Eli Sterling, photo by Laura Killian

Eli Sterling: The Man Behind the Masque

by Christian Carvajal for OLY ARTS It’s no exaggeration to call Eli Sterling the visionary behind Olympia’s own Procession of the Species. He produced a series called Earthbound for Thurston County Television in 1991; it went on to win nine Northwest regional and national public-access television awards. Earthbound, says Sterling, “was dedicated to pursuing a …

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Procession of the Species – 2017

OLY ARTS is excited to provide comprehensive coverage of the 2017 Procession of the Species. Our coverage is listed below. ((See the OLY ARTS Procession 2017 photo essay, taken by Shanna Paxton.)) The 2017 Procession Celebration: Luminary Procession 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, 2017 Procession of the Species 4:30pm Saturday, April 29, 2017 Procession Mission To …

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Amy Solomon-Minarchi

Writing in the Rain With Olympia’s Poet Laureate

by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS Olympia’s first poet laureate, Amy Solomon-Minarchi, is already hard at work promoting poetry within the community with her call for Writing in the Rain poems. Solomon-Minarchi is accepting short-poetry submissions until April 10, when she’ll select short poems of three to six lines to be “painted” onto city sidewalks …

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In Defense of the Arts

by Ned Hayes, publisher and Christian Carvajal, managing editor of OLY ARTS “The arts…are essential to the prosperity of the state and to the ornament and happiness of human life. They have a primary claim to the encouragement of every lover of his country and mankind.” —George Washington We stand for art. Our publication is …

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Governor Inslee twitpic

Governor Inslee and the First Lady Celebrate the Holidays

by Ned Hayes for OLY ARTS The Inslee family has several traditions that revolve around family, and this year the first couple of Washington state was happy to share its traditions with OLY ARTS. According to first lady Trudi Inslee, Gov. Jay Inslee willingly transforms into an artist and storywriter over the holidays, as he’s …

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Shuruq II

Olympia Arab Festival 2016

by Adam McKinney for OLY ARTS In Islam, there are three times a day when it is forbidden to pray: sunrise, sunset and when the sun rests at its highest position on the horizon. Sunset, when praying isn’t allowed, is called Shuruq. Since 2012, in the South Sound, Shuruq has also become the casual name …

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"A Tender Moment" (watercolor), by Robyn Chance

Fall 2016 Arts Walk Guide

Olympia’s fall Arts Walk 2016 takes place on these days: Friday, October 7 (5-10 p.m.) Saturday, October 8 (noon – 5 p.m.) Think of Arts Walk as a weekend-long street party, with live music, theatrical performances and the conversion of downtown Olympia into one big gallery. It’s a showcase for the best of local arts and culture, …

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Brian Jansen

Painter Brian Jansen at Rush In Dumplings

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Brian Wayne Jansen is a self-taught artist who began his career shortly after he took an art history class in high school. He enjoyed his first show at the Capitol Theater for a Stonewall Youth event eight years ago and has been showing around Olympia and Seattle since. For …

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"A Tender Moment" (watercolor), by Robyn Chance

Painter Robyn Chance at Bamboo & You

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Robyn Chance has lived in the Northwest for most of her life. She attended the University of Washington, the University of Puget Sound and Bastyr University. She’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and is the author and illustrator of two children’s picture books. …

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Tom Anderson

Painter Tom Anderson at Childhood’s End Gallery

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Tom Anderson is a contemporary mixed-media artist. He’s the artist who created Olympia’s Park of the Seven Oars by the roundabout on Harrison. His large paintings fill the walls in the emergency room at Providence St. Peter Hospital, and his work is in more than 1,600 public and private …

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