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art happens.Lady Takes the Stairs by Sophia Pfaff-ShalmiyevSource by Nikki McClureSpace Homestead by Liz HaleyThe Motherhood Showat CB GalleryNorthwest artists Nikki Mc-Clure, Liz Haley and Sophia Pfaff-Shalmiyev are the featured artistspresented in The Motherhood Showexhibited through the May at theCannon Beach Gallery. The MotherhoodShow highlights the dynamicartistic abilities of the three womenwho all have ties to the DIY (do-ityourself)art movement of Olympia,Washington. A celebration of theultimate act of creation, the MotherhoodShow is also an exploration ofhow women continue to developtheir careers as artists after havingchildren.In celebration of this exhibit, artpatrons are encouraged to come intothe gallery during the month of Mayand ask for the “Mother’s Discount,”which is 10% off of any purchase foranyone with a mother (that shouldcover you, dear reader).The most well known artist ofthe group, Nikki McClure, createsintricate paper-cut illustrations thatcelebrate the grace of everyday domesticscenes and nature. McClure’swork appears nationally in books, anannual calendar, cards and posters.McClure will be showing 14 originalpaper-cuts in the Motherhood Show.A recent transplant to CannonBeach, Oregon; Sophia Pfaff-Shalmiyevhas quickly become involvedin the northern Oregon Coast’s burgeoningart scene. An active gallerydocent at the Cannon Beach Gallery,Pfaff-Shalmiyev has been in many ofthe galleries recent juried shows. Sheis also a member of Astoria’s LightboxPhotographic, where she has beendoing the majority of her darkroomwork for her “Your Love Will BreakMy Heart,” series of autobiographicalphotographs, writing, and mixedmedia works.A self described, “bicoastal feministartist,” Pfaff-Shalmiyev calls New YorkCity home as well as Cannon Beach,Oregon. Born in Russia in 1978, Pfaff-Shalmiyev immigrated to New YorkCity in 1990 and then attended collegeat the Evergreen State Collegein Olympia, Washington. In Olympia,she deepened her interest in feministpolitics and art, joined bands, wrotefanzines and curated art shows thatexplored the validity of confessionaland confrontational narrative.“Expected to hide our disappointment,and unable to name the voidthat aspects of mothering can createin other parts of our lives, the artistasks herself if “things” have gotten“better” for women, “ Pfaff-Shalmiyevexplained.“The friendships and the body youremember are gone, but somehowno amount of humiliation and alienationcould make the tugs on yourheartstrings feel any less magical,”continued Pfaff-Shalmiyev.Inspired by the many women shehas met since moving to CannonBeach, Pfaff-Shalmiyev aims tocapture the ecstatic joy and the humblingvulnerability explored in herimages for the Motherhood Show.Another recent transplant to thecoast, Liz Haley is living in Seaside,Oregon with her young family. Bornas the youngest of six children in1972, Haley is equally inspired by theconcepts of community and escape.An artist, filmmaker, musician andcurator, Haley’s work has been widelyexhibited, including at the Anthologyof Film Archive, New York; theMiami Museum of ContemporaryArt, and the Center of ContemporaryArt, Seattle. In 2005, she co-foundedValentines, an art, music and performancespace in Old Town, Portland,Oregon.The Cannon Beach Gallery islocated at 1064 S. Hemlock St. 503-436-0744 or go to www.cannonbeacharts.org.The Art & Psyche ShowArt and the Psyche aremystically intertwined.Life passages, transitions,changes in health, job, orrelationships-- all of theseTransformative areas of life– can be brought to life inartistic form – and often arein the area of art therapy.On May 14, 5-9pm TheArt & Psyche Show will beon display at the AstoriaMusic Festival Officelocated at 1271 CommercialStreet, during the SecondNancy KaracandSaturday Astoria Art Walk.Presented by Yvonne Edwardsand Nancy Karacand,both trained psychotherapistswho share a love ofart as a creative therapeuticmedium for emotionalgrowth and healing-- theArt & Psyche show willoffer a variety of unique artprocesses.According to Edwards,“Art & Psyche is a creativemulti-media process thatI use as an adjunct topsychotherapy. We areYvonne Edwardsalways growing, developing,transitioning and evolving from a familiar state of being toan unknown state of becoming. These art exercises enhancepsychological self-discovery and insight – for people who arein therapy – as well as those who are not. It leads to selfdirectedevolution, experiential dialogue with our art, and arenewed appreciation for the richness of our own inner world– one with heart and meaning.”Karacand’s work for the show will center on creating a seriesof stone and beaded pendants that will reflect the colors andqualities of the chakras. She has been a Healing Touch practitionerfor the past 10 years and incorporates her awareness ofenergetic healing into the creation of each unique piece.The Art & Psyche show developed after several workshopsthe pair held, and exhibits include: The Maori drawing, TheFive Universal Shapes, the Illustrated Journal, the Mandala, thetile mosaic of one’s Life Path, mask-making, dream painting,drawing a safe place, doll making and other art. Janet Maheralso brings samples of her work with Soul Collage.Karacand and Edwards will continue throughout the yearwith workshops, women’s gatherings, children’s Art Camps,and other community focused events. FMI: contact YvonneEdwards at 503 338 7202 or Nancy Karacand at 503 325 9217.Impressions of New ZealandMarie Powell at RiverSea GalleryVibrant, energetic imagery of exoticplant life takes on a celebratory naturein artist Marie Powell’s newest series ofmonotypes, “Impressions of New Zealand”.Resident of both the Long Beach Peninsulaand New Zealand, Powell is constantlyexploring new ways, mediums and subjectmatter. Her most recent art endeavorsinvolve her passion and fascination withprintmaking. Attend the reception held forAstoria’s Second Saturday Artwalk, from 5 – 8pm, May 14th. The artwork will remain ondisplay through May 31st.Powell has been an artist on the LongBeach Peninsula for many years. After a 19year high school teaching career, she nowdevotes full time to creating prints, oils,and mixed media work. Having grown upin a semi-rural environment of the PacificNorthwest, she has always been drawn tothe outdoors and the natural world andincorporated the scenes and feelings of thecoast and its natural flora and fauna into herpaintings and prints. Eventually, this carriedover into her work in New Zealand, whereshe has been a part-time resident for manyyears. Working independently at the Te KowhaiPrint Trust in the township of Whangarei,Powell produced her newest series of monotypeswhere native plants have actuallybeen “embossed” into the paper, leavingthe lovely textures and shapes of the plantimages on each piece.RiverSea Gallery is open daily at 1160Commercial Street, call 503-325-1270, orvisit the website at www.RiverSeaGallery.comBouquet at Dusk by Marie PowellDale Flowers at Old Town FrameLike macro photography, Astoria artist Dale Flowers,gets up close and personal with Prismacolor pencil in a seriesof work dedicated to “flowers” cultivated on the Pacific Northwestcoast. “Each flowerthat is used as the subjectmatter is drawn in a seriesof six to eight drawingsover a period of a month,refining and exploring thedesign.” These bright studies,most 22” by 28” arebig in color and form. Theartist is featured throughthe month of May. ArtistReception is Sat, May 14,Astoria 2nd Saturday ArtWalk. Old Town Frame islocated 1287 Commercial,503.325.5221.Daffodils by Dale Flowersmay11 hipfishmonthly.com20