While the last few tickets for the Arlington Arts Councils Fall into Art Auction race out the door, meeting the goal of 120 attendees, Marguerite Goff is racing to complete her major fish sculptures a Chinook salmon and a cutthroat trout to hang on the outside of Arlington City Hall, one of two commissions from the proceeds of last years Fall into Art Auction.
Thanks to a match of funds from the city of Arlington, the $2,500 raised at last years auction was doubled, allowing for the acquisition of two different commissions. Arlington Arts Council, with input from the attendeeds of last years auction, selected Goffs proposal for the exterior of City Hall and four works of art by Kathryn Glowen for the inside of the City Council Chambers in the new Police Station.
Goff said her school of fish will be ready for hanging soon.
I was hoping to have them ready in the summer, but due to a new grandbaby and other complications, the project was delayed, Goff said.
A ceramic artist who hales from Boston, Goff arrived in the Pacific Northwest more than 30 years ago when her husband attended university in British Columbia.
We thought of staying in B.C., but never thought of going back to the East Coast, Goff said.
Marguerite ran an art gallery, Pleasant Ridge Pottery, in Skagit County, but when her husband started teaching at the University of Washington, they sought a new home a bit closer to his work. They have lived in the Lakewood area for almost 20 years. Goff works in a garage studio on Kackman Road and is a regular participant with the Arlington Arts Council. She offered a clay project for kids at the Arlington Street Fair last summer along with Arlene Swartz, and Lucinda VanValkenburg, who makes a big hit with children with her turned wood tops.
Goffs studio is part of the North Arlington Studio Tour, which is two days this year, on the first weekend in December. Goff creates both sculptural wall pieces and very functional dinnerware, with sculpted detailing and rich colored glazes. She also does raku firings to give an earthy, multicolored surface to her sculpted clay.
I am looking forward to having my work on display for the community where I live and work. I am sorry for the delay, but I know the extra effort in creating new, bigger molds will make for a more impressive gathering of fish behind the bamboo at the City Hall Plaza, Goff said.
Goff is just one of many Arlington artists who have donated new work for this years auction, as well as attending the auction so that art enthusiasts can meet the people who create art for this community.
Other AAC members who have contributed art for the auction include original paintings by Kathryn Glowen, Monica Yantis, Helen Lueken, Carey Waterworth, Janet Myer, Harry Engstrom, Shirley Fulfs, Erika Bruss, Jessica Dorstad and Cecelia Patterson; original prints by Shari Osti; prints of original work by Dean Rocky Barrick, Janet Hamilton and Coleen Allen; photographs by Kent Baker, Kathy Firnstahl, Sarah Arney; carved granite by Verena Schwippert and Kirk McLean; collage by Arlene Swartz; pottery by Persis Gayle; glass by Kurt McVay; muffler sculpture by Mike Nordine; jewelry by Pam and Lisa Summers and a wooden planter by Robin Miller. Auction items also include many interesting baskets, massages, planters and plants, and much more.
The Fall into Art Auction strives to be a celebration of Arlington area artists while exploiting their talent for the benefit of all in the community of Arlington by acquiring public art for the inspiration of all.
The program includes a slide show of all the public art projects already in place and other AAC projects. The slide show will include the banner project this year which was a collaboration between the AAC and the city of Arlington, producing 24 original banners that were displayed all summer along SR 9 and 67th Avenue. More banners will be created next year and they will all be displayed on the new Olympic Avenue when the reconstruction project is done next year.
The evening of fun begins with a social time from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with more than 30 silent auction items to shop for. A buffet dinner is served at 7 p.m. and the live auction starts at 8 p.m.
Live acoustic guitar music is provided by James Hatch and Chris Pense, young budding musicians that show a lot of potential.
Among the attendees are Mayor Margaret Larsen, an enthusiastic supporter of the arts.
Its all about quality of life. I really believe Harry Engstroms murals around town, and Verenas sculptures on the trail make our lives richer, Larson said.
I participate with the Arlington Arts Council events because I believe in contributing to my community, said Goff, while patting down another level of clay into her newly sculpted mold.
Corporate sponsors of the event include George Boulton, of Flowers by George; Robin Miller, of Favorite Pastime; Maryann Monty, of Ramo Realty; the city of Arlingtons Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission, and The Arlington Times.
Although the deadline has passed for purchasing tickets to attend the auction, please call to check on the availability of the last remaining seats. Call Sarah Arney at The Arlington Times at 360-435-5757.