by James O’Barr
The Artists’ Gallery, the South Sound’s premier showplace of original work by local artists, is having a party on Friday, June 13th, and you’re invited! What’s the occasion? Well, yes, summer’s surely worth a shout-out, but how about 45 years of being a collaborative of art-makers working in a broad range of media and styles and bringing the finest of art to the community directly from the artists? Definitely worth celebrating, there’ll be live music, an opportunity to meet the artists themselves, and the chance to see their work beautifully displayed in the largest gallery in the region (voted Best of South Sound in The Olympian the past two years).
Founded in downtown Olympia in 1980 by a group of artists dedicated to bringing their work directly to and fostering a dialogue with the community, the Artists’ Artists’ Gallery eventually moved to the Capitol Mall. The art, as has been the case since the beginning, encompasses a wide variety of media, and at present includes paintings, pottery, hand-forged jewelry, glass art, painted porcelain, textiles, photography, wood art, and sculpture. Current members of the cooperative are Kirk Casey, Jonathan Espalin, Bill Koss, Michael Diamond, Neil Peck, Kim Hoover, Jackie Brennan, Laraine Wade, Mia Schulte, and Suzana Bulatovic. Every other month all art is rotated in the gallery and new work is added. Guest artists are also featured, with, at the present moment, the sculptures of Linda West, and Debbie Tracey’s acrylic abstracts on display.
Since the gallery is organized as a cooperative, featured artists have to be accepted into membership before their work is displayed. Officers are elected from the membership, and everyone pays dues and lends a hand in running the day-to-day operations. As it happens, the cooperative is currently inviting applications from area art-makers interested in becoming part of The Artists’ Gallery, as they approach a half-century of making Olympia the best of all possible art-filled worlds.
WHAT
Artists’ Gallery Summer Party
WHEN
Friday, June 13, 5 to 7 p.m.
WHERE
The Artists’ Gallery, Capital Mall (across from Old Navy
625 Black Lake Blvd., Olympia
COST
Free, artworks for sale
LEARN MORE:
https://www.theartistsgallery.com/
(360) 357-6920