M.C. Escher exhibit at the Portland Art Museum

Virtual Worlds: M.C. Escher and Paradox

JUN 6, 2009 – SEP 13, 2009 at the Portland Art Museum, http://portlandartmuseum.org

Printmaker Maurits Cornelis Escher (Dutch, 1898-1972) created visual puzzles in which logic and absurdity coexist. This exhibition traces the development of the artist’s work from his early stylized depictions of landscape and architecture to his later use of repeated geometric patterns.

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For those of us who love the complex interface of art and science, this is an exhibit that's well worth catching. My jaw was hanging on the floor--I've seen lots of Escher's work in books, but the perfection of detail in the original prints was just stunning. They're presenting many examples of teh conceptual sketches and mathematical computations on graph paper that were used to arrive at the final images, as well as some of the original wood and linoleum plates used to print them.

Upcoming GNSI-NW meeting in Seattle

If any of you find yourself in Washington next month, be sure to stop by for this fun event!

GNSI-NW MEETING 10 am
WORKSHOP 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Saturday, July 11 at the Green Lake Branch of the Seattle Public Library

Field Illustrated Journals
Come join your fellow artists for a fun time learning how to miniaturize your watercolor kit and record your trips. Photographs are one thing, but your own journal will bring back your trip like the scent of lilacs brings back your grandma's yard. Are you a "too tight" artist? No problem. The handout includes a step-by-step illustration of how to do a quick landscape. Instructor, Marian Gee, a member of the Pacific Northwest Botanical Artists, works in a variety of media but watercolor is her favorite. She envisions this workshop to be a sharing of ideas so bring your books, a special pen you've discovered or, best of all, your own illustrated journal! A sample trip journal (free black & white, $4 printing fee for color) and a small bag of idea materials will be included.

Workshop Registration Deadline:
Register for the workshop by Monday, June 29 to receive the sample trip journal and idea materials.
To register, contact Lisa at ArtDesign1@aol.com or call 206 295-6951.

Workshop Cost:
This workshop is free for GNSI members.
The workshop fee for non-members is $15 payable to GNSI-NW
Mail to Lisa Valore
P.O. Box 82272
Kenmore, WA 98028
If you would like to join GNSI-NW for an additional $10, enclose a check for $25.
Please include your contact information: Name, address, telephone number and email.

What to bring:
Bring your watercolor kits for painting at Green Lake across the street.
Bring your journal pages
Bring your lunch.
Bring something to write notes on.
Optional color handout fee, $4.00 payable to Marian Gee.

Meeting and Workshop Location:
GREEN LAKE LIBRARY
7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N.
Seattle, WA 98115

The Green Lake Branch is located between 4th Avenue Northeast and Latona Avenue Northeast, directly across from the entrance to the parking lot for the Green Lake Community Center. Served by Metro Bus Routes 16, 48, 316

Green Lake Branch website:
http://www.spl.org/default.asp?pageID=branch_open&branchID

Green Lake Library Driving Directions:
Driving from the south (heading north):
* Take I-5 exit 170 at N.E. 65th St. and Ravenna Blvd.
* Turn left on Ravenna.
* Stay on Ravenna for ½ mile. Continue straight through the stop light at 65th and the stop sign at Woodlawn Ave. to the stop sign at Green Lake Dr. N. Veer right and continue ahead three blocks to 4th Ave. N.E. The branch will be on your right.

Driving from the north (heading south):
* Take I-5 exit 171 at N.E. 71st St.
* Turn right onto 71st at the stop sign.
* Take 71st to Green Lake Dr. N.
* Turn right onto Green Lake Dr. N.
* Go two blocks to the branch.

Call to Artists: Open Studios in Eugene area

The Downtown Initiative for Visual Arts in Eugene, OR has issued a call to artists for the Open Studios Tour, which is scheduled for October17-18 & 24-25.

Read the details here.

Download application here.
Deadline is May 4!

Upcoming workshop: Desert Notes/ River Notes: An Experiential Nature Journal

Daniela Naomi Molnar in Portland shares the following workshop news:

Desert Notes/ River Notes: An Experiential Nature Journal

This is a workshop I am co-teaching with the brilliant Ryan Pierce in Eastern Oregon this June 3-8. Ryan (a painter and writer) and I will be leading a group of eight people in five days of observational drawing and creative writing techniques, while enjoying the pristine landscape of Oregon's Blue Mountains. Every day we will hike in the nearby North Fork John Day Wilderness where, through a combination of drawing, writing, reading, discussion, and guest presentations, we'll uncover the richness of Eastern Oregon's natural and human history, as well as build a relationship between our own work and the place around us.

In the evenings, we will share a swanky, 200-acre ranch (complete with a jacuzzi!) for group dinners, games, vacation... The workshop is run through Oregon College of Art & Craft's Continuing Education program, and is optional for credit. Download the complete course description here (we're on page 12). Although Ryan and I are planning a fantastic array of guests, lessons, and hikes, we see this as an opportunity to discover like-minded artists and allies. It won't be a hierarchical class in the traditional sense, so much as a group experience at the intersection of art and the natural world. Join us?

From: http://artdaniela.com/news.html

April Sketch Walk at Mount Pisgah Arboretum

Katura Reynolds will be leading her second "Slowpoke Sketch Walk" at Mount Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene on Saturday, April 11, 10am -12 noon.

This casual field-sketching class is a benefit for Mount Pisgah Arboretum in Eugene, Oregon. Come one, come all, and explore the forest at an artist's pace! Meet at the Mount Pisgah Arboretum Visitor Center, rain or shine. Fee: $5 (MPA members free!)

Read the full description at Katura's website.

Get directions to Mount Pisgah Arboretum.

May events for Erika Beyer

Science illustrator Erika Beyer reports on two events where she'll be setting up a booth for her botanical notecards and prints this spring.

The first is the Oregon Plant Fair at Alton Baker Park in Eugene, from 8-3 on Saturday, May 9th.

The second is the Mount Pisgah Arboretum Wildflower Show on Sunday, May 17th.

Get a preview of Erika's lovely work at her website: www.erikabeyer.com

New deadline for GNSI Annual Exhibit applications

Sharing this update about the exhibit application process for the GNSI Annual Exhibit, which happens in parallel with the annual meeting in Fort Kent, Maine this year:

Dear GNSI member,

You should have recently received your march GNSI newsletter with the Annual Exhibit application form. Unfortunately the form says the deadline for submission was yesterday (March25th)! Please forgive this slip up. We expected the newsletter to reach people earlier than this.

The submission deadline for the the Annual Exhibit and the Fine Art Exhibit have been pushed back to April 8th. You may email your submissions or have them postmarked by that date.

The preferred form of submission is now electronic, but you may also submit 2x2 in. slides. You can find more instructions on the 2009 GNSI conference web site here: http://www.gnsi.science-art.com/2009ME/exhSciIll.shtml

We do apologize the the surprise and distress caused by the sudden deadline of this popular event. We hope you will all take the opportunity of this extra week and a half to submit an image or two of your best work that has not appeared before in the Annual Exhibit.

Notification of acceptance will go out by May 15th, and art must be delivered in Maine by June 30th. The exhibit will be up for the month of June.

If you are in contact with a GNSI member who does not use e-mail, can you please contact them and pass this news on?

Britt Griswold
GNSI Vice President