We are very excited and honored two fantastic artists exhibiting work at the Lopez Library for the month of November: Steve Hill will be displaying a retrospective his work on the walls and Rachel Brumer in the display case with her new body of work “The Sweet Shop”. There will be artists talks featuring the artists at the opening reception on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 5 pm as part of First Saturday Art Walk.
Read on below to hear about each artist and the body of work they are exhibiting.
Rachel Brumer: “The Sweet Shop”
The Sweet Shop is an art installation celebrating books, reading, and public libraries. Growing up in Oakland, California, I looked forward to my weekly weekend bike ride over to my library to check out books for the week. On the way back I’d stop for candy at The Dime and Dollar store, and the two are forever linked. But a book IS like a piece of candy!
Steven R Hill – Plein Air Landscape Artist: A Retrospective
Steve travels the world to paint on-site (en plein air) in a never ending quest to capture the light, mood and emotional elements of his subjects. His favorite medium is Pure Earth Pigment Pastel – the worlds’ most permanent art medium.
His artwork has been published in leading contemporary artists’ magazines & books. He is a signature member of two national art associations, past president of The Northwest Pastel Society and was sponsored/voted into the The Salmagundi Club, NYC., in 2018.
In 1974, he moved to Lopez Island as one of the 3 original founders of Grayling Gallery and Fine Art School, with noted northwest artists, Shirley Wright and Bern Sundell.
He holds a BA degree from Boise State University (art education 1970) a MFA degree in painting from Washington State University (1974) and was a non combat illustrator in the
U.S. Army at Ft. Hood, TX (1970-72). He was the first full-time art teacher at Lopez High School (1975-78). Since 2003, his work has earned 96 top awards & honors in major juried fine art competitions, worldwide,
He has taught over 100 pastel workshops (U.S. and Europe) and is frequently called upon to give live painting demos/lectures and judge art shows. His artwork resides in museum & university collections, Zion and Olympic National Parks archives, plus many private art collections.
The timeline of this exhibit at the library is both a retrospective of Steve’s work, since 1974 and an honorarium to Shirley Wright (1937-1996) and Bern Sundell, (b. 1947) – without whom his art career on Lopez Island would never have been possible. Two of their paintings (from Steve & Judy Hill’s private collection) are also on exhibit.
A big thank you to the collectors who have generously loaned various works for this special exhibit!
