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Painter Laura Wait debuts show during First Friday Artwalk

Nicole Inglis
Laura Wait presents some of her work in her Steamboat studio. Wait’s newest show debuts Friday at K. Saari Gallery.
John F. Russell





Laura Wait presents some of her work in her Steamboat studio. Wait’s newest show debuts Friday at K. Saari Gallery.
John F. Russell

Laura Wait’s work features bright colors and a variety of influences, including urban graffiti.John F. RussellLaura Wait’s work features bright colors and a variety of influences, including urban graffiti and Oriental calligraphy.John F. RussellLaura Wait’s work features bright colors and a variety of influences, including urban graffiti and Oriental calligraphy.John F. Russell

— Change is bubbling to the surface in the life of local artist Laura Wait.

She’s evolving in her artwork as she delves into acrylic on canvas and explores communicating through large brushstrokes.

Her son, Connor Hagerty, has gone off to college, and the music he often made in her basement no longer floats up the stairs to her studio space.



And another monumental life event — a move to Santa Fe — also is the works.

If you look carefully at the wide, sweeping letters in her recent abstract paintings, the word “metamorphic” shows up repeatedly in various forms.



Although it defines her life right now, the aesthetics are not lost on the prolific painter, printmaker and literary artist.

“I really like the shape of the word, so I used it a lot,” she said.

Wait’s newest show, “Scriptography,” debuts Friday at K. Saari Gallery during First Friday Artwalk. It will include several works from the past year, including bright yellow, blue and salmon-colored encaustics layered with thin rice paper inscribed with abstract letters and words.

Although encaustics have been her main medium for several years, it was just a few months ago that she reverted back to painting, where she said she feels a new freedom in her ability to make sweeping movements and work on a larger scale.

The acrylic paintings are bright and boisterous with reds and blacks, overlapping influences ranging from urban graffiti to Oriental calligraphy.

“I think people like to make marks,” she said. “There’s a communication there you don’t always see. It’s internal, it’s intuitive.”

First Friday Artwalk listings for March 2

❱❱ Artists’ Gallery of Steamboat, 1009 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-4744
Featuring Lance Whitner’s painterly interpretation of local landscapes on large canvas and Sandra Sherrod’s collage of interior and exterior scenes using wallpaper samples and images covered with wax.

❱❱ Mangelsen-Images of Nature, 730 Lincoln Ave., 970-871-1822
Thomas D. Mangelsen long has been recognized as one of the world’s premier nature photographers. He recently was named 2011 Conservation Photographer of the Year. Introducing “Triptychs (n.),” a set of three panels side by side bearing pictures. http://www.mangelsen.com.

❱❱ K. Saari Gallery, 837 Lincoln Ave., 970-870-0188
Featuring local painter Laura Wait and her new series, “Scriptography.” The show includes new work from Wait including acrylics on canvas, as well as her textured encaustic pieces.

❱❱ Steamboat Art Museum, 807 Lincoln Ave., 970-870-1755
On exhibit is the work of Denver-based artist Quang Ho, who paints mostly in oils and occasionally uses watercolor and pastels. Ho’s subject matter includes still life, landscapes, interiors and figuratives. http://www.steamboatartmuseum.org.

❱❱ Wild Horse Gallery, 802 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-5515
Wild Horse Gallery features the paintings of Robert Harper. http://www.wildhorsegallery.com.

❱❱ Steamboat Springs Center for Visual Arts, 906 Lincoln Ave., 970-846-5970
Featuring local photographer Cyndi Marlowe with her new work “Silver Reflective Series,” landscape photos printed on metallic paper. Thirty-three local artists round out a collection of new paintings, photography, sculpture and mixed media. Complimentary wine and hors d’oeuvres. http://www.steamboatartcenter.com.

❱❱ artWorks, The Victoria Building, 941 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-7596
ArtWorks is an exhibit of functional art by local artisans. The mission is to make available samples and information about how and where to find custom furniture and cabinet makers, fiber artists, metal craftsmen, tile, hardware, faux finish — just about anything made by man or nature in whatever form or size you might be looking for.

❱❱ Body Graffix, 837 Lincoln Ave., No. 1, 970-879-6807
Ian Rumley is a fine artist, tattoo artist, high school art teacher and muralist from Denver. His work has evolved into a hybrid of his experience in the tattoo industry and his formal training in the fine arts.

❱❱ Colorado Group Realty, 509 Lincoln Ave., 970-875-2917
Jim Gmeiner will feature his new mixed-media works on canvas as an addition to his landscape, nature and eclectic fine art images. Jim makes innovative use of his photography talents, darkroom techniques and artistic hand as he creates a portfolio of unique, emotive mixed-media works.

❱❱ Creekside Cafe & Grill, 131 11th St., 970-879-4925
Steamboat wildlife photographer Judy Jones presents her winter portfolio. “In the animal kingdom, winter is a fight for survival, but some manage to thrive. I will be showing these images as well as sharing some that show our love for winter right here in the ‘Boat.”

❱❱ Harwig’s/L’Apogee, 911 Lincoln Ave., 970-879-1919
Fernando Maldonado was raised in Steamboat and always has been fascinated by the realism, the human face and the female form involved in tattoo art. Fernando did a tattoo apprenticeship where he further developed his skills. He also paints, working primarily with acrylic, but also enjoys using pencil and colored pencil. He aims to create light and movement by using bright colors, interesting angles and an unusual point of view.

❱❱ Off the Beaten Path Bookstore, 68 Ninth St., 970-879-6830
Off the Beaten Path Bookstore’s exhibit features the work of Karen Gordon Schulman and participants in her Focus Adventures’ iPhoneography workshop: Carlos Canseco, Jane Canseco, Gloria Pereyra, Chenza Lazof, Jennifer Holdeman, Bruce Holdeman, Tim Hannon, Lizzie Larock, Dave Labossiere and Joel Schulman. The eclectic imagery on display is representative of each artist’s individual interests and personal expression as created with their iPhones.

❱❱ Urbane, 703 Lincoln Ave., Suite B101, 970-879-9169
Featuring urban artwork from Fort Collins street artist Austin Barker. Live music.

To reach Nicole Inglis, call 970-871-4204 or email ninglis@ExploreSteamboat.com


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