary, one's handwriting, how we feel when we recognize someone else's handwriting on a letter addressed to us.  Or it can be a bill, a check, a credit card application with our typed name peeking out "through the envelope."  It can be a mood that we are passing through- anger, hurt, sadness, feeling deeply touched, longing, elation, pride, love, grief...

Or it can simply be a poetic sounding phrase that feels good on the tongue.

Paul Alan Bennett – June 2007

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John Simpkins

Paul Alan Bennett and I began pondering the possibilities of our next show in January of this year.  We spent many an hour sitting at The Navigator or Sisters Coffee Company, sipping lattes or tea and encouraging our imaginations to create a title for our show this August.  Eventually, I do not recall precisely how it happened, we decided upon the title, "THROUGH THE ENVELOPE".  I likened it to the ability of seeing into another person's persona.....in this case, taking a peek into the inner workings of our personalities.

THROUGH THE ENVELOPE encouraged my creative muse to visit often.  I began imagining new forms in ceramic to decorate, and even found a most unusual wooden form to paint while trapped by a blizzard in Laramie, Wyoming!  Though thought to be born with two left feet, this coming show has encouraged me to dance freely!  The show in August will be diverse in content and subject with an overall quality of playfulness and wonderment.

I am currently working on 12 pieces for the show.  Some paintings are the result of dreams recalled, some are based upon sketches done in Tibet, others express my sense of rhythm and balance on selected forms, all reflect my response to the dance of life....... there are images of cats and poodles, monks and Buddhas, mermaids and anteaters, and even a couple of self-portraits.........please come and see "through my envelope" and into my heart!

Warmest regards,
John Simpkins
June 2007

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Please plan on joining us for a wonderful evening of lively conversation, great art, refreshments and live music!  High Desert Gallery is honored to host an artist in attendance reception for Paul Alan Bennett and John Simpkins on Saturday, August 11, 2007.

To receive updates on new work, art speak thoughts by both artists, show progress and sneak previews please subscribe to our weblog at: High Desert Gallery Weblog.

Check back for more show and artist information.  If you haven’t already done so – Mark your calendar, make your hotel reservations and plan on attending this is a not-to-be missed gallery event.  To receive a mailed invitation please call the gallery and we’ll collect (but not share) your postal mailing address.  Our toll-free phone is 1-866-549-6250 – Option 3 for the Sister Gallery and Option 4 to leave a message.  We hope to see you on Saturday, August 11 for “Through The Envelope” an Artist Reception for Paul Alan Bennett and John Simpkins.

For additional information about the artists and the gallery please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call 541-388-8964. High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing, The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ is an award winning fine art gallery with retail locations in Bend (Opening Fall of 2008), Redmond and Sisters Oregon specializes in Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ and Stellar Custom Framing.  High Desert Gallery's online sales gallery can be found at www.highdesertgallery.biz . 

Original artwork by listed artist(s).  All rights reserved and copyright 2007.  Use of image is restricted and prohibited without prior written permisson.    High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon content copyright 2007.  The Art & Soul of Central Oregon™ and Central Oregon Artists & Beyond™ are trademarks of High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon.

Wear and Tear of 100's of years -- Kimry Jelen

This past spring I had the pleasure to travel to Spain and Portugal to ride, train and paint horses.  I visited Vejer de la Frontera (the Sunshine Tour horse show was there), Zahara, La Muela (all on the Costa de la Luz), I drove south from Seville to Vejer about a 3 hour drive in the region of Andalucia and visited Barcelona.  While in Portugal  I stayed mostly within 3 hours driving time of Lisbon. I stayed in Estoril and Cascais. I visited  Sintra, Pero Pinheiro, Negrais, Alenquer and worked/trained at barns in Alcainca, Ota and Alfouvar.

Portugal impressed me with all the texture, texture and more texture on top of texture. Bricks, stucco, old paint, marble, ancient doors, tile roofs,  rock walls, polished cobblestones, old stone foot paths ... I just couldn't get enough. I loved all this texture - only possible with the wear and tear of 100's of years. I want to capture that feeling in my paintings, texture made with layers of paint, palette knife and brush.

Horsemanship, over in Spain and Portugal, is revered as an art form.  They take the time the horse needs  to train a horse from hundreds of years of experience passed down through the ages, to do the maneuvers expected of their equine partner. The training facilities I visited were incredible. Patterned cobblestone courtyards, 10 feet tall hand painted tiles representing horsemanship from 600 years ago mounted on the walls in the riding arena, the breeders brand carved into the walls, beautiful ironworks, wonderful quotes in appreciation of good horsemanship scattered throughout the stalls, Stallions standing next
to each other in a respectful manner, always a groom near by, a certain level of knowledge and horsemanship is assumed and expected by both the horses and the people there.

While in Portugal and Spain I captured digital and mental images that have settled nicely on canvas through use of color applied by the palette knife and brush.  Two new works I’ve recently completed are, Intrigue and Profile of Freedom.  Intrique, an acrylic on canvas is 18"x24" and Profile of Freedom, an acrylic on canvas with varnish is approximately 30"x30".

Kimry Jelen -- June 5, 2007

Intrigue (Grey horse)
What is this stallion thinking? That's what I wondered as I visited each horse that hung his head out of his stall wanting a scratch behind the ear. They seemed to communicate very well. Iberian breeds are very intelligent horses. I believe they have questions and think about things. They work so closely with people they learn to let us know what they want by pointing with their noses, shake their heads, make funny faces and they always seem to be curious if the new person will listen to their needs, it's always worth a try, they never loose their curiosity. This guy was no exception.

Profile of Freedom (Red horse)
This painting was inspired by a young stallion that had been turned out and was making full use of his freedom charging ahead, mane flying from his speed, a proud Lusitano, blood lines from Royalty. The white washed walls of the menage (arena), the detail of cobalt blue
that many of the buildings are painted, the texture on the walls from literally hundreds of years of wear and repair.  A horse with 900 years of breeding - history, hence antique looking red color, textured background in white, blue details, returning home to the land of the free, high desert and mountains, Independence day coming up... All these observations and thoughts created - A Profile of Freedom.

More to Come!   More thoughts on my trip and paintings will be posted prior to my show at High Desert Gallery of Redmond Oregon.  Please plan on attending this special showing of all new work.  The gallery has some fun things planned with refreshments, live music and lively conversation.  The Artist Reception is scheduled for Friday, July 20, 2007 from 5-9PM at High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon located at 453 SW 6th Street in downtown historic Redmond Oregon.  To view my work please visit  Kimry Jelen , stay tuned or call 1-866-549-6250.  Hope to see you in July!

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Season Of Hope -- Paul Alan Bennett

I have often admired the mother/child theme in art depicting animals made during the Neolithic Age in Greece.  Much tenderness can be found in these works and the sense of design is so often topnotch.  With that thought in mind, I saw this mother sheep with her baby a few months ago when I was driving back from teaching in Redmond.  The momma sheep was all white.  The baby, all black.  The strong graphic quality of this image as well as the connection the wool theme has to my knit style... well, it all seemed a perfect blend of several of my interests.    I was also interested in the quality of summer light around the sheep's forms as well as the subtle colors found in the landscape.

Paul Alan Bennett - June 5, 2007

"Season Of Hope" original Gouache on paper by Paul Alan Bennett.  All rights reserved and © copyright 2007.  Image 30" x 22" +/-.  "Season of Hope" is sold.  To view more of Paul's artwork call High Desert Gallery at 1-866-549-6250 or visit: Bennett Originals .. Paul's next major reception is scheduled for Saturday August 11, 2007 -- Visit "Through The Envelope" for more information.

About Paul Alan Bennett: Award winning professional artist, educator, and art advocate, Paul Alan Bennett has garnered national attention. Paul's imagery is passionately detailed and manifests a unique perspective and style resulting in colorful, vivid imagery sought after and collected nationally. Honors graduate of Maryland Institute of Art and Master of Arts from The University of La Verne (Athens Greece), Paul has excelled in the field of watercolor and most recently in the release of a select group of Limited Edition Fine Art Giclee Prints and worked closely with Pendleton Woolen Mills to release limited edition tapestry blankets. His style and perspective originate from memories, life experiences and travels that spark the playfulness in this Sisters artist. Paul Alan Bennett’s artwork is represented by High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Central Oregon. For additional information about the artist, the work and the gallery please visit: www.highdesertgallery.com or call 541-549-6250 / 866-549-6250.

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Private Conversations -- Trisha Hassler

Private Conversations

Sometimes I talk to myself.  Sometimes, someone else is listening.  Sometimes the thoughts are profound, but only sometimes.  In my private moments, the thoughts present themselves at random, often overlapping and contradicting previous thoughts or beliefs.  They challenge me to find space for everything I want to keep.  Conversations communicate these thoughts and although different every time, occasionally we may be hashing out the same old stuff.

The smaller pieces hanging on steel plow teeth I like to call "Chats."

Chats  – Snippets of thought, unfinished sentences, the "I'll get back to you on that" ones.  More to come.  We'll chat again.  Off the record.  Renderings of conversations in brevity.

Trisha Hassler - June 5, 2007

Please join Trisha and the staff of High Desert Gallery for a wonderful artist reception on Saturday, July 7 from 4pm to 7:30pm at High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Sisters Oregon -- Don't miss this wonderful exhibition of new work!  Join us for light refreshments, cheer, lively conversation, great artwork and live music by Jacob French.  For more information on the event and "Around The Block" fiber Arts Stroll please visit:  www.sistersoutdoorquiltshow.org

About Trisha Hassler:   Lifetime quilter and award winning Oregon Artist, Trisha has enjoyed numerous group and one woman exhibits in the Pacific Northwest.  A “Art in the Pearl” board member and former member artist of L.O.C.A.L. 14, she has been featured in Fiber Arts Magazine and other national fiber arts magazines.   Trisha Hassler embraces both torch-cut steel and improvisational quilting and through her artistic abilities combines the two mediums in one art form even though they are considered being on the opposite ends of the artistic spectrum.  Trisha Hassler’s artwork is available exclusively in Central Oregon at High Desert Gallery & Custom Framing of Redmond and Sisters, Oregon.  For more information on Trisha visit:  Trisha Hassler

Images above -- Left to Right (photography by Tom Hassler)

Ask The Right Questions, Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Sounds Like Double Talk To Me, Why Can't I Howl At The Moon, You Are Talking In Circles (click on image to enlarge).

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