Local artists wow with Paradise gallery show
“Diamond in the Ruff” by Ma Brown Robbins Guest Artist for Artists In Paradise Show
Whistle Creek Pottery by Ellen Childress certainley had plenty of works on show that had plenty of art lovers stopping in for a look.
Local wood carver Tom Collins showcased some works in progress to help invigorate some future carvers in the area.
Karen M Thorson with two of her works showcased, ‘Sweet Sixteen’ glass ware and ‘Storm Across The Valley’ oil painting.
Sanders County local Ed Moreth showcased his new 2018 calander at his booth, with the front cover shot one he took in his own back yard.
Orvall from OK Photography in Plains loves capturing the local wildlife that appears just outside his front door.
Tim & Trudy Huls (left) of Corvallis MT, talk to Ma Brown Robbins (right) about her stunning painitings at the pop up gallery. (Erin Jusseaume/Clark Fork Valley Press)
Shale Rock painting of Grizzly Bear, “Bearly Tough” another medium showcased by Ma Brown Robbins
What happens when a historical school closes down after nearly a century of nurturing students aspirations and dreams? Well, in the case of the Paradise School, it is now being turned into an Art Gallery, Information Centre and stop for travelling tourists and locals to enjoy.
The old Paradise School, though no students have learned from it’s rooms in years, is now coming back to life thanks to the local Arts and Town Councils.
Sanders County is vastly rich with talent when it comes to art, there are so many artists of many mediums that you can see in shops and restaurants at any given stop.
Now, for it’s fourth year running, the Artists in Paradise show return for an event that was a hit from day one.
With local artists showcasing their works in the old gym, and at the front entrance outside, it was certainly difficult to decide which exhibitor to visit first.
Luckily, the Arts Council made it a little easier, with maps of where each exhibit could be seen. Art lovers where encouraged to stop at each exhibit and ask for a sticker to fill up their map.
At the end, they could hand their maps over and be entered to win a door prize.
From pottery to glass work, oil paintings to photography, wood work to creations that only an artist could produce, the abundance of work easily kept guests entertained for a few hours.
With the array of mediums, visitors were delighted to walk through the exhibits to engage with each artist about their works.
Even the stories behind the art were as beautiful as the end result themselves.
Special guest artist, Marla Brown Robbins, who works under the name Ma Brown Robbins, showcased some stunning work on a range of mediums.
She predominately paints, but it is the forms on which she produces work that are truly spectacular.
Oil, acrylic, and water colour are her three-forms, and they are spilt between surfaces such as canvas, rock, feathers and saws.
“It’s funny, that painting right there with the truck sold for more than the truck itself. My husband didn’t think it was as funny as I thought,” said Robbins with a giggle.
She was pointing to the piece entitled, ‘ Diamond In the Ruff’. Full of love for what she does, she explained that she has been an artist for more than 50 years.
Robbins began when she was a young girl, living on the family ranch drawing her horses, dogs and other animals.
Now she boasts some truly inspiring pieces that are completely breath-taking when viewed. One couple came in from out of town to view the exhibits and became truly taken back with her work.
As they spoke about different pieces and their love of art, Robbins gifted the couple with an otter-inspired painting on basic matting. Needless to say that art truly reaches that to which you can not see with the eye.
When it came to locals and the talent pool that is Sanders County, there is nothing short of jaw dropping inspired works.
Photographer Orvall Kuester of OK Photography had an amazing display of his flora and fauna pieces. He is a photographer that has a true love of capturing nature and all it’s wonders.
“I’m always seeing photos, wherever I go,” he laughed. “I can’t leave the house without my camera, and even then, some days I just don’t want to leave as I have all my favourites hung on the walls inside.”
A Nebraska native, Kuester says he can’t imagine being anywhere else as everything someone could ever want to photograph is right here on our front door step.
Another out-of-state native turned local, Ed Moreth, showcased his photography work as well.
With amazing displays of animal portraiture displayed in both colour and black and white, his standout piece was a calendar.
The 2018 calendar that Moreth created showcased some great local shots that are sure to be enjoyed throughout 2018.
The cover shot of the bear cub was taken in his very own backyard he said. Just a cub climbing a tree, to some it may be nothing much, but the way Moreth was able to capture the essence of the cub was easy to see why he chose it as a cover shot.
Art Studio 376 also showcased amazing art works.
“They’re like children to me, after I create them I need to enjoy them for a while,” said owner and creator Karen M. Thorson. “Some of these pieces I have had nearly no time to create, like this one painting, ‘Storm Across the Valley’, the storm was rolling in and I really didn’t want to loose the colours that were displaying, I have to say it’s one of my favourites.”
With new life breathing into the old stone bricks, Artists in Paradise was the best way to kick off the soon to become must-see stop for tourists on their way through the county.
“Once everything is done, the school will be a true cultural visitors center,” said Thorson.