Edgewood Orchard Galleries Opens Exhibit III

By Craig Bleitz.

Edgewood Orchard Galleries will be hosting an opening reception for its third exhibit of the season on Saturday, July 19 from 4 – 7 pm. Refreshments will be served in the gallery courtyard, and the public is welcome. All six featured artists will be at the opening reception and will discuss their artwork beginning at 5 pm under the tent in the gallery courtyard.

Edgewood Orchard’s Exhibit III, running through August 19, will feature the artwork of well-known Door County painters Judi Ekholm and Craig Blietz, painter William A. Suys, Jr. from Mequon, father and son sculptors William and Chris Jauquet from De Pere, and jeweler Marcia McDonough from Seattle, WA.

The artwork of oil painter Judi Ekholm will be shown on the main floor of Edgewood Orchard’s 90-year-old stone fruit barn for Exhibit III. When asked about the collection of oil on linen paintings she completed for the show, Ekholm shared that her paintings are inspired by the places the she has visited and loved.

“Hillside Poppies,” by Judi Ekholm.

“They are memories of my feelings regarding the landscapes that have made my spirit soar,” she said.

A collection of newly completed oil paintings by Craig Blietz will also be shown on the main floor of Edgewood Orchard’s restored fruit barn. Blietz found inspiration for the body of work he created in part by gazing to the countryside near his home and studio in northern Door County.

“The animals, objects, and landscapes have become vessels of expression in my work due in large part to their ubiquitous presence in my geography,” said Blietz. Beginning with images that could be seen throughout the peninsula, Blietz explained why his show is collectively titled “Dream Shift.”

“With these paintings I decided to study the differences between my waking state, and dream state, visions. Throughout the process of making these paintings, I found myself very interested in the slight improbability that dream state imagery can give to a waking state vision.”

“Uncle Bill’s Island Plum,” by William A. Suys, Jr.

The final painter featured in Edgewood Orchard’s third exhibit is William A. Suys Jr. Suys’ current collection of oil paintings is a beautiful and diverse body of work that will be shown in “The Little Gallery” during Exhibit III.

When asked about his current show, Suys explained, “Many of the paintings created for this show reflect the beauty presented to me as an artist living in Wisconsin…I find that many of my paintings reflect a sense of humor and simple abundance.”

William Jauquet is one of two featured sculptors for Exhibit III. With a strong national reputation and long history with Edgewood Orchard Galleries as a talented wood carver and bronze sculptor, Jauquet has again re-invented himself with a wonderful collection of steel sculptures that are located in the gallery courtyard and throughout the gallery’s newly opened sculpture garden.

A talented wood carver, Chris Jauquet is back for his second season at Edgewood Orchard Galleries. Like his father William, Jauquet is a passionate artist with a passion to create.

“Filly” by Chris Jauquet.

“Carving has somewhat of a therapeutic affect on me,” Jauquet said. “Time slips by so quickly once I really get involved in it…I tend to gravitate towards animals that have nice graceful lines such as swans and horses, but when I do other animals, my tendency is to add gracefulness to them regardless.”

The featured jeweler for the gallery’s third exhibit is Marcia McDonough. Inspired by the birth of her two sons, McDonough’s love of antique jewelry and modern design culminated in her creation of Mack & Bancker, her own jewelry collection.

“I followed my passion and made some prototypes of a few little inventive ideas I’d been thinking about during those crazy sleepless hours,” stated McDonough.

In addition to the artwork by the six artists featured in Exhibit III, artwork from the over 150 artists that Edgewood Orchard Galleries represents can be viewed at the gallery daily from 10 am – 5 pm. Edgewood Orchard Galleries is located at 4140 Peninsula Players Road, one block east of Hwy. 42 between Juddville and Fish Creek.

For more information, call 920.868.3579, email [email protected], or visit http://www.edgewoodorchard.com.