We Interrupt this Monday for an Art Break
Let the phone go to voicemail for a few minutes and enjoy …
Ahhhhh … that’s better, isn’t it?
We now return you to your regularly scheduled activities. Let’s do this again soon.
Monday Art Break Edition 1
Got Graduates?
Honor Their Achievements
Village Frame & Gallery can help. Stop by to purchase a gift certificate, or bring in your favorite graduate’s diploma.
First Friday: A Lifetime of Work by Kaye Synoground
One of Multnomah Village’s most popular artists returns to painting and exhibiting after her recent fight with cancer.
Village Frame & Gallery is proud to present A Lifetime of Work by Kaye Synoground, which opens this First Friday, June 5th, with an artist’s reception starting at 6 p.m. The show will feature new and old works from Kaye’s 20-year career as an artist, and is her first since she was forced to take several months off to care for her health.
Kaye began studying art at when she was only 13 years old, but initially struggled to and went on to establish a career in the fine arts. For many years, she painted signs and did commercial illustration. In a recent interview with The Southwest Community Connection, Kaye explained it was cancer that first convinced her to become a full-time artist in 1993: “It just felt like I’d better be painting if I was going to paint,” she said. “None of us knows how long we have.”
Today, she is well known for her artwork and teaching. Her art has been exhibited at Washington County Museum, Columbia Arts Center, Halvorsen Gallery, Newport Visual Arts Center, and is part of many collections both private and public. She has also had work published in Woman’s Journal, Fine Gardening, and The Best of Colored Pencil. Kaye illustrated Barbara Blossom Ashmun’s book, Married to My Garden. She had a gallery in Multnomah Village for 16 years.
Please join us as we celebrate 20 years of Kaye Synoground’s art.
More than just an art show, this First Friday is a chance to spend some time with, and appreciate, one of our favorite neighbors and artists. We hope to see you there. If you can’t make it to the artist’s reception, A Lifetime of Work will be on display throughout June during regular business hours, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm. In the meantime, here are a few of our favorites by Kaye Synoground:
Did You Get a Copy of Vibe of the Village?
A couple of weeks ago, Southwest Community Connection included a pullout section about Multnomah Village shops and 2015 events and activities. Did you get your copy? If not, click the image below to open it online.
Southwest Community Connection is our neighborhood paper, published by Pamplin Media Group. You can subscribe to it online or pick up a copy at one of the newspaper boxes in our neighborhood to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in Southwest Portland.
4 Ideas for Decorating with Postcards
Wouldn’t it be great if we all had an unlimited art budget? My house doesn’t have enough room for all the gorgeous originals I’d buy. Oh, and then there’s the opinion of my bank account. I guess a girl can dream, but then she’d better get creative. Which is exactly what one of our clients did last month …
Framed Art Postcards
She’d been to the museum and picked up postcards of some of her favorite pieces. Not content to just let them languish in a box or scrapbook, she brought them to the Gallery to be framed.
To keep viewers focused on the bold colors in these modern abstracts, we chose heavy 8-ply bright white mats and moulding in one of the main colors of the artwork. Since we used identical moulding, except for color, the finished pieces will look great hanging together as a group. Or, they can be split up and stand alone.
More Ideas for Decorating with Postcards
This got me thinking about postcards as inexpensive artwork. Turns out, I’m not the only one. A friend told me she framed a large set of travel postcards to create a dramatic display in her bathroom. Then I starting finding ideas for decorating with postcards all over the place. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Blow up postcards and have them framed. Now that we have digital printing technology, the sky’s the limit–within the bounds of copyright. Have some vintage postcards you love? Take them to your local print shop and have large prints made. Then bring them to the Gallery for framing.
- Assemble groups of postcards based on a theme. Pull together postcards from trips you’ve taken or collections based around a special interest, such as botanical prints, architecture, or comics. Have them mounted in matching frames to increase visual consistency and hang in a formal grid shape or more casual free form arrangement.
- Got Photoshop skills? Go wild. Scan postcards you love and overlay the graphic image with text: perhaps a favorite quote or the note from the back of the postcard. Then have your new creation printed and framed.
Great Spaces for Postcard Decor
Postcards are inexpensive enough to use anywhere, which make them a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms. If the humidity gets to them, it’s not a big deal. But, don’t stop there. Anywhere you want art but don’t want to risk losing an original, such as an office or vacation home, is another excellent spot for framed postcards.
Wall art doesn’t have to be expensive. With creativity–and the help of a great frame shop–you can enjoy your favorite masterpieces or make a personalized statement in your home or office. For help, bring your postcards to Village Frame & Gallery. We’re open Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219.
While you’re thinking about your postcard project, here are some close-ups of the project we just framed:
Mother’s Day Gift Ideas
Sunday, May 10th is Mother’s Day, are you ready? Or still looking for something special?
If you’re still shopping, here are 3 gift ideas perfect for moms and available right now at Village Frame & Gallery.
Handcrafted Gifts
This year, don’t settle for the same old, same old generic gift. Find something that reflects who your mother is and what she cherishes about her life. Think about the activities she loves and her personal preferences, and then use them as inspiration. Your mom will appreciate the extra thought you put into celebrating her.
Is your mom a fiber artist? Choose a hand-carved seam ripper. A writer? Pick a luxury pen crafted by a local artist. A fashionista? Wrap up a unique piece of beaded jewelry. Not sure? Stop by the Gallery. We’re always glad to help you brainstorm gift ideas and we have a wide selection of unique items.
Art Prints or Posters
If your mom loves art, you’ll love our selection of affordable prints and posters. These budget-friendly reproductions can be the perfect choice when a room needs a bold pop of color. One of my favorite uses for them is to liven up bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms where humidity and heat make the environment inhospitable for original artwork, but there are endless, great looking options for decorating with prints and posters.
Mom’s Favorite Photo, Framed
It’s not too late to have a beloved photo framed for display if you opt for a ready-made frame. As with any framing project, be picky about the type of materials used to make the matte and frame so your picture is protected from acids and elements. We have quality ready-made mattes and frames in the most popular photo sizes; it’s up to you to sneak the snapshot out of that box where your mom keeps it.
May First Friday and More
First Friday with Jeanette Nuxoll at Village Frame & Gallery
A printmaker with roots in both Washington and Oregon, Jeanette is currently a grad student at University of Cincinnati where she is earning her masters in fine art. Join us this Friday, May 1st, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. to meet the artist and see her work.
Multnomah Arts Center Spring Arts & Crafts Sale
While you’re in Multnomah Village, visit the Multnomah Arts Center for their Spring Arts & Crafts Sale. They are open Friday, May 1st, 9am to 9pm and Saturday, May 2nd, 9am to 4pm. The sale features the work of over 50 artists and supports MAC’s mission to promote arts education in our community.
Mirror Closeout
Get 50% off designer mirrors in stock now at Village Frame & Gallery. There are lots of great reasons to decorate with mirrors; come check out our selection and save. Our regular business hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10 am – 6 pm, at 7808 SW Capitol Hwy, Portland, OR 97219
Cascade AIDS Project 26th Annual Art Auction May 2, 2015
Buy your tickets now for Portland’s preeminent contemporary art auction.
This year, the Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) art auction is May 2, 2015.
Doors Open at 5:30 pm for the Patron Dinner and 8:00pm for the pARTy.
Location:
Montgomery Park
2701 Northwest Vaughn Street #210
Portland, OR 97210
Valet parking is available.
The pARTy ($50/person) includes a salon-style silent auction of 175 artworks along with sweets and savories provided by 25 of Portland’s best food purveyors. The Patron Dinner ($300/person) includes attendance at the pARTy plus a gourmet meal and a live auction featuring 15 of the most outstanding artworks donated by prominent area artists and collectors. Visit CAPArtAuction.org to buy your tickets today.
About CAP Art Auction
One of the two major annual CAP fundraisers, the Art Auction was created by the local arts community in 1989 to raise funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Watch How CAP Art Auction Helps Our Neighbors and Friends
Learn More About CAP
In short, CAP works to prevent HIV infections, support and empower people living with or affected by HIV, and eliminate HIV-related stigma and health disparities. For an overview of CAP’s background and programs, visit the About CAP page at CAPArtAuction.org. For more in-depth information, visit CascadeAIDS.org.
Check Out Some of the Art from Last Year’s CAP Art Auction
See more of last year’s art at CAP 2014 Gallery.
Want to Help People with Dementia Make Art?
Attend the 2015 Memories in the Making® Art Auction & Gala
Benefit dinner, live auction, and silent auction, for Memories in the Making® art program:
5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
The Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave
Portland, OR 97205
Individual ticket price: $90
Grand-prize raffle ticket (only 100 available): $100
VIP package (includes ticket to event, two raffle tickets and entry into the grand-prize drawing): $175
About Memories in the Making®, a Fine Arts Program for People with Dementia
Memories in the Making® resulted from the exploration of the use of art as an alternative form of expression for people with dementia. While Alzheimer’s disease brings constant reminders of failures and losses, Memories in the Making® provides a nonjudgmental environment in which participants can express their feelings. The focus is on the process rather than the product, allowing people with dementia to experience moments of joy and a renewed sense of accomplishment and self-respect.
The benefits of Memories in the Making® can include:
• Improved self-esteem
• A productive outlet for emotions
• Increased attention span and focus
• Activation of neurons
• An opportunity to socialize, thus reducing isolation
• Recollection and expression of past memories
• A way to reconnect with loved ones
The loss of language doesn’t mean the loss of the desire to express oneself. In fact, the part of the brain responsible for creativity is one of the last to be affected by the disease. The paintings, sketches and drawings created by these artists are often highly expressive, beautiful and hopeful. In viewing the art, the families, caregivers and the public are often touched by the tangible evidence of what remains of the individual.
Village Frame & Gallery Supports Memories in the Making®
We believe in the power of art to make a difference in the lives of people with dementia. This year, we are supporting Memories in the Making® locally by donating custom framing of 10 pieces for the auction. We hope you will join us in supporting this program by attending, and participating in, the art auction and raffle.
Happy Easter from Village Frame & Gallery
May peace, joy, and renewal be yours this season.