Wood panel art exhibit opens at City Hall gallery

Dennis Harrison, who creates marquetry art of flat wood panels with inset designs, will be displaying his work at the city of Enumclaw Gallery 2011 today, Wednesday, through Dec. 6. Marquetry is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. This is the first exhibit of its kind for the Enumclaw City Hall gallery. “Marquetry is an art form that uses only natural and dyed wooden veneers in its presentation,” Harrison said in a city release. “It is a little-known art form in America, but it is hundreds of years old as practiced elsewhere. In the United Kingdom and on the European continent it is considered a ‘fine’ art and is practiced extensively. “Every marquetry picture is truly one-of-a-kind beginning with the infinite stresses placed in a growing tree to the final slicing of the veneers. Each piece of veneer will never be duplicated again.” Currently, the National Marquetry Society has 250 members remaining from a high of nearly 2,000 members in the 1980s. Harrison and another person started in the Puget Sound Chapter of the National Marquetry Society to promote the art. “We give exhibitions and hands-on classes to raise public awareness of the art,” he said. “I’m also currently studying in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana of Japan and hold a first level certificate. I challenge myself to capture some of the spirit of the Japanese people with their unique flower arranging.” Harrison also is a member of the American Marquetry Society, the United Kingdom Marquetry Society, the Canadian Marquetry Society, and the Mercer Island Group of the Sogetsu Ikebana School of Japan. Artist Mike Dilbeck rounds out the Gallery 2011 lineup for 2011. His exhibit begins in December. City Hall will also feature pottery by Kern and Elizabeth Hendricks. Their artwork will be on display in the entry way display case from today, Wednesday, through Jan. 3. Gallery 2011 is in council chambers at Enumclaw City Hall, 1339 Griffin Ave. Hours for the exhibition space are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gallery is closed on national holidays and each Tuesday for municipal court. For information, call the Enumclaw Cultural Programs office at 360-802-0239.

November 1, 2011 3:55 pm

Dennis Harrison, who creates marquetry art of flat wood panels with inset designs, will be displaying his work at the city of Enumclaw Gallery 2011 today, Wednesday, through Dec. 6.

Marquetry is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or pictures. This is the first exhibit of its kind for the Enumclaw City Hall gallery.

“Marquetry is an art form that uses only natural and dyed wooden veneers in its presentation,” Harrison said in a city release. “It is a little-known art form in America, but it is hundreds of years old as practiced elsewhere. In the United Kingdom and on the European continent it is considered a ‘fine’ art and is practiced extensively.

“Every marquetry picture is truly one-of-a-kind beginning with the infinite stresses placed in a growing tree to the final slicing of the veneers. Each piece of veneer will never be duplicated again.”

Currently, the National Marquetry Society has 250 members remaining from a high of nearly 2,000 members in the 1980s.

Harrison and another person started in the Puget Sound Chapter of the National Marquetry Society to promote the art.

“We give exhibitions and hands-on classes to raise public awareness of the art,” he said. “I’m also currently studying in the Sogetsu School of Ikebana of Japan and hold a first level certificate. I challenge myself to capture some of the spirit of the Japanese people with their unique flower arranging.”

Harrison also is a member of the American Marquetry Society, the United Kingdom Marquetry Society, the Canadian Marquetry Society, and the Mercer Island Group of the Sogetsu Ikebana School of Japan.

Artist Mike Dilbeck rounds out the Gallery 2011 lineup for 2011. His exhibit begins in December.

City Hall will also feature pottery by Kern and Elizabeth Hendricks. Their artwork will be on display in the entry way display case from today, Wednesday, through Jan. 3.

Gallery 2011 is in council chambers at Enumclaw City Hall, 1339 Griffin Ave. Hours for the exhibition space are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gallery is closed on national holidays and each Tuesday for municipal court.

For information, call the Enumclaw Cultural Programs office at 360-802-0239.