Leo Vait for June First Friday (June 7 through 9)

Ptarmigan Arts Gallery is excited to announce our June First Friday Pop-up Show featuring Leo Vait’s artwork.  As you can see in the slideshow below, Leo is an immensely talented and multifaceted artist.

Leo Vait began showing his artwork in galleries back in 1975 and participated in regional shows in Southern Oregon.  He moved to Alaska in 1982.  He and his wife Nancy, and eventually their son Andrew, found a haven in Nanwalek.  His first show in Homer was in 1983 at the Pratt Museum, which opened the door for more gallery shows in Alaska.

Of his work, Leo said, “Nature never proceeds in a straight line, as it is always experimenting with possibilities.  Water seeps from a spring that becomes a brook, nosing its way downhill, searching a path that cleans pebbles and stones in no hurry.  It excites the growth of mosses and trees in a burbling language of meditation as it flows into a pooled glen.”

“I approach my work in this stream dream as I nose my way into raw wood, ready to change direction as the grain of the medium dictates.  No hurry.  The echo of the stream and water sprites are the guiding principles when I develop sculptural shapes that may become an animal or an abstract vision.”

In the mid-‘90s, Leo developed a keen interest in functional art installations that incorporated stonework and woodwork.  He gathered stones and drift logs from Homer beaches to build architectural features primarily around fireplace settings.  He will have a show next month (July) featuring his sculpture at the Homer Council on the Arts (HCOA).  He continues this process today as well as producing works for galleries. 

Leo Vait will have a collection of original watercolors and sketches Plus two sculptures available throughout the weekend.  Come and see his incredible artwork with an opportunity to chat with the artist himself on Friday, June 7 from 10 am – 7 pm, plus Saturday and Sunday June 8 and 9 from 10 am – 6 pm.  All are welcome.  See you there!