The Art Blog Of Michael Orwick: Out of the Fire Celebration with new paintings by Michael Orrwick

photo by Lidia Covaci

Join us for our "out of the fire" celebration, featuring works created by heat and fire, including raku, blown glass, custom jewelry and bronze sculpture as well as delicious applewood smoke-fired pizza by Veraci!

Troutdale First Friday Art Walk Caswell Gallery July 2nd 5pm ~ 9pm

Gay Liebert, raku Gaypullingpot

Raku pottery is created with a specific ceramic firing process that uses both fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. With raku pottery, the piece is first bisque fired. Then, it is glazed and undergoes a raku firing process. The raku firing process requires a special raku kiln that is fueled by propane and reaches temperatures of about 1800°F (about 982°C).

Dennis Mullen, blown glass 1174728360_glass_blowing

Glassblowing involves three furnaces. The first, which contains a crucible of molten glass, is simply referred to as “the furnace.” The second is called the “glory hole”, and is used to reheat a piece in between steps of working with it. The final furnace is called the “lehr” or “annealer”, and is used to slowly cool the glass over a period of a few hours to a few days, depending on the size of the pieces.

Ali Peret, fire opal jewelry Mex_fire_opals

Few gemstones evoke the excitement of a precious fire opal. The flashy show of this gem makes each specimen unique, a fountain of mystery, enchantment and legend. Some say that opals convey foresight and good health. No wonder that it is the October birth stone. Pre-historically, the Aztecs are said to have decorated their most prized artworks and figurines with inlaid fire opal. Today precious opals produced from Mexican mines are sought after in the U.S.A., Canada, Europe and the Orient.

Rip Caswell, bronze sculpture foundry_worker

Today’s bronze is made up of copper, silicon, manganese and trace elements. The bronze is heated to over 2,000 degrees before pouring occurs. Generally, it takes three foundry workers to complete this task. The first is the “lead pour” who directs the crucible that holds the molten bronze. The second is responsible for maintaining the balance of the crucible and is called the “dead man.” The third of the trio pushes away the impurities or “slag” (like skimming milk) that collects on the surface of the bronze. Teamwork is essential to a successful pour.

Wood fired Pizza will be available to purchase by the slice or whole pie!

The Veraci wood burning oven

We design and build each oven as a unique work of art using a special refractory clay mixture that withstands temperatures up to 1300 degrees Fahrenheit! We normally cook our pies between 850-1000 degrees F. At these extreme temperatures, Veraci pizza is ready in about ninety seconds!
When a pizza is made in this time-honored, traditional way it tastes completely
different than all other pizzas. Part of that difference can be found in the relationshipbetween the extreme heat and our legendary hand-mixed pizza dough. The intense energy released from the burning apple wood is transferred to the pizza
three ways: through convection, conduction and radiant energy. After the "pie" is placed on the bricks, a great deal of water in the dough is rapidly vaporized and released as steam. Miniature steam vents form all over the pizza as it is transformed by the screaming heat.This change of state from water to steam generates pressure and uplifts the crust, creating a puffed-up, slightly-charred, crisp and chewy outer crust (the "cornicione")
and a delicious, uber-thin, melts-in-your-mouth softer inner crust. Delizioso!

Live Music with Bryan Arakelian who specializes in music from the sixties and seventies. Bryan_guitar 2

Bryan has been playing around the Vancouver and Portland area for years and has developed quite the fan base. Bryan will be playing during our Art Walk celebration from 6pm to 8pm.

Wine Tasting with Mt. Defiance Wine Co.

At the turn of the 20th Century a professional baseball player traded the diamond for the pulpit. Reverend Billy Sunday captured the nation's attention as he vigorously preached by 'fire and brimstone' the virtues of prohibition and creationism. Following a nation-shaking career, Sunday sought tranquility in Oregon's Hood River Valley -- now the center of the country's most exciting wine growing region.

In his honor we offer divinely inspired blends of the best grapes from the Columbia Gorge area. Blessedly rich
fruit balances wicked spice tones. A sip could make one a disciple. Although it promises to evolve in the bottle, rest assured: all our wine is intelligently designed.

FREE WINE TASTING! Or enjoy Mt. Defiance wine by the glass. Wine is also available for purchase by the bottle. Enjoy Hellfire and Brimstone delicious blends or the newly released Pinot Gris with your pizza!

Exhibiting Artists Include: Laurel Barbieri, Eric Bowman, Bill Ernst, Rob Harbeck, Eileen Holzman, Ike Leahy, Grace Lim, Michael Orwick, Kris Paul, Norman Thomas and Gayle Weisfield