Tumwater farmhouse lights up with art

A group of artists have gathered under the roof of a historic South Sound farmhouse, aiming to sell their creations to the holiday shopper looking to exchange the hectic pace of the mall for a more warm and cozy shopping experience.

The Reflections of Light Holiday Art and Craft Show began last week and continues noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Luc and Sallie Durette’s Tumwater home, a two-story gray farmhouse at 2717 70th Ave. S.W. that’s more than 100 years old.

About 10 artists’ works are on display, beginning in the kitchen and continuing into the living room.

Inside, the house been decorated with Christmas lights and a tree, and a pellet stove keeps the kitchen toasty. Coffee, tea, cocoa and baked goods are offered to visitors.

The Durettes, too, are artists, having spent more than 20 years making handcrafted kaleidoscopes under the banner of Durette Studios. The couple for years have sold their art wholesale to galleries nationwide and in Japan, but because the gallery business has slowed, they decided to bring a group of artists into their home, Luc Durette said. At one time, sales to Japan represented 85 percent of their business, he said.

Reflections of Light began last weekend by invitation and was opened to the public Saturday and Sunday. They also plan to do it next weekend, Sallie Durette said.

In addition to the kaleidoscopes, artists who have work on display include Jill Sartain of Tumwater, Joyce Long of Rochester and Michelle Pugh of Olympia.

Jill Sartain works with clay in an art form called “raku,” an ancient Chinese method of firing pottery, she said. On display were colorful pieces of clay turned into salmon shapes, as well as beads, little “raku pieces” and buttons.

“It’s a great setting for people to walk through and not have to go through the hustle and bustle of the mall,” Sartain said about the farmhouse display.

Long has several of her acrylic paintings and wood carvings on display; Pugh, too, has several paintings on display. Pugh also is a yoga instructor and created some “wellness baskets” filled with products to ease sore muscles, she said. Pugh, too, operates a graphic-design business called Joonbug.

Other artists with works on display include Jeni Swanson – Jill Sartain’s sister – who creates etchings in glass, and Noah Durette – Luc and Sallie’s son – who created leaf etchings in black acrylic.

Rolf Boone: 360-754-5403
rboone@theolympian.com