Fall is such a beautiful time to enjoy Central Oregon. Crisp blue days inspire everyone especially the
artists at the Artists’ Gallery of Sunriver. We hope that it will inspire you to visit the Gallery and enjoy
the month’s featured artists. Although we are not back to our Second Saturday party ways yet, we are
open every day from 10am to 6pm and would love to talk with you and show off some great art. It is
never too early to start thinking about Christmas shopping. The Gallery offers a both a wide variety of
ideas and budgets.
New to the Gallery is fabric/fiber artist Charlene Virts. A love of history, color and texture inspire Charlene’s
weavings. From functional items with a unique regional flare, to items reflecting the local environment
the artist creates what moves her emotionally. As a child, she watched her mother and grandmother
create wonderful handmade items with techniques like tatting, crochet, and macramé. That experience
was the foundation for her fascination with fiber-based hand work. From saddle blankets to wearable
art, Virts work is primarily focused on weaving. With the artist’s move to Central Oregon came the
discovery of Ponderosa Pine needles for use in woven baskets. Each of the coiled baskets is unique.
Wade Womack, working primarily with reduction wood block printing technique, uses art as a tool for
expression. “I want the art to be unified in expression an idea, a story. The line work, color, and subject
matter all exist to express the idea. I want to affect the viewer in every way possible…
intellectually…emotionally…physically…subconsciously.” Relief printing (woodblock) is the oldest
method of print making. In its essence, Womack carves away what is not wanted, inks the remaining
raised surfaces, places paper over the inked imaged, and hand rubs with a wooden spoon. The process
is repeated with each addition of color. The result is a very textural and beautifully colored work of art.
Wood artist Jim Fister is well known in Sunriver for wearing many different hats, but here at the gallery
he creates unique natural wood furniture and home accessories. Art designed to be touched and used,
Jim incorporates the beauty of nature in his creations by not overly processing the wood he uses.
Natural is the key word for Fister’s work. He applies minimal manipulation to create usable art that is a
welcome addition to any setting.
Multi-media sculptor Jessie Pemberton takes inspiration from nature’s geometric rules and textural
cues. Primarily working in metal, the artist does incorporate other found objects and local materials
from environments that inspire him. Pemberton utilizes his 20-year skill set as a professional metal
fabricator to power his artistic pieces. His metal sculptures vary from small to large. Some are displayed
on a table surface and others are cleverly made to be mounted on the wall. Pemberton has been
enjoying the creation of decorative 2-man saw blades that incorporate scenes from Central Oregon cut
from the metal blade. These are beautiful decorative pieces that fit easily into local décor.
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