Northwind Art's "Potluck Banquet": a feast of art that nourishes

Pineapple upside down cake, beignets and chicory coffee, fried eggs and bacon, a salmon steak with lemon slices: These are all part of “Northwest Expressions: Potluck Banquet,” an art show about good food and drink. Pictured is Lucy Congdon Hanson's delicious glazed ceramic creation, "Pumpkin Pie."

The exhibition brings together more than 50 Pacific Northwest artists, so the gallery is filled with more than 90 of their creations, which range from textiles to photos to watercolors.

Northwind Art invited artists from across Washington state and Oregon to enter “Potluck Banquet” — to bring a dish, artistically — and more than 100 responded. Jurors and artists Suzanne Lamon and Frank Samuelson made their selections based on what would create a well-rounded feast of visual art.

Throughout the exhibit’s run, gallery visitors can vote for their favorites for the $150 People’s Choice Award.

“Potluck Banquet” will stay on view through Oct. 13, and soon after that, the People’s Choice Award winner will be announced. More information about the gallery show as well as about Northwind’s art courses and workshops can be found on the Northwind Art website.

“The artwork celebrating food is gorgeous and, at times, comical,” said Northwind spokesperson Diane Urbani.

“Just looking at glazed ceramic eggs on toast made me laugh,” she added, referring to a “Potluck Banquet” piece by Lucy Congdon Hanson. This Port Townsend-based artist also entered her small ceramic versions of apple, rhubarb, pecan, cherry and pumpkin pie.

“She even made clay salmon steaks, filet mignon, a chocolate tart and a full chicken dinner,” Urbani added.

Two eggs and a strip of bacon appear to be frying on the pavement at a skate park in Joshua Phelps’ photograph. A pineapple upside down cake glistens in Virginia Ashby’s painting. A surrealistic scene splashes across Linda Okazaki’s 60-by-40-inch watercolor titled “The Red Table.”

“This banquet covers all of the courses, from hors d’oeuvres to dessert. We believe art feeds the soul, and these works are certainly rich in nutrients and heart-healthy fats,” Urbani said.

“Most of all, this show is meant to be fun. We invite everyone to come and dive in.”

"Potluck Banquet" is generously sponsored by Chimacum Corner Farmstand, Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Bonnie Ludlow and Windermere Real Estate of Port Townsend.