Clay Invitational starts today

COEUR d'ALENE - Artists from around the Northwest will showcase their work at the 12th annual Clay Invitational from May 13 to June 4.

Hosted by The Art Spirit Gallery (415 Sherman Ave.), the invitational will bring together 19 diverse artists. Clay pots, vases, platters and figurines will line the gallery's walls, all for sale.

"It's a very wide range of work," said Art Spirit owner Steve Gibbs. "From sculptural to functional, from very small to very large."

Larry Clark, a Sandpoint resident and teacher at North Idaho College, will be featured at the invitational, along with Ryan Mitchell of Missoula and Spokane-based artists Matt Boland, Terry Gieber, Laura Nuchuls and Lance Sinnema.

Three additional artists are residents at the LH Project in Joseph, Ore.: Peter Johnson, Brian Kakas and Ryan LaBar.

The invitational - sponsored by Quarry Tile Company and Precision H2O - begins tonight at 5 p.m. in conjunction with the downtown Art Walk.

"We expect most of the artists to be here, so it's a fun time to come and meet them," Gibbs said.