Boise, ID

High 44 | Low 32

Currently: 32°

Sun

43|29

Mon

39|25

Tue

42|29

TRAFFIC

10 emerging Boise artists have a new gallery home

Artist Alexa Rose Howell leads the way for a new gallery in Downtown Boise

BY DANA OLAND - doland@idahostatesman.com

Published: 12/04/08

Comments (0) |

Chris Butler/Idaho Statesman

Alexa Howell will open a new Downtown Boise gallery to help emerging young artists show their work. Gallery Alexa Rose opens officially on First Thursday.

ELSEWHERE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

WHAT

Gallery Alexa Rose opening weekend.

WHEN

5 to 10 p.m., First Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m . Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

WHERE

The Idaho Building, 280 N. 8th St., Boise, in the courtyard.

First Thursday highlights

December's First Thursday revs up the holiday fun. An annual Winter Window Gallery Stroll features artists installations in 15 windows of Downtown Boise businesses. And the Idaho Wine Commission will hold tastings at selected galleries.

The Gypsy Gallery will offer one of its four annual shows, and you can check out the new Gallery Alexa Rose in the Idaho Building courtyard. And you'll also find an occasional visit by Santa Claus.

Here are some highlights. Events are from 5 to 9 p.m. unless times otherwise listed.

A Novel Adventure, 906 W. Main St., 344-8088: This independent bookstore's rotating gallery space features Michael Luque's photography. Folk music by Willison, Roos, and Young from 6 to 9 p.m. and see Megan McJunkin's window display.

Art Source Gallery, 1015 W. Main St., 331-3374: See the whimsical wire sculpture by Josh Ritchie, wine tasting by Indian Creek Winery, and holiday music by Four Shillings. Nibbles provided. www.artsourcegallery.com.

Atomic Treasures, 409 S. 8th St., 344-0811: Meet window artist Edna Rey-Vizgirdas from 5 to 8 p.m. and see her Cubist-inspired installation.

Ballet Idaho, Esther Simplot Performing Arts Academy, 516 S. 9th St., 345.9116: "Nutcracker for the Curious," Learn about the origins of E.T.A. Hoffmann's tale and the classical ballet that has become a holiday tradition across the country as Ballet Idaho prepares to unveil its new production of "The Nutcracker." Hot chocolate and candy canes will be served. 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Free.

Basement Gallery, 928 W. Main St., 333-0309: December features the gallery's 12th Annual "X-mas X-hibition" with paintings in a variety of media by Jany Seda, ceramics by Debra Featherston, oil paintings by Alma Gomez, watercolors by Sandy Shaw, oil stick and pencil works by Sharon Church, mixed media by Sally Pollard, jewelry by Alta Rehkugler and August Voss.

Basque Museum and Cultural Center, 611 Grove St., 343-2671: See the exhibit "Basque Whaling: Danger and Daring on a Distant Shore,'' tour the Cyrus Jacobs/Uberuaga House, and check out the annual holiday sale in the gift shop.

Boise Art Glass Studios, 530 W. Myrtle St., 345-1825: Annual holiday party will feature glass blowing demonstrations, food, beer and wine and jazz by Brianne Gray Trio from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Boise Art Museum, 670 S. Julia Davis Drive, 345-8330: Free admission from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Daniel Siedell of the University of Nebraska, Omaha, will talk about Jun Kaneko's large-scale sculpture and paintings at 5:30 p.m.

Brown's Gallery, 1022 W. Main St., 342-6661: Find a special selection of items designed with gift-giving in mind made by gallery artists in a variety of media. Wine tasting by Sawtooth Winery; musical performance by Terri Eberline.

Buns in the Oven, 413 S. 8th St. suite A, 342-5683: Santa Claus will be on site from 3 to 9 p.m. Photos with Santa will be taken at Charished Images, 404 S. 8th St., for $10. ($4 of which benefits City Light Home for Women.) Meet Window Gallery Stroll artist Brenda Raub. Baked cookies and holiday cheer are free.

Charley, Pet Boutique, 160 N. 8th St., 331-6605: Holiday "Hip Hound Happy Hour" features a window by house artist Kristy Albrecht, music by Anna Sali, food and drink from Pair Restaurant and City Grill, plus information on pet adoption from Northwest Animal Companions. Pets welcome. 6 to 9 p.m.

Cole/Marr Gallery & Coffeehouse, 404 S. 8th St., 336-7630: This month's exhibit is "All Creatures Great and Small," by owners and photographers Kristen Cole and David Marr. Profits from this evening's sales will benefit The Defenders of Wildlife. Marr will sign copies of his book "My Children Have Always Been Wolves," from 6 to 9 p.m. Comfort food will be served.

D.L. Evans Bank, 213 N. 9th St., 331-1399: See artwork by painter Fred Choate at an annual holiday open house from 3 to 8 p.m. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, wine, desserts and entertainment. See Sandy Marostica's window display.

Flying M Coffeehouse, 500 W. Idaho St., 345-4320: See Toby Robin's paintings. (He is the graphic artist who co-designed the Hitchcock Building murals.) He works with bold colors on recycled and found scraps of wood. Also, "Dinner at Your Door" book signing, from 6 to 9 p.m. by the authors. Rick Walter's window will be on display.

Foxtrot Style for Living, 1419 W. Grove St., 344-0979: Members of The Professional Fire Fighters of Idaho will sign copies of their 2009 calendar; $1 for photos with a firefighter will benefit various firefighter funds from 6 to 10 p.m. Santa will be there from 6 to 7 p.m. Hot cocoa, local wine tasting and holiday treats from Three Girl's Catering, plus Suzanne Lee Chetwood's window display.

Gallery 601, 211 N. 10th St., 336-5899: Annual holiday open house kicks off Thursday and runs through Saturday with discounts on artwork. The gallery also is taking non-perishable food for an annual Idaho Foodbank Drive. Donate three or more cans and receive a holiday print from artist Paul Landry, while supplies last. Wine tasting from Wood River Cellars. www.Gallery601.com.

The Gypsy Gallery, lobby of the Pioneer Building in Old Boise, 6th and Main streets: This show includes work by multimedia artist Marianne Konvalinka, glass artist Lisa Tate, watercolor by Cherry Woodburry and Jenifer Gilliland, photography by Michael Falvey, metal by Zella Bardsley and more from 6 to 9 p.m.

Happy Fish Sushi Bar, 855 Broad St, 343-4810: See prints by artist Edward Anderson.

Idaho State Historical Museum, 610 Julia Davis Drive, 334-2120: The museum store will hold a book signing by Idaho authors who have written books on Idaho's history from 5 to 9 p.m.

Lisk Gallery, 850 Main St., 342-3773: See Kay Seurat's latest work, "Rocks," and work by gallery owners painter Jerri Lisk and photographer Mark. Wine tasting by Silver Trail Winery and chocolates from Dream Chocolate. www.LiskGallery.com

R. Grey Gallery, 415 S. 8th St., 385-9337: See artist Reham Aarti Jacobsen's stunning mosaic busts. www.RGreyGallery.com.

Record Exchange, 1105 W. Idaho St., 344-8010: Silent art auction of vinyl toys designed by more than 20 area artists, including Mike Flinn and Karen Bubb, will benefit the Human Rights Education Center. You can bid Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 21. Also see Megan McJunkin's window display.

Salon 162, 404 S. 8th St., 386-9908: Holiday open house with artist Brent "Smudge" Matkin.

Thomas Hammer Coffee Co., 298 N. 8th St., 433-8004: Will feature Erica Deshner photography and printmaking.

Winter Window Gallery Stroll, throughout Downtown Boise: Here are artists who have done windows not mentioned in this list:

Miriam Woito/students at Pottery Gourmet Kitchen, 811 W. Bannock St.

Grant Olson at Global Travel, 900 W. Jefferson St.

Sandy Marostica at American Clothing Gallery, 100 N. 8th St. and Custom Flowers by AG, 401 S. 9th St.

Frank Goitia at Cheers, 828 W. Idaho St.

MUSIC

Berryhill & Co. Restaurant and Bar, 121 N. 9th St., 387-3553: Champagne tasting, 6 to 8 p.m. and music by Rex and Beverly.

Brick Oven Bistro, 801 W. Main St., 342-3456: Singer Rebecca Wright plays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Heather Bauer's window display.

Caf de Paris, 204 N. Capitol Blvd., 336-0889: "Nova Bossa" duo, Elisabeth Blin and Daniel Reed, plays from 6 to 9 p.m..

Leku Ona, 117 S. 6th St., 345-6665: Basque folk-rockers Amuma Says No plays from 8 to 11 p.m.

The Modern Hotel and Bar, 1314 W. Grove St,. 424-8244: Singer-songwriter Kris Doty will play from 7 to 9 p.m.

Pengilly's Saloon, 513 W. Main St., 345-6344: Frim Fram Four starts playing jazz at 8:45p.m. No cover.

Dana Oland: 377-6442

Artist Alexa Rose Howell is a wisp of a woman. Softspoken, warm-hearted and of cheery disposition, she overflows with pride as she shows off the new Gallery Alexa Rose in the lower courtyard at the back of the Idaho Building in Downtown Boise.

She takes out her key and opens the door with the name neatly painted on the glass. The empty space stretches away, room after room, with a freshly painted black floor and clean, large empty white walls.

The space is a kind of blank canvas on which Howell will create her latest work: a new gallery that will focus on giving young, emerging artists a break.

"At this point in my life, I wanted to make a contribution, and this is my area," she said.

"I've been a teacher and a painter for decades. My own children have left home and so now, I'm a true empty-nester. So I decided to do it all at once. Make a contribution in my field and also rebuild my nest."

She is refeathering her nest with artists in their 20s and 30s who are painters, filmmakers, sculptors, illustrators and installation artists working in media that range from traditional to digital, from edible to wearable.

The gallery opens officially during December's First Thursday with its show "Young or Talented."

"They are both, actually," Howell said.

The reception includes a performance by dancer Johanna Kirk at 6:30 p.m. and a cupcake sculpture by Heather Plummer for refreshments.

TIMING

When Gallery Alexa Rose opens, it will join Art Source Gallery in that it is an artists' cooperative. That means the artists staff the gallery to keep it open, make decisions by committee, pay dues that go toward expenses, and organize events like this opening.

It might seem odd that as the economy founders, someone would open an art gallery, but as things become more uncertain in the world, artists continue to create.

"It's a way of healing," Howell said. "Art is really important. Artists are creating, maybe even more."

Howell began learning about teaching art decades ago, she said. She took her first class in this very same space, which was where Kathy Wren started her art school, the Drawing Room. Wren died of cancer in 2006.

"So this is also a tribute to her," Howell said.

APPLES AND ORANGES

The artists call their group Apples and Oranges. The name was thought of by Bill Hofstra, who works in an office during the day and paints in his studio apartment at night.

He was one of the first artists Howell recruited for the gallery.

"Since I graduated from Boise State 10 years ago, I haven't had a show. So this is my party," Hofstra said.

Lance Brown, a graphic artist who helped Howell through an injury by driving her around, also is in the show. He was part of J Crist Gallery's "Under the Grid" show in the summer that highlighted talented and unknown Idaho artists. He will show his drawings and a few sculptures, including one of a robot made of popcicle sticks.

Lisa Arnold, who will co-create an installation in the first room for the opening, is new to Boise. She moved here in January as the display artist at Anthropologie.

She works there with another gallery artist, Jenny Rice, who also will work on the installation. Both artists met Howell because she is a regular customer at the shop.

"She's easy to love," Rice said.

Jason Willford, a filmmaker and graphic art student at Boise State, said this opportunity gives him a new focus.

"Now I can establish myself as a film artist, not just a filmmaker or storyteller, which is fine. I love storytelling, but this is a different kind of challenge," he said.

The other artists are video artist Loren Reed; digital illustrator Shay Plummer and his wife, Heather, who is cupcake mistress and is digital archivist for the group; mixed media sculptor Krista Muir; and dancer Johanna Kirk.

BUILDING A GALLERY

It all started when Alexa Howell broke her kneecap on a walk in the Foothills.

"It was terrible. I couldn't walk, I couldn't drive. I was in seclusion," she said. She became prolific with her art.

Howell paints with watercolor - dreamy florals, birds, still-lifes, graphic-inspired scenes - in her light, airy studio on the Idaho's top floor.

That accident was nine months ago. Now she is giving birth to this new idea.

The real estate part came easy. Howell is the wife of Ken Howell, a Downtown property manger, owner and preservationist, whose Parklane Co. owns Downtown landmarks including the Idaho Building, The Idanha and the Union Block, which holds the Rose Room, named for Alexa Rose.

This space was uninhabitable because of a water leak. By the time the city fixed it, the economy had turned, and the space was unrentable, Howell said.

When Ken suggested that she turn it into a gallery, it made perfect sense, she said. "I know this is what I'm supposed to do with my life, to be the best supporting player I can be," Howell said.

"This is not about getting my work out there. I've done that. This is about these young people putting this energy into this and creating this place. It's their place. I'm just the key."

OPTIONS: Most Read Stories | Story Comments | Email story | Print story

Story Comments
We welcome comments but ask that you remain on topic. Some comments may be reprinted elsewhere in the site or in the newspaper. Comments that are profane, personal attacks or otherwise inappropriate or are off topic are subject to removal. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Do not flag comments merely because you disagree with the comment.

more about comments here.