Country Fair art sale a big success for church

The Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration turns into a community art gallery each year at Country Fair time - to the benefit of both the Sisters community and the artists who participate.

The juried exhibit and sale was held last Friday evening and Saturday, August 10-11, in the church's community hall.

This year's art show, as always, was paired with the popular Country Fair that has entertained Sisters young and old for the past 12 years (see related story, page 1).

Fifty-six artists from Washington and Oregon showed a vast spectrum of art forms, including oils, watercolors, acrylics, pastels, pencil drawings, photography, woodworking and sculptures.

"Every year the show gets better," said Margery Guthrie, the event's past chairman, who served in that capacity for seven years. "The quality's better. The artists are talking to each other that we are organized and that we take good care of their art and that we are able to display it nicely. We bring in the people and it's a wonderful exposure."

Photographer Bruce Jackson agreed. He was back for the second year in a row because he had "...so much fun last year. I had some success also selling work. I really love the environment here. I love the church. I love this space. It feels so peaceful, not only in the building but on the grounds around the building also," he said.

The venue is attractive to artists, as they are allowed to set their own prices and the show only retains a 30 percent commission from the sale of works. When artists exhibit at galleries, the norm is for them to pass on a 40 to 50 percent commission for the privilege of showing their work. According to this year's art show co-chairman Mike Matyniak, who chaired the event with his wife Jane, some Bend galleries charge artists commission fees that mount to as much as 65 percent.

A special feature of this year's event was the honoring by the sale's organizers of former Sisters resident and artist Oscar Spliid, a wood carver who specializes in birds.

"This is our 10th year (for the art sale), and he (Spliid) has been with us for 10 years," said Guthrie. "When we were in that ugly basement, the undercroft, he was there. He's always brought his birds and been supportive."

Matyniak told The Nugget that this year's goal is for the show to net at least as much profit as last year's sale. Last year $13,500 was poured back into Sisters community agencies from the combined proceeds raised at the art sale and country fair.

The fact that expenses are kept to a minimum helps significantly to boost profits. Parishioners donate almost all needed supplies, including the refreshments served at Friday night's opening festivities.

By mid-afternoon Saturday, Matyniak was pleased with sales.

"What will happen today is a number of people will go home ... (and) talk about what they like. They'll come back and go right to a piece of art and buy it," he said.

This year's silent auction, which each year is held in tandem with the art sale, offered some 70 items, ranging from original paintings, to prints, to jewelry, to sculpture, to gift certificates, including golf packages, lodging, picture framing, spa treatments and much more.

"Many of them are donations from parishioners and local Sisters businesses...," said Matyniak. "The local merchants really support us."

Each year 11 artists are singled out with special honors. Three select and eight "Judges' Choice" ribbons are awarded.

This year the jury chose a pastel, "Aspen Blues," by Hood River artist Judith Cunningham as "Best of Show."

Sisters resident Dick Tipton, one of the church's parishioners, received the "Chairman's Choice" ribbon for his wood chest. This award "is my opinion in terms of what represents the most praiseworthy piece of art (in the show)," said Matyniak. The piece's "artistic content" inspired by Tipton's hours of fly fishing on the Deschutes and Metolius rivers singled out this entry for Matyniak.

The third honor is the "People's Choice" award that is chosen by a vote of the public. This year's recipient was Courtney Parker for a pencil drawing titled "Nairobi Woman."

Accomplished artists who are well known in Central Oregon provide a strong foundation for the show. According to Matyniak these "anchor store" artists such as Bend painters Joanne Donaca and Tom Browning and Sisters artist Dan Rickards bring great credibility to the sale.