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posts that contain mini-bios of our writers

Form & Pose: Joint Show of the Works of Gabi and Alec Clayton

In Rex & Rose, a new coffee shop located in the beautiful and historic Security Building on 4th Avenue, you will see the works of two of the most prolific artists Olympia has to offer, Alec and Gabi Clayton. The art there until the end of October was chosen by co-owner Jay Michael Becker who curates the shows. This is the first time the Claytons have shown together other than in their home, and it is engaging to see how the two bodies of work interact with each other in such a beautiful setting.

Nonprofit Anchor Partners Set to Begin Olympia Armory Project’s Creative Campus

Development of a centralized arts hub has been a longtime pursuit for the City of Olympia, with compounded enthusiasm from local residents and organizations. Valerie Roberts, building manager for the Olympia Armory, said the city has called for a community-centered art space since the 1990s, repeatedly citing the demand in city planning documents.

Fall/Winter 2024 Print Edition

Oly Arts Walk * Bucoda Spook-Tacular * Anna Schlecht * Tacoma Film Festival * Enterlope * Eileen Bochsler * OFT & More! You can read our 31st print edition here. It is hot off the press and distributed free in the area plus available online!

Eileen Bochsler’s Arts Walk Cover Art is magical/foggy

by Molly Gilmore — There’s a glow at the center of Eileen Bochsler’s encaustic painting Forest Awakening, made with layers upon layers of wax mixed with tree resin that give the painting its luminosity and texture featured on the cover of the fall Arts Walk map. Awakening will be on display at Splash Gallery — a cooperative where Bochsler’s encaustics are always hanging.

A New Mural Comes to Olympia, Ravens Chasing the Moon

by Anna Schlecht — A new mural has expanded the landscape of downtown Olympia. Ravens Chasing the Moon. Far more than a mural, this artwork adds to the cultural lexicon of artistic storytelling in the heart of our community. Cowlitz tribal artist Sarah Folden worked with Chehalis tribal artist Jenee Redecker-Burnett to paint this iconic image in the contemporary Coast Salish tradition.

Enterlope’s Fashion Runway in the Alley for ArtsWalk

by Lynette Charters Serembe — Tucked away in the heart of The Hotel Olympia building adjacent to Sylvester Park is the raw gem of a fashion enterprise named Enterlope. Cal Ledbetter is the owner and main designer, who has big dreams with plans of bringing couture fashion to our community in a truly Olympian way. He started creating clothes for drag queens, making some very flamboyant outfits, then moving on to make prom dresses. At the time being, inspired by designers of the past, such as McQueen, Dior, Lagerfeld and Galliano, he says he mimicked their designs to learn their techniques. Then he was introduced to local designer Dakota Miller; they teamed up working with their new brand aesthetic.

Welcome to Bucoda’s Spook-Tacular

By Molly Gilmore — How much does Bucoda love Halloween? The town officially changes its name to Boo-Coda for the scary season, and its elaborate Spook-Tacular lasts the entire month of October. That’s not all, though: The town (population 600 or so) celebrates All Hallow’s Eve in winter, spring and summer as well as fall. Laura Wilson, president of the Bucoda Improvement Club, says, “You get it into your soul when you’re handing out here in Bucoda. It’s Halloween year round.”

Tacoma Film Festival

by Adam McKinney — Every time fall rolls around, cinephiles in the South Sound perk up their ears and await the arrival of the Tacoma Film Festival. This time around TFF has shortened things to just a four-day-weekend, running October 10-13; while there will be fewer movies than a week would provide, this shorter period of time will be absolutely crammed with entertainment, both at the Grand Cinema and at the Blue Mouse Theater.

Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade

by Adam McKinney — Every year the Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade brings around a seafaring procession of decked-out vessels on the Thea Foss Waterway. Unlike bombastic waterfront events such as Independence Day celebrations, the Tacoma Lighted Boat Parade errs on the side of enchantment, with the chilled quiet of the night being peppered with music drifting through the air and occasional honks from the boats passing by. It’s a hypnotic event, as boats make their way from Point Defiance docks down to the Dock Street Marina.

Lakewood Playhouse Stages Spirited Production of Godspell

Lakewood Playhouse’s production of Godspell brings the original conception into contemporary times and flows with lively good humor punctuated by moments pregnant with pathos. Throughout the performance, the audience comes to delight in and become cozy with the members of the cast.

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