by Alec Clayton — page 16 in the Fall/Winter Print Edition #37 of Oly Arts
Lynette Charters Serembe is a multi-talented artist, writer, Oly Arts board member, and curator of art exhibits in the Harlequin Productions’ theater lobby and elsewhere. She says not nearly enough people are aware that the lobby of Harlequin’s State Theater is also an art gallery that features exhibitions of work by local artists connected in some way to the subject matter of each of Harlequin’s stage shows. There is an opening celebration for each exhibition where art lovers mingle, partake of snacks and drinks, and visit with the exhibiting artists.
In spring of 2019, Charters and her studio buddy Lucy Gentry approached Harlequin Marketing Director Helen Harvester and Artistic Director Aaron Lamb and asked if they could hang shows in the lobby. Permission was granted. The first few shows were curated by Gentry and Charters, Charters has been curating since. On Harvester and Lamb’s request, Charters’ paintings showed in the gallery with Harlequin’s stage production of The Women, followed by many artists including Gentry herself, Susan Christian, Lois Beck, Sandra Bocas, Robyn Chance, Grace Duda, Tom Fath, Danny Gordo, Melissa Hammond, Mark Holland, Celery Jones, Mia Shulte and Judith Smith, Sharon Styer, Jimmy Ulvenes, Gail Ramsay Wharton, Mimi Williams, and more. Charters says “there have been so many great artists, and I apologize for not mentioning them all, we have shown over 100 artists at Harlequin to date. Most recently we showed Rachel Kopel’s amazing and original meaningful body of work using mixed media and embroidery, which showed with Harlequin’s stage production of Where the Summit Meets the Stars.
Robyn Chance did some great dog portraits which I entertainingly paired with Harlequin’s Hound of the Baskervilles. We showed the whole of Kathy Flaatrud’s class at Bush Middle School paired with the performance What the Constitution Means to Me, where they had two high schoolers debating live on stage, their show was very powerful. To prep for the gallery show, I visited the school to talk with the class. It was a rich exchange. The Squaxin Island Museum generously lent us artifacts from their collection when Harlequin was showing Sovereignty (written by Mary Kathryn Nagle, who came to see the play). It’s been a very supportive and connecting endeavor, and I’m grateful to Harlequin for making the space available.
Longtime popular Olympia artist Becky Knold reminisces about her one-woman show in the Harlequin lobby:
“It was in December, and I remember putting together a few ideas for a little talk I gave in the Lobby — I had been asked by Lynette to draw a connection between my work and its theme to that of Harlequin’s holiday production. That made me dig deep to think about the dark nature of my pieces — made almost entirely from black roofing paper and tar, spread thickly with a palette knife — and how they might relate to the holidays. So, the idea was presented that these pieces were in some way representative of the idea of hope and birth and overcoming darkness implicit in the holiday theme of Harlequin’s production. I felt great satisfaction in having been given the opportunity to think more verbally about my art that usually stays unsaid.”
“I can say that an important distinction in mounting a show at Harlequin is that the artist herself gets to help choose the pieces to show. Another distinction from showing in other galleries is that Lynette will work with you on hanging solutions which frees you to some extent from traditional framing restraints that galleries often place on artists. (Traditional galleries would not be likely to allow pieces utilizing materials such as roofing paper and tar.) After a brief period of discussion and questions in the Lobby, the usual treats (most especially Lynette’s famous homemade brownies) were offered to the guests, while the browsing continued. The atmosphere of being in a theater was so enjoyable.”
A recent show featured works by a pair of women who create visual art along with long careers in other fields: pug Bujeaud, who has been directing theatrical productions in Olympia for decades, and web and book designer, Oly Arts digital publication manager and retired therapist Gabi Clayton.
“I started painting in 2021- the theaters were down,” Bujeaud said. “I had contracted COVID and was left with severe brain fog that left me unable to read or write to the ability that I was used to. Extremely depressed and desperate for a creative outlet, I took up watercolor, eventually leaning heavily into abstracted figurative art.
“Having my art exhibited is both exciting and nerve-wracking. I am comfortable sharing my art both as an actor and director, but those are the most collaborative of expressions. Whereas painting is very solitary and personal. As I am relatively new to the painting process, and having had no training, I have to I fight imposter syndrome. But both the process of painting, and reception of my work is extremely gratifying.”
Charters says Harlequin is “a wonderful hub to check out great local artists and to connect with the arts community in general. Often some of the actors make an appearance at the receptions, and it’s a good time to see what theatre productions Harlequin has coming up. It’s a win-win onestop-shop, there’s so many fun things going on at Harlequin.”
The quality of art shown at Harlequin equals that of any gallery. And you don’t have to buy a ticket to the play to see the art.
WHAT:
Harlequin Gallery receptions and shows
WHERE:
The State Theater, 202 4th Avenue E, Olympia
WHEN:
The next artist reception is on October 1st from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Check website for others.
HOW MUCH:
Receptions are free, from 5:30 – 6:30. Other viewings are by arrangement, or through Harlequin theater performance tickets, which range in cost.
LEARN MORE:
harlequinproductions.org (for theater tickets), harlequinproductions.org/show/our-town (for information on the next Gallery reception.