WOODRIVER CELLARS MONTHLY GALLERY PROGRAM ARTISTS FOR AUGUST TO DISPLAY PAINTINGS AND MOSAIC ART

Painter Dennis Helppie and Mosaic Artist Kim Rust to Attend “First Friday” Opening Festivities at Woodriver Cellar Tasting Room August 7th at 6:00pm

Eagle, Idaho, August 5, 2009 – Woodriver Cellars winery (www.woodrivercellars.com) announced today that the artists featured in its Monthly Gallery Program for August will be painter Dennis Helppie and Kim Rust, whose medium is mosaics. The Monthly Gallery Program, which features at least two Idaho artists on display in the Woodriver Cellars Tasting Room each month, has really taken off and become a part of the Treasure Valley Arts scene.

Dennis Helppie has been an artist all of his life, since being singled out in elementary school to attend special art classes. Dennis calls himself an “Esoteric Outsider” or “Contemporary American Abstractionist” when referring to his artistic style. These seem like apt descriptions for this artist who has been creating for over seven decades. Helppie’s creations provoke thought and provide an American connection to the roots of European abstract art. Mr. Helppie stated, “It is with great enthusiasm that I have been asked to participate in Woodriver Cellars’ Monthly Gallery program.”

Kim Rust is a mosaic artist who creates with stained glass, mirrors, obsidian rock and a number of other materials. Kim is a teacher by trade and studied mosaics at a workshop in Ravenna, Italy five years ago. Since then, she has been prolific in producing her art and has been featured recently at the Wild Women Artists exhibit in Reno, Nevada.

“We are very happy to continue our Monthly Gallery series with two such distinguished and different artists,” Woodriver Cellars owner Dave Buich began. “The response to the art we share with our visitors has been fantastic. It’s a great way for them to learn what is going on with the Idaho art scene while enjoying our wines, some good food and great music in the Tasting Room. I invite everyone to our first Friday unveiling this week from six to ten in the evening. Often the artists are present at this event and it is a great evening for those that come. We will be continuing our commitment to the arts each month and we are happy to be able to present outstanding artists that live and work in Idaho.”

About Woodriver Cellars

Woodriver Cellars is the best kept secret among Idaho’s fine wineries. Named after the much acclaimed Woodriver Vineyard, which the company purchased in 2008, Woodriver Cellars uses environmentally sustainable practices and has gained a reputation for creating unique, award-winning wines from the best grapes in Idaho. Located at an optimal 2,200 feet elevation at the heart of the Snake River Appellation, the Woodriver Vineyard has a history of producing outstanding grapes. In fact, the vineyard has contributed towards other wineries winning awards for over 15 years. Celebrated winemaker Neil Glancey takes advantage of Woodriver Vineyard’s optimal rocky, Bordeaux-like soil and purposefully limits harvests to two tons per acre to produce memorable wines with intense fruit flavors that stay in the minds of wine lovers long after they have finished a bottle. Based on its limited wine production, Woodriver Cellars award-winning wines are available only at select restaurants, boutique wine shops and the Woodriver Cellars winery. Their wines have won numerous awards at renowned wine tasting competitions, such as the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the West Coast Wine Competition, the Idaho Wine Festival and the Finger Lakes International Wine Competition in New York. For more information or to order wine directly over the phone, call (208) 286-9463.

Media Contact:

Steve Zunich
Woodriver Cellars
Communications Director
(208) 286-WINE
szunich@woodrivercellars.com