Windows Alive!

Last year, the Yakima Arts Commission, an advisory group appointed by the Yakima City
Council, developed an idea to harness the creativity of Central Washington artists to help
invigorate windows of empty downtown storefronts by displaying their work as part of a new
project called, “Windows Alive!”. Based on similar projects that have proven successful in other
cities, “Windows Alive!” is part of an ongoing effort to bring new life and activity to Downtown
Yakima.

Following a submission and evaluation process that took place earlier this summer, six
outstanding artists from the region were chosen to be part of the 2014 “Windows Alive!”
exhibition, which will run from September 26th through January 25th. To kickoff the project’s fall
exhibition, a reception will be held on Friday, September 26th from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on the
first floor of the JEM Building located at 321 East Yakima Avenue. The six artists chosen to
display their work through January 25th of next year will be on hand at the reception to talk about
their pieces and to help explain the concept of the “Windows Alive!” project.

“Empty windows in unoccupied storefronts send a message that isn’t very positive,” said Yakima
Cheryl Hahn who is chairperson for this year's "Windows Alive!" project. “The idea behind
‘Windows Alive!’ is to fill those storefront windows with beautiful art and create a more engaging
and vibrant environment downtown. The project also gives local artists a wonderful opportunity
to showcase their work,” said Hahn.

The six artists who were chosen for “Windows Alive!”, each of whom received a $250 stipend,
are Lynda Adams (digital media prints), Gretchen Bartz (painting), Alice Beckstrom (glass) ,
Carol Fletcher (fiber art), Craig Hotchkiss (sculpture installation), and Christie Tirado
(serigraphs, woodblock prints and linocuts). After the first displays complete their four-month
run in January, they will be replaced with a new set of displays that will go up in February.
In addition to the contributions made to the project by the Yakima Arts Commission, support has
also been provided by the City of Yakima, JEM Development, Inc., Stems, Gasperetti's, Action
Window Cleaning, David Lynx and the Yakima Bindery.

Many Waters: Artists from Walla Walla

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On Saturday, September 13, 2014, Larson Gallery will open with Many Waters: Artists from Walla Walla from 3:00 – 5:00pm.  This exhibit will continue through October 18, 2014.

Sunset Orchards by Leslie Cain

“Walla Walla” translates as many waters in Sahaptin and illustrates the varied streams of ideas expressed by the artists of Walla Walla.  Exhibiting artists include Juventino Aranda, Leslie Cain, Wayne Chabre, Daniel Forbes, Sarrah Lynne Havens, Anne Hysell, Ben Lerchin, Penny Michel, Frank Munns, Candace Rose, Diana Schmidt, Rachel Smith, Cass Spangrude, Ralph Trethewey, and Sara Wyman.  David Lynx, director of the Larson Gallery, served as gallery assistant, then as director of Sheehan Gallery at Whitman College in Walla Walla from 1987-1992.  He is excited to share the work of artists he has known, and new artists that are producing work in Walla Walla.  His assistant during his tenure at Whitman College was Leslie Cain, who is one of the featured artists in this exhibit. Daniel Forbes, who is now director of the Sheehan Gallery, was a former senior art thesis student who Lynx was acquainted with while directing Sheehan Gallery.  This show will also show works by Frank Munns, who passed away in January 2013.  Frank Munns curated an exhibit at the Sheehan Gallery for David Lynx, and Lynx filmed Munns in his studio - http://youtu.be/qSHU2hOcPUQ with original music score by Jose Rambaldi. Sara Wyman served as a juror for Allied Arts 46^th Annual Juried Art Exhibit.  This exhibit will feature a wide variety of media including sculpture, painting, video, installation, and printmaking

SELFIE: A Community Conversation on Identity

Reading the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center newsletter, this article caught my eye, and thought I would share it with you.  Many artists have done self-portraits, and the current trend is to do a "selfie".  Although I have never done either, I think this might be a fun challenge.

The following information is from the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center:

"The self portrait, an essential exercise for any artist, is the ultimate act of self expression and technical skill. While the allure of self-portraiture is nothing new, the digital “selfie” has broken the barriers of traditional visual art mediums. In one quick snap, the selfie is one of the simplest images anyone can take. While the media may be as commonplace as smartphones, as our society spends more and more time living online, selfie-portraiture will continue to evolve.

Ultimately the selfie, like traditional self portraits, is a form of self-branding. The genre is becoming more than just showing off a new haircut or outfit. These images are about the creators themselves, deeply personal and increasingly revealing.

Join the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center as we present Selfie: A Community Conversation on Identity. The gallery installation will feature self portraits in any media (including, but not limited to, acrylic, ceramic, drawing, fiber, glass, metal, mixed media, non-traditional materials, oil, photography, print, watercolor, wood and, of course, selfies). Works may be representational likenesses or non-representational conceptual ideas of the self. Get ready to reinvigorate the genre of self portraits, and accept our invitation for exploration, discovery and conversation. Get to know yourself, perfect strangers and perhaps, snap a selfie or two."

For more information

Allegory

Kaiten
Kanaloa, 2014
ink on wood
48"x36"

Allegory

September 5-27,2014
Opening Reception: Friday September 5, 5-7PM
Artist in Attendance

“Allegory” is a study of how past cultures have created stories to form understanding about the mysterious animals they shared the earth with.  Throughout time, it is apparent humans only find understanding in the way they themselves interact with their surrounding world. So to explain these animals they have often have given them human or even god like attributes to give them significance and meaning.  Through a muted pallet of ink in the series “Allegory” represents these past understandings, as well as the artists, through an exploration of violent and literal storytelling.


Gallery One Visual Arts Center
408 N Pearl Street
Ellensburg, WA 98926
509.925.2670
www.gallery-one.org

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