Meet Painter Diem

Dateline:  January 7, 2013.   amsterdam

And so begins the tale of meeting our first artist on the Adventures of Free Art On The Road To Asia..by Way Of Amsterdam!

Del and I started out about 10 am, not knowing what to expect on our search for a local Amsterdam Artist.
We headed to the canal boats after someone had given us an idea of in what part of town we might begin our search.
Arriving and at our destination and beginning to walk the streets we noticed lots of closed signs...oops it is Monday, we realized.  Walked a litter further, finding a light and open door. So, Art and a wonderful man directed us in the direction of Painter Diem's studio.  "He'll probably talk to you if he is in a good mood".  With that encouraging referral, off we go.  Arriving at Painter Diem's, the door is locked, but the sign says open and please to ring all the bells and so we do.  Running down the stairs he comes, tossed dark hair, bathrobe flying in the breeze...and no pants.  
Painter Diem is unable to unlock the door and motions for us to return in about 10 minutes.  We spend our waiting minutes in a local cafe, meet a lovely local by the name of Kitty, who seemed to be well acquainted with our Painter Diem.
Oops, our 10 minutes has flown by and we return to Painter Diem's gallery/museum/home/studio/atelier/.  He owns three of the oldest buildings in Amsterdam, from the 16th century.  He is a wonderful artist with an interesting artist personality and turns out to be quite famous.  Www.diem.nl
He calls people to come in a visit with us, we take some good video...will need quite a bit of editing.  A shame we are here for only one day as he would make a great subject on his own.  Yvonne, whom he introduces us to believes she has another artist for us in Lisbon and we may see her again on Tuesday.
Lest I digress, Painter Diem wanted to paint Del.  After several hours with him, we bid him goodby as we handed him a piece of Free art in our appreciation.
  Can't imagine meeting a more enlightening, interesting artist and think you might enjoy him as well...we'll let you know when the video is completed.
  Check out his web site www.diem.nl
  While posting to Facebook is still a bit of a challenge...give us a like to follow our adventures!!!!
  Everyone out there...be kind...be gentle to one another!!!

Now, it begins.....

Happy 2013 Everyone!!!

May it be a peaceful and joyful and healthy and prosperous one for you...

with just a bit of adventure!!!

So.....

Feel Good Free Art Project

is hitting the road....

The gauntlet has been thrown,

Free ART has accepted the challenge.

The Video equipment is purchased, the mountains of paperwork, the pills and shots, the house sitters are packed and ready to move in, 

FREE ART pieces are ready to go!

Gig Harbor mementos are ready to go!

And

We have a plan.....

In each town we visit, we will take local transportation to meet with local artists and exchange art, and GH mementos, with those artists we meet along the way.

The Challenge.....

To make it back to our transportation before it sails away... without us,

 leaving us standing alone on the pier!

I am a tiny bit concerned about filming in India 

and hope we do not end up in jail!

Feel Good Free Art....on facebook....

(don't look for us at this page for the trip)

Click on LIKE and follow along with us on

The Adventures of FREE art on the road to Asia...

by way of Amsterdam!!!

It is going to be fun.....and who knows what else, so come along..

AND

Where ever your footsteps take you,
go with great joy
and great kindness to one another!!!

December 1st...surprises for you!!!!!

Jingle!!!  Jingle!!!

 Where will you be on December 1st!!!

WOW!!!  

Lots and Lots of things to do in Gig Harbor this weekend...

What ever you do...where ever you go....

be sure to head to downtown on Saturday, December 1st!!!

December Art Walk is 1-5pm

Lighting the Gig Harbor Christmas Tree is 5pm in Skansie Park...You Be There!!!!

AND 

a great BIG THANK YOU 

 to all those galleries and retails and city folks who helped with Feel Good Free Art in 2012.  There was art in lots of retail locations, art galleries, History Museum, city parks..

all over Gig Harbor....

Feel Good Free Art...

gonna be a little different in 2013...keep reading...

AND

  in celebration of YOU!!!!

This Saturday, December 1st...

.find those little FREE Holiday presents in locations downtown....

and in Backbone Gallery at the top of Pioneer...  Lynn Guenard is having a reception at the Backbone Gallery at the top of Pioneer on Saturday....come for her wonderful art, come for the party!!!!!

UNTIL THEN

Yep, that is Bill Foggarty and you will find him most every day at Water's Edge Gallery.  Go to Bill for all you framing needs and wonderful art pieces.

Oh, yes...that bag...the one with the FREE sign...that's for you, if you find it FIRST....on Saturday!!!!!

These ladies...artists from Ebb Tide Gallery.  Looking for a special gift, check this gallery out for some great art.

Yep, that is Rudolph on that bag...the one with the FREE sign.  Hum...What could it be?  Stop in Saturday and you could find out!!!

 Here's the new Gallery in town....New Moon Gallery...and this is Deb, so you must stop in, say Hello and welcome Deb to Gig Harbor.  Find this gallery on Harborview....in the previous For Art Sake home.

Deb will have some of her artists to welcome you on Saturday

..great presents for your Christmas list.....and one FREE bag of goodies.....just for you! 

Hum....a little chilly outside...right across from Skansie Park and the Christmas tree...sure could use a little something to keep warm...

Java and Clay is the place to go...stop in anytime for a little beverage...a little snack...great converstion...great meeting place for friends...I'll even be there on Tuesday.....lest I digress...oh yes, that is one of those FREE goodie bags again!!!!!

But you won't find it till December 1st, Saturday!!!!!

This is Candy and her sweet hubby.  Stop in at the Harbor Peddler for great gifts, great friends and ...there it is again....one of those FREE goodie bags.

  What could it be?????   

Do a little shopping on Saturday, find a goodie bag and it is yours!!!!!

A GREAT BIG Thank You to Candy, who was one of the first retailers to wecome Feel Good Free Art into her store.

What a great town Gig Harbor is and what amazing people we have for our citizens.  We have lots of visitors to Gig Harbor every year....and so...2013 will find Feel Good Free Art on the road.

We will be out meeting people and artists from all over the world.  We will be sharing Gig Harbor with new people and inviting them back home to come visit with us sometime..and meet you, our wonderful neighbors.  

 Not quite sure how mobile blogging will work ... we do have a Feel Good Free Art Facebook page...give us a little like and you will meet people from Belgium, England, Greece, Holland, Tunis, Egypt, India, Asia....where ever the four winds blow!!

However you celebrate this season, may it be full of joy and love and kindness and peace.  May all your dreams come true....

Where ever your footsteps take you,
go with great joy
and great kindness to one another!!!

See you in 2013!!!

Great films are coming.....

Gig Harbor Film Festival
Great films are coming.....coming to the Gig Harbor Film Festival!!!
October 19, 20, 21.....get your tickets now!!!
NEW TICKET INFORMATION BELOW!!!

So,  Ok......by now you know who's coming to town....Gig Harborite, Josh Lucas and he is bringing with him his latest and critically acclaimed film, "Red Dog".  
This is your opening event for the Film Festival and as of last Friday there were still a few tickets remaining.  Come enjoy the film, come chat with Josh and enjoy great appetizers as well.
Thursday Oct. 18th
5:30 for the film, then Q&A with Josh...the party then moves to Canterwood for more Josh and meeting all the attending filmmakers for this 5th Annual Gig Harbor Film Festival...$75.00

Come out and support our local Gig Harbor actor!!

Come out and support YOUR film festival

New Information and easy to purchase Gig Harbor Film Festival Tickets!!

Individual tickets available online at gigharborfilmfestival.org
Your best buy is the $45.00 special ticket package and will keep you watching films all weekend. 

 NO PRESELECTION OF FILMS IS NECESSARY

1.  Purchase your $45.00 special ticket package at the GHFF office, right next door to the Galaxy Theatre; Mon- Sat, 10-5pm.
2.  Receive your 8 generic film block tickets.  A film block is from intermission to intermission and up to 3 films in a block...you'll be seeing films all weekend.
3.  Take one of your yellow, generic, tickets and walk into the theatre when you are ready...no preselection necessary.
Josh Lucas, Awards Ceremony, KidsFest and 72 Hour Film Competition tickets sold separately.

Just a sampling of the great films you will see...

Oct. 19, 20, 21

"The Revolutionary"  
A feature-length documentary film about the Maoist era and Sidney Rittenberg (of Gig Harbor)...an American who assumed an unprecedented role for a foreigner in Chinese politics...amazing book, amazing man...must see film!  Q&A with Sidney immediately following the film.

"Good Karma"

Have two small town insurance salesmen, stumble upon a twenty year mystery? Could DB COOPER still be alive?

Looks so cute!  Think I will put this one on my must see list!  
The Filmmaker will also be having a Q&A immediately following this film..ask him all about it!!

"Crocodile Nile"
Thi is one of those shorts, that everyone loves....and you will recognize Javier Dampierre immediately!!!!

"Wolf Call"
If there is an award out there...this one has won it!!!
Definitely on my must see list!!!



So, as you can tell there are lots of great films in this year's festival.  The office is open Mon-Sat; 10am-5pm....Get your tickets now...

AND

To honor our Militar, GHFF has invited everyone to come and see 2 FREE films:

 "Horse Soldiers of 9/11"
Narrated by award winning actor, Gary Sinise and discover just who were the first American troops in Afghanistan after the 9/11 attack.
Then stay for a panel discussion afterwards with Col Jason Wings, Transition Battalion and others, to discuss the Wounded Warrior program.
No ticket needed, FREE to all, 1st come, 1st served...going to be very popular!!

Check your program guide for which films you want to see...so many and your 8 ticket special ticket package will take you to a full weekend of films...

Support your local independent Film Festival.....

253-851-FILM -  See you at the movies!

Where ever your footsteps take you this week,
go with great joy
and great kindness to one another!!!

Great ART for YOU this Saturday!

Yep...come on downtown Saturday, September 1st

from 1-5pm to enjoy some great art and artists demonstrations.

Going to be a beautiful weekend,
so go run in the Narrows race,
or
volunteer for the Narrows race...
then head downtown to Gig Harbor for lunch
and
FREE art, too.
.....almost forgot....
Somewhere, downtown, this weekend is a Galaxy Gift Card...
FREE to the first person that finds it...Saturday is gonna be a great day!!!
The lucky person who finds that gift card...write us back and let us know what movie you saw!!! Or, perhaps you did something else with that ticket!!

As you are walking the harbor on Saturday, be sure to stop in EBB Tide Gallery. You might find this beautiful tile from Lynn Guenard. While at EBB Tide be sure to take some time to admire the work of their featured artists...Judy Derbes and Elaine Erickson.

Kathy Thurston is a wonderful artist and her art cards of "Brother Sun, Sister Moon"...a couple of snowy owls, is just beautiful!!! Look for this card at Water's Edge Gallery & Framery....also look for Giclees of the talented artist, Ford Smith.
If you are not able to find Kathy's card at Water's Edge, just walk across the street to Ebb Tide Gallery for more of her art!!!

"When you are kind to others..it changes you... and it changes the world"!

So, who is the kindest person you know? A parent, relative, friend...respond and tell us a little about the kindest person you know.
What is the kindest thing you have ever done for someone? Respond and tell us what you did to be kind...you will help change the world!!

Rebecca Westeren of For Art Sake is one of the kindest people that I know. Why? Rebecca always has a smile, something good to say about someone...and she gives a little piece of herself to you when she creates her art..
Go, visit Rebecca for a little kindness.
In the meantime, stop by Kit Kuhn, A Jeweler Designed For You....take a look at his double sided locket..it's beautiful!!!

Find this little piece of FREE art and you will also find a hand made peace necklace. ......

OOPS...not going to tell you where this one is!!!


Where ever your footsteps take you this week,
go with great joy
and great kindness to one another!!!

It's about time!!!

Hi Everybody...It's about time.......

Going to be a great weekend in Gig Harbor......
1st Saturday ArtWalk downtown...

1:30 OutDoor Gallery Celebration
AND
About time for the 10th Annual Peninsula Art League Open Show Exhibition
The Reception is August 9th 6-8pm in the Civic Center
The Show runs August 9 - September 13. Juried by Rock Hushka, curator from the Tacoma Art Museum
Yep, this is another for excitement. Some of the art, nudes......some of the art, not allowed to be shown at the Civic Center, will be exhibited at For Art Sake. Paintings, bronze..etc.
Stop in For Ark Sake...

The time is Satuday, the place, across from Kit Kuhns Jewelry Store!!!
Your arts commission put out a call for interested aritsts to submit public art for display in Gig Harbor.
Before you get your underware in a bundle....no, there is NO cost to the taxpayers. The artist has lovingly agreed to exhibit their art on display in our town for 24 months.
The City did not purchase this art....

But....

It would look really great in your garden or foyer...or wherever you wanted to display at your home.
So, come and enjoy the art....It could be yours.
Now if you do not have a garden, you could donate the piece to our wonderful town.
We all enjoy this town together...some come out Saturday and
say a big thank you to the artist...
.1:30pm Saturday, August 4...BE THERE...BE SQUARE...

Friday evening...stroll on over to the Ebb Tide Gallery! You will find beautiful art, and this lovely FREE piece, from Lynn Guenard. Yes, it is one of Lynn's special pieces on tile.
Come on in and see their new artists and new work...promise that you will love it...and your'll find a little FREE art to make you day!!!!!

NOW this next piece is so very speical that You will just have to go there ON SATURDAY and find for yourself.......
I'd head right on over to Kit Kuhns'......
check out the jewelry....
be sure to check out that special piece of FREE Art!!!!!
It's labeled..you'll find it!

Meet Maggie...She is admiring the FREE art at For Ark Sake. We are so honored to have this handmade PEACE necklace. It's beautiful and it's meaningful...and it can be yours...IF you find it first!!!

We all love Rebecca at For Ark Sake...do you want to step up and see a 1 woman show...
.August 1 - October 31....All Rebecca...
Premier Gallery, 210 West Pioneer; Puyallup, Washington!!!
Artist Reception- Friday, August 17th 6-8pm..
Meet me there!!!

"Your friend reaches for your hand and touches your heart". Do you have a friend like that?
Well,
Then...tell them about it!!!!
Love Clarks for the jewelry...love Clarks for the purses..
really love Clarks for the 20% savings till August 11...
Who will be the first to get there????

We all know by now that it does not get any better than Kathy Thurston's "Snowy Owls". Those owls really look like that. Have you ever seen them?
You can find them at Waters Edge Gallery....If you miss Kathy's owls at Waters Edge Gallery..just cross the street to Ebb Tide Gallery and you will find more of Kathy's inspiring art!!!!

A Great BIG thank you to Harbor Life today and be on the watch for a little somthing in that paper soon....
FeelGoodFreeArt taking a pic of Harbor Life taking a pic of FeelGoodFreeArt!!!

It really goes all go round!!! Lots of FUN!

Where ever your footsteps take you this week,
go with great joy
and great kindness to one another!!!