Join the Bainbridge Public Library for the November 2023 First Friday Art Walk, featuring “The Strawberry Hill Artists Group”
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 or artists.
The Bainbridge Public Library is proud to present an exhibit by The Strawberry Hill Artists Group (SHAG)
The artists will host a “meet and greet” from 5pm-7pm on Friday, November 3rd to open their new exhibit, “From Our Studios and more…” for First Friday Art Walk
Join them for a selection of hors d’oeuvres and wines and live music by local musician, Rick Barringer, and of course wonderful art.
The Strawberry Hill Artists Group got its (informal) start more than 70 years ago, holding their weekly meetings at a participant’s home. In the late 1980s, the group moved their gatherings to Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation District’s (BIMPRD) Strawberry Hill Center at Strawberry Hill Park, and has been sponsored by BIMPRD ever since.
They are comprised of a diverse group of people, ranging in age from their 20s to mid-80s, whose backgrounds include retired academics, health care professionals, religious leaders, professional artists and more.
Featured artists for the November First Friday Art Walk
| Gregg Onewein Margaret Wright-Niemann Thea Peterson Darryl Anderson Bill Fulton Susan Arens Leah Werner Gigi Godfrey
| Allison Kettering Marina Worsley Jamie Brouwer Connie Everett Suzanne Schumacher Thomas Duncan Alicia Van Thiel |
“We are a gradually changing group of 9 or 10 artists, of all ages, who meet on Friday mornings at Strawberry Hill art center to practice drawing from the unclothed model,” says Gregg Onewein, who has been the acting facilitator of the group for more than 20 years.
“Our styles are quite varied from abstract to impressionistic, non/objective and traditional charcoal and graphite,” says Margaret Wright-Niemann, one of the groups long-standing participants. “…we do not have an instructor (per se), but do have ‘critiques’ and review each other’s work. We have always hired professional artists’ models from Seattle who serve as models for college and art schools and groups.” She also noted that the group occasionally reaches as many as 13 artists per session, which is their limit.
In this year’s fall group, eight professional artists will also be exhibiting, with a total number of 40 works on display. At the opening reception on November 3rd, they will have actual “life drawings” on display, which will not be shown in the month-long exhibit due to certain restriction, says Margaret.
Life drawing is a traditional practice that many artists maintain throughout their careers, and the Strawberry Hill Artists use a variety of mediums and media to create their art, such as pen and ink, oil, pastel, and watercolor. The exhibit will display drawings and paintings of diverse subjects, including landscapes, portraiture, still life, florals, abstracts, and impressionistic works.
The artists’ abilities vary from hobbyists to experienced and the group is open to adults of all ages. Meetings are held each Friday at 9:30am at Strawberry Hill Center (7666 NE High School Road). For more information, visit the website at: Adult Drawing & Painting | Bainbridge Island Metro Park & Recreation District (biparks.org)
The exhibit is available for viewing and sale at the Bainbridge Public Library throughout the month of November. The exhibit will be available during regular library hours. For more information, please see the library website, www.bainbridgepubliclibrary.org.
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
***Content and images provided by Linda Meier, Bainbridge Public Library and Margaret Wright-Niemann
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