SJIMA to Celebrate Community

Thursday, December 20, 4:30 – 7:30 p.m., San Juan Islands Museum of Art

— from Diane Martindale for San Juan Islands Museum of Art —

On December 20, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) invites everyone to enjoy the public art sculpture of Gareth Curtiss, art from students at Spring Street International School (SSIS) and paintings of beloved local artists Mary Ann Rock and Sam Connery. The reception is open from 4:30-7:30.

Visitors to the free reception will have the added treat of the musical talent of David Bayley.

Coupled with this celebration, the Town of Friday Harbor and SJIMA have partnered to bring sculptor Gareth Curtiss to SJIMA’s Atrium. Curtiss will be creating a portion of the Town’s commissioned artwork of Edward Warbass and his dog, Bob. The Atrium will be open to the public from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. from December 17 – 21 for these demonstrations. Come and meet Gareth Curtiss and learn about the lost wax bronze casting process.

In the North Gallery the students of the SSIS exhibit selected works in their show Creative Diversity. The students will demonstrate the awe-inspiring results of this year’s art education classes with instructor, Taylor Bruce.

Sailing by Cattle Point Rocks by Sam Connery

Also, part of the reception on the 20^th, SJIMA celebrates the art of Mary Ann Rock and Sam Connery in a retrospective. Friends, family, neighbors and institutions are loaning their work by these two for this community show. As all the works are from private collections, this will be a rare opportunity to view the scope of their works.

Friends of Sam and Mary Ann will be encouraged to tell of some of their personal experiences with the artists to lend a sense of their personalities to the event. The stories should increase our understanding of their unique contributions to our community over the years.

SJIMA is located at 540 Spring Street in Friday Harbor. The hours starting December 21 are Friday-Monday for 11-5. Admission for these events and shows is free.

For more information call 360-370-5050 or go to www.sjima.org. SJIMA has workshops and classes for families and beginning painters.