Gary Giovane grows his art in La Conner

Gary Giovane is both an artist and scientist at his core. As a student of science he came to the Skagit Valley as part of an archeological dig in the 1970s. He returned after decades of teaching science and math, to dedicate himself to art. This past year he has exhibited his work at Hadrian Stone Design & Gallery, Matzke Gallery and the Schack Art Center’s Holiday Art Show.

Giovane was a Penn State University student participating in Washington State University’s archeological dig along the Skagit River in 1974, under the leadership of professor Astrida Onat. He met the Fishtown artists, who were dwelling in riverside hunting shacks, and was impressed with their spartan and aesthetic way of life. “I didn’t necessarily want to live that lifestyle but it really interested me,” he recalled.

After teaching in Neah Bay schools in the Cape Flattery school district near Forks on the reservation of the Makah Tribe for decades, he and his wife Leigh moved to La Conner in 2003. They chose this as the place to finish their teaching careers and retire. He taught math at La Conner High School until 2010. Since then he’s been painting, now more than ever.

Giovane’s work draws from Native American, Celtic and Japanese cultures, but it began with the Makah Indians who were his neighbors and friends. His acrylic on red cedar paintings are rich in nature-based spirituality and symbolism. “The first time I saw Native art it really spoke to me. And I loved painting on cedar,” he says. Many of his pieces are now in the hands of his Makah friends.

In the 1990s he and Leigh visited Scotland, where he found parallels between Celtic and Native art. He combined the two influences in his subsequent work, along with Japanese imagery. He gains the curve of his imagery from his Asian influence, as well as the painting of the four seasons. Nature is at the center of his work.

Giovane’s work is meticulously executed but he has no formal education in art, and he adds that he hasn’t needed it: “Art is such a very personal thing, I could never teach somebody this. You can’t say ‘This is how it’s done.’” Instead, he studies the traditions and cultures that interest him, and he paints.

The painting itself is a learning process. He notes, “craftmanship in Japan takes 10 years to do much of anything.” In fact, he has gone through multiple decades of that kind of learning. That in itself is a Japanese concept: of learning great craftmanship through careful study and repetition.

His work can’t be categorized, says Sylvia Strong, River Gallery owner. It isn’t landscape, or realism, but instead deeply symbolic. Each piece comes with a story that explains the inspiration and creative process behind that work. He writes it down so that each story accompanies the piece.

Most days Giovane paints by lying flat on his stomach, where he can steady his hand, control his lines and prevent any dripping on the wood. He works in his home, surrounded by his own work.

“His technique requires a lot of patience and confidence,” because the cedar doesn’t allow for mistakes Strong says. “There is nothing overworked in his painting. He can’t over work, you have to get it right the first time.”

Giovane has been featured artist at Art Wood in Bellingham. He has exhibited at the Anacortes Arts Festival, the NW Art Beat Open Studio Tour and at local galleries in the region.

He serves on Skagit Artists board of directors for the opportunity to commune with other artists. “I’m always amazed at how many artists we have out here, it’s such a diverse group.”

He will again participate in the NW Art Beat Studio Tour in La Conner this July.