Artist Spotlight: Rita Vitali and Austin Heitzman

Austin Heitzman- Woodworking

I source my lumber from salvaged city trees. This labor-intensive work saves the tree from the wood chipper and gives it a new life as heirloom furniture. My trees are milled locally, on a farm in the Columbia River Gorge, and then left to air dry for several years. This slow and sustainable process ensures the integrity of the wood and produces the most vivid colors.

Rita Vitali- Ceramics

I create pottery that combines clean modern form with bold graphic patterns inspired from the richness and diversity of everywhere-landscape, textiles, geometry, botany, the microscopic world. I draw upon my background in biology and apply it to my art practice.