Smith & Vallee Blog

Before & After!

2012-01-06T11:20:00.000-08:00

Bookmatched Local Maple Live Edge Table completed just in time for our client's Christmas dinner.

Edison For The Holidays

2011-12-17T12:06:00.000-08:00

The holiday season always reminds us why we love our town of Edison, Washington. The Edison Women's Society, who are also in charge of the street light system in the town and run an annual bingo fundraiser, put up handpainted snowmen, candy canes, and Christmas trees throughout all of our main streets. Local residents and businesses deck their halls with lights and lush garlands.

Not a place to miss during this time of year and the perfect place to take visitors and out of town holiday guests! Take in some shopping, get some great food, and do a stroll about town. Nothing like this place and no where we would rather be!

"objectification 4"

2011-11-19T12:53:00.000-08:00

Opening Saturday, December 3rd with an Artist Reception from 5-8pm!

Our 4th Annual 3-dimensional art invitational, "Objectification 4" surveys and explores art objects in a variety of media from over 20 local and regional artists. If you buy it, you get to take it out of the gallery with you and the show is constantly reworked over the course of the exhibition.

Artists include:

Margaret Davidson
Kathleen Faulkner
Tina Finneran
Kathryn Glowen
Aaron Haba
Jeffrey Hanks
Jan Hoy
Chelsea Jepson
Charles Krafft
Jim Kraft
Tom Lindsay
Kristin Loffer Theiss
Ann Morris
Ries Niemi
Peregrine O'Gormley
Brian O'Neill
Chris Theiss
Andrew Vallee
Arno Zielke
Barbara Zielke
John Zylstra

Look forward to seeing you there!

Robert McCauley, "Refusing to Only Paint"

2011-09-22T11:55:00.001-07:00

"Stop Making Sense," 41"x29," 2011

Robert McCauley, “Refusing to Only Paint”

October 1 - 30, 2011

Opening Reception: Saturday, October 1st (5-8pm)

This exhibition is a homecoming for Robert McCauley, who recently returned to his beloved Skagit Valley. Constantly colliding different worlds, such as land and sea, man and beast, wildlife and machine, McCauley draws on larger themes of humankind's impact on nature.

McCauley has had a long and successful career with shows at galleries and museums in cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle. He received his bachelor of arts from Western Washington University where he was heavily influenced by R. Allen Jensen, a Smith & Vallee Gallery artist well-known for his mixed media assemblages. After that he went on to receive a master of fine arts from Washington State University where he studied with another influential Northwest artist, Gaylen Hansen. Before his return to Skagit, McCauley was a professor and chairman of the art department at Rockford College in Illinois. McCauley currently resides in Mount Vernon.

Images courtesy of Linda Hodges Gallery

"If You Go Down to the Woods Today," 53"x37," 2011

"Atomic Man Slips in Undetected," 41"x28," 2011

Smith & Vallee Woodworks Catalogue

2011-09-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

IT'S HERE!

We've been working on this catalogue of Smith & Vallee Woodworks' projects for about a year now and are finally finished! This 250 page volume can be flipped through on the web and in the gallery. If you're a past or present client, take a look! You might even see your own project!

Smith & Vallee Woodworks | Make Your Own Book

Beginning Sept. 3rd - Lisa Gilley, "Northwest Paintings

2011-08-28T12:27:00.001-07:00

Lisa Gilley, “Northwest Paintings”
September 3 - 25, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 3rd (5-8pm)

Skagit Flats Sky (42"x36")

In her second solo show at Smith & Vallee Gallery, Lisa Gilley explores the Northwest palate and subject matter in a new medium, oil paint. Although best known for pastels on paper, oil painting allows her to work in a larger scale, creating a monumental sense of place.

Growing up in the farmlands Skagit Valley, with hands in the dirt and feet in the tidelands, this regional terrain pulses through Gilley’s artwork. Her layered skies convey perpetual motion and the restless stirring of the land.

Indian Island Slough (24"x48")

Skagit Delivery

1st Annual Smith & Vallee Garden Party on the Edison Slough!

2011-08-03T13:13:00.000-07:00

SAVE THE DATE

YOU'RE INVITED!
1st Annual Smith & Vallee Gallery Garden Party on the Edison Slough
Friday, August 12th (6-9pm)

Help us celebrate an exciting year at Smith & Vallee Gallery at our 1st Annual Garden Party! Join us in the Vallee’s back garden along the Edison Slough with other Smith & Vallee patrons, members, and artists alike!

This is an event open to all Smith & Vallee members and prospective members. With live music from legendary Edison bluesman Daddy Treetops, catering by our hometown favorite Farm-to-Market Bakery, and row-boat Slough tours - this is certainly not an event to miss!

Gallery Members will have a chance to win a painting by Todd Horton, and if you’re not a member yet, it’s never to late to sign up (membership information below)!

Friday, August 12, 2011 (6-9pm)
Please RSVP by August 10th.

To RSVP or learn more about Smith & Vallee Gallery Membership, call the gallery at 360-766-6230 or email us at info@smithandvallee.com.
Hope to see you there!

Friend of the Gallery Membership Plan

- Artist Studio Tours
- Invitation to Annual Events such as our Summer Garden Party
- Invitation to the Inventory Auction
- 5% off any artwork in our exhibitions or inventory
- 5% off any woodwork commission
- Gallery catalogues at cost
- Other programs, tours, events

$99 per year for individuals ($8.25/mo)
$149 per year for households ($12.42/mo)

"Flora/Fauna" at Smith & Vallee Gallery

2011-07-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

“FLORA/FAUNA”
August 6 - 28, 2011
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 6th (5-8pm)

As the Skagit opens up its summer blossoms, Smith & Vallee Gallery is proud to present a group exhibition centered around the theme “FLORA/FAUNA.” Moving beyond standard wildlife tableaux, this exhibition also explores the human impact and relationship with nature.

Artists include: Shelley Muzylowski Allen, Carol Berry, Paul Brower, David Eisenhour, Kathryn Glowen, Karen Hackenberg, Todd Horton, Kat Houseman, Peregrine O’Gormley, Ann Reid, Jasmine Valandani, Andrew Vallee.

Kathryn Glowen
"Sea of Magic”
Acrylic, wasp nest paper, dictionary page fragments on canvas, 36”x36”

Karen Hackenberg
“Forbearance"
Oil on canvas, 36”x72”

Ann Reid
"Species"
Cut paper, polymer clay, board and brackets, 42" x 8" x 8"

"The Salish Sea" & "A River Story"

2011-05-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

"the salish sea"
06/04/2011 - 06/26/2011
opening reception:
saturday, june 4th (5-8pm)

An exhibition of over 15 Northwest artists focusing on the sea as subject matter.

Robert McCauley, "Moments After Capsizing," 1996, 45"x68"

Special Performance: "A RIVER STORY"
Saturday, June 11th
Light reception: 5:30pm
Performance begins: 6:30pm

"The Salish Sea" also coincides with "A RIVER STORY."

A dramatic reading, adapted by Anna Linzer and Elizabeth Huddle, of Linzerʼs novel “A RIVER STORY,” a new novel that takes place in Fishtown, a creative settlement of artists, poets, and scholars on the Skagit River beginning in the late 1960s. First performed last summer at Western Bridge in Seattle, this will be only the second staging of “A RIVER STORY.” “River Story,” collaborative artwork by Eli Hansen and Oscar Tuazon, will also be on view through the month of June.

Eli Hansen, "Skagit River Delta," 2008

Charles Krafft, "Empty River Series," 1971

Story of a Kitchen - Fahringer & Worman Residence

2011-04-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

(before)

Some of our favorite gallery patrons, Susan & Keith, recently got a new kitchen from Smith & Vallee Woodworks. They first thought that they couldn't afford us, but once we did an exploratory bid they realized that we were in their reach.

We don't expect that our clients know about managing a kitchen project so we were happy to help them know when they needed to make decisions, and walked them through the process. The result is a new set of cabinets made out of sustainably harvested cherry in their Ballard home.

PREVIEW! Todd Horton, "From Here to the Horizon"

2011-04-10T14:57:00.000-07:00

TODD HORTON "From Here to the Horizon" : May 7 - 29, 2011

Tombstone is Gone - Meet the New Edison Woodshop!

2011-04-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

Live Edge Smith & Vallee Woodworks on the side of our new Edison Woodshop at
5719 Gilkey Avenue

Inside the shop - A covert photoshoot on a messy day.

One of our new pieces of equipment - this edgebander makes projects even faster!

Cabinets and a Live Edge Maple Mantle ready to go!

In process: Black Walnut Table with Two Leaves

Woodworks Photography Tour

2011-01-27T15:16:00.000-08:00

Often times when we install our cabinetry, the project is not yet complete. There is still lots of sawdust and work to do. This just means that it's even more awesome to visit some of our completed jobs once our clients have already moved in!

Leness Houseboat

We recently completed work on one of our artist's homes! The wonderful Terry & John Leness recently moved to a Seattle houseboat. We worked with them to design and build the perfect interiors for their new tight quarters out of salvaged vertical grain fir.

Built in bookshelf with rolling ladder.

Media cabinet.

Vertical grain fir kitchen flat panel cabinetry and bar top.

Built-in Captain's Bed with built-in shelving storage and dresser.

Built in fir desk in the bedroom.

Burrell Residence

Live edge and frame and panel cabinets and bar top made from Whatcom County maple.

Sustainably Harvested Flat Panel Cherry Cabinet

Starting the New Year Out Right

2011-01-16T13:49:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! We have been very busy, getting lots of projects done at our new Edison shop. Here are just a few...

7 Black Walnut Sofa Tables

This client came to us inquiring about a heap of black walnut, she had kept in her Skagit Valley barn since the 1980s. We worked with her to figure out a furniture piece she could give to each of her seven children. These sofa tables will be sent around the country to where each of her children's families now live.

Sustainably Harvested Cherry Cabinet with Live Edge Accents

Locally Harvested Maple Dresser

Does this dresser look familiar? We had a similar furniture piece in our Edison gallery a few months ago and a young couple decided to commission a piece based off the original. The light tone of this particular maple was of a special interest to them, and luckily we were able to use wood from the same tree as the other dresser.

Smith & Vallee played with a different kind of live edge for this dresser by not grinding the bark all the way down. The result is a leathery accent tone on the edge and the live edge pulls.

Holly Wood Bed Set

This is another example of one of our client's supplying the materials for the project out of their own backyard. We have slowly but surely been making furniture for this client out of several trees, originally from her property, that we milled and dried. The newest furniture pieces are two twin beds made out of Holly Wood.

Sustainably Harvest Cherry Live Edge Cabinet

Our clients commissioned this very specific furniture piece for the perfect spot in their Ballard home. It serves as storage and a nice entry bench. These clients were also considering re-doing their kitchen but weren't sure what we would cost. When we dropped off the cabinet we sketched out their dream kitchen, sent over our bid, and we are now on track to give them brand new kitchen cabinets!

Sustainably Harvested Cherry Buffet

Our client loved an identical cherry buffet we have for sale at our Edison gallery but wanted the piece to be 6" shorter. Good thing we do custom work! They got exactly what they wanted!

Native Shoes Display Letters

We were asked to build these big letters for Native Shoes' display at an exhibition in Berlin. Each letter was made by gluing up many (many) pieces of sustainably harvested maple plywood. Smith & Vallee then CNC routed them into each of the specific shapes.

Coincidentally, Native can also spell out Evan - the name of our right-hand-man at the woodshop. We had a lot of fun with this photo shoot.

Lots of dried wood in the shop waiting for projects!

artists of dakota art: 20th anniversary show!

2011-01-16T13:17:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Dakota Art Store's 20th Anniversary of serving artists in the Northwest, Smith & Vallee Gallery is proud to honor the artists who work at its three locally based shops. With work from over 15 artists, this exhibition widely varies in subject matter and media with something new around each corner.

All of the "Artists of Dakota Art!" Thanks Everyone!

The Artist's Reception at Smith & Vallee

Seasons Greetings!

2010-12-18T11:44:00.001-08:00

From our families to your's, wishing you the happiest of holidays.

- The Team at Smith & Vallee: Wes, Andrew, Evan, Berit, Andrea, Sarah, Genevieve, Buck, and baby Marguerite

It's Time! -- objectification 3

2010-11-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

After two successful years of objectification, our anything goes art object show, how could we NOT have another one?? Here's a sneak peak at some of the line up... we're still doing some finalizing so there may be some last minute editions...

Debbie Aldrich
Rob Beishline
Lanny Bergner
David Blakesley
Patsy Chamberlain
David Eisenhour
Shirley Erickson
Kathleen Faulkner
Wendy Gingrell
Kathryn Glowen
Aaron Haba
Karen Hackenberg
Isaac Howard
Jan Hoy
Chelsea Jepson
Peggy Kondo
Kristin Loffer-Theiss
Margie McDonald
Thor Myhre
Ries Niemi
Peregrine O'Gormley
Brian O'Neill
Larry Richmond
Corey Urlacher
Chris Theiss
Smith & Vallee Woodworks
Liane Redpath Worlund
Arno Zielke
Barbara Zielke

And more to come!

Todd Horton wants to know if this will count for the show. Hmmm... should we let him?!

Happy Halloween - Highlights from the Annual Edison Elementary Costume Parade!

2010-10-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

Every year both exits from Edison are barricaded to call traffic and hundreds of Edison Elementary school students parade around the heart of the town collecting candy from many (many) parents and onlookers.

The Vallees and two of three Smiths.

So Long!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Backroom Highlight - R. Allen Jensen, AKA, AKA

2010-10-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

R. Allen Jensen, Faux Chalkboard, 24"x30", $725

R. Allen Jensen aka Robert Dante aka MAF Hockney aka Max Edison aka Amanda Stanhope aka Backroad Bob is our hero. Andrew Vallee first met Bob in 1994 - he was studying art at Western Washington University and Bob was one of his instructors. The class was as much about why to make art as much as how to make art. The "only" requirements were to be prolific, and be ready to defend how and why they created something. Andrew graduated in 1996 and Jensen retired the next year. Andrew focused on studying woodworking and Jensen continued to create on his own with artwork in exhibitions at the Whatcom Museum, Western Gallery, and Museum of Northwest Art.

Then in 2008, Andrew reconnected with his old mentor by having an exhibition of his work. Jensen was given full reign, choosing all of the work in the show. Another exhibition in 2009 flipped this idea when Jensen asked Smith & Vallee to choose artworks from his vast studio.

In winter of 2011 we have another planned exhibition with Bob. What does that mean? No one knows at this point but we are thrilled to have another chance to work with our prolific, uncompromising and extraordinary hero. For more reading, see here, here, here, and finally here.

R. Allen Jensen, Daily News, 28"x21.25", $600

R. Allen Jensen, Venus, 21"x15", $500

Preview! Cynthia Camlin and Michael Oppenheimer

2010-10-14T13:22:00.001-07:00

Cynthia Camlin & Michael Oppenheimer
November 6 - 28, 2010
Artist Reception, Saturday, Nov. 6 (5-8pm)

Cynthia Camlin, a new professor in the Fine Art Department at Western Washington University, constructs glacial, geometric shapes that explore ideas of nature, the sublime and act as haunting barometers of global warming. Camlin, who is also a new member of Seattle's Punch Gallery, has shown nationally including the recent "Critial Messages: Northwest Artists on the Environment" at the Western Gallery in Bellingham.

Accompanying Cynthia Camlin is Lummi Island sculptor Michael Oppenheimer whose artwork directly responds to its environmental setting -- moving or resonating with weather conditions and sometimes responding to the viewer's gaze.

Smith & Vallee and "Journey of Action"

2010-10-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

Today, we were one of the many stops along Kassidy & Ryan Brown's "Journey of Action." The brother - sister duo are making the trek from Alaska to Argentina to volunteer with and showcase young people with good ideas to make some impact in the social and environmental challenges of today (US!). Working with two filmmakers, Donovan Green and Nick Kova, they hope to bring attention to the people making change - from social entrepreneurs to non-profit organizations and educational systems.

You can learn more about and follow "Journey of Action" here.

The crew visiting S&V!

Ruthie V, "WORK" Reception and Exhibition Photos

2010-10-03T13:06:00.000-07:00

Next up! Ruthie V, "Work"

2010-09-25T15:20:00.001-07:00

Ruthie V, White Shirts

Ruthie V, Scaffolding II

Ruthie V, Rainy Monday II

Ruthie V, Food Bank Line

Ruthie V, White Shirts

Summer Furniture

2010-08-26T14:34:00.000-07:00

Just three of our furniture projects this summer. Lots of live-edge, lots of spalted maple.

A table and bench project for our friend Iris out of the same spalted maple we used on
her bar top.

The steel base gave it a sleek, modern look that fit the rest of her home.

The table was book matched (take a chunk of wood, slice it horizontally and open it up like a book to give a cohesive, symmetrical look) with a few butterfly dovetail keys buttoning up the joints (can you find one through the figure in this photograph?)

The table and bench in context with her kitchen.

The headboard for a spalted maple bedframe ready to go, waiting at our shop.

Evan and Wes install at our client's Chuckanut home.

Finished result!

Spalted maple buffet.

Goodbye Deming

2010-08-25T11:50:00.001-07:00

HELLO EDISON!

As some of your may already know, after many wonderful years working and living in Deming, Smith & Vallee Woodworks is moving to Edison.

In lieu of these changes, we are putting the home and shop for sale or lease. We are listing the property ourselves, so please try to help us spread the word. The home has been much beloved and the shop would be a great space for either another woodworker or perhaps another tradesman or artist.

Information (and lots of photos) below:

For Sale: $295,000
For Lease: $1,700 / mo

4 bed, 2 bath 1,700 sq. foot home with an adjacent 2,000 sq. foot heated shop. Nestled in the foothills of Mount Baker in the town of Deming next door to the Deming Community Library. Cottage industry location with highway frontage. .6 acres and fenced, tree-lined yard to give privacy.

The home is a classic cottage featuring a kitchen by Smith & Vallee Woodworks. Sustainably harvested cherry with a live-edge maple bar top. Woodburning stove in living room. Carpet and hardwood floors. Washer/Dryer in mud-room.

Home available NOW with shop available in October.

PREVIEW: "Dwelling," September 2010

2010-08-21T11:21:00.000-07:00

Dwelling: An exhibition of buildings, structures, houses, homes. Lisa Gilley, Terry Leness, David Ridgway, and David Wall.

Lisa Gilley, Newly Painted Fence

Lisa Gilley, "Farmer's Drive"

Terry Leness, Good Reception

Terry Leness, Sentinels

David Ridgway, Conway Butterscotch

David Ridgway, East Spring on Easton

David Wall, S.E. Des Jardins

David Wall, Kirby & Lewis

BIRDS

2010-08-20T16:10:00.001-07:00

"School of Fish" and Much, Much More

2010-07-08T14:24:00.000-07:00

Since our last post we finished and took down Todd Horton, "Minor Keys" with Peregrine O'Gormley and Chelsea Jepson. It was one of our best shows, and we kept the few works of Todd's that did not sell (so if you want to take a look come by!).

"School of Fish: Contemporary Work by Select Fishtown Artists" has taken off! We had a great opening reception and appreciate all of the positive feedback so far. Running in conjunction with “Artists, Poets, Scholars: Fishtown and the Skagit River” curated by Kathleen Moles at the Museum of Northwest Art, “School of Fish” features contemporary work by some of the artists from Fishtown’s legacy and shows the trajectory of that artists career.

"School of Fish" Artists

Michael Clough

Julie Kerwin

Charles Krafft

Paul Hansen

Bo Miller

Allen Moe

Eric Nelsen

Hans Nelsen

Maggie Wilder

Looking to August...

Our swallows are already excited for "BIRDS." We have already heard from about 35 artists and are expected to have a few more join the roaster. We plan to stack the gallery thickly in salon style and have flocks of birds whizzing by on our floating walls.

Some of the artists include Seattle folks like Carolyn Krieg, Joey Veltkamp, Justin Gibbens, Angela Scott / Skagit artists including Todd Horton, Ann Reid, Kris Molesworth, Ries Niemi, David Blakesley, Kathy Glowen, Kathleen Faulkner / Bellingham artists such as Michelle Newman, Steeb Russell, Ruthie V, Kat Houseman, Kelly Bjork / and off as far as the Peninsula like Karen Hackenberg and David Eisenhour.

Paddles Up!! Smith & Vallee Do the MoNA Auction!

2010-06-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend Wes Smith, Andrew Vallee and Berit Ness hit the Museum of Northwest Art's Annual Auction and had a lot of fun doing so! It was great to see some of our dearest friends and patrons but first and foremost, we care about supporting local artists and local art institutions.

Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Friday Night Preview Party (aka, checking out the goods)

We love our artists!

(Todd Horton, Andrew Vallee, Lisa Gilley and Wes Smith)

(Todd Horton, Andrew Vallee, Lisa Gilley and Wes Smith)

Numbers up! The live auction tent.

Terrific Jack Gunter at auction.

"Minor Keys" Book Now At Press!

2010-06-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Can't get enough of Todd Horton, Peregrine O'Gormley or Chelsea Jepson?? Buy the book!

Smith & Vallee Woodworks is happy to now use Blurb for printing our books which enables you to order your own book! We will, of course, have copies available for purchase at the gallery but this way you can have your own book shipped to your own home or you can give it as a gift!

So far, we have been thrilled with our amazing show and have several red dots to boot. Get down here before the whole show is sold out!

Below: Just a sneak peak. Click on the link for information about purchasing this book!

T O D D H O R T O N, "Minor Keys" by SMITH & VALLEE GALLERY | Make Your Own Book

Update from the Gallery & Woodworks

2010-05-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

In anticipation for our next show of Todd Horton's work, we headed South to his new studio in Bow. What we found were over 50 pieces that we had created in the last six months. We are very excited to exhibit dozens of them for his upcoming show "Minor Keys" at the gallery which highlights four different arteries of his work.

Accompanying Todd will be sculpture by Peregrine O'Gormley and works on paper by Chelsea Jepson!

Please join us Saturday, June 5th from 5 - 8pm for our Opening Artist Reception. We will have lots of food and wine plus some entertainment from a Persian Tar player.

Todd Horton and Andrew Vallee

IN WOODWORK NEWS

We have a full room waiting for furniture deliveries!

It's Out There!! - Smith & Vallee in City Arts Magazine

2010-05-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

Okay, we have been dying with anticipation to tell you about our exciting inclusion in an article about different arts scenes outside of the city (aka, Seattle). We have, of course, known for years about all of the wonders of the arts in this area and are happy that others are taking notice.

How it Happened

We were setting up a for a Leadership Skagit benefit at the gallery on a quiet day when the editor of City Arts Magazine, Mark Baumgarten came in to take a look. Despite the hurried mess of setting up for the function, we were able to talk to him and tell him what we are all about.

The Cover

Does it look familiar? It's an artwork by Michelle Newman currently on display in our exhibition Don't Call it Student Art. Since City Arts normally stages and shoots its own cover image, it was great that they thought this image epitomized exactly this so, so cool road trip idea. More about that here.

PICK UP YOUR COPY TODAY!

Wes Smith and Andrew Vallee smile for the camera
(or try to look super slick)

PREVIEW: June, 2010 - Todd Horton, "Minor Keys" with Peregrine O'Gormley and Chelsea Jepson

2010-05-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

Todd Horton, “Minor Keys”
with sculpture by Peregrine O’Gormley
and works on paper by Chelsea Jepson

June 5 - 27, 2010
Opening Artist Reception: June 5, (5-8pm)

Smith & Vallee Gallery is proud to present new work by Todd Horton and his current body of work entitled “Minor Keys.” Best known for his squeegeed animals that are at once in motion and suspended in time, Horton’s work has mystical qualities that are subjective to each viewer. Much of his new work is also inspired by the Samish Flats, where he now calls home, and Horton’s squeegee in his landscapes blurs and softens the horizon to reflect the dewy Northwest spring. Horton will be accompanied with sculpture by Peregrine O’Gormley and works on paper by Chelsea Jepson.

Todd Horton, Field of Dew

Todd Horton, Sound of Water

Todd Horton, Midnight Heart

Todd Horton, No More Enduring Than Last Night's Dream

Smith & Vallee... Superstars?

2010-05-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

Okay, not really. BUT, Wes Smith was featured for an ad for an Intuit credit card iPhone app.

Check out some of the shoot that took place in Andrew's Edison kitchen. Coming soon, the real deal.

New work by Todd Horton

2010-05-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

Smith & Vallee Gallery is very proud to show Todd Horton for the month of June (coming up soon!). Todd has recently made the move to Skagit County and, of course, has subsequently been playing around with Skagit landscapes.

Below is some artwork currently at our sunny gallery! Look for more updates of show additions soon.

Samish River off the Thomas Rd Bridge, $700

Samish Foothills, $600

Across the Samish Flats to Lummi, $1,100

Blanchard Above the Samish Flats, $1,200

Ready for the new Edison shop?

2010-05-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Don't Call it Student Art!

2010-05-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

Featuring artists from the Western Washington University Bachelor of Fine Arts program, Don’t Call it Student Art exemplifies the diversity of art school and pushes the question about when an artist becomes an “artist.” Please join us for the artwork of Chase Boston, Emily Jerome, Lindsay Kohles, Elisabeth Morrell, Michelle Newman and Austin Stiegemeier.

City of Kenmore, Hydraulic Podium

2010-04-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

For the City of Kenmore's new city hall, Smith & Vallee Woodworks built various pieces of furniture from trees harvested from the City of Kenmore's property. Check out the podium!

The Tree Project - Eighth year anniversary

2010-04-22T11:51:00.001-07:00

Happy Earth Day!

We would like to reflect on working sustainably by revisiting The Tree Project (for images see link attached).

Wesley Smith and Andrew Vallee sought to see how many pieces of furniture one tree could yield and in the tracked the history of the tree and subsequently the history of ...the Northwest. Although it was eight years ago to the date, it is still a museum exhibition that is fresh in our minds every day. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Guemes Island Project

2010-04-16T14:10:00.001-07:00

One of our favorites to date!

We used wood from Michael & Mickey's property in Guemes Island, doing cabinetry work all over their new home. Photos of the wood being processed, including the big burl that became the star of this project, are also below.

The Before...

Before & After: Burl Coffee Table

2010-04-04T16:34:00.000-07:00

Below is the before and after for a project we recently did. First, photos of the wood and then are photos that our gracious clients took of their new finished project (a burl coffee table). This is one of a few projects we are working on for this clients home on Chuckanut Drive.

Oh, what a night!

2010-04-04T14:35:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for helping us celebrate the artwork of Ann Reid, Carol Berry & Paul Brower! This lyrical show of ours will be up until April 24th. We all hope that you will be able to see it.

For April : The Artwork of Ann Reid and Paul Brower & Carol Berry

2010-03-26T16:57:00.001-07:00

Intermezzo Abstraction at Smith & Vallee Gallery

2010-03-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

With the outstanding artwork for Darrin Randall, Dederick Ward, Jennifer Eaton and Andrew Vallee.

More photos from John Simon "With the Wind"

2010-03-13T14:09:00.000-08:00

Thank you all for those who participated to make this short-lived show wonderful.

In memorium of John Simon

2010-03-07T16:12:00.000-08:00

(above, Kevin Paul drumming and singing)

Thank you all for helping us celebrate John Simon's life and artwork last night. More photos to come of the show. Below and above are photos of the shoulder-to-shoulder packed reception. There has been many, many, more people who visited the exhibition in the days that surrounded the reception and we have had overwhelming support.

Our best wishes are with John. We are glad that we got to know him and that he enjoyed a great amount of success toward the end of his life. Soar on.

The Progress of our New EDISON Woodshop

2010-02-28T11:22:00.000-08:00

Much progress has been made on the new Edison woodshop (also known as the Tombstone Building). We think that it is the oldest standing building in Edison -- the old livery stable. When we got it, it had been used as a failed antique mall that looked like an old ghost town. Don't worry, we're cleaning it out and making one open space however we are salvaging an amazing amount of timber and are planning to do some exciting projects out of parts from our new beloved building.

The outside of the building, just spitting distance from Smith & Vallee Gallery.

View from the now-extinct second floor.

The false-facades of the old ghost town antique mall.

The new bottom floor! Andrew (and Wes) have been busting themselves after work and on the weekends for a month.

Cancellation : John Simon, "With the Wind"

2010-02-26T15:57:00.000-08:00

It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that last week John Simon passed away. We are saddened by his passing however we are glad that he was able to see his artwork celebrated at art galleries and the Museum of Northwest Art.

On behalf of his family and friends, we would like to invite you to a memorial for the artist that will be scheduled at the same time as the scheduled reception, Saturday March 6th (5 - 8pm). His artwork will continue to be up at the gallery for the weekend, March 6th - 7th (11am - 5pm).

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, info@smithandvallee.com Our best wishes are with John as he soars with the birds in the great Skagit sky.

www.smithandvallee.com/gallery/exhibitions/john-simon-with-the-wind

Are you ready for March yet? (a sneak peak of our upcoming John Simon exhibition)

2010-02-07T12:09:00.000-08:00

We counted, and he has just enough to fill the walls of our turn-of-the-century schoolhouse.

Flying with the Wind is our postcard image.

The artist in his studio.

Out of the Forest: Wes Smith Talks at the Whatcom Museum

2010-01-31T15:26:00.001-08:00

Wes Smith was the latest "brown-bagger" for the Whatcom Museum's Brownbag Lunch talk segments. He spoke to a crowd of 20-30 people about sustainable woodworking in the Northwest, explained a few of their projects from the felling of the tree to the finished product, and talked about the FIG (Family Interactive Gallery) and their beautiful installation.

A talk concluded with a visit to the FIG to have a question and answer session around the native alder touring forces.

Thanks for all who went! We had a lot of fun sharing a little of what we do with you!

John Simon Talk

2010-01-29T16:37:00.000-08:00

John Simon speaks in front of Chuckanut Mountain Range while Andrew Vallee and Dederick Ward listen on.

Slightly belated, but hey, we're still getting better at blogging! The photo above is of John Simon and terrific work of his Chuckanut Mountain Range. Chuckanut Mountain Range was originally completed in time for our 2008 exhibition "Northwest Mountain Invitational." John said that if he had extra time, he would have added in more of the fall colors as the leaves continued to change but we would not have wanted him to change a thing! The work was one of the key hits of the show with many "almost" buyers. John visited the work several times throughout the two months of the exhibition and I had the pleasure of watching our patrons get lost in the wisps of fog depicted.

After the work didn't sell, Smith & Vallee Gallery decided to buy the work from John for re-sale. When Clayton James came to visit the exhibition he commented that it was a work that should not be owned by one person but instead a work in a museum, available to a broader audience. The gallery and friends of the artist pulled together funds and successfully donated the work to the Museum of Northwest Art. This is the first work by John Simon in their collection and at this talk, John discussed his art and his intentions for this work in particular. Great talk! Mark your calendars for our March solo exhibition of new work by John Simon!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T15:58:00.000-08:00

To bring in the new year (and decade!) we wanted to share just a few highlights and photos from 2009 from Smith & Vallee Woodworks and Smith & Vallee Gallery...

Wes (and Evan) clocking many, many hours at the Whatcom Museum's new Lightcatcher Building. Smith & Vallee Woodworks built curved native alder installation walls that framed the interactive components in the new Family Interactive Gallery along with a play area, benchs, and a sculptural snag tree.

Just part of the finished result (Whatcom Museum, Lightcater Building 2009)

We also built cabinets and a bartop for our good friend Iris Collinge's Edison kitchen. In this project we worked with reclaimed verticle grain fir from Edison's Deluth Timber. The straight lines of the cabinets are broken up by the undulating spaulted maple bar top.

Flat panels and slim pull tabs give this project a modern feel.

Spalted Whatcom County Maple bench with one continuous slab, grain-matched. A beautiful piece completed in October.

The Rose Cabin on Guemes Island. We worked with David Hall at HKP (Henry Klein Partnership) Architects to complete the reclaimed fir table and sustainable maple cabinets above. The perfect cabin retreat!

Smith & Vallee Gallery started off our year of shows with an exhibition curated by the North Cascades Institute featuring their artists. We benefited NCI and showed works that honor the Pacific Northwest.

April at Smith & Vallee Gallery : Gunther José Frank. Our good friend had a great, well received show.

Article above can be found in the Cascadia Weekly archives.

The combination of Dederick Ward and Keith Sorenson in May turned out to be fantastic.

Dederick Ward, Grasslands 2

June, 2009 : We showed ourselves, reiterating handmade furniture as art objects. Above, our big Black Walnut Table and Chairs. This tree was originally taken as a nut when the Holiday family moved from Indiana to Minnesota in the 1880s. The black walnut was planted in Minnesota but when the family moved a few years later they brought the small tree with them to Tuxedo, Washington. On the wall are four turn-of-the-century photographs of the tree at different stages of its life. They have been framed with the last bits from this amazing tree.

July 2009: Becky Fletcher. We love her work and our patrons do too (one of our most popular shows!)

August 2009: Todd Horton, "Future Perfect" with sculpture by David Eisenhour. Two of our favorite artists.

September 2009: Lisa Gilley, "The Road Home." We had been discussing and working on this show with Lisa for a little less than one full year. Lisa's undulating landscapes brought Skagit Valley to life. It was truly a top-notch exhibition -- Thanks Lisa!

October 2009: We "began again" with R. Allen Jensen.

Artworks in situ at Bob's infamous studio.

Objectification 2 was a great way to close our season. Above is the article Mike Scaringe wrote up in the Cascadia Weekly.

These are just some of the many! Thanks for a great year everyone!

Introduction to Smith & Vallee Blog

2009-11-27T13:21:00.000-08:00

Time and again we have heard from our patrons and clients that they would like to know more about the woodworks, more about the gallery and more about us. Through this blog, we hope to bring all of you in to our amazing businesses. Want to know more about live edge? Curious about curating? We will explore these topics and invite you to participate in on the forum.

Thanks for being wonderful patrons and friends.

Andrew, Wes, Berit, Matt & Evan
(plus Andrea, Sarah, Genevieve and Baby boy Smith)