By JONAH BARRETT Visual-art shows needn’t just be entertaining, they can also engage audiences and create change in their communities. That’s what local artist Carter Wilson hopes to achieve with Live Installation at Le Voyeur. It’s a collaboration between Wilson, the homeless-youth nonprofit Stand Up For Kids and five local hip-hop artists: Blk Sknn, BrySone!, …
By Billy Thomas The City of Olympia Percival Plinth Sculpture Project kicked off in early February with a call for up to 16 sculptures to be displayed on outdoor pedestals, or plinths, at Olympia’s Percival Landing. The temporary art installations will be displayed for up to one year, during which time people may get up …
ART REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS The defining thing about the annual postcard show at South Puget Sound Community College is humor, is variety, is lots and lots of little works of art — is most of all that nothing is rejected. Every work submitted is accepted into the show without judgment, which …
By CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL The Yiddish-American word klatch, which can rhyme with either batch or botch, means an informal gathering, usually one that facilitates conversation. Pizza Klatch is an Olympia-based organization that empowers LGBTQ+ youth in Thurston County by providing safe, supportive spaces — and yes, free pizza — in 15 area schools. It’s the result …
By Christian Carvajal From Sunday, Nov. 25 to Christmas Eve, visitors to Hands On Children’s Museum are encouraged to write letters to the troops with art supplies provided by the museum. Other activities scheduled for the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas include “MakeSpace: Still-Life Watercolor on Easels,” “Nature Play: Cider Pressing” Thanksgiving weekend, “PlayWise: Sticky …
By Christian Carvajal Professional storyteller Elizabeth Lord has been the host of StoryOly since she and Amy Shepard launched that raconteurial showdown in Nov. 2015. It fills Rhythm & Rye the third Tuesday of almost every month. The annual exception arrives each September, when the previous 11 winners come together for a weekend finals round. …
By Lucia Volker Seasoned interior designer Nicole Durden and her husband Dan opened their store, Sound and Vision Living, in the beginning of October on Olympia’s east side. They specialize in mid-century modern and boho furniture, design goods, one-of-a kind gifts and the work of local artists. “Our concept is to have a store that …
By Christian Carvajal Olympia Film Society’s 16th-annual Duck the Malls fundraiser benefits independent artists and crafters in the South Sound while supporting visual-arts programming at Capitol Theater. It boasts items from over 50 vendors, including makers of board games, ceramics, dolls and other toys, ironwork, lighting and musical instruments. Homemade desserts are on sale at …
By Christian Carvajal As December begins, the 41st-annual Olympia Toy Run means thousands of motorcycles roar up Pacific Avenue onto State, Capitol, Fifth and Deschutes Parkway. Toys and proceeds go to the Salvation Army Toy ’n’ Joy Shop program. All street-legal motorcycles are invited to participate, and many riders return from towns all over western …
By CHRISTIAN CARVAJAL The Olympia Downtown Association presents a cornucopia of holiday entertainment complete with parade the Sunday after every Thanksgiving. Over a thousand people are expected to attend this year’s gathering. Shops compete in “Twinkle Fest” by decorating their storefronts; shoppers win prizes by voting. The Hotel Olympian (116 Legion Way SE) hosts a …