In With the New

Gallery North enjoys the January tradition each year of welcoming our newest members in a show titled “In With the New” featuring the artists and their beautiful artwork. This exhibit will include our four new members; Ben Groff, Irina Milton, Karen Theusen, and Mike Reid. Of course, all of the other artists in the gallery will be exhibiting their own newest works, as well. Ben Groff is a realist oil painter using line and form to capture his images. However, he goes beyond the reality of the image as he seeks heightened color and light to express the spiritual essence found in each transitory moment. His sense of place and atmosphere are rendered with careful brush strokes to make the viewer experience the beauty with him. Irina Milton also paints in oil having been trained in the techniques and methods of the Old World traditions. Her images are carefully rendered with the colors and charm typical of romantic paintings that one might see in the world’s museums. Although she is not limited to typical subject matter, but frequently experiments with movement in her “Splash” series. Karen Theusen has a wealth of experience in many mediums and styles of painting having done book illustrations to large murals. Her love of rich color and textures evoke emotion and movement in her artwork. She often incorporates abstraction and representational painting into the same piece, topping it off with expressionist additions of metallic paints. Karen states that “it’s the never-ending ways to ‘see’ things that keep my artistic fires going.” Mike Reid is a Fine Art photographer who loves to travel and capture the beauty of landscapes and florals. His photography is enchanting as he focuses on the contrast between light and darks to create drama. His images draw the viewer in and makes one want to see every tiny detail highlighted by the rich contrasts. “In With the New” show opens January 2nd at Gallery North in downtown Edmonds. All artwork is available for purchase during the show which is open to the public during the month of January. The Artists’ Reception will be at Gallery North on Saturday, January 11th from 1 to 4 pm. Edmonds Art Walk on January 16th from 5-8 pm features our newest artists and their inspiring artwork. The public is invited to attend both of these free events to enjoy an array of refreshments and meet all four of our newest artists. About Gallery North: In operation for more than 55 years, Gallery North is one of the longest running artist-run cooperative galleries in the nation. It continues its mission to promote and sell local art in the heart of downtown Edmonds. Open 7 days a week, Gallery North is located at 401 Main Street, Edmonds, Washington. For further information, call the gallery at 425-774-0946 or visit the website at www.GalleryNorthEdmonds.com.