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Crescent Bar subject of artists' works at library
Putting local artists in the spotlight are Kay Judge and Roxa Kreimeyer; the two founders and exhibitors of the Mary Kazda Art Space located in the Quincy Public Library.
Judge said, “We have been running the art space for around 17 years,” referring to herself and Kreimeyer. Judge and Kreimeyer are very knowledgeable about art, most specifically local artists. Kreimeyer explained that her mother was an artist and Judge had studied art in college. Judge and Kreimeyer decided to start the art space to highlight past and present local artists. The Mary Kazda Art Space is named after Mary Kazda, a former teacher at Quincy High School. The women are able to discover artists through art shows and events in the area, but mostly by word of mouth. One of the main artists whose work is currently being shown is Jean Sigurdson, formerly of Crescent Bar.
Jean Sigurdson was an artist who moved to Crescent Bar in 1943. She and her husband, Thomas, were orchardists who had been removed from Vernita, near Hanford, when the nuclear plant was built. Unfortunately, the Sigurdsons were able to live in Crescent Bar for only one year before they found out the dams were to be built. The construction of the dam led Crescent Bar to flood and the Sigurdsons to uproot once again. Before Jean was forced to leave her new home, she decided she would preserve the old Crescent Bar she knew through art. Sigurdson, a former painter, depicted scenes of the cherry orchards, Columbia River, and the famous view of the cliffs; she even painted a mural on the wall in her house. Judge explained that Sigurdson hoped when Crescent Bar flooded, the fish would be able to swim through her house and admire the mural on the wall. Sadly, Sigurdson was disappointed again when the wrecking ball destroyed her mural and her home. After the flooding, Sigurdson moved to East Wenatchee, where she died in 1961.
Judge and Kreimeyer found the four Sigurdson paintings displayed through an anonymous donor who lives in the Grant County-Douglas County area. Judge and Kreimeyer admit that the paintings are historic pieces, but support the donor in that the Sigurdson artwork is not for sale. Among the Sigurdson paintings are other artworks by Louis Weller, a retired attorney, Kerrie Siderius, Joyce Peterson and an anonymous painting once believed to be part of a parade float. Judge and Kreimeyer replace that art in the exhibit every two to three months and are always looking for new local artists.
Judge said, “We would love to have anybody come to us and present their art, even the high school students.”
Any art is accepted, Kreimeyer explained. “It doesn’t have to be just paintings; we have featured sculptors and photographers.” To contact Judge or Kreimeyer about displaying art, call 787-2863 or 787-2555.
