Olympia Artspace Alliance

Calling all Olympia creatives! We're collecting information to create a 2024 "point in time" record of the Olympia Creative District, and we need your input. The Olympia Arts Alliance aims to use this data to build collaborative networks, promote funding opportunities, and understand the space needs of our creative community.

Take our survey for a chance to win art and prizes made by local artists! Join us at the Creative District Artist Mingle and Art Raffle on September 18th to share survey findings, connect with fellow creatives, and enjoy food, drinks, and a presentation by Dave Hoekje and Drew Garza.

Event Details: Ilk Lodge, 515 Jefferson St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 Wednesday, September 18 | 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Don’t miss this opportunity to support and shape Olympia’s creative future!

Olympia Artspace Alliance (OAA) announces “Solidarity” – a new exhibition of artworks by local artists that will be on view now through November 2024, in the windows of the Goldberg Building at the corner of Capitol Way at Fourth Avenue, in downtown Olympia.

The exhibition features work by Eevee Davis, Elizabeth Mauro, Cooper Carras and Allen Burgess.

While you're out and about downtown this weekend for Labor Day, be sure to stop by and check out this one of a kind exhibit!

We are thrilled to announce the second round of our Space Grants, awarded to ten incredible local artists in Thurston County! Each $500 grant helps cover essential costs like rent, rehearsal spaces, utilities, and more, ensuring our artists have the resources they need to thrive.

Emiliano Marcos Escamilla is awarded the 2024 Olympia Artspace Grant on behalf of a band. This group, an all Mexican-American/Chicano band, was raised in Olympia, Washington. The bandmates were born in Mexico, while Emiliano was born in Olympia, but they all met as kids on the Eastside in the ECEAP/Headstart program. The band writes and produces traditional Latin-American music, making this project not only a creative endeavor but also an effort in cultural preservation. As students, Q***r individuals, and immigrants, this fully independent, grassroots project represents both their heritage and community.

By supporting our artists, we’re nurturing the vibrant creative spirit in our community. Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the amazing work of our Space Grant recipients!

Read more here https://bit.ly/4dqiu6w

We are thrilled to announce the second round of our Space Grants, awarded to ten incredible local artists in Thurston County! Each $500 grant helps cover essential costs like rent, rehearsal spaces, utilities, and more, ensuring our artists have the resources they need to thrive.

This week, we're excited to feature Katie Harmon, a talented artist who captures the elegance of movement—a fleeting moment just before it transforms. She thrives on the challenge of interpreting form and texture into the stark contrasts of black and white, before reimagining them in the vibrant hues of watercolor. Her unique perspective, shaped by her dyslexia, allows her to see the world in new and wonderful ways, finding beauty in even the most challenging times. Katie's favorite mediums, watercolor and ink, beautifully showcase her whimsical creations, often featuring magical creatures. Her work has been celebrated in various galleries and publications, and she recently opened a studio with the Boom Studios project.

By supporting artists like Katie, we’re nurturing the vibrant creative spirit in our community. Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the amazing work of our Space Grant recipients!

Read more here https://bit.ly/4dqiu6w

Olympia Family Theater proudly announces its 2024-25 season, titled "A Season for All."

In its 18th season, Olympia Family Theater reaffirms its commitment to audiences of all ages, celebrating its past by revisiting beloved stories and exploring new territory. This season emphasizes inclusivity and the celebration of our diverse world, featuring an ongoing theme of unity and connection. Additionally, the season will include two full musical productions, making it both ambitious and fun, with a big heart. Season 18 promises to be truly a season for all!

Azúcar returns to Olympia on September 7, 2024, just in time to celebrate the sixth anniversary of its first show. The event will take place at their new home, The Kenneth J Minnaert Black Box, located on the South Puget Sound Community College campus. The organizers are excited to welcome everyone to join in the celebration.

Venue: Kenneth J Minnaert Black Box, 2011 Mottman Rd. SW, 360-753-8586
Date and Time: September 7, 2024, at 7:30 PM
Website: https://azucarcabaret.com/

The Olympia Artspace Alliance (OAA) and the City of Olympia Parking and Business Improvement Area (PBIA) are funding the design and installation of two new murals in downtown Olympia. The 2024 mural program will provide a $6500 stipend for selected projects. This opportunity is open to all artists and artist teams in Thurston County.

Apply here https://www.olympiaartspace.org/news-events/2024-mural-project-open

We're pleased to announce the public release of our Creative District Survey. To support the Olympia creative community, we are collecting information to create a "point in time" record of the Olympia Creative District in 2024. The OAA's goal is to utilize the Creative District designation to facilitate collaborative networks for resource sharing, promote funding opportunities for artists and creative enterprises, and understand the space needs of creatives and barriers to accessing space within the Creative District.

We are also happy to announce our upcoming gathering and raffle on September 18. We will present the findings from our survey, host space for connections among the creative community, enjoy food and drinks, and raffle prizes created by local artists.

All participants in the survey are eligible to receive a free entry to the raffle with the opportunity to win art and other prizes produced by local creatives.

All personal information collected in this survey is for internal use by the Olympia Artspace Alliance. The OAA will never sell or share your personal information with a third party. Aggregate data stripped of all personal information from this survey will be made available to the City of Olympia.

The survey, along with more information on the Olympia Creative District, can be found below.

https://airtable.com/appHRHNkhhL6aqOem/paguOch3hL4nl9FgY/form

Call to Artists: LoveOly Artist Spotlight!
The Olympia Downtown Alliance is seeking local artists from Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater to showcase their existing 2D artwork in the "LoveOly Artist Spotlight" exhibition! 🌟

Your work could be featured in vacant storefronts throughout downtown Olympia, adding vibrancy and connection to our community.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/3WJ5ce7

The current exhibition is on display at designated locations now in downtown Olympia, featuring works by:
Missy Maxwell
Katie Harmon
David Hoekje

Friday, August 23 is the last day of Friday art sessions!

Come make art with Hummingbird Studio! To register, email [email protected].

To learn more, visit https://www.hummingbirdstudio.org/

A special event will take place at Childhood's End Gallery, 222 West 4th Avenue (at the northeast corner of 4th and Water Street), on Sunday, September 8th, at 1 p.m.

The community is invited to attend the rededication of one of Olympia's longest-standing murals, a recreation of "The Great Wave of Kanagawa." This rededication will honor the Japanese American community of the greater Olympia area, much like the 2019 dedication of the Olympia Dragon Mural recognized by the early Chinese American community.

Joe Tougas, the Japanese American Citizens League of Olympia, Rainbow Community Arts, and Anna Schlecht are sponsors of this event.

The mural will be officially rededicated on September 8, 2024.

For more information about the history of the Japanese in the Pacific Northwest, please visit www.densho.org.

We're excited to introduce Leah Cipolla, one of our ten talented Space Grant recipients! Leah is a multidisciplinary artist focused on creating modernist figure sculptures that explore the representation of q***r and transgender bodies. Through work with ceramic, polymer, and oil-based clays, Leah challenges dominant narratives and invites us to connect with the diverse spectrum of human experience.

Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate the incredible artists in our community!

Learn more here https://bit.ly/4dqiu6w

***rArt

The showcase will feature local, independent artist and creators. Including: Meg Martin presenting a mental health and substance use support workshop, Zine maker and artist Brandon Lopez and a book talk/giveaway from poet and artist Reid Urban.
What- Local Artist Showcase
When- Monday, August 19th at 6:30 pm
Cost- Free
Where- Olympia Timberland Library 313 8th Ave Se Olympia WA 98501

Event website- https://timberland.bibliocommons.com/events/668eb67d90b60b330049b5c4

On Saturday, August 17th, the Squaxin Island Tribe and the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) are joining forces for the 2nd Festival of the st̓əč̓as (Steh-Chass) to celebrate the cultural and ecological importance of the decision to remove the 5th Avenue dam and restoring the estuary in Downtown Olympia.

Enjoy a packed day at Heritage Park of workshops, vendors, tabling, and performances. Highlights include an address by Squaxin Island Tribe Chairman Kris Peters and a morning of inter-tribal cultural exchange, followed by an afternoon of poetry by the 6th Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, storytelling by Squaxin Island Museum Director Charlene Krise, and musical performances by Suquamish hip-hop fusion artist Calina Lawrence and Ts’mysen rock artist Saltwater Hank. The afternoon will also feature hands-on environmental workshops with the likes of Metamimicry, South Sound GREEN, and Squaxin member and scientist Shawnell McFarlane. At 5:30 pm, the day culminates in a Healing of the Waters Ceremony by the 5th Avenue dam.

Festival of the st̓əč̓as coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Boldt Decision’s signing and the 30th anniversary of the last Healing of the Waters Ceremony in Budd Inlet, highlighting the intersections between ecological restoration and the health of water, salmon, and culture.

If you are interested in volunteering, learn more and sign up at tinyurl.com/festivalsteh-chass

The Olympia Artspace Alliance is excited to announce the public release of our Creative District Survey. To support the Olympia creative community, we are collecting information to create a "point in time" record of the Olympia Creative District in 2024. The OAA's goal is to utilize the Creative District designation to facilitate collaborative networks for resource sharing, promote funding opportunities for artists and creative enterprises, and understand the space needs of creatives as well as barriers to accessing space within the Creative District.

We are also happy to announce our upcoming gathering and raffle on September 18. We will present the findings from our survey, host space for connections among the creative community, enjoy food and drinks, and raffle prizes created by local artists.

All participants in the survey are eligible to receive a free entry to the raffle with the opportunity to win art and other prizes produced by local creatives.

All personal information collected in this survey is for internal use by the Olympia Artspace Alliance. The OAA will never sell or share your personal information with a third party. Aggregate data stripped of all personal information from this survey will be made available to the City of Olympia.

The survey, along with more information on the Olympia Creative District, can be found below.

https://tinyurl.com/OlympiaCD

Drop-in Printmaking Workshop
Thursday, August 22
3:30 – 5:00 PM
Make your own postcard and bookmark prints using a 100 year old Historic Willits Canoe Company Printing Press on loan from Foss Waterway Seaport Museum. You will also have the opportunity to create your own wood block hand stamps. All ages welcome!

Olympia Timberland Regional Library
313 8th Ave SE | Olympia WA | 98501
(360) 352-0595

www.TRL.org

Learn how to lead a community-based oral history project in your classroom or community. Participants grow skills in project development, archival research methods, oral history interviewing, audio recording, and ethical best practices for documenting community and family histories. This offering is ideal for middle and high school teachers, librarians, professionals working in arts and culture fields, or anyone interested in facilitating an ethical, community-based research project using oral history methods.

6 educator clock hours provided.

Sliding Scale Cost: Full Rate $180 / Supporting Rate $225 / Needing Support Rate $135*
Friday and Saturday, August 16 & 17, 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Arbutus Folk School , 705 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA 98501
Learn more and register: https://www.windowseatmedia.org/event/summer-institute

Join us at Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation for some great classes!

To register or for more information, please click the link below, call 360-753-8380 or stop by to see us at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia Street NW, Olympia.

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&days_of_week=0000000&activity_select_param=0&viewMode=list

Art in Olympia Storefronts Program - CALL FOR ART Seeking Proposals for Student Artwork Installations with the theme of“Hibernate”.

OAA invites teachers and their students to create an art installation celebrating the restful part of the seasonal cycle - we encourage you to think about home, shelter, comfort, cozy, peace, rejuvenate, or other themes around our season long snooze.

Learn more here
https://bit.ly/3X4ogoh

Cyrra Robinson - Fine Arts Club Preschool at South Sound Dance “Enchanted Forest Dwellings” 23-24 Exhibit

Local Artist Showcase: Brandon Lopez, Meg Martin, & Reid Urban
Monday, August 19
6:30 – 8:00 PM
The showcase will feature local, independent artist and creators. Including: Meg Martin presenting a mental health and substance use support workshop, Zine maker and artist Brandon Lopez and a book talk/giveaway from Reid Urban.

At Olympia Timberland Regional Library
313 8th Ave SE | Olympia WA | 98501
(360) 352-0595
www.TRL.org

We are thrilled to announce the second round of our Space Grants, awarded to ten incredible local artists in Thurston County! Each $500 grant helps cover essential costs like rent, rehearsal spaces, utilities, and more, ensuring our artists have the resources they need to thrive.

This week, we're excited to welcome Giselle Garcia, an Olympia-based multidisciplinary artist, coach, and performer with nearly 20 years in the PNW. Specializing in movement and music, Giselle’s work spans circus arts, dance, roller skating, live electronic music, composition, sound design, and photo/video. Performing locally and on tour, Giselle also works as a movement coach and local producer. Known for fluidity and playfulness grounded in strong technical skills, Giselle combines experimental and pop elements in music, with classical piano training influencing compositions and live-layered vocal harmonies. Passionate about the PNW, Giselle actively engages with the circus, skate, punk, and electronic communities in Olympia, Seattle, and Bellingham.

By supporting artists like Giselle , we’re nurturing the vibrant creative spirit in our community. Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the amazing work of our Space Grant recipients!

Read more here https://bit.ly/4dqiu6w



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67IfuDw4CcY&t=33s

Giselle Gabrielle Garcia - Brotherhood Takes Flight October 2023 - Aerial Silks // Hania Rami

We are thrilled to announce the second round of our Space Grants, awarded to ten incredible local artists in Thurston County! Each $500 grant helps cover essential costs like rent, rehearsal spaces, utilities, and more, ensuring our artists have the resources they need to thrive.

This week, we're excited to feature Fern Tallos, a talented artist and craftsperson living in Olympia. Fern's work, which includes large-scale murals and canvas paintings, is deeply inspired by her connection to nature, ancestral traditions, and her background in herbalism and farming. 🌿

By supporting artists like Fern, we’re nurturing the vibrant creative spirit in our community. Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the amazing work of our Space Grant recipients!

Read more here https://bit.ly/4dqiu6w

This October, the Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts will present the second annual Coast Salish Museum of Fine Arts (CSMoFA).

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the fall exhibition will exclusively feature self-identified Indigenous artists at a temporary museum pop-up. This juried show is curated by a panel of Indigenous artists with the goal of celebrating art created by self-identified Indigenous people. The museum takes place on traditionally Squaxin, Nisqually, and Cowlitz land in the Salish Sea region of Turtle Island.

The show will take place on October 4th and 5th during the Olympia Arts Walk and from October 12th through the 14th in celebration of Indigenous People’s Day.

All artists participating in the show will be offered an honorarium of $200 to assist in offsetting the costs associated with participation.

Artists interested in participating are encouraged to apply on the museum's website at https://www.tcmofa.org/submissions. Submissions are welcome from Indigenous artists working in all mediums, from contemporary art to traditional crafts, performance art, music, and more. For any questions, the museum invites individuals to reach out. The call for artists will remain open until Sunday, September 8th.

To reach as many people as possible, the museum would appreciate help in spreading the word by sharing this call for artists within networks of family, friends, colleagues, and social media.

Thank you for your time and take care of yourself,
The TCMoFA Organizational Team

TCMoFA is a volunteer-based non-profit organization located on Squaxin, Nisqually, and Cowlitz land—otherwise known as Olympia. The organization is dedicated to activating vacant and underutilized commercial spaces by transforming them into free, public art spaces. All proceeds and donations collected will go towards the material costs of creating this and future shows, with the express goal of supporting artists.

The community is invited to an outdoor community dance with friends and family of all ages. Dance to the music of trees singing in real time. A special device, called Plants Play, converts the tree’s electric signals into notes; the music will be amplified for dancers and audience alike. FREE and donations welcome and appreciated.

Date, time and location Aug 17th 6:30-8 pm at Squaxin Park Shelter #3 2600 E Bay Dr NE, Olympia, WA

Organizer(s) Julie Ratner

Donations appreciated.

Learn more: https://www.restoringearthconnection.org/

Soul Collage Workshop

Come flip through colorful images that tickle your playful, fun-loving self to create SoulCollage® cards to take home and remind you to nurture yourself and revere the trees that surround us. Whether you are new to SoulCollage® or adding cards to your deck, join us to celebrate our tree elders. Materials are provided, but feel free to bring images, scissors, or any supplies if you have them).

Date, time and location:
Aug 10th 2-4 pm at Gallery Boom Studios: 2120 State Ave NE, Olympia, WA
Organizer(s) Julie Ratner
Cost $25
Purchase tickets here: https://www.walkaboutwithjulie.com/

Join Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation for some great classes!

To register or for more information, please click the link after each class, call 360-753-8380 or stop by The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia Street NW, Olympia.

Watercolor III, Jul 23-Aug 27: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search/detail/11355?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US

Explorations in Watercolor, Aug 5: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search/detail/11276?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

Board & Brush Teen Tote Bag Workshop, Aug 7: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search/detail/11365?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US

Storybook STEM, Aug 8: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search/detail/11422?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

Alcohol Ink, Aug 10: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search/detail/11270?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US

Prayer Flags, Aug 17: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search/detail/11273?onlineSiteId=0&locale=en-US&from_original_cui=true

Board & Brush Glass Etching Workshop, Aug 17: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search/detail/11366?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US

Starscapes, Aug 24: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/olyparksartsrec/activity/search/detail/11274?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true&locale=en-US

The next tour of the Schmidt House is scheduled for August 6th from 11am to 12:30pm.

Join us for a guided tour of one of Tumwater’s most iconic homes, the Schmidt House, built in 1904 for Leopold Schmidt, founder of the Olympia Brewing Company and his family. Your Tour Guide will take you through four levels of the house, from the basement (which houses our archives) to the top floor. Find yourself immersed in the rich history Tumwater has to offer. Doors will open at 10:45am. Please note:

The first floor is ADA accessible, but the rest of the house requires climbing stairs.

Click here to learn more: https://olytumfoundation.org/schmidt-house/