Art Walk will feature colorful Pearlene Gavlik
From our weekly issue dated July 2, 2008
Pearlene Gavlik at home (Photo provided)
The Featured Artist for Second Friday Art Walk on July 11 in Cave Junction takes multitasking to a whole new level.
Pearlene Gavlik is an award-winning artist as well as a volunteer firefighter with Illinois Valley Fire District (IVFD). A grandmother of eight -- with one on the way, she also has been honored with IVFD Rookie of the Year and Volunteer Firefighter of the Year awards.
Easter Daffodils by Pearlene Gavlik (Photo provided)
Born in Lowell, Mass., this self-taught artist began her career as a teen-ager, drawing people’s facial features and gestures. Following her marriage to Ken Gavlik, her art career was on hold while she raised four children. In 1984, Ken and Pearlene created a business crafting wooden folk art objects, which they painted, then sold at art fairs throughout New England.
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Her first wall paintings were in acrylic in the “Americana Primitive” style made famous by Grandma Moses. Pearlene’s favorite subject at the time was a barnyard scene, depicting families working and playing together.
After completing approximately 80 paintings in this style, she began experimenting in other media. She tried oil painting, but didn’t like having to wait for each color to dry before she could proceed. She then discovered watercolor and the freedom to blend and merge colors as the painting developed.
“I’ve always loved color,” said Pearlene. “Even when I was a little kid, I remember looking at my Crayons for hours.
“Color is my main motivation for painting. That’s why I love to paint flowers. The beauty of all those jewel-like colors and the delicate petals is very visually exciting to me.”
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Her love of flowers has led to her planting many flowerbeds at her sunny home in Selma, where she raises flowers from seed in her own greenhouse. She also has developed a line of beaded jewelry, which she sells in order to support this fun hobby.
Pearlene has a great love for the sea reaching to her early years in New England. The Gavliks moved to Illinois Valley following a visit with their oldest daughter, Sherry, who had moved here for a job. Attracted by the proximity to the Pacific Ocean and the beauty of Illinois Valley, they actually put a down payment on their house before the end of the visit.
Besides her own art career, Pearlene assists her husband in his cabinet-making business, “Mr. G’s Woodworking.” They share a second business: Lakeshore Images, which produces large giclee’ prints for Pearlene and other artists. They bought the expensive digital equipment after being disappointed by the results from other offset printers.
Many members of the Gavlik family are firefighters besides Pearlene. Ken is an IVFD battalion chief; and son, Jeff, is IVFD deputy chief. Another son, Michael, is a firefighter in Rogue River. This outstanding Illinois Valley family now has branched out in new ways, as Jeff and his wife, Joanna, have opened “Heritage Moments,” a scrapbook supply store near Michelle’s Family Restaurant at Redwood and Caves highways.
The Gavliks also are active members of Wonder Bible Chapel, which was damaged by fire during the winter. They’re been helping with clean up and preparation for major repairs scheduled for this summer.
Pearlene Gavlik’s watercolors of flowers and cats, as well as printed cards of her paintings, will be featured at Changes Art Gallery, 144 S. Redwood Hwy., beginning Friday, July 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. during Second Friday Art Walk and throughout July.
Her watercolors also are exhibited at the Redwood Coast Art Association gallery in Crescent City. Her jewelry is at Second Street Gallery in Bandon. She is represented in both media at the Oregon Caves Chateau Gift Gallery. Her work can be seen at pearlenesoriginalart.com.
For further information on Second Friday Art Walk, sponsored by the Illinois River Valley Arts Council, visit www.irvac.com.
