Collaboration between Argyle Winery and Pacific Northwest College of Art produces labels for 2021 vintage
Business Tribune
Gary Allen
Sep 23, 2024
Argyle Winery’s collaboration with the Pacific Northwest College of Art is now in its ninth year, a fact illustrated by the unveiling of the annual “Art of Sparkling” collection of labels designed by student interns from PNCA.
The program, according to a release from the winery, is designed to provide student artists with real world experience that will allow them to advance professionally.
In mid-September the work of this year’s interns — India Rel-McNeese, Savannah Sanford and Arie Brock — were unveiled in a special event held at the Dundee winery. It included a three-bottle set of Argyle’s 2021 Vintage Brut, adorned with the labels designed by the interns, who won out in a juried competition created by the winery in collaboration with the PNCA “to promote the value of creativity and artistic storytelling,” the release said.
The internship, held each year in conjunction with the winery’s latest vintage, culminates with the release of the labels. After being selected, the interns travel to Dundee to be immersed in a program by winemaker Nate Klostermann, vineyard manger Eric Miller and other members of the Argyle team.
“During this working retreat, the artists were provided a behind-the-scenes perspective on the winery’s approach to viticulture, winemaking and hospitality,” the release said, adding that interns also traveled to witness firsthand the winery’s vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills that was to be the inspiration for the labels.
The experience proved valuable, PNCA officials remarked.
“Studies show that it’s exactly these types of experiences that bolster artists at the beginning of their careers to succeed throughout their creative lifetimes, with higher success in jobs in the arts and more fully developed business and communications skills for their own creative businesses,” Kristin Rogers Brown, a PNCA department chair, said. “Now in our ninth year, we can see the success of Art of Sparkling alumni who were inspired to learn more about food and agriculture, advocate for companies they believe in and work with professional audiences with more confidence.”
The interns seconded Brown’s sentiments.
“It feels surreal to have my art on an Argyle label,” Rel-McNeese said. “While working on my piece, I tried to be true to myself and treat it like I would with any of my paintings. Now seeing it printed, it feels like it fully hit me. So many people will be able to see and interact with my work in a way I’ve only dreamt of in the past.”
Sanford concurred with her cohort: “As an emerging artist, especially finishing my last semester at PNCA and getting this opportunity, it has given me so much motivation and confidence in my art and craft. I’ve learned how important my voice and unique expressions really are; and sharing my passion and talent with others no longer feels unattainable. … This experience has lifted me up as an artist unlike any opportunity I’ve had before.”
Rel-McNeese created the gouache paint and colored pencil illustration “On the Horizon,” meant to explore the change in seasons, as well as growth, renewal and rejuvenation. “It is a piece meant to honor the spark of creation and the passion that drives us to bring something special into the world,” she said.
Sanford titled her printmaking effort, “Natural Femininity,” and said it was inspired by the flora and fauna of Oregon wine country, while representing sustainability, strength, balance and the “nurturing female presence and leadership at Argyle.” The piece was botanically printed using plants and natural pigments sourced from the winery’s vineyards.
Brock created “Witness” as a means of speaking of his experience of interning at the winery’s Eola-Amity Hills vineyard, with its sweeping views of the Cascade Mountains. “The area is so alive and in tune with itself. The vineyard acts as a guardian and watches over all of its systems,” he said.