< Wednesday, November 4th 2009 >

The Rob Schouten Gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of new magic realist paintings by Seattle artist William Fahey. "I delight in painting impossible things with an earth-bound naturalism," says Fahey, "My work expresses my personal pursuit of meaning through mythology, world religion and the pre-history of humankind. There I have found rich symbols with which to work."

"Animals often appear in my images," Fahey continues, "They speak of the earth, spirit, power, as well as our own human nature and position in the natural world. In my work, I'm trying to point to the unseen, to create a sense of newness and mystery, to hint at deep experiences and encourage their exploration."

Planet-Schmanet is an exhibition of artwork inspired by sci-fi, fantasy, anime, kaiju, pop-culture and technology during the run of The Rocky Horror Show, October 30 - November 14, 2009.

The exhibition will feature works by Whidbey artists: Hannah Albert, Sabrina Bianchi, Erik Bradshaw, Victoria Castle, Jason DeWitt, David Gray, Louise Halloway-Stanley, Frank Jacques, Steve Marts, Teri Jo Summer, and Katie Woodzick.

The Opening Reception will take place following the performance of The Rocky Horror Show on October 30, 2009.

The exhibition may also be viewed weekdays from 10am to 5pm through November 14, 2009.

The Island County Historical Museum is featuring a temporary exhibit titled “Glory Days – from Sandlots to Super Bowls”, featuring local and national sports memorabilia. The exhibit centerpiece is a life-sized carved wooden baseball pitcher from the early 1900’s. As a Boston Red Sox player, he likely began his “career” as a cigar store attraction in Boston, but was discovered by a local collector in Southern California, and now calls Coupeville home! Also featured are vintage sports cards, football and baseball gear, rare autographs, posters, and a vast assortment of photos of local sports teams, including the Oak Harbor Oaks, and the Coupeville Sprouts, all from the early part of the 1900s. The exhibit is part of the “Community Collections” series.

The Open Door Gallery + Coffee at Historic Bayview Cash Store Exhibits Mark Fessler’s sculpture and Liza vonRosenstiel’s oil paintings November 3-29, 2009. The Opening Reception is November 7th, 5:30pm-8:00pm.

These two artists have taught together since 2002 through Coyote Central creating public works with middle school students in Seattle’s Central District each summer.

Mark Fessler began carving in his grandfather’s shop in northwest Iowa at age ten. Over the years, he was self-taught in stone carving as well. In 1979 he began using cast, forged and fabricated metals in conjunction with wood and stone. Since then there has been an ongoing dialogue of forms and materials with frequent use of the salvaged and reworked. Fessler has taught and exhibited extensively in many regions of the United States.

Liza vonRosenstiel’s oil paintings are inspired by the trees, sky, and water of Whidbey Island, combined with the stories that make up daily life- with all their complexity and mystery. Until two years ago, Liza lived and worked in Seattle and on Whidbey Island for 30 years. Her paintings have been widely exhibited both regionally and nationally.