Diane Walker

Photographer Diane Walker had SIX images accepted for the Puyallup Fair International Show this year, and one of them won a Judges' Choice award. Diane also has an image appearing in the latest issue of Shutterbug Magazine (this will be her third appearance in their pages). Go, Diane!

Shane Miller

Shane won Best of Mixed Media for her metal boxes at the Sun Valley Arts and Crafts Festival, now in its fortieth year. This year there were 130 artists. Congratulations, Shane!

Steven Maslach

Bainbridge Island glass artist Steven Maslach is featured in an exhibition at The Society for Contemporary Craft, in Pittsburgh. 5 Contemporary Masters (June 27-September 13) focuses on contemporary craft artists who have expanded the world of contemporary art.

Carole Barrer

In June, Carole's work was shown in the 2008 Hilton Head National Juried Show in South Carolina. More recently, Katherine Chang Liu, the internationally known painter, included eight images from Carole's "Passage Series" for her "Artists staying their Course: Developing their Ideas Consistently". This is a lecture scheduled to be given to museums and art centers around the country beginning June 2008.

Julia Lowther
Congratulations to Julia, who won a $250 award for her piece "Tapered Square Byzantine Necklace" that is part of the Materials: Hard & Soft exhibition (Jan. 26 - May 20, 2008) put together by the Greater Denton Arts Council of Denton, TX. http://www.dentonarts.com
Photo by Daniel Van Rossen

Merilee Moore's Votives Fly High
When Boeing launched its new Dreamliner, it flew in 250 of its nearest and dearest friends to help celebrate the occasion. Looking around for an appropriate gift from the Northwest, Boeing found Merilee Moore and her blown-glass votives (available you know where).
Congratulations to Merilee!

Gregory Kono Studies Kite-making with Japanese Master
Gregory writes: Mikio Toki is one of the finest contemporary kite makers and painters in Japan and has showcased his talent in exhibitions and demonstrations throughout the world. Toki learned about Edo kites from traditional kite maker Katsuhisa Ota and has worked over 30 years to keep the traditional Edo kite form alive.

Toki and I first met in Seattle briefly in the spring of 2003. A few months after we were reunited to teach a workshop along with Canadian kite maker Robert Trepanier at the University of Missouri and Stephens College. The experience was amazing and increased my kite making awareness and skills tremendously.

Thanks to a grant by the Drachen Foundation, I found myself once again reunited with Mikio Toki. This time I spent 5 full days with the master kite maker, learning the art of building traditional Japanese Edo kites and experiencing a glimpse of Japanese culture.