June 19, 2026 (Seattle, WA) — When the late Washington Governor John Spellman wanted to capture a moment, he often reached for a song. More often than not, it was “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”, the tune he sang at his inauguration, around the family dinner table, and even at his daughter’s wedding reception. Decades later, that daughter, Teresa Spellman Gamble, an abstract painter, longtime community advocate, philanthropist, and co-founder of Tinte Cellars, has created a new body of work shaped by the way those Irish eyes continue to echo through memory.
Her newest solo exhibition, When Irish Eyes Remember, will be on view July 1–September 30, 2026, at Tinte Cellars Georgetown (5951 Airport Way S, Seattle). The collection reflects on family, heritage, and the enduring connections between place and identity, drawing inspiration from her parents, former Washington Governor John Spellman and First Lady Lois Spellman.
A LEGACY OF SERVICE
Throughout the exhibition, Spellman Gamble will donate 50% of all art sales to four nonprofit partners: Mary’s Place, Northwest Harvest, Seattle Children’s Psychiatric Urgent Care Clinic, and Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic.
During opening weekend, July 10–12, she will donate 100% of all art sales to those same organizations.
Since beginning to sell her artwork in August 2024, Spellman Gamble has donated over $13,500 through art sales. Her giving reflects Tinte Cellars’ “Great Wine for the Greater Good” mission, which has contributed more than $1.64 million to 270+ nonprofit organizations since 2018.
A FAMILY STORY — ON THE WALL AND IN THE GLASS
The exhibition’s title echoes Irish Eyes, the Tinte Cellars wine Spellman Gamble and her husband, Tim, named in honor of her parents. The wine pays tribute to their Irish heritage, their joyful spirits, and their lifelong commitment to community.
Inspired by the Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape wines her father loved, Irish Eyes is Tinte Cellars’ Southern Rhône‑style GSM blend, a reflection of his taste and the values of generosity, resilience, and service that shaped their family.
MEMORY, HERITAGE, AND PLACE
The works in When Irish Eyes Remember explore how stories, ancestry, and place shape identity across generations.
Teaghlach I (Family) uses layered black‑and‑white marks to evoke the complexity of family histories and the traces of stories retold over time.
Veil of Remembering reflects the way memories emerge and recede, with soft neutrals and shifting textures.
Language of the Ancestors incorporates symbolic, glyph‑like forms that suggest inherited knowledge and cultural memory.
Blue Drift features a horizon of deep blue inspired by Spellman Gamble’s multi‑generation connection to Puget Sound, using water as a metaphor for memory.
“Through painting, I’ve learned that creativity isn’t just an indulgence, it’s a necessity,” said Spellman Gamble. “It’s how I reclaim identity, find joy, and express the resilience shaped by life’s challenges. My hope is that my work offers viewers a sense of connection and the courage to rediscover themselves.”
ART WITH A PURPOSE
Since August 2024, Spellman Gamble has sold more than 50 paintings, now held in private collections across New York, Texas, Idaho, Montana, Washington, and California, as well as in the permanent collection of the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.
Her philanthropic approach mirrors the mission she and her husband established at Tinte Cellars: pairing artistic and winemaking craft with meaningful community impact.
“We recently attended a painting exhibition by Teresa Spellman Gamble,” said collectors, Todd and Siana Cutter of Auburn, Washington. “Teresa’s paintings convey motion, change, and energy… Tinte Cellars’ mission transcends wine‑making innovation. It is a conduit for motion, change, and energy that remains impactful long after events are over.”
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Spellman Gamble’s work has been featured in solo exhibitions and juried shows* throughout the United States and Canada. Her artwork is currently on display at:
- Center on Contemporary Art (CoCA) at Collins Pub, Seattle, WA
- Golden Pine Gallery, Idyllwild, CA
- Julianna Poldi Gallery, Palm Springs, CA
Spellman Gamble serves as:
- Campaign co‑chair, Mary’s Place “No Child Sleeps Outside”
- Corporate Leadership Council & Circle of Care Council member, Seattle Children’s
- Secretary & board member, Auction of Washington Wines
- Board member, Washington Wine Institute
For more information, visit www.pacificartexpressions.com or follow @pacificartexpressions on Instagram
*SHOWS/GALLERIES
