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Max Grover show at Depot lights up July 4 weekend
July 02, 2008 - 01:00 PM
by Elaine Walker

The sophisticated yet simple color paintings of Max Grover are featured in a show opening Friday evening at the Depot Arts Center Gallery.
There will be no Gallery Walk this week because of the July 4 holiday, but those who need their first Friday fix can still stop in at the opening reception of a bright and fun show at the Depot Arts Center Gallery that night. Despite the night off, galleries will be open the rest of the weekend with an assortment of exciting photographs, clay pieces, pastels and much more.

Port Townsend artist Max Grover returns to the Depot with new drawings and wonderful colorful paintings that are sure to thrill both children and the young at heart. A reception with the artist is 6-9 p.m. July 4 at the gallery.

Grover’s ability to create extraordinary, joyful renderings of ordinary things makes him a popular gallery artist and children’s book illustrator. His joyful paintings in bright acrylics are both primitive and sophisticated, illuminating the world of work and play through common objects and scenes of everyday life. Close inspection of his deceptively simple work reveals fine craftsmanship and perspective that conveys activity unseen, said gallery Manager Kathy Peterson.

The show includes new black and white drawings Grover drew while vacationing in Mexico. With his trademark acrylics unworkable in the hot, dry climate, he used whatever supplies were at hand — watercolor paper, felt pens, ink and tubes of Wite-Out correction fluid — to reflect what he saw.

Grover’s charming and whimsical illustrations have graced many children’s books, greeting cards, posters and promotional material. A popular painting teacher and public speaker, he lives and paints in Port Townsend with his wife Sherry and their cats Oreo and Cheddar.

Other July shows:

• Anne Martin McCool Gallery, 711 Commercial Ave., is showing new clay crow sculptures by Teri Silva, new oil paintings in bold summer colors by McCool and work by other gallery artists.

• Insights Gallery, 516 Commercial Ave., continues the “Summer Show” with more than 60 new pieces by Alfred Currier, Anne Schreivogl, John Simon, Larry Heald, Ramona Hammerly, Marty Rogers, James Moore, Earl Jorgensen, LeAnn Adams, Michael Clough, David Best, Dianna Shyne, Michael Moe and many more.

• That Photo Shoppe (formerly Digital Art Moments), 512 Commercial Ave., is featuring “The Pass and the Mountain” with photographs of Mount Baker and Deception Pass Bridge by Tony Locke and John Kelso.

• Adrift, 510 Commercial Ave., presents screen prints and other art by Jessica Lynch.

• Scott Milo Gallery, 420 Commercial Ave., continues a great collection by the Washington Artist Group through July. This group of pastel artists and oil painters from the greater King County area include Pepper Peterson, Patty Forte-Linna, Dick Smith, Judythe Sherwood, Cheryl King, Mark Boyle, Ned Mueller and Cary Jurrianns.

• The Depot Arts Center Gallery, 611 R Ave., presents “Fun, Seriously” featuring colorful, playful paintings by Port Townsend artist Max Grover.

Photographs by Valley Camera Club are on display in the Baggage Room Gallery.

• Bowman Gallery, 801 Fifth St., is featuring photographs by Marius Hibbard and David Hibbard.