On Friday, June 20, at 7:41 p.m. local time, summer arrives. Rowe Fine Art Gallery is gearing up for the seasonal shift with Summer Soul-stice on Friday, June 6, at 4 p.m. That’s when the gallery will shine the spotlight on some of its more metaphysical artworks, starting with gourd sculptor and basket weaver Shirley Eichten Albrecht, who incorporates geodes, crystals, and semiprecious stones into her art. Shirley gave an impromptu demonstration of her techniques during last month’s First Friday Gallery Tour, and it was so popular that she’ll be back again in June with a new gourd.
Shirley Eichten Albrecht demonstrating weaving on her gourd sculpture during First Friday..
“Shimmering Red” Dimensions: 6.75”H x 7”W x 7”D Original one-of-a-kind gourd sculpture by Artist Shirley Eichten Albrecht
Demonstrating her craft is second nature to Shirley, who hosts workshops throughout the year. “I always love demonstrating as it helps people to understand what it takes to create my gourd sculptures and my basket weaving,” she says. “People think the gourds come already cut and with the color applied. Don’t I wish! I explain that I have to take a gourd and decide my design and then begin to prepare it by cleaning it out using a drill. I create the opening where I weave, and I also carve out the area where the geode is going to be placed. I think people are most surprised by what I have to do to prepare the gourd.”
Rutile Necklace- Black Tourmaline in Quartz, Mali Garnet, Sterling 22KT Gold Dimensions: 1.85”H x 1.85”W x .25”D by Artist Lesley Aine McKeown
For those who prefer to wear their amulets, jeweler Lesley Aine McKeown works with some of the prettiest stones you’ve never heard of. Her newest necklaces feature parti sapphires, keshi pearls, prehnite, and Mali garnet. Lesley will be the first to admit her artwork is deeply personal to the wearer and the maker. “Creating is a process constantly in motion, one that keeps the maker searching for balance,” she says. “I hope to create work that provokes thought. Bordering between sculpture and jewelry, each is thoughtful in design and construction, representing a meaning deeper than aesthetics.”
“Hummingbird with Iris” Original Mixed Media Painting with Oil, Acrylic and Copper Leaf on Gallery Wrapped Canvas. Dimensions: 12”H x 12”W by Artist Gary Jenkins
Painter Gary Jenkins made a name for himself by hosting a weekly art program on PBS for more than 30 years. Back then, he primarily painted flowers, but these days, his mixed-media work, shown exclusively at Rowe Fine Art Gallery, is just as likely to depict birds, cacti, abstract backgrounds and even energy orbs.
“I feel orbs represent spirit guides or guardian angels who are watching over and protecting us,” says Gary. “I like to place orbs in my paintings so people who purchase my work take home this form of spirit energy.”
“Spring” Dimensions: 18.5”H x 8”W x 5.5”D Highly Collectible Limited Edition Bronze of 45 by Artist Kim Kori
Alongside new works by Shirley, Lesley and Gary, see the latest from sculptors Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe and Joshua Tobey along with new paintings by Julie T. Chapman, Kim Diment, Jen Farnsworth, Lynn Heil, John Rasberry and Amy Ringholz and jewelry by Liam Herbert and Jennifer Inge.
“High Society” 7”H x 5”W x 3”D with Base Highly Collectible Limited Edition Bronze of 35 by Artist Ken Rowe
Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-8877