'ANEW' opens today at Art Spirit Gallery

“ANEW,” featuring works by Denny Driver, Meidi Karampour and Joel Stehr, opens at 11 a.m. today as the first of the Art Spirit Gallery's 2024 lineup of shows.

Karampour came to the Art Spirit via Philadelphia and Booshehr, Iran. Originally trained as an architect, his drawing skills were already quite advanced. But his inquisitive nature, headstrong opinions and clear view of what he wanted to learn informed his time in art school. Karampour’s lusciousness of the paint pallet and alluring imagery is what drew the Art Spirit most to his talent.

Driver’s work is fun and almost comical in the storytelling in each of his pieces. That combined with the musical movements of his paintings, Art Spirit staff were eager to see and share them with their guests.

Stehr came to the Art Spirit Gallery after owner Blair Williams noticed his works on her Facebook feed one quiet night at home. She had been following his work as a luthier, with stunning guitars that would sell as soon as he posted them. One day he posted images of recently completed paintings. Williams was drawn by the whimsy of his clouds, the almost Van Gogh-like pallet and his ability to capture the stories of the Palouse that so many in the Northwest know. She brought his work in on a whim and was immediately thrilled when the audience also responded and began to buy up his works before they could be hung on the wall.

While each of the artists are new or relatively new to the gallery, they offer a fresh insight into some of the creatives never before featured by the Art Spirit Gallery.

The Art Spirit is at 415 Sherman Ave., Coeur d'Alene.

    "Beyond Greater Pastures" by Joel Stehr.
  

    "Eye Hand Coordination" by Denny Driver.