SPSCC’s 14th Annual Fine Art Postcard Exhibition and Auction: “Forgotten Conversations”

Gallery Director Sean Barnes says of SPSCC’s annual postcard show: “I find the collective contributions from the community to be the most remarkable aspect of the exhibition auction. Every year 100 plus artists and non-artists contribute hundreds of small works inspired by the theme which are cultural and universal in nature. The show brings our creative community together to support the arts.”

Critic’s Corner: Best Visual and Performing Arts of 2024

Many of the South Sound’s best theater and visual arts critics write for OLY ARTS. We asked six of them to highlight some of their favorite visual and performance art shows from 2024, and we congratulate and celebrate the Olympia and Tacoma-area artists selected. Due to the limitation we put on the critics of no more than two or three shows, we are aware of and acknowledge that many great shows and artists were not picked. We are lucky to live in such a vibrant creative community.

Tacoma Light Trail Lends Brightness to Winter Doldrums

Tacoma Light Trail, December 31 through January 12, brings much-needed illumination to the dark winter streets of Tacoma. The Light Trail will line the streets of Tacoma with light art installations, and the entire free event will be blessed by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians. Food trucks will be on hand to make this a perfect family-friendly way to ring in the new year.

Paper Trails at Childhood’s End

The current Childhood’s End Gallery show, up through December 23, is visually impressive and stimulating and yet simultaneously very relaxing to be with, demonstrating the versatility, and diversity of paper. The variety of styles and skills of the artists are cohesively unified by their shared love of the material.

When the Going Gets Tough, the Artists Get Going

Knowing that art is a powerful language, OLY ARTS spoke with some local Olympia area artists on how they feel compelled to respond to the recent election. There will be much discussion, both words and in artworks. This is part one of a series “The Art of Resistance” which will feature the work of local artists.

SPSCC’s 16th Annual Native American Art Exhibition

The question was posed to Native artists, “How can we lovingly honor our ancestors, heal generational traumas, and preserve culture in the modern world?” Their many responses varied, vibrant and intriguing responses can be seen in this art exhibition at SPSCC’s Leonor R. Fuller Gallery at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts through Dec. 13.

Art of Salish Peoples with Featured Artist Ed NoiseCat at Evergreen Gallery

The Art of Salish Peoples, showcasing Coastal and Interior Salish People’s art, is a group exhibition until Jan 10, 2025, curated by the staff of The House of Welcome at The Evergreen State College. It is an all-Salish project, with lead artist Ed Archie NoiseCat and invited artists at Evergreen Gallery.

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.

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.

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