painting by Susan Christian (detail)

Susan Christian, Post Salon Refu

by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS Many Olympians know Susan Christian as the former owner of gallery Salon Refu, rather than as a lifelong artist and painter. But truth be told, Christian has been painting for 57 years and creating art, rather than curating or managing it, is her true passion. After closing the doors …

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Marilyn Frasca

Marilyn Frasca: Poet, Painter, Mystic

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Marilyn Frasca is one of the South Sound’s most beloved artists, as evidenced by the crowds that flocked to her solo show at Childhood’s End Gallery in 2013. It was a rare honor for the artist, in that the gallery almost never does one-person shows. That show featured 71 …

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Arrington de Dionyso

Unraveling the Mystery Behind Arrington de Dionyso

by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS Despite building a vast body of work including experimental music, painting, directing and collaborating in Olympia for the past 25 years, Arrington de Dionyso is still somewhat of a mystery to many Olympia residents. There’s something about the experimental musician and painter’s work that draws audiences in but, chances …

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"Logical Consequences," acrylic painting by C.J. Swanson

Color and Structure: Susie Englestad and C. J. Swanson

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Featured artists for August and September at Art House Designs are painters Susie Englestad and C. J. Swanson. Both artists present work that is colorful and abstract but derived from nature. Englestad, the owner of Art House Designs, paints with flat squiggles and organic shapes that dance across the …

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"Strange Fire" by Alec Clayton

Alec Clayton: Artist, Author, Critic

by Christina Butcher for OLY ARTS When artists stop creating art in one medium, they most likely start in another. Whether the transition is from painting to sculpting, drawing to writing or dancing to photography, the chances of an artist being truly “done” with art are slim to none. When talking about Alec Clayton, Olympia’s …

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"Coriolis," sculpture by Cyrra Robinson, photo by the artist

REVIEW: Cyrra Robinson’s Of the Abyss

VISUAL ARTS REVIEW by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS New to Olympia’s art scene is metal sculptor Cyrra Robinson, a recent graduate of The Evergreen State College, who’s showing a group of sculptures derived from life under the sea. Her sculptures are monumental in concept if not in actual size. They look like they should …

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"Joie de Vivre," sculpture by David Varnau

Percival Plinth Project

by Molly Gilmore for OLY ARTS Olympia is buying a new piece of art, and anyone who can get to Percival Landing this month is invited to help choose it. Over a dozen new sculptures by Northwest artists have been installed on the plinths, or sculpture stands, along the landing, and ballots on which to …

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Lynette Charters

Lynette Charters: The Language of Materials

by Jonah Barrett for OLY ARTS “You like to make pretty work about serious issues,” said Susan Christian, owner of Salon Refu. Christian was speaking to her friend, the animator and visual artist Lynette Charters, and Charters had to agree. “My work always has an underlying social commentary,” said Charters. With a life full of …

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Shakespeare in Hollywood

Weekend Preview: May 5, 2017

WEEKEND PREVIEW is your weekly guide to events in Thurston County. This week, Olympia has more theater performances premiering than you can imagine, plus heavy-hitting readings and conferences to keep you on your toes. Click here to listen to our podcast version of Weekend Preview, sponsored by by Shur-Kleen Car Wash. Follow the links below …

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"Mountain Lake," screen print by Sherry Buckner

Sherry Buckner’s New Works at Childhood’s End

by Alec Clayton for OLY ARTS Sherry Buckner returns to her beloved theme of plein-air painting in new work for the March exhibition at Childhood’s End Gallery. Exploring large open spaces in mist and fog, she forges a new approach to her images in both screen printing and chalk pastels. “My new work uses color …

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