18th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF TREES
items 25-30
"Sea Bear"
Created by a renowned sculptor for the National Park Service who recently received the international Award of Excellence from the Society of Animal Artists, this exquisite cast bronze sea bear is balanced on a limestone rock.
About the artist: Matthew Palmer began to think big at an early age. By age 12, he was creating life-size creatures out of masking tape and newspapers in his basement. He later was selected to participate in the vocational fine arts program at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in Columbus, Ohio. Opting to pass on several major merit scholarships from various art institutes around the country, Matthew decided to get his training hands-on.
Working full time at Old World Stone Carving for six years, Matthew gained tremendous experience designing and executing commissioned sculptures and architectural elements. He became skilled at using a variety of traditional media, including stone, marble, clay, wood and bronze. In 1995, he started Parallaxis, an endeavor dedicated to educating people about natural science and conservation through public works of art and multimedia events.
Matthew currently maintains a studio on San Juan Island, where his commissions range from miniature to monumental in scale.
Created and Donated by Matthew Gray Palmer. Value $2,000. www.matthewgraypalmer.com
"A Ski Week Weekend in Steamboat Springs"
This wonderful trip is for two people, and includes a two-night stay in a ski in/ski out one-bedroom condominium at Bear Claw Ski, Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In addition, the winner will receive lift tickets for two days, “demo” ski or snowboard rentals, all-day beginner ski/snowboard clinic, and lunch at the fine dining restaurant on the mountain, Hazie’s.
A trade with Steamboat Springs Ski and Resort Corp. was made possible by following local donors: Golden Triangle, Hillside House B and B, Island Airporter, Island Bicycles, Kenmore Air, Marilyn’s Garden Path, Maya’s Whale Watch Charters, The Popcorn Lady, San Juan Community Theatre, San Juan Golf and Country Club, Lori Stokes, Susie’s Mopeds, and Westcott Bay Institute and Sculpture Park. Value $1,734. www.steamboat.ski.com/resorts/details.aspx?id=89
"Tuscan Alley "
A framed fine art giclee, series #1, Artist Proof – the original used water color, pen, and rice paper collage. About the artist: Larry Sliger has been a San Juan Island resident since retiring from Sliger Designs, Reno, NV, where he served as VP of Product Design and Development. His background in graphic arts enabled him to provide his customers with conceptual images of products being developed. Marketing required these visuals to have impact and detail. Departing from the linear designs of industry, the same processes used for “pre-computer” product rendering has found a new outlet. Pen, felt pen, watercolor, gouache, air brush, acrylics and many types of rice paper applied in collage are now used in a free style to produce his work.
Created and Donated by Larry Sliger Value $700.
"Not so Small"
An outdoor sculpture of worked stone and iron, created by an award-winning local sculptor. The artist will place the sculpture in the winning bidder’s garden or estate, provided there is adequate access for the necessary equipment to move this heavy work of art.
About the artist: Tom Small was born in 1959, in a woodsy place north of Seattle. His early visual impressions include drawings of buildings on his father’s desk, skeletal frames of buildings under construction, Native American Art on the walls, and trees against the sky.
Tom was told that as a child he whittled everything within reach-- soap, flour, butter on the table. In high school he started carving wood in earnest. He received his degree at the University of Washington, where he studied sculpture, bronze casting, welding, and Northwest Coast Native art.
In 1984 Tom fell in love with carving river stone, while living in the Olympic Mountains. This prompted him, in 1989, to create a studio in the woods, on top of a little mountain on the Island of San Juan.
Created and donated by Tom Small. Value $6,500 www.tomsmallsculpture.com
"Sitting Pretty "
A complete setting for the holidays, which includes a birch and camel-colored micro-fiber Beckett lounge chair, ottoman, and a full-size Christmas tree decorated by Dominique Soracco.
Donated by Dominique’s Home. Value $1,550.
"An Island Jewel"
This finely-crafted jewelry armoire is made from solid Black Walnut. Special features include hand-carved cabriole legs, L-shaped wrap-around doors concealing brass pegs for chains and necklaces when closed, and nine drawers lined with padded velvet.
Created and Donated by Bob Nieman. Value $1,200.