Clarke and Clarke to host ‘metal arts treasure hunt’

Join Clarke and Clarke Art and Artifacts, a gallery in downtown Mercer Island, for a month-long “metal arts treasure hunt.”

The gallery will be filled with a varied and eclectic selection of pieces ranging from tiny European silver pillboxes, a pair of 1907 forged steel andirons, antique to modern silver jewelry, a Chinese bronze buddha, exotic silver daggers, Japanese cast iron teapots, Punjab copper water jars and a pair of sterling silver elephants from India.

“Any works of art crafted from the ‘ores of the earth’ is defined as Metal Art,” Ginny Clarke wrote in an email to the Reporter. “Metal can be either purely decorative or functional and useful. Although just about any surviving relic from the Bronze age might be considered ‘art,’ metalwork certainly has become more and more decorative in nature. Metal sculptures seen today demonstrate this most clearly — as is visible in the many public art installations and collections in private homes on Mercer Island.”

Gallery curator Jim Clarke will be giving “gallery talks” on select pieces throughout the month. Contact the gallery at 206-232-4456 or clarkeandclarke2@gmail.com for dates. The gallery is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or by appointment.

Harmony of Color show opens at Mercer Gallery

The Mercer Gallery and Mercer Island Arts Council are presenting the Eighth Annual Member’s Exhibition of Harmony of Color at the indoor gallery in the Mercer Island Community and Event Center from June 5 through July 21.

Harmony of Color is a nonprofit organization formed in June 2009 by a group of Christian women who came together every Saturday morning with a yearning to paint. For more, see www.harmonyofcolor.com.