Burien Arts Gallery’ s biggest ever exhibit opens this week.
“Bountiful Textures” presents works in textiles by Fiber 19 artists at the Gallery, 826 S.W. 152nd St., and baskets by Patricia Galavin, beginning Thursday, Nov. 5.

The Gallery also features Artists United artists Janet Price and Marta Creswell. They are diverse artists who work in several different mediums.

Because the exhibit is just too bountiful for one venue, fiber artists Sonia Grasvik and Gail Wax are presenting their fine-art quilts across the street at Skinperfect, 905 S.W. 152nd St.

You can meet all the artists at the Opening Reception on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Gallery, 6-9 p.m.

Burien Arts Gallery exhibits usually run for a month but Bountiful Textures will be on display until Dec. 26.

Fiber 19 is an eclectic group of mixed media fiber artists who meet to visit, support, critique and show their art. They came together at the Fiber Arts Certificate Program at the University of Washington in 2008.

Their graduating class numbered 19; hence the name Fiber 19. A core group decided to continue to meet monthly. Fiber 19 artists have shown in Seattle, Lynnwood, Auburn and Port Orchard. Showing in Burien are Sally Anaya, Mary Auld, Terry Berg, Debra Calkins, Nikki deRelle, Jan Fisher, Kaylin Francis, Barbara Matthews, Liz Pulos, Louise Roby, Joan Schlichting, Deborah Taylor and Rebecca Wachtman.

Patricia Galavin, who will also be showing at the Gallery, says people often ask her how she became interested in making baskets.

“I’ ve always liked taking a pile of stuff and turning it into something useable...whether it’ s fabric, yarn, food ingredients or basket-weaving materials,” Patricia says.

She adds, “I like to say that I make ‘ heirloom baskets with a contemporary flair.’ I have
over 60 designs that I either got from books or made up myself.

”Her baskets make thoughtful Christmas gifts. Many are useful (napkin, Easter, in/out, hearth) while others are purely decorative.

Patricia will also teach basket making workshops at the Gallery on Nov. 5 and Nov. 8. Each workshop is five hours from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Cost is $40, which includes all materials. Patricia will present more classes in December with the dates to be announced later. Register for any of the workshops at lauriehaslund@gmail.com.

Over at Skinperfect, Sonia Grasvik and Gail Wax present their art quilts.

Sonia has enjoyed lecturing and teaching in the Pacific Northwest, where she resides, and more recently in Brazil by invitation. She has had a solo show at the LaConner Quilt & Textile Museum and her work has been displayed in juried national and international exhibits as well.

Gail notes, “My body of work is a testament to my love of learning and teaching. One of my first art quilts, ‘ Busy Bee’ was juried into New Quilts of Northern California during the Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara, California, and has won a judge’ s ribbon and show ribbon.

”The Gallery is open Wednesday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. More information at www.burienarts.org or 206-244-7808