Join the Bainbridge Public Library for the June 2019 First Friday Art Walk, featuring artist Gigi Godfrey

The Bainbridge Public Library is dedicated to spreading the joy of reading and the discovery of ideas with not just our local community, but with visitors from near and afar. In addition, the library is fortunate to house beautiful local works of art both inside and outside the building. Each month the library celebrates a local artist (or artists) with an exhibit, which opens monthly on the Island’s First Friday Art Walk tour, and includes a reception hosted by the featured artist.

Gigi Godfrey will host a reception opening her exhibit, “Mischief and Craft” on June 7th, 5-7pm for First Friday Art Walk.

Gigi began to paint seriously after she retired from her career as a cardiac nurse, however, she’d been taking classes and instruction from local art centers and community colleges for more than twenty years. Today, she carves out at least two afternoons a week to paint and she participates in an art group here on Bainbridge Island.

“My artwork seems to be an expression of my inner feelings ranging from contemplation to whimsy to just pure joy”

She describes her process of painting as mindful and peaceful, a way of expressing her inner feelings and playfulness by recreating the rhythm, patterns, colors, and movement of her subjects through her own interpretation. Although she’s been taught the “rules” of successful painting, she enjoys taking artistic license and pushing the boundaries by using a variety of tools, such as brushes, palette knives and scrapers. Using oils or gouache, she works loosely with her tools and allows unfinished portions and marks to show through, thus creating a story of the development of the painting.

Her subjects are found in everything from still-life, outdoors on location, photographs she’s taken as well as family photos. As long as there’s color and movement, Gigi is inspired by it.

One of Gigi’s most recent inspirations came from a visit to the Marine Science Center in Port Townsend, where she met Eleanora the octopus. She was so taken by this magnificent creature that she naturally had to paint her. This also inspired her husband to give her a book by Peter Godfrey-Smith (no relation), called Other Minds/The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness. In the book he discusses the playful personality and resourcefulness of the octopus, which of course describes Gigi’s personality as well. The book also has a chapter titled “Mischief and Craft”, yet another inspiration for Gigi and she decided to borrow it for her exhibit title.

Gigi’s work is available for sale at the Bainbridge Public Library throughout the exhibit and on her website: https://www.gigigodfrey.com/gallery

You can view Gigi’s exhibit throughout the month of June in the meeting room during regular library hours and on the library website, www.bainbridgepubliclibrary.org. You can also listen to a podcast interview with Gigi at http://www.bainbridgepubliclibrary.org/art-walk-june.aspx.

As always, thank you for supporting your Bainbridge Public Library and local artists. If you have interest in exhibiting your work, feel free to contact Linda Meier, art coordinator, at lindameier2000@gmail.com

***Library content and images provided by Linda Meier, Bainbridge Public Library
***Images of paintings provided by Gigi Godfrey