Artist and sailor April Randall came to the islands several years ago. She and her boyfriend lived aboard their sailboat mooring on Orcas and Lopez before coming to Friday Harbor. That was when fellow artists told her about a space for a gallery in what is now the Two Loons Building on Spring Street. A few months later she has opened Windy Gallery and Studios, a space that showcases art, two and three dimentional, and rents studio space in the back. The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting for her earlier in the summer, where Chamber Director Becki Day welcomed her, along with several of the Chamber board.

“It has been a really good summer, though I don’t have much to compare it too. There has been lots of traffic,” Randall told the Journal recently. “”It has been been a wecloming start, especially with locals and frequent visitors to the island. Some show regret tat Island Studios is no long here, but people are happy to see art is still [in this space.]”

Artist and author Pamela Hoke recently moved into one of the studios, however there are two left, a 10×10 and a 17×10, for those interested.

Randall majored in art and biology, before embracing a boating lifestyle, but it was the lively artistic commuinty that attracted her to the San Juans, San Juan Island in particular. “The artist commuity here is so supportive, listening to what each other needs and letting each other know when opportunities arise,” Randall said.

Currently the gallery is open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.. while she plans on staying open through the winter, Randall said she likely will close on Wednesdays during the slower season, and after New Year until spring, take both Wednesday and Thursday off to catch up, and move projects along.

Her long term goal includes teaching classes in the space. Randall and Hoke may even combine teaching efforts.

Randall and Windy Gallery will continue to participate in the First Friday Art Walks, one of which is coming up on Sept. 6.

From 4-7 p.m. participating galleries in Friday Harbor keep there doors open and encourage people to wander through town checking on what is new in the art world.

“I’m surprised at how warm everyone has been. It’s nice to know we are here for the community and community art,” Randall said.

Contributed graphic Map of the Friday Art Walk Sept. 6