Glass artist talk wrap ups First Nation exhibition at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art

Submitted by San Juan Islands Museum of Art

Contemporary glass artist Raven Skyriver will wrap up the end of the First Nation exhibition at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art on Monday, Sept. 4.

Raven’s glass creations are included in the show “Emergence: Legendary and Emerging First Nation Artists” at SJIMA. His gallery talk at 4 p.m. on Labor Day will be the grand finale of this exceptional show. In celebration of the exhibition and talk, the entry fee will be suspended from 3:30 until 6 p.m. that day.

Raven will follow his gallery walk with a presentation of his work in the museum’s upstairs workshop.

Talking about the inspiration for his work Raven, of the Tlingit tribe, states, “Some of my most memorable moments in life are those of having my first salmon on the line, or a humpback whale feeding off the bow of my kayak. These unforgettable experiences dictate the work I make today.

I attempt to capture the essence of the animals that I depict and speak to the viewers’ own understanding of these creatures. I also hope to draw into question the delicate balance of nature that is, often taken for granted.”

Skyriver’s work has been shown nationally and internationally at the Ebeltoft Glass Museum in Denmark, Stonington Gallery in Seattle, Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, Washington and he has taught at the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, to name a few.

This program is the last in a series of interpretive events accompanying the exhibition “Emergence: Legendary & Emerging First Nation Artists” which will closes at 6 p.m. on Sept. 8.

The sponsors of “Emergence” are Dave and Nancy Honeywell Charitable Trust, Kim Miller, Susan and Gary Sterner, Peg Gerlock and Phil Johnson, Attorney Stephanie Johnson O’Day, Mike’s Wine Bar and Café, Printonyx and Harbor Rentals.

A big thank you also goes to the more than 40 volunteers putting in more than 1,000 hours from throughout the San Juan Islands community to make this unique exhibition possible.

For more details go to www.sjima.org. SJIMA is located at 540 Spring Street in Friday Harbor. The hours are Thursday-Monday 11-6. Admission is $10 and is free to members and those under 18. Every third Monday of the month is free to all. For information, call Diane Martindale at 360-370-5814 or contact her at diane.martindale@rockisland.com.