Summer may have ended Monday, but the fun sure hasn’t.
Sure, the air may be a bit cooler, it’s getting darker earlier and the leaves are changing color. But the spirit of summer lives in a month of art, culture and music events.
Artstock is the headline event for the first week of “Savor the San Juans: A Medley of Food, Art & Culture,” Oct. 1-31.
Artstock is Oct. 4-5. It’s an annual festival established to celebrate the diverse artistic culture of the San Juan Islands. Enjoy a self-guided tour of open studios and gallery events, showcasing local artist demonstrations, music and the culinary experience of the fall harvest.
Galleries will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; artists’ studios will be open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
“We want to bring people here to promote the beauty of the San Juans and the fall harvest,” said Barbara Dollahite, chairwoman of this year’s Artstock and owner of Gallery San Juan & Framing.
“Hopefully, it will be a wonderful weather weekend.” If the weather is inclement, don’t worry: most events are inside and there’s plenty to do.
Dollahite was compelled by her optimism to offer this prediction: “The whales will be there at 2 o’ clock and the weather will be beautiful.”
Here’s the Artstock schedule (for maps, visit the Artstock Web site, www.artstocksanjuanisland.com).
Oct. 3
— Arctic Raven Gallery, 130 S. First St., Friday Harbor, will be open until 8 p.m.
— Gallery San Juan, 232 A St., No. 6, Friday Harbor, will be open until 7 p.m.
— Island Museum of Art, 314 Spring St., Friday Harbor, will be open until 7 p.m.
— Waterworks Gallery, Spring Street and Argyle Avenue, open until 8 p.m.
Oct. 4
— Waterworks Gallery: Lisa Gilley and David Ridgway will be plein-air painting on the streets of Friday Harbor (weather and time permitting). An evening reception for Gilley and Ridgway is scheduled. Recent oil and pastel landscapes by both artists will be featured at the gallery. Call 378-3060.
— Darleen Nixon, 163 Elena Drive, Friday Harbor: From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Nixon will demonstrate working with molten glass to create her hand-sculpted glass jewelry.
— Gallery San Juan: From 6-8:30 p.m., Gallery San Juan will feature oil and pastel demonstrations by James Moore, Steve Hill and Matt Dollahite, a trio of talented local painters.
— Ann Walbert, 1661 Lampard Road, Friday Harbor: Walbert and guest artist, Lumi Verdugo, will offer juice, coffee and pastries in the mornings as Walbert paints at her easel and Verdugo demonstrates her hand-built pottery. Afternoon tea will be served.
— Island Studios, 270 Spring St., Friday Harbor: Enjoy local musician Teddy Deane and Jonathon Piff of the Play-Rite Boys. Watch demonstrations by Andria Rhine and Jane Penman as they share information about acrylic painting and lapidary. Open until 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served.
— Matthew Gray Palmer, 835-A Argyle Ave., Friday Harbor. From 1-3 p.m., local composer David Messmer will perform new music at Palmer’s Gallery.
— Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso, 1296 Wold Road, San Juan Island. From 2-6 p.m., there will be demonstrations of glass carving and construction; unraveling the mysteries of the encaustic painting technique.
— Arctic Raven Gallery: From 3:30-5 and 6-8 p.m., Cree carver and musician Ed Peekeekoot will play music. Peekeekoot, a two time B.C. County Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year nominee, is known for his foot-stomping fiddle, banjo, guitar and harmonica playing.
— Spaulding Studio, 1713 Cattle Point Road, Friday Harbor: The Spaulding Studio will be showing new work created over the summer. In addition to an ongoing pastel demonstration, there will be the possible firing up of the new outdoor wood-burning bread oven, weather permitting. Refreshments will be served.
— Constantia Smulovitz, 118 Clipper Way, Hannah Heights. The artist will exhibit her latest oil abstracts, landscapes and portraits. Refreshments will be served.
— Paula West, 160 Mac Ginitie Road, Friday Harbor: From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., West will demonstrate wheel throwing, slab building and decorating techniques. Refreshments will be served.
— Kristy Gjesme, Greenwinds Studio, 210 Nichols St., upstairs, Friday Harbor: Guest artist Debbie Pigman will demonstrate the techniques of concrete sculpture and Margaret Thorson will unwind the mysteries of fiber art.
— Anne Sheridan, 135 Second St., Friday Harbor: Lavelle Foos will perform American Indian-style flute music informally throughout the weekend. At 11 a.m., Terrea Bennett will offer a demonstration of colored pencil techniques (with hands-on participation). At 2 p.m., Sheridan hosts a demonstration and conversation, “Seeing Light and Underlying Values.”
— Stewart Luckman, 143 Sweetgrass, Portland Fair. Follow the signs from Cattle Point to Portland Fair. Turn right at and park on Timberlane. View large-scale outdoor sculpture, major marble pieces, recent commissions, proposals and maquettes, new work in progress.
— Rainshadow Arts, 50 Malcolm St., Friday Harbor. At 1 p.m., artist Dona Reed will show how she makes hand-pulled relief prints from design to finished work.
Oct. 5
— Waterworks Gallery: Lisa Gilley and David Ridgway will be plein-air painting on the streets of Friday Harbor (weather and time permitting). Recent oil and pastel landscapes by both artists will be featured at the gallery. Call 378-3060.
— Darleen Nixon: From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Nixon will demonstrate working with molten glass to create her hand-sculpted glass jewelry.
— Mathew Gray Palmer: In the morning, “Image Transfers” with Danielle Dean Palmer. In the afternoon, “Clay Modeling” with Matthew Gray Palmer.
— Gallery San Juan: From 1-3 p.m, live music by San Juan Island’s Teddy Deane. Refreshments.
— Arctic Raven Gallery: Ed Peekeekoot’s intricately carved cottonwood totem poles, which reflect his Native culture and the spirituality of his creations, will be on display at the gallery throughout the weekend.
— Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso: From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., there will be demonstrations in glass carving and construction; and the encaustic (painting) technique.
— Spaulding Studio: The Spaulding Studio will show new work created over the summer. In addition to an ongoing pastel demonstration, there will be the possible firing up of the new outdoor wood burning bread oven, weather permitting. Refreshments will be served.
— Constantia Smulovitz: The artist will exhibit her latest oil abstracts, landscapes and portraits. Refreshments will be served.
— Paula West: From 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., West will demonstrate wheel throwing, slab building and decorating techniques. Refreshments will be served.
— Kristy Gjesme: Guest artist Debbie Pigman will demonstrate the techniques of concrete sculpture. Margaret Thorson will unwind the mysteries of fiber art.
— Anne Sheridan: Lavelle Foos will perform American Indian-style flute music informally throughout the weekend.
— Rainshadow Arts: At 1 p.m., see how fashion and artist portraits are made with photographer Mark Gardner, and get a free portrait of you and your friends.
Savor the San Juans
Over the month, islanders and visitors will find 44 dining and lodging specials, cooking classes, music and live theater, and art and historical tours
Robin Jacobson of the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau is calling “Savor the San Juans” a “month-long movable feast for the senses … “There is a veritable medley of culinary and cultural choices on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan islands.
Here is a sampling of what “Savor the San Juans” has to offer:
Oct. 1-15
— Island Museum of Art presents “Sculptures: John Heric solo exhibit,” San Juan Island.
Oct. 1-31
— Coho Restaurant cooking classes, San Juan Island.
Oct. 3
— Food for Thought Series: “Joy of Soy” with chef Cynthia Burke, San Juan Public Library, San Juan Island.
Oct. 4
— Harvest Festival, San Juan Vineyards, San Juan Island.
— Oktoberfest: San Juan County Fairgrounds, San Juan Island.
— Tom Rush in Concert, San Juan Community Theatre, San Juan Island.
— “Savory Farms & Healthy Habitats”: San Juan Nature Institute culinary event, San Juan Island.
Oct. 4-5
— Artstock: Second annual Fall Festival of the Arts, San Juan Island.
Oct. 4, 11, 18
— Farmers Markets and Historic Friday Harbor Walking Tours, San Juan Island.
Oct. 4-26
— Waterworks Gallery presents David Ridgway and Lisa Gilley, San Juan Island.
Oct. 5
— Seattle Chamber Players, Orcas Center, Orcas Island.
Oct. 8, 22
— “Savoring the Flavors of the San Juans” cooking classes with chef Cynthia Burke, Hillside House B&B, San Juan Island.
Oct. 10
— Food for Thought Series: Experience Food Project’s chef Tom French, San Juan Public Library, San Juan Island.
Oct. 11
— Tingstad and Rumbel in Concert, Lopez Center, Lopez Island.
— Harvest Festival, Woodmen Hall, Lopez Island.
— “Wonder of Whales,” free activities at The Whale Museum, San Juan Island.
Oct. 12
— Oktoberfest Dance, Oddfellows Hall, Orcas Island.
Oct. 12, 19, 26
— Kids Discover While Adults Dine, The Funhouse, Orcas Island.
Oct. 18
— “The Magic and Necessity of Bees,” San Juan Nature Institute.
— Jessica Williams and Carolyn Cruso in Concert, Orcas Center, Orcas Island.
— San Juan Historical Museum Fall Auction, San Juan Island.
— Seattle’s Garfield High School Jazz Band, Lopez Center, Lopez Island.
Oct. 25
— Mushroom ID and Collection, San Juan Nature Institute.
— Historic Friday Harbor Walking Tour, San Juan Island.
Oct. 26
— “Cooking with Wild Mushrooms,” San Juan Nature Institute.
— Food for Thought Series: “Jim Crook Collection, Washington Rural Heritage,” presented by Mike Vouri, San Juan Public Library, San Juan Island.
Restaurants offering dining specials on Lopez Island: The Bay Café, The Galley and Lopez Islander Bay Resort.
On Orcas Island: Christina’s, Deer Harbor Inn, Doe Bay Café, Orcas Hotel’s Octavia’s Bistro.
On San Juan Island: Backdoor Kitchen, Coho Restaurant (also presenting winemakers dinners Oct. 3, 11 and 17), Downrigger’s, Duck Soup Inn, Friday Harbor House, Roche Harbor’s McMillin’s Dining Room, Steps Wine Bar & Café, The Place Bar & Grill and Vinny’s Ristorante.
