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I am blessed with of the best collectors and friends, Vicki and Warren Enyeart are among them.  They always stop to visit our booth and share great stories and information.  Warren has taken his photography quite seriously as of late and sent this photo that he took in my booth last night.  I love the angle of this shot, of course it helps that Warren is tall.  This is one of the very few photos of me in my booth because I’m usually the one behind the camera.  Thanks Vicki and Warren!!!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

In between periods of warm sun at the state fair, occasional thunder showers drench the crowd and send everyone scurrying for cover.  During cloud bursts our art booth quickly fills up with wet, dripping folks smelling of damp wool.  Crowded walkways are suddenly empty and the booth across from us removes the sun glasses display filling the entrance with umbrellas instead.  I’ve enjoyed watching the weather change and take special delight in finding colorful reflections in rain puddles.  When you prepare for your visit to the fair this year add rain gear to your backpack.  The sun comes and goes, but if you are dry it is a lot more fun.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska wilderness artist

At the Alaska state fairgrounds in Palmer we have enough room behind our booth to park our camper.  Having our rig close by makes our time at the fair comfortable and convenient, and offers a place to take a quick nap or grab a bite to eat.  The kitchen table gives us a space (out of sight) during quiet times to shuck freshly picked peas from my garden.  When customers come into the booth I quickly clean my green stained thumbs and take care of business.  So, next time you stop at my booth you know what goes on behind the scenes.  Every booth has a different story behind, it is another world very separate from the gee-gaw, gimcrackery out front.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska painter

Sunday and Monday were sunny and warm at the fair, our booth faces west and is flooded with wonderful afternoon and evening sunlight.  I love standing in the doorway and feeling the warmth, something I’ve missed this summer.  The week days are a great time to attend, crowds are less and the pace is comfortable.  Last weekend was busy and hectic and we are enjoying a reprieve from the chaos.  The new canvas giclee “Wing Dancing” is selling well and we are taking orders for a new giclee on paper with hand torn edges “Fiery Leaves”, the original was displayed in the booth last year before it was sold.  Come on down to Palmer and chat with us for awhile.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Saturday it rained buckets at the Palmer Fairgrounds, literal lakes formed along the walkways and flooded the unfortunate booths in tents without floors.  We are so thankful for our soundly built booth with a good roof and floor that keeps us high and dry.  Our booth was packed almost all day with friends, collectors and art lovers.  Several original paintings were sold along with many prints and cards.  Spirits were high among the rubber boot crowd, even those without rain gear seemed to be having a great time.  The attitude was; “it is only water and we will dry, the fair comes only once a year.”  Alaskans, a hearty tough bunch, you gotta love ‘em.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Occasional drizzle and scattered showers during the Alaska State Fair on Friday brought out a colorful array of umbrellas.  My creative mind took over and dominated my sensibility during my spare time, I began photographing the umbrella parade from the doors of our art booth.  People watching at the fair is fun, the face paint, colored spiked hair, umbrellas, balloons, all add to the festivity of the event.  Rain days can be slow days, but I find the slower pace a great time to really “see” the magic of this venue.  We were cosey and dry in our well-built booth, warmed by a small electric heater in the back.  My heart goes out to all the vendors who sit in open tents during this soggy weather.  Hopefully the weekend will bring the sunshine and crowds.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

The Art Shop Gallery, Homer, Alaska, has a beautiful upstairs display room where the first Friday celebrations take place.  We had a lively, busy, entertaining evening chatting with friends, customers and tourists during the show.  Of particular interest was that several of my Facebook “friends” stopped in to introduce themselves.  I greatly appreciate the efforts of gallery owner Karin Marks and her friendly, efficient staff, they made my visit enjoyable and a pleasure to work with.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Today I’m winging my way to Homer, Alaska, for a First Friday art show with Art Shop Gallery all afternoon until closing.  I’ve been doing shows with the Art Shop for more than fifteen years and have a wonderful time during each visit.  Then it is onward to Seward for the 4th of July celebration, we won’t return to the studio until mid-week.  My blog entries will stop again for awhile, but I’ll catch up when we return.

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

During our stay in Fairbanks we toured the World Ice Art Championships where a stunning display of incredible sculptures are best viewed after dark.  Each piece is beautifully lit with colored spot lights.

Along with all the superb sculptures are many fun, whimsical, interactive ice displays.  We wound our way like children through a complex maze built out of ice blocks with colored lights frozen, glowing inside.  I love the creative imagination used to  build this entire world of whimsy.  Many sculptures depicted undersea themes, mermaids, and fish were plentiful.

One of the most colorful and joyful interactive displays were the ice slides where peals of laughter and squeals of delight could be heard all over the park as sleds careened wildly down the frozen chutes.  We really enjoyed our time in Fairbanks and look forward to returning next year.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaskan artist

Bob is busily working to put the finishing touches on our booth at the Carlson Center, in Fairbanks.  We have a fabulous location right by the front doors with beautiful lighting, the walls are loaded with art.  We are featuring our new canvas giclee print of the Sandhill Cranes titled “Wing Dancing”.  We are enjoying our time in Fairbanks, and plan to visit the Ice Carving Sculptures tonight.

Bob shot this photo of me at the end of a long day, I’m satisfied that the booth is ready and all is well in my world.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

I will be signing prints and books at the Town Square Gallery in Wasilla from 1-4PM today. The gallery is located in the Carrs mall next to Radio Shack just off the Parks Highway, Wasilla, Alaska. I look forward to visiting with customers in this beautiful gallery. Janet, the owner, has stocked the shop with lovely gifts and collectibles and will have “Wing Dancing” and “High Country” canvas giclees and a “Paper Birch” available, as well as many other of my popular prints. I look forward to seeing everyone this afternoon!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Tearing down our booth Sunday night at the Denai’na Center, Anchorage, Alaska, was a joy and a breeze. We are treated like spoiled kids by Bill Webb and the staff of the Anchorage Markets and Festivals, the show promoter. Since we are one of the slowest to pack-up, the huge building is nearly empty when we are ready to load. We were allowed to drive our car and cargo trailer inside, where it is warm and comfortable, and pack up our stuff. This is a wonderful show and a joy to participate in the beautiful new convention hall, the crown jewel in the city of Anchorage.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Our booth was ready to go by mid-afternoon Friday, the set-up is really easy at the Denai’na Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. About 50% of the booths were built by the time we left and when we return in the morning the place will be packed and busy, ready to open at 10:00AM. This Arts and Crafts show is the biggest event of the year and an excellent place to do Holiday shopping. All vendors are required to make their own products, you will find none of the made in China stuff that can be found in a lot of other shows. The highlight in our booth is the huge (40″ x 50″) canvas giclee of “Wing Dancing” printed from my original painting showing the Sandhill Cranes in the mating dance. See you this weekend!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of attending the opening of a lovely invitational art show “Art for the Young at Heart” at the Primrose Retirement Community, Wasilla, Alaska. In the above photo my friend, Don Benson, enjoyed the show and the goodies on the reception table loaded with fabulous food. Jessica McGill Berberich, the marketing manager, knows how to stage a first-class event. The show will hang for the rest of the month, stop by and enjoy. Thanks Jessica!

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska painter

While friends Warren and Vicki visited our booth at the Holiday Food and Gift Show, Warren started shooting photos of the people and activity. Good friends Lori and Bob Sunder stopped to say hello and the next thing we knew Warren took our picture. It was a day of good times, best friends, memories, stories, and shared experiences. Part of the fun of doing these events is sharing time with wonderful people. Moments to treasure.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artisst

It was quiet on Friday and gave people lots of time to browse in the booth, but don’t be fooled, Saturday and Sunday will be a mad house. Savvy shoppers know to come on Friday.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska painter

We spent all day Thursday setting up our booth for the Holiday Food and Gift Show at the Anchorage Denai’na Center. The weather warmed up and made the experience towing our cargo trailer very easy. The show opens today at noon and closes Sunday, November 8, at 5:00PM. We are showing the first new print of “Wing Dancing”, it looks great. I look forward to seeing friends and collectors this weekend.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska artist

Recently I enjoyed the pleasure of serving as a juror for an art show titled “Wild Wolves” that opened at the Madd Matters Gallery in Palmer last Saturday night, October 10, continuing through the end of the month. The show contains a varied mix of mediums from bronze sculpture, woodcut, to paintings in watercolor, acrylic and oil. Owner Pam Strahan and partner Gregory Gusse are on to something new for Palmer, monthly showings of original art following a theme. Most of the work is efforts by newly emerging artists and there are some very nice pieces. Pam discussed working in concert with other art venues across the valley to time openings so that patrons can progress from one show to another without missing an event due to a conflict with scheduling. I wish the staff and artists of Madd Matters every success in this new venture, many thanks for inviting me to participate.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska Artist

Bob is looking a little annoyed at me running around shooting photos of everything with my new little Lumix digital camera. Packing and un-packing for art shows is a lot of work, even with all the convenient storage we’ve built into our residence/studio it is a challenge to complete the task with minimum damage. We have two large closets in the gallery room to store the shrink wrap inventory on the first floor adjacent to the garage making this job much easier than our last home where storage was in the basement.

The frame shop and framed inventory is stored on the main floor in a separate room attached to the garage, making loading and un-loading the cargo trailer very easy and quite enjoyable during the dark, cold winter months. Recently, in a desperate attempt to become organized, I designed storage bags from bubble wrap for the framed prints and color coded the bags by size using colored duct tape. The large bags are red and go into the big bin stored in the trailer, the yellow bags take medium/large prints and go into the large tub with yellow handles and big wheels. This tub is easy to roll in and out of any venue in all weather conditions. The purple bags go into the tub with purple latches and take medium sized framed work, and the green bags are for small works and fit the green tub. Of course, none of this matters to Bob who uses whatever bag is handy and stuffs them helter skelter wherever they fit. I always smile when I unpack to see my attempt at organization so completely skewed, each tub a rainbow of colored bags. Nevertheless, the frames are protected from damage, some of my ideas are working.

Gail Niebrugge, Artist

Here is the last photo from my dying camera, I Photoshopped it until it could take no more. A shot in our booth at the Make it Alaska show in the Sullivan Arena last Saturday. The new Panasonic Lumix ZS3 TZ7 with 25mm wide angle and 12X zoom will be ordered as soon as the show is over, meanwhile I picked up an inexpensive Lumix FS-15 at Costco to use as a back-up and one that my husband Bob can carry in his pocket. I am already in love again. This is an unexpected jewel, a sweet little camera.

Here is a shot from our booth looking down on the arena Sunday. I took photos all day, it zooms 5X and goes to 28mm wide angle. You can see what a camera junkie I am, I can’t be without one for even one day. Astonishing really, I had no idea I was so hooked.

Gail Niebrugge, Alaska painter