Artists remember, honor friend during annual show, sale

The Artists of South Whidbey will present the 39th annual Show and Sale July 26-28 at the Island County Fairgrounds.

The Artists of South Whidbey will present the 39th annual Show and Sale July 26-28 at the Island County Fairgrounds.

More than 30 artists’ work will be featured over the weekend.

A memorial will also be held for Bernice Felton, a long-time member of the group. Felton’s work will be displayed during the event.

Felton worked with many art mediums such as watercolor, acrylic, oils, pastels, colored pencils, collage and decorative arts painting. Her work has been displayed at the Pittock Manion Christmas Decoration Event and the Freeland Library Christmas display.

Artist Sue Owen of Langley will be showing six pieces including abstract and landscape paintings. Owen has been showing her work at the show and sale for ten years now.

“Bernice a very good friend to many of us,” Owen said. “The most interesting about her is that she used many different mediums. And whatever medium she was using she wanted to use the other one.”

The silent auction will include a fundraiser for the Artists of South Whidbey Community Arts Fund in benefit for the artists-in-residence program. Auctioned items begin at $39 to celebrate the 39th year of the show. Last year the group raised $700 for the program.

Barbara Mearing, of Artists in Residence, said she wanted to be able to fund at least one artist in residence.

Artist Judi Nyerges will show between 12-14 of her work which includes water colors and water color pen and ink paintings.

One of her favorites grew from a photograph of her granddaughter in Chincoteague Island standing with a pony. She said it brought back memories of one of her favorite books, “Misty of Chincoteague.”

Nyerges said her inspirations for her work varies. Sometimes inspiration comes from sketching, a class she took or her own ideas.

The show is a good opportunity for the community to see our work together, Nyerges said. Often the work of Artists of South Whidbey are at different galleries.

“Everyone has the opportunity of getting a high-quality painting by a local Whidbey artist,” she said. “And for a starting price at $39, I know there’s going to be a bidding war. We’re working hard to put on a great show.”

An opening reception will be held Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Burrien building. The show will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday with the auction ending at 1 p.m. on Sunday.