Oak Harbor’s Garry Oak Gallery is taking on a new look these days with more changes to come.
The cooperative art gallery is featuring the works of three notable guest artists over the next few months and has embraced the return of fiber artist Barbara Lyter to the group.
Guest artists’ works are a welcome addition when space is available, no other artists are on a waiting list to join and there is a need for a certain medium to display, said Margaret Livermore, president of Garry Oak Gallery.
“It’s a way to fill up the gallery to create some new work and new interest in the gallery with the hope to drive people in to take a look,” Livermore said.
The three guest artists are all from Whidbey Island whose works have gained local and wide-range appeal.
The guests are watercolor artist Larry Mason of Oak Harbor, basket weaver Mary Alice Sterling of Coupeville and wildlife photographer and painter Bart Rulon of Greenbank.
Mason, a retired architect from New York City, has traveled extensively to paint and has had his art shown nationally at galleries in California and Oregon as well as in other shows in New York, California and in the Puget Sound region.
Rulon is a full-time wildlife and landscape artist, book author and illustrator. His paintings have been widely exhibited in galleries and museums in several countries featuring wildlife and landscape art, and his photographs have appeared in various books and field guides.
Sterling’s work is known more locally. Her baskets offer a new wrinkle to the gallery, Livermore said.
“Not many people on the island do basket work,” Livermore said.
“We collectively have been wanting to bring the art of woven baskets to the gallery for a while now, so it’s pretty exciting to finally have them here,” said Kim Niles, a cartoonist and Garry Oak Gallery member.
The works of Sterling and Mason already are on display at a downtown gallery and will be shown through June 30.
Rulon’s art will be featured from May 1 through July 31.
Lyter is rejoining Garry Oak Gallery, which currently consists of 19 artists. Her wearable fiber art includes shawls and scarves.
“Her work is a constant source of temptation for me,” Niles said.
Lyter will make an appearance at the gallery along with painter Jeanne Valdez April 16. Lyter will attend in the afternoon.
The gallery now has extended hours until 7 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Regular hours all other days are from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The gallery is open seven days a week.
Garry Oak Gallery, established the fall of 2008, is located at 830 SE Pioneer Way.
