Bubble Cars

For our June exhibit we installed two candy colored "bubble cars" on loan from a private collector and friend of the gallery.  The vehicles are very fitting given the nostalgic and seemingly "Hitchcockian" flare of Amy Spassov's 2012 exhibition.  Messerschmitt was originally known for the famous German Aircraft built for the German army, Messerschmitt AG, designed by Willy Messerschmitt.  After World War II, and for the obvious reason the company was not allowed to produce aircraft so they came up with an alternative design.  These 1956 three wheeled "bubble cars" or "cabin scooters" known as Messerschmitts will be on display for the duration of Amy Spassov's exhibit "Re: Figments" for the month of June at Hallway Gallery. 

View the work online

Road Trip

   

Erik Hall's solo show at Gilman Contemporary  Sun Valley, ID

June 2012    

Artists Erik Hall and Abby Grosvenor visit at the opening.

A road trip tradition for us.  A stop to admire these beautifully designed wind turbines. 

Studio Visit

Meeting with Ellwood T. Risk in his Los Angeles studio 

We were lucky enough to get a glimpse of Ellwood's work for his September 2012 solo show at
Hall Spassov Gallery. View Ellwood T. Risk's work. 

Judith Kindler

It is a rare occurrence that we will purchase a piece of artwork for display in the gallery.  Most works are consigned by the artist.  However, of late we have purchased more and more works.  Of those works is an exquisite piece titled Random Acts and Laws.  It was completed by much lauded artist Judith Kindler and sold originally in 2001.

We had brushes of fate with this piece as it had come across our desk twice before in 2010.  Finally, at an auction in 2011 looking to acquire another work by a different artist we had yet another brush of fate.  This time was different than the previous encounters. Something about the piece spoke with more clarity on this occasion and the beauty and importance of this work was at once very clear.

We purchased it.  What once was the treasure of a downsized collection was now front and center in our personal collection.  It is in the gallery every day and every day we marvel at its mystery.  It is a wonderfully executed piece by a loved Northwest painter.  The first of what would be a long line of encaustic works by which Judith Kindler would become famed for, it is a work of historic importance.

Random Acts and Laws, 2001   Judith Kindler

Encaustic on Mounted Panel

We encourage all who read this to come in and witness this tremendous work in person.  The gallery is open from 9:30AM to 8:00PM daily and located at 800 Bellevue Way NE Suite 150 in Bellevue.

The Pallet Desk

A desk says a lot about the person behind it.  We need a studio desk at Hallway Gallery that can be used for projects that are not suitable for the front desk.   The desk needs to be aesthetically pleasing, functional and ultimately moveable.  As far as what it says about the person behind it... this one says less trash and more cash.

We decided to make the desk using the wood from old pallets.  The aged slabs of a pallet are not the best wood for structural use on their own, but when adhered to a custom fabricated frame made of oak ply they become not only strong, but stylish as well.  Because we are not throwing out the pallets... less trash!

We decided after much deliberation (mostly Erik's) that purchasing a desk made in this fashion would be wildly expensive.  We also threw out many other ideas that were not versatile enough, not as environmentally conscience and just plain unattractive.  Because we were not spending more on inferior design and poor construction.. more cash!

Oak plywood frame in progress

Frame near completion

Leg cut-outs

Leaving behind the character of the pallet wood

 Perfectly imperfect

Finished

Detail

Installed

Complete 

Shop and Destroy

The economy is in a slump, a recession... a slow down.  How do we know?  The news said so.  We were out and about last week and it did not look like anyone watched the news.  In fact people were out buying stuff at a furious pace.  Their social awareness and tact seemed to vanish with every item selected.  No one held doors or bothered to look behind them.  Eye contact and courtesies were at a minimum.  The only thing anyone seemed to care about was getting the obligatory present in a fashion that seemed to say "check it off the list" and not "I'm thinking about you".

We are wildly optimistic and filled with love and affection for those around us... even the strangers at the mall who let the door slam on us.  We are aware of the misfortunes in the world and it makes us even more appreciative of the gift of friendship and the love of family.  Here is the thing... It's the holidays.  Who doesn't like receiving a present.  But when we can't see the menorah or the tree for all the presents it may be that we have lost our way.  It is true that it is better to give than to receive.  Give... not lavish.  Receive...  a gift.  Not stuff.  A gift.

From us to you...  Ellwood T. Risk "Shop and Destroy"

When moved... MOVE!

 We often hear the story of a piece of art that was love at first sight for a potential collector.  As the story goes the collector, walked into the gallery saw the piece and instantly fell in love.  For whatever reason they delayed in making it their own.  After agonizing over the commitment or in this case the non-commitment, they returned to find that it was gone.

Here is the thing.  Original art is original art and by virtue of this there is only one.  Once it is gone it is often gone for good.  Here, we would much rather regret the things we did than things we did not do so our message is this:  When moved, you better move.  These are ones we moved on...

Gretchen Gammell  "Morning Mourning"

Daniel Ochoa  "Piñata Moving"

-Art Cartel