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.
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.
MOSAIC: Tacoma’s Arts and Culture Festival at Tacoma’s Wright Park on July 27 and 28 is a weekend of multicultural music, dance, art, crafts, and cuisine, with an evening movie in the park and a Kids Zone and sprayground. The festival will see a visit from the Mobile Teaching Kitchen, which will provide a preview of culinary courses available through Metro Parks Tacoma.
Artist Austin Davis said, “It was really exciting to be asked to restore this amazing artwork. Having grown up nearby, I’ve seen this mural for years. I had my high school senior portrait taken in front of this mural. And now I have the honor of restoring it and working side by side with Joe [Tougas], who first painted this mural.”
There’s been lots of buzz around Susan Christian’s participation as curator of South Puget Sound Community College’s 2024 Southwest Regional Juried Exhibition which runs July 8-Aug. 16. The show includes 39 works by 32 artists from Southwest Washington. Awards will be presented along with a gallery talk by Christian at the opening reception on Thursday, July 11.
By Molly Walsh This is on pages 5-6 of OLY ARTS Summer 2024 print edition. For almost two decades, the IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market and Northwest Native Festivaland accompanying IN THE SPIRIT Contemporary Native Arts Exhibition have showcased the many facets of modern-day Native artwork. The tradition continues with the 2024 IN THE SPIRIT …
The theme of the latest exhibition at the Goldberg Building windows in downtown Olympia is a celebration of our local community featuring works by China Star, Kelly Watson, Daisy Curley and Aaron Zonka. It is beautifully executed and displayed in a variety of styles and media. It will be on view now through the month of July in the windows at Fourth Avenue and Capital Way.
One of the newest clubs formed by students at The Evergreen State College, the Olympia Animation Society, was founded by Evergreen students Caira Olinger and Laika Taddei. “There’s a lot of people looking into animation, in media arts.” said Olinger.
by Dave R. Davison Soft Power, an exhibition of textile art now running at Tacoma Art Museum opened October 14, 2023 and runs through September 1, 2024 and offers an expansive, colorful and provocative experience. Had we world enough and time, a person could no doubt write a whole book exploring the many facets of …
You can read the articles that are in OLY ARTS Spring 2024 Print Edition from links on this page and you can read and download the PDF version linked in the website’s sidebar.