A LITTLE RAIN COULDN'T STOP US

(click on any image to enlarge)

And a good time was had by all. What a wonderful weekend!!! A little rain on Saturday couldn't dampen our spirits and the people attending our event could not have been kinder. They could say nothing ... they could look at the art and leave and say nothing ... but they don't. Over and over again we heard, "I never knew this little piece of paradise was down this road" ... "such a unique and talented group of artists" ... "I love your barn" ... "what an intimate setting for an art sale" ... "love the cookies." I was, and still am, overwhelmed by their generosity and kindness.

It takes a lot of hands and willing hearts to put together something as special as the GreyBird Barn Studio Sale. This was our 7th year ... so we've been to this rodeo before ... and we are getting better and better at managing this event. The barn sale doesn't magically happen when the doors open on Saturday morning. A lot of thought and effort and energy is expended prior ... including a work day where everyone shows up to help me get my property ready for prime time. This includes weed eating ... raking ... stacking wood ... knocking spider webs out of the rafters of the barn ... trimming the hedge ... cutting up a fallen limb from the apple tree ... and other tasks too numerous to mention.


Here we are, taking a little break from yard work.
left to right: Loran Scruggs giving Ruby a little attention ... Diane Haddon holding Peaches ... Lynn Anju ... Wendy Jarvis ... Linda Jarvis (yes, they are sisters) ... and I am taking the photo ... Shane Miller.


Peaches looking a little worried on set up day.


Linda Jarvis...


Diane Haddon...


Shane Miller...


Lynn Anju...


Loran Scruggs...all ready for prime time.












This is Rick, Lynn Anju's husband. He was our super hero of the weekend...bless his heart. Before the weekend ever started, Rick came and helped me stack firewood for a day ... and he set up and picked up all our signage on the highway ... and parked cars for 2 days (in the rain on Saturday) ... all without any complaints. A HUGE 'thank you' to Rick for all his help and generosity.


It's a good sign at the end of a big show when you are already talking about next year and ways to make our event even better. So ... we'll see you in October 2017 ... if not before.

GREYBIRD BARN ART SALE TAKES FLIGHT

A big "THANK YOU" to Libby Wennstrom for this wonderful article in our local paper, The Leader, promoting our GreyBird Barn Art Sale.


CLICK ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Five working artists – all women – have teamed up for the seventh annual GreyBird Barn’s Artist Studio Sale, set from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 8-9.

The sale is located at the barn studio of etched-metal artist Shane Miller, 11 Carroll Ave., in Glenn Cove. Many of the artists represented have been selling in the show for years.

The GreyBird Barn artists, whose work runs the gamut from found-object sculpture to photo-etched jewelry to mixed-media painting, plan to be on hand both days to explain their processes and answer questions.

New to the barn sale this year is Suquamish artist Diane Haddon, who specializes in assemblage and found-object collage. Returning artists are Linda Jarvis (mixed-media, sculpture and assemblage), Lynn Anju (metal etchings, sculpture and jewelry), Loran Scruggs (colorful reused tin and bottle-cap creations) and GreyBird Barn studio owner Shane Miller (photo-etched jewelry, narrative boxes and sculpture).

Miller has been a working artist for about 25 years, starting out in large-scale steel sculpture; over time, her work has evolved to include photo-etched metal boxes and three-dimensional opening frames. She is now branching out to paper and collage work – still using some of the same photo processes she uses in her etchings – gluing tiled gampi paper onto larger canvases to create large, composite images.

In recent years, Miller has switched from using harsh chemicals for photo etching to a process which uses electricity – provided by a car battery – and a strong salt water solution. Miller says she’s happier with the results, and the process is far less toxic than using conventional photo etching chemicals.

A thread running through Miller's artwork, regardless of media, is narrative – every piece tells a story. Her "narrative boxes" hang on the wall and open up, inviting viewers to open each panel to find out what the rest of the story might be. Miller's work is available year around at Bainbridge Arts & Crafts.

Miller came to Port Townsend in 1993 for the sea kayaking, and stayed, in part, because of the thriving regional arts scene. The barn – which serves as her studio space when it's not being pressed into service for the sale – has become a way for a group of what Miller calls "like-minded artists" to come together once a year and create an intimate, informative way of selling their work. All of the artists sell their work at regional galleries, but having "at home" time offers people a chance to talk with the artists about their processes, tools and intentions for a piece.

The barn is located in a quiet, semi-rural area in little-traveled Glenn Cove, just outside the Port Townsend city limits. From State Route 20, take Fredericks Street and follow the signs to the bottom of the hill. Sale hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday Oct. 8-9. For more information, call Miller at 379-5421.

7th ARTIST STUDIO SALE AT GREYBIRD BARN

CLICK ON ANY IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Fall is falling ... the apples are ripe ... mornings are crisp ... and once again it's time for our ARTIST STUDIO SALE AT GREYBIRD BARN. We are expecting a beautiful weekend and are hoping that you will swing by to help us celebrate fall and the arts. This is the perfect opportunity to visit with artists ... ask questions about techniques ... add to your personal art collection ... and enjoy some homemade cookies and hot cider.

New to the barn sale this year is, Diane Haddon from Suquamish and back by popular demand are Linda Jarvis, Lynn Anju, Loran Scruggs and me ... Shane Miller ... (GreyBird Barn is my working studio when there is not an event in the works).



For the first time we have teamed up with 2 bed & breakfast inns in Sequim. They have offered their guests an ART & FOOD TOUR of Port Townsend that will include a stop at GreyBird Barn. We are excited about this new opportunity. A big THANK YOU to Dungeness Barn House Bed and Breakfast at Two Crows Farm and Greenhouse Inn by the Bay.