The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WALLA WALLA-Through their show, Sheets of Paper, resident artists at Studio Two Zero Two and Morell Family Wines are inviting the community to overcome the winter doldrums and experience new works.

The show, on display through the month of February, unites three artists: Augusta Sparks Farnum, Penny Michel and Squire Broel, who typically work in different mediums to a relatable challenge: conquering a massive empty space.

For a writer, a standard eight and half by eleven-inch sheet would be enough to induce stress. These artists have dominion over five feet by seven feet; totaling thirty-five square feet of ground to cover. They're looking at it as a chance to start fresh, taking advantage of the hibernation energy in the air.

In this show, the artists gave themselves permission to do something that would be considered outrageous to their primary practice.

With her piece, titled Undercurrents, Augusta Sparks Farnum utilizes shellac and palladium to create a swirling vortex which acts as a metaphor for the grieving process. Sparks is daring in her approach, "I like to go a little farther than what's beautiful...to see more."

On white paper, some of the materials were nearly invisible as the work was created. Without visual feedback, Sparks engaged muscle memory to cultivate the imagery. She said, "It was like recording a dance."

Walla Walla native Squire Broel, whose other recent works range from small geometric drawings to monolithic sculptures, used the opportunity to step out of his comfort zone, within reason. Broel imposed time constraints on his work as well facing the challenges of navigating such a large piece.

"Using quite a lot of charcoal, then burnishing it into the surface, I did the entire thing on the floor. Usually I would have it on the wall, but I didn't want the charcoal to filter down. Then I got into it and decided not to put it on the wall at all. Installing it here was outrageous because I had never seen it."

Career sculptor, Penny Michel's approach is entirely different. Rather than tackling one large sheet, she cut the paper down to three strips and used oil pastels to pull narrow figures forward in space.

The trio of figures have lean limbs, that read as a blur, as though they are in motion.

"The trick is knowing when to stop," said Michel finishing decidedly.

The Sheets of Paper reception featured gallery talks by each artist, providing some context, was well attended.

"People really appreciated the efforts and the thought we put into the work," Broel said.

Brianna Wray

Squire Broel installed his burnished charcoal piece on the floor rather than on the wall. He says it is something he hasn't seen done before.

Studio Two Zero Two is an art gallery and tasting room for Morell Family wines. The studio's goal is to offer casual encounters with art. Their winter hours are Wed. from 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Thurs.- through Fri. from 11:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Guests are invited to be comfortable and spend time.

"We want the gallery to be intentional," Sparks Farnum said.

"Something we're really trying to do with the space is create an opportunity for people...to better understand the thought process and emotional process of making artwork, encountering artwork and thinking about artwork.

Art is often relegated to simply just decoration," continued Broel. "And while I love decoration... there is more to it from a maker's perspective."

Art is a relationship that is developed over time. Visit these Sheets of Paper by February 28th.