In 1997 local residents of Whidbey Island banded together to save the Greenbank Farm from turning into a major residential development. Thanks to their efforts, thousands of visitors each year are able to enjoy the special sense of peace and tranquility that surrounds the 100-year old barns and acres of farmland
In 2004, construction began on a new building, Building C. The architecture of this new addition blends so well with the old buildings that many who come to the farm are unaware that the construction is new. Building C is home to The Galleries at Greenbank: Artworks Gallery, Rob Schouten Gallery and Raven Rocks. Together, these three galleries host a broad range of media and prices, and they work together to promote and market Greenbank Farm as an art center on Whidbey Island.
Artworks Gallery was the first of the Galleries at Greenbank. John Olsen is the current President and Judith Burns handles publicity. There are now 14 members, including some that have joined the cooperative recently.
As a cooperative, all of the members are invited to share their opinions and ideas, and they all take turns working in the Gallery. Displays change on a regular basis. Art in the gallery is the product of juried selection and is produced at the highest standards of quality -- the primary reason that Artworks has attracted a loyal, and geographically diverse, customer base.
When the tack shop in Building C closed in 2007, the space remained vacant for nearly a year. Artist Rob Schouten and his wife, poet Victory Schouten, who had been active participants in the Whidbey Island art scene for nearly 30 years, kept looking at the empty space and talking about the possibility of opening their own gallery. They approached the Farm’s board with their plan in April of 2008, and just a month later they opened the Rob Schouten Gallery.
Rob says, “We now represent some of the finest artists working on Whidbey and we consider representing them and their work an honor.” Victory adds, “The Island’s unsurpassed beauty has long drawn and inspired artists, and we have a large and talented community from which to draw.”
The Raven Rocks Gallery & Gifts at Greenbank Farm features the artwork of artist/owners Mary Jo Oxrieder and DM Windwalker Taibi, as well as many emerging and renowned local artists.
Raven Rocks offers hand woven tapestries and purses featuring hand spun yarns, necklaces and the much loved raven paintings by Windwalker. Mary Jo brings her internationally collected Fantasy House series, acrylic paintings, prints, wall hangings and plaques. Also exhibited are works by other local artists including paintings, mixed-media pieces, woodworking, ceramics, quilting and more.
Visitors to Greenbank Farm will find not only good art, but also good food (an excellent café and cheese shop) and good wine (a fun tasting room/retail shop), all in a setting of exceptional scenic beauty. Visit the website:
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