Westport Winery will unveil the latest art in their outdoor sculpture garden on Sunday, May11 at 3 p.m. Westport artist Kimmi Kerns of Havenwyld Ceramics was selected by the Roberts family to create the sculpture for their wine called Captain Grays. The public is welcome to attend this free event on Mother’s Day afternoon.
After a career in the high stress 24-7 computer industry, Kimmi was able to turn her passion for art into a reality when she moved to Washington in 2003. “I chose ceramics because it combines my love of painting and the need to work with my hands. For me, color is therapy, so my pieces are usually brightly colored and fun. I enjoy creating tiles to beautify home and garden spaces and that make you smile.”
Community involvement is important to Kimmi. She has been a board member of Artisan Tile North West in Seattle and the Westport South Beach Historical Society. Kimmi was also a past president and treasurer of the South Beach Arts Association.
Kimmi Kerns lives by the beach in Westport with her husband, Larry and a very spoiled retired racing greyhound named Bonzi. You can see Bonzi on the cover of Rex Martin and Marcy Merrill’s book “Dogs Tell Their Stories”.
“I’ve titled my winery artwork ‘Grays Harbor Discovery’ honoring Westport Winery’s ‘Captain Gray’s Gewurztraminer’ wine.
“The sculpture is made of several different pieces in the form of a story pole because I wanted to showcase all the wonderful things we have in our coastal community of Grays Harbor. The top piece, the ‘Lady Kim’ (in honor of winery owner Kim Roberts), is my version of a tall ship – like the one Captain Gray sailed in ‘discovering’ our harbor in 1792. Of course, there were Native American peoples already living here in 1792, and on one of my pieces, I have an eye in the Northwest coastal Indian design to honor them as well. There are motifs on my art pieces, denoting the various performing and visual arts as well as local activities, including fishing, crabbing & clamming. Of course, there is a lighthouse piece, and the bottom of the sculpture is a compass rose.
“My husband and I ‘discovered’ Grays Harbor in 2000 on a Pacific Coast road trip from Southern California to Canada. We liked the area so much we moved here in 2005. I wanted the sculpture to reflect the constant ‘discovery’ of all things Grays Harbor we now enjoy here every day!”
As well as creating coasters, trivets and tile art, Kimmi accepts commissions for tile work for fireplaces, kitchen, bath and outdoor spaces. Kimmi has artwork currently displayed in the Healing Gallery at Grays Harbor Hospital. She also sells her artwork at the South Beach Arts summer gallery in Westport and Maritime Museum gift shop in Westport as well as on-line at her website www.havenwyld.com.
Westport Winery, Restaurant, Bakery and Nursery are open daily at 11a.m. The winery serves lunch daily from 11 am. to 4 pm. and dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings from 4 p.m. to 8.p.m. The winery with its unique grape maze, extraordinary outdoor sculptures, and display gardens is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road halfway between Westport and Aberdeen. For more information call Westport Winery at 360-648-2224.
