Winslow presents awe, wonder in collages

SOAP LAKE — The next artist to receive the spotlight from the Soap Lake Art Museum intends his work to exhibit a sense of awe toward life.

The museum highlights the work of Twisp, Wash.-based artist Jeffrey Winslow at a free artist's reception Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The museum is located at 410 E. Main St., in Soap Lake.

Museum Curator Brent Blake assured potential attendees the museum would be comfortably air-conditioned.

"It's just the exposure and the educational processes (the museum) wants to achieve in this region," he said. "That is to expose people not only to wonderful people and interesting artists, but also to works of art which are not the normal fare you would see in this region. It's an educational experience and a delightful experience to see very interesting artwork."

Winslow described his work as mainly oil and collage.

"I incorporate the figure elements of landscape, architecture and I like to think it's the kind of art which expresses what it is to be alive," Winslow said. "I think that's what all of us are trying to express in one way or another — this great mystery that is life. I think the arts are probably the highest form of that communication."

Winslow first became an artist after he was inspired by a trip to the Prado Museum in Madrid, Spain, particularly by the works of Spanish painters Velazquez and Goya.

"I just was overwhelmed with the extraordinary visual presentation of these great masters, and decided to become an artist," he said. "That was 43 years ago."

Winslow has resided in Twisp for about 15 years. Born in Portland, Ore., he lived in Seattle for 24 years previous, but the desire for peace and quiet compelled he and his wife to make the move, and get more in touch with the natural world.

"I hope people can get a sense of awe and wonder about what it is to be alive," he said, referring to poet Ezra Pound's sentiment it is the role of the artist to make the world strange.

"I think by that (Pound) meant to renew it, to make it fresh," he explained. "I believe that is the role of the artist, to try and show a feeling or something that possibly can touch the viewer. You're hoping to unite the viewer in this vision, so to speak."

Transformation is another role art can play.

"I hope people are not the same person they were after they've seen the art," Winslow said. "I know I've been affected that way, by great music, great art and by dance. I'm not the same person I was when I came in the door to hear the concert. I think that's one of the wonderful things about art."

Winslow was delighted when Blake asked him to show his work at the museum.

"It's a wonderful opportunity, a great privilege and I'm sure going to be a pleasure to display my work; it always is," he said. "A lot of people think possibly artists create only for themselves, but I don't believe this is true at all. The viewer is an important ingredient, because it is about communication. It may start off as a form of subjective expression, but ultimately, it's going to lead to communication."

It will be Winslow's second visit to Soap Lake, he said.

"Jeffrey offers work which is rarely seen anywhere, let alone rural America," Blake said. "His work is composed of assemblies and compositions commonly referred to as collages, which make it extremely interesting, especially with the skill and techniques Jeffrey employs. Much of his work is at a scale which makes it extremely interesting as well, because he has a number of large pieces, which are quite interesting."