Meet Nadia Abdelrhman, a Stranger reader who has vowed to do everything The Stranger suggests for the entire month of March. Look for her reports daily on Slog and Line Out. —Eds.
This Suggests week has boasted back-to-back art exhibit viewings. Last night’s was at Vermillion gallery and bar, located in the heart of Capitol Hill.
Vermillion is currently exhibiting works by Pacific Northwest artists Jay Steensma and Ree Brown, both considered “Northwest Masters.” I wonder to myself, upon arrival, what it takes exactly to be considered a “master” of a particular field of art. It would seem that Steensma and Brown are masters of frumpy, dark, semi-abstract paintings. Not to say I hated the work, I really didn’t; after begrudgingly lingering in the gallery space after the bar was overrun with the participants of a monthly discourse, the work started to sink in. I felt like perhaps I could see into the artists’ minds, and seemed to find out things I didn’t want to know in the first place.
Vermillion is showing off the final pieces of the late Steensma’s estate, and Brown (who is now 84) visited the gallery for the opening. Their work is described as “outsider art.” Brown has had no formal training and his paintings and sculptures almost look like the handiwork of a child. In a couple of pieces, Steensma pastes a forlorn photograph onto his canvas, only to cross it out in favor of what looks like intentional water-damage.
Vermillion itself has white walls, and high, black ceilings; the place feels a bit like an art bunker where people can come to hide out in the back bar for a slosh-fest, although my hot toddies were not deftly made.
All in all, I felt a little out of place, even after co-curator Mark Mueller sidled up to me for a brief and friendly conversation when he noticed I was taking notes. Despite the good cheer, I was a little desperate to get out of there. I’m used to being ignored at galleries, and I tend to like it that way.
Suggests denied.
What’s the resale value on J.Steensma paintings?
Totally agree. Ree Brown’s paintings at Vermillion are childish. Not childlike… childish. Steensma’s are uninteresting. And list for several thousands of dollars.
So many great local artists and this is what a sweet spot like Vermillion chooses to hang? Ugh…
Har, uh, you can’t actually get more great, interesting or local than Ree Brown and Jay Steensma.
There’s way more beneath the surface and that is exactly why we are showing it at this “sweet spot” (thanks for the compliment). Imploring this demographic to learn about the legacy of Northwest artists.
In a nutshell, these two artists were lifelong companions and completely opposite personalities. Jay was a HUGE traditionally trained artist who rejected the art world – rowdy, lyrical, sad, manic, humorous, prolific. He was haunted by spiritual symbolism and his own mental illness but had a wicked sense of humor, occasionally smashing or slashing his own work when he got frustrated – some of his friends consider him a completely anti-establishment “punk” artist if there ever was one in the Northwest, though he was mentored by and greatly respected people like Morris Graves who founded one of the Northwests only legitimately recognized art movements (The Norhthwest School). He died of a heart attack 16 years ago.
Ree is still with us and a gentle, sweet 84 years old – completely untrained, unpretentious and unassuming soul who has strong anti-war sentiments. He would be the first to tell you his work is childish. That’s not the point. The outsider art movement is much more complex and interesting than people’s first impressions. People can take sides on it however they want – but it does stir up the dialogue which I hope this show generates.
Take 10 minutes out of your day and watch this video to get the gist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtlVox3BF…
While I respect and sometimes enjoy the idea of someone doing the whole month of “Stranger Suggests,” this offers a perfect example of why it sometimes doesn’t make sense, with negatively impacting results. The Stranger suggests activities for people who then choose to go based on their interests. Clearly Nadia is, if at all, only mildly interested in art (see, in addition, TARL review). It makes for poor recommendations when one as uninterested as she is forced to visit art shows, and certainly does no good for the gallery or the artists. Nadia, if you ever feel like coming back to Vermillion, I’ll make sure your hot toddie is perfect and then get right to ignoring you in the gallery.
Aww heck, I got to talk to Nadia and she was a sweetheart (and I hear recovering from Bronchitis). I am totally biased about the whole thing. I want her to love Vermillion – I think she even got two hot toddies (bartender told me). Maybe to see if they were really OK or not. He checked in to get feedback before the second, she seemed fine with it…
Eh, basically, we are a unique place doing what we do and I’m glad we got the “Suggests”. I am really fascinated by the first impressions people get about art, businesses, bars – in general and will take it in stride and remember that whenever I go out.
Come in and look around. We’ll try to read you the best we can as an art/bar(?) but, ENGAGE and you will feel some satisfaction one way or the other. We’re very patient overall.
Sorry. I suppose I was a little defensive there.