A “Focus on Public Art” exhibit at the Frances Anderson Center features Jean Whitesavage. Whitesavage and her husband Nick Lyle created a forged steel piece called “Water Plants” in 1997, which surrounds the first floor elevator at Edmonds City Hall. This was one of the percent for art pieces created when the building was renovated for City Administrative Staff offices. The Edmonds Arts Commission and the Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation are pleased to present a joint exhibit of Jean’s work entitled “Working Drawings”. The exhibit at 700 Main Street, Edmonds, may be viewed during building hours, Monday-Friday 8 am-9 pm, and Saturday 9 am-4 pm, March 17 – April 30, 2010.
Madrona Berries by Jean Whitesavage
Jean Whitesavage is an artist who primarily makes sculptures out of steel. She uses blacksmithing and metal fabrication techniques to create voluptuous and complex forms. Whitesavage loves the natural world and speaks the language of living things through her drawing, design and sculpture. She is a self- taught horticulturist who is happily obsessed with gardening as well as using plant forms in her work, often as giant plants and flowers. An example of this can be seen in the installation “Prairie Flowers, Potato and Wheat” in Connell Washington. Six 12’-17’ tall forged steel pieces were commissioned by Washington State Arts Commission and installed along a walking path in 2009. Included are Yellow Bells, Fiddleneck, Shooting Star, Blazing Star, Potato Flower, and Wheat. See pictures at www.whitesavageandlyle.com
EAFF Display Case at The Frances Anderson Center
This exhibit consists of drawings for proposed public and private commissions. The final artwork is in some cases a complex sculpture made of forged steel, and in other cases a glass skylight or a hand woven rug. Also included are working drawings that are used in the studio. They reveal some of the varied stages of development when formulating an artwork. The steps along the way are often beautiful. This show is an opportunity to revisit those moments of the working process with drawing on paper – her first love.
EAFF Gallery at The Frances Anderson Center
She and Nick have collaborated on over twenty public art projects as Whitesavage & Lyle in Washington, Oregon and California. Whitesavage has a BFA in Painting from Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park PA, and an MA in Sculpture from NY State College of Ceramics at Alfred University, Alfred NY.
EAFF Gallery at The Frances Anderson Center