Gallery North Presents "Earth, Dust, and Oil"
Gallery North announces its June exhibit featuring two Gallery North members: painter Leah Rene Welch
and potter/sculptor Melinda O’Malley. Although they create with very different materials, the work of both
artists reveals a spirit of vibrancy and fun.
Edmonds painter Leah Rene Welch started drawing before she could even tie her shoes. As early as the
fourth grade a very astute and caring teacher, Mr. Albeck at Adams Elementary in Ballard, arranged for her
to attend a summer program at Cornish School for the Arts. This challenging experience propelled her to
experiment artistically. Now Leah often experiments with non-traditional art-making tools and surfaces,
sometimes using kitchen utensils or her fingers to apply paint, and using copper or highly-textured painting
surfaces. Leah says, “I'm inspired by a good challenge. I enjoy figuring out how to use a new medium or
technique. Sometimes stumbling upon a new color can keep me going for weeks.”
In this exhibit, Leah shares her latest artistic interpretations through her lively and expressive oil and pastel
paintings. “The most rewarding part of working as an artist is the connection I make with people through
art,” says Leah.
Melinda O’Malley began working with clay ten years ago while serving as a nurse at her children’s school
camps. Melinda’s specialty is functional sculptures in the form of dragons, such as her popular dragon
teapots and jars. She has always loved fantasy, and dragons in particular. Says the artist, “I connect with
dragons because of their strength but I also try to infuse them with a sense of fun and heart.”
In her home studio, Melinda forms the dragons’ bodies on a potter’s wheel, while other elements are hand- sculpted. Each detail is carefully crafted and placed to create the finished dragons. When the artist is asked if
this detail work is tedious she replies, “No, I love it. I come home after working as a nurse at Harborview
and head straight for the studio, turn on some Grateful Dead music, and start scaling dragons.” She adds,
“It’s the best therapy ever!” In addition to her sculptures, this show also will include Melinda’s more
traditional functional ceramic pieces.
The artists’ reception for “Earth, Dust, and Oil” will be on June 11 from 1-4pm at Gallery North. Meet the
artists and enjoy refreshments. There will be a drawing for a free bowl at 3:00pm. Leah and Melinda also will
be present at Gallery North during the Edmonds Art Walk on June 16 from 5-8pm. This exhibit will be
open to the public through June 30.
For more information visit www.gallerynorthedmonds.com
