SZ: Paper (one-year) Anniversary on Mercer Island!

Suzanne Zahr, Mercer Island Architect and General Contractor, invited her personal & professional community to celebrate the one year (paper!) anniversary of her design/build firm and art gallery on Thursday, April 6th. Over the last year, the SZ Art Gallery has featured the work of thirteen local and international artists, helped re-launch the first Thursday Mercer Island Art Walk, and hosted events for community organizations such as MICA, SJCC, FASPS, Art With Heart, and Washington State Senator Lisa Wellman’s election campaign.

SZ has also kept busy working on homes, apartments, retail spaces, and corporate interiors, often handling the full lifecycle from design through construction (not to mention the creation of Business Plans, Style Guides, and Marketing Strategies).

The event was catered by one such lifecycle client, Caruccio’s, which will open its culinary event center in August of 2017.

Thank you for joining the SZ Team, featured Artists, Donatella Lombardini, Laurent Bourscheidt & Joe Iano, along with Lisa Caruccio to celebrate all things creative!

Suzanne Zahr would like to send a heartfelt thanks to:

The SZ Team (Ed, Emily, Lisa, Lara & Paul) for your stellar creativity & collaboration
Our extended team of Consultants, Artists, Sub-Contractors, Collaborators for your virtuosity
Our beloved Clientele for entrusting in us with your dreams & ambitions
Lisa Caruccio of Caruccio's for your friendship, courage & artful catering
Cecilia Whatley of Bold & Fancy for the knock-out paper flower wall
Annabella Chiocco of Sprinkles & Sweets for the delicious logo cookies
Nancy Wennekers of Mercer Beauty for styling my hair & make-up - va-va-voom
Alice Kalis for the gorgeous photos, commemorating a wonderful evening
Mike Donnelly of Bell-Anderson Insurance for pouring the wine tastings & sponsorship
The Islander for the bubbles and being our happy hour reprieve
Mercer Island for your patronage, support & warm welcome this past year
Our friends & family for their unwavering love & encouragement

First Thursday: Art & Wine [06.02.16]

What I'm loving most about our First Thursday tradition is that each gathering has its own unique personality. This is largely due to the spirited turn-out of such wonderfully diverse enthusiasts. So nice to take a pause & enjoy this light-hearted, summery evening!

Of Scott Simmonds' featured work, I'm most drawn to his six smaller paintings displayed together (Kiss, Fire Island, Let's Play, Thrill Me, The Lake Shore & Menage). My hope is that an interested buyer keeps this collection intact, as they seem to play off each other nicely. Scott's artwork will be featured at the SZ Gallery until July 7. 

Though all of Isaac's Oregon wine tastings were a treat, I was most impressed by the Gran Moraine Chardonnay - my new summer favorite! In fact, this wine sold-out before the end of the evening. Isaac promised to restock quickly, so anyone interested in picking up bottles or cases at wine-club prices can do so at The Islander.

As if the art, wine, cheese, sunshine & friendly faces weren't enough, SZ hosted an impromptu trunk-show of Mary Herzog's Paper Beadery jewelry. Thank you, Rebecca Laws Nemetz, Founder of 5 Elements Pilates, for making the connection - I'm smitten with my new necklace!

Congratulations to this month's Wine Raffle winners:
Gudund Berge, Aljoya resident
Luigi Rechhi, Ittalian-born artist

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ART:  
Paintings & Prints, by Scott Simmonds, Mercer Island Artist
"We live in a time of paradox when computer and television screen acuity is paramount and yet reality is seldom seen, it is scanned. My painting is an attempt to slow the eye, allowing a personal impression to be formed, a thought beyond thinking to take place that is less ephemeral than electronic media."

WINE:
Angela, Clawson Creek – Pinot Noir (Oregon)
Distinct aromas of plum, cola nuts, and bing cherries on a back drop of wet cedar. Flavors of stewed cherry, plum skin, nutmeg and forest floor with a hint of white and black pepper. This Pinot has an exceptional finish with a soft sexy mouth-feel. 
Gran Moraine - Pinot Noir (Oregon)
Scents of huckleberry, european plum and lavender dance in your nose with a subtle touch of black pepper and pipe tobacco. A rich velvety mouth-feel with balanced acidity provides the perfect setting for flavors of marion berry, cranberry, french roasted coffee and black truffle.
Gran Moraine - Chardonnay (Oregon)
In addition to a lovely floral bouquet this wine is rife with white peach, navel orange, and lemon curd. The palate enjoys a crisp lemon mineral mouth-feel with flavors of Nashi pear, honeydew melon, and Golden Delicious apple. A summer day in a glass!!!

First Thursday: Art & Wine [05.05.16]

Thank you to all those who helped us kick-off our first, First Thursday: Art & Wine event yesterday evening. We welcomed friends, old & new into the SZ Gallery as Isaac Schmid, Sommelier of The Islander, so generously offered wine tastings of this month's selection:

Moet & Chandon Brut Champagne 
"elegant golden straw yellow with amber highlights. Its aromas are radiant, revealing bright yellow-fleshed fruits, honey, floral nuances, and elegant blond notes"
Browne Sauvignon Blanc 
"meyer lemon with ripe tropical fruit flavors of papaya and mango, layered with clean and refreshing gooseberry notes. Finishing with vanilla and dried fruit notes"

What a wonderful way for us all to enjoy the finer things in life:
a sip of good wine, inspirational art & fun-loving company!

Congratulations to this month's Wine Raffle winners:
Suzanne Skone, Owner of Auto Spa on Mercer Island
Mike Donnelly, Bell-Anderson Personal Lines & Life Agent

Join our next First Thursday, June 2, 2016!