Not your typical FUNdraiser

Annual art show slated for Friday

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It all begins with a big pile of scrap metal sitting just outside of Liz Reutlinger’s garage in Quilcene. From that rusty heap has emerged glorious bird baths, a series of garden art on prominent display during the Northwind Arts Center Annual FUNctional ART FUNdraiser show and sale.

“I am really hoping people will attend,” Reutlinger said. “It is going to be a lot of fun. There are many more pieces in addition to mine that will be for auction there. It is all for Northwind. It is for art.”

This is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for Northwind, said Polly Lyle, an event organizer and contributor.

“Proceeds are used to fund 13 arts programs that are offered to the community for the benefit of the artists that we serve.”

The FUNctional ART FUNdraiser is the only time to see and purchase this collection of art, individual pieces of which may be beautiful or whimsical or recycled or collaborative or whatever the artists come up with, said Northwind Executive Director Michael D’Alessandro.

“This year we collected some items that were offered free to artists for transformation for the show, such as tables, chairs, boxes, and other functional items,” said event planner Patti Barrett.

“This is such a creative show,” said artist Sandy Eherenman. “lt’s fun coming up with something that is unusual. Last year I recycled a wooden chair into a planter for succulents. I was pleased that its sale benefited Northwind Arts Center.”

The August 23 event’s main theme is gardens and gardening, reflecting the popularity of these themes in the previous FUNctional ART events; however, other items will also be exhibited and offered for sale. This is the first year that culinary arts pieces will be offered.

There are at least 37 artists, including Reutlinger, who are donating original works to the FUNdraiser this year, Lyle said.

“We have art that is beautiful and things that are really whimsical and fun. We are reliant on the generosity of the artists who donate their work, which we auction for this event. We wanted it to be a fun experience for the artists who are being so generous by donating their work.”

Reutlinger’s works are excellent examples of what Northwind was looking for this year, Lyle said.

“We wanted to do it in such a way they would have an opportunity to do something they don’t usually do. Some are doing things that are totally different. Instead of oil paintings, Liz is making functional garden art. There are other artists who are using their traditional medium but applying it to different things.”

Reutlinger has been an oil painter for about the past decade, and recently learned how to weld, a new skill she has applied to her garden art.

“The metalwork is just technical, but you have to have some sort of an eye to put together. It works for me,” she said. “It is really fun. It is different. It is not painting. I have always loved making yard art. So now I am sort of beginning to learn welding I can take it further.”

Northwind’s functional art shows have changed Lyle from a mere admirer of art to a bit of a mad-dog creator of functional art, she said.

“I’m always on the lookout for materials and techniques to make collaged or bejeweled donations. This year I decoupaged a nearly full-sized mannequin in vegetables, fruits, butterflies and bees as a hat and scarf rack donation. I can’t stop.”

In addition to the functional art show and sale, the event will feature music by Port Townsend’s Billy B. Brennan, and wine and other refreshments.

Tickets are $15 per person and may be obtained at Northwind Arts Center or at the door.

Northwind Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2002 by Jeanette Best, Miriam Lansdon, and Sylvia White. The center currently offers literary, performance, and visual art programs at the arts center and other locations, such as Jefferson Healthcare Hospital and the Port Townsend Public Library.