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.