Cathedral Ridge Winery hosts winter showcase, meet-the-artists talk

HOOD RIVER — Artists and art enthusiasts alike gathered for vino and visitation at Cathedral Ridge Winery (CRW) on Jan. 15, where oil paintings, sculptures, quilts and more line a rustic interior. The afternoon meet-and-greet, assembling members of the Columbia Gorge Artist League (CGAL), offered guests an up-close encounter with the 11 creatives featured in the winery’s winter showcase, which runs through Feb. 12.

Owned by Robb and Becky Bell since 2002, CRW is a steadfast proponent of the Gorge art scene, exhibiting pieces from 20-30 artists each year, free of commission. “Artists get their work displayed here for free, and we get to aid our atmosphere and add to the ambiance of our winery,” said CRW Art Coordinator Anna Barker, who hosted the event.

Barker coordinates with artists across the Gorge to organize its seasonal exhibitions, including members of  CGAL. Formed in 2023, GGAL is a collective of individuals, both amateur and professional, who meet on the second Tuesday of each month to brainstorm ideas, network, and present their creations. Its meeting location changes each month to accommodate artists throughout the region.

Although January is the hardest month to congregate due to weather restrictions, Barker said, nine of the 11 artists on display attended the event, themed red, “because red is happy,” she added. “When it’s dark, dreary and wintry, red makes us think of something bright and cheerful.”

CGAL Secretary Jodi Wright, a lifelong drawer and emerging painter with a focus on realistic, impressionist portraits, offered a gouache resist, mixed-media painting titled “Weightless” — a striking, pink and blue depiction of a woman gracefully suspended in air.

Parkdale’s Linda Reichenbach, who fell in love with art quilting in 2013 after winning first place in a local show, describes herself as a “free spirit that specializes in one-of-a-kind ideas.” Her works “Nestled in Leaves” and “Poppies in Suspension” demonstrate her love of nature — a frequent inspiration during her creative process.

White Salmon’s Cindy Ives, who found art at 50 when she entered an art classroom for the first time, specializes in alcohol ink, which she uses to paint florals, landscapes and abstracts. Like watercolor, which uses water, alcohol inks use a blending solution of mostly alcohol, yielding layers of vibrant pigments that blend and overlap.

Brenda Huskey’s acrylic painting “Two Classic Reds” aptly portrays a woman sipping on a glass of red wine. “Art has a nostalgic and environmental meaning for me,” she said, drawing on childhood memories of painting with her mother and sketching relatives during family fishing trips.

Showcasing her mixed-media oil painting “Dream Makers Crimson,” which illustrates grapes, a vineyard, and a glass of wine on a deep ruby backdrop, Ellen Vorster blends abstraction and subtle realism. “It is such a joy and privilege to live and paint in this incredible, beloved place we call home,” she said.

In 2001, Nancy R. Skakel of Soft Heart Creations discovered wool felting and instantly fell in love with it, charmed by the process of creating beautiful dragons and whimsical woodland creatures. The award-winning artist contributed multiple pieces to the showcase, including a red dragon and a red devil. “I have always enjoyed the tactical pleasure of the feel of fiber in my hands and the connection with people throughout history who have created useful and beautiful things out of it,” she said.

Iron sculptor Alan Root has been creating iron art for over four decades, working primarily with found objects (discarded vintage, farm and automobile pieces). His latest work, on display at CRW, is a red heart topped by a budding sunflower made from wrenches and metal scraps.

“I attempt to emulate the world around me through iron imagery and abstract assemblage,” Root said. “It is my hope that my work comes off as thought-provoking and at times whimsical.”

 Other artists featured in the display include metalsmith and paper sculptor Jeri Rutherford, pastel painter Sally Brown, author and landscape specialist Yvonne Pepin-Wakefield, and painter Sue Farro.

The exhibition is open to the public during regular winery hours and is free to attend. CRW is located at 4200 Post Canyon Dr, Hood River. For inquiries regarding CGAL, contact Wright at 503-575-8692 or jodi.wright@gmail.com.