Local art adorns walls at CFVH

Nine artists are showing their work at Clark Fork Valley Hospital for the third quarter Art on the Walls exhibit, which opened last week.

"I'm always impressed by the art and feel lucky to know some of these artists personally," said Tonya Revier, the hospital's marketing coordinator, at the artists' reception last Thursday. The reception included musical entertainment by pianist Rachel Huenink and refreshments prepared by the hospital's culinary department.

The artwork along Main Street Hallway demonstrates a variety of mediums and from a 5x7-inch painting to a 21x33-inch bison photograph. Rachel Gonzalez of Plains had eight pieces of watercolor and acrylic paintings in the show. Gonzalez has participated in every show since it began in 2007, said Arlene Littlefield, who coordinated the event with Joy Nelson of the Sanders County Arts Council. All but two were returning artists, according to Littlefield. The Arts Council and the hospital are co-sponsors of the art program. The exhibit will be on display until Sept. 18. Participants include residents of Noxon, Thompson Falls and Plains.

New to the show this year are Dianne Zimmerman and Bruce Paulsen. The Plains Paulsen family is not unfamiliar in the realm of art. Bruce Paulsen did a wood burning piece titled "Best Friends" depicting a woman and a horse. Though Ilene Paulsen has only one watercolor in the show this quarter, she was the People's Choice winner last quarter with her "Ribbons and Lace" piece. She is also responsible for helping to make the town look better by painting murals on the side of the Garden Gift and Floral building with local artist Rick Harter. Bruce and Ilene's son, Malachi, was demonstrating his graphite drawing talents during the reception. The 18-year-old has entered several art exhibits and was the 2017 People's Choice for the student show with his graphite "Faces of Adversity." The Paulsen's daughter, Celene, is also considering submitting art for a future show.

Zimmerman, a Thompson Falls resident, said she's had more time to work on her art since retiring two years ago.

"I just didn't have time then; now everything takes a back seat," she said. Zimmerman had the most pieces in the exhibit with 15, including works of digitally enhanced photographs, acrylics, and 10 alcohol ink pieces. Zimmerman has been an artist for about four years, but has been doing the alcohol ink art for about a year.

Zimmerman also works in pastel, watercolor and graphite, but she likes working with the alcohol ink, which is alcohol-based with highly pigmented ink, she said. "It's a different medium. I like it because the colors are so vibrant," said Zimmerman, who added that the Art on the Walls show is a great opportunity for artists, especially beginners.

"There's a lot of talent here," said Littlefield, who had a watercolor and an acrylic piece in the show. "There's such a good variety of art here," said Revier. "There's something for everyone."