Issaquah offers grants to arts organizations, programs
October 16, 2010
NEW — 6 a.m. Oct. 16, 2010
The city Arts Commission seeks cultural organizations and programs for the latest round of arts grants.
Each year, the city awards grants to organizations to present performances and programs in the city and local schools.
Organizations must apply for the grant dollars by Nov. 15. Find application information here.
For 2010, commissioners awarded $128,825 to 21 projects. The lineup included ArtWalk, Issaquah Farmers Market entertainment, Concerts on the Green, Shakespeare on the Green, performances at local schools and programs to help troubled youth.
A new parent’s nightmare
September 21, 2010
Mother remains in the hospital while father cares for the baby
Nate Bower looks down at his daughter, Sage, in their home near May Valley, as they wait for wife and mother Sarah Bower to return home from the hospital. By Greg Farrar
By the time Sage Bower was born in the early hours of Aug. 24, her mother, Sarah Bower, was already in a coma after experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke.
“It was the scariest thing I had ever been through,” said Sarah’s husband, Nate Bower. “I thought I was losing her right there. I was yelling at her to try to get her to talk. Words can’t explain it.”
Sarah and Nate Bower were ecstatic about being new parents. The two had met through friends at church and married in 2001, living in Issaquah before they moved to Maple Valley and then next to May Valley. Read more
ArtWalk plans to go out with a bang at finale
August 31, 2010
A pedestrian pauses to look at art displayed at the UP Front Gallery sidewalk on Front Street North during ArtWalk. By Greg Farrar
The start of Labor Day weekend marks the end for ArtWalk.
Before the outdoor happening goes on hiatus until May 2011, head to downtown Issaquah and Gilman Village for a final first Friday of artists and musicians. ArtWalk runs from 5-9 p.m. Sept. 3 along Front Street and in Gilman Village, 317 N.W. Gilman Blvd.
August ArtWalk features many new attractions
August 3, 2010
August is heating up and the DownTown Issaquah Association is turning up the volume at its fourth ArtWalk from 5-9 p.m. Aug. 6 on Front Street and in Gilman Village.
Here are some highlights:
- ArtEAST’s UP Front gallery: Opens the annual Sammamish Invitational show, which features work from members who live in Sammamish, and some of their friends’ work. Artists will have their creations on display and for sale at 48 Front St. N. ArtEAST also hosts a third open house for a potential community arts center at Lewis Hardware, 95 Front St. N. This time, there will be live art demonstrations and music. ArtEAST members and the building’s owners are negotiating a lease.
-Gilman Village: Check out new talent at the village with three solo musicians headlining that evening — Ronnda Cadel, a 12-string instrumental guitar soloist; 14-year-old violin phenom Evan Hjort; and singer/songwriter Sarah Christine are sure to help you kick the workweek blues. Get to the village, 317 N.W. Gilman Blvd., with free limo service between downtown and the village. It leaves from Front Street every 10 minutes and picks up at the Issaquah Library and the intersection of Rainier Boulevard North and Northwest Dogwood Street.
- Along Front Street: If you’re a photography buff, then this is the ArtWalk for you. Up and down Front, you’ll find a variety of landscape, portrait, black-and-white, film and digital photography to ogle and purchase.
- Issaquah Valley Senior Center: Ready to rock? Head to the center’s third open-mic night. Featured performers include PreHeat, playing folk originals, at 6:30 p.m. and The Studebakers, playing easy listening, at 7:30 p.m. There will be free food and beverages, and artists featuring their works. The center is at 75 N.E. Creek Way.
Kris Orlowski band performs for a cause
July 20, 2010
The Kris Orlowski Band performs July 2 in front of the Issaquah Library as part of the ArtWalk lineup of live entertainment. By Kirsten Johnson
Each summer, Issaquah sees plenty of talented performers come and go.
But the Kris Orlowski band, which performed July 2 at the Issaquah Library during ArtWalk, is a bit different from the rest.
The group has chosen to team up with LivLife, a charity that raises money for 6-year-old Olivia Cook. At just 18 months, Olivia was diagnosed with a rare, terminal kidney disease. Just to stay alive, Olivia is scheduled to receive a transplanted kidney this month from local fitness instructor Danica Kilander, who has selflessly chosen to sponsor the young girl.
After being approached by Kilander to help Olivia, Kris Orlowski band wrote a song for the young girl, called “Liv.” The band chose to donate all proceeds of the song to the cost of Olivia’s operations and medical bills. Read more
Music on the Streets returns with variety of acts
June 29, 2010
Issaquah’s best-kept secret is back.
Polly Blomster plays her tambourine while performing ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ June 26 with the Blues Studebakers, at the Front Street and Sunset Way pedestrian park during the first week this summer’s Music on the Streets schedule. By Greg Farrar
Music on the Streets, commonly known as MOTS, is coming to Issaquah for the fourth year in a row.
An offshoot of ArtWalk, a local success for the past eight years, MOTS is a fun, cultural live music event designed to draw people to downtown Issaquah.
This summer it will take over Front Street from Pedestrian Park, between JaK’s Grill and Mandarin Garden restaurant, to Stage 195, 195th Front St. N., in front of Stella and artbyfire.
From June 24 until Sept. 24, nearly 50 live music acts will perform every Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. Every event is free to the public.
The idea was born from the huge popularity of musical acts that performed at ArtWalk. This year, some of the artists performing at MOTS will also perform at ArtWalk.
“It helps keep the area alive,” Events Director Michael Johnson said. “It’s fun and it brings a vibe and atmosphere to Issaquah.”
All of the music is kid friendly, making the mini concerts perfect events to attend as a family.
Unlike other summer concerts, MOTS is ideal for passers-by to come and go as they please. Read more
ArtWalk returns with new features
June 29, 2010
Just in time for the long Fourth of July weekend, the DownTown Issaquah Association kicks off its third ArtWalk from 5-9 p.m. July 2 on Front Street and in Gilman Village.
Here are some of the highlights:
- ArtEAST’s Upfront Gallery: Has a “29 Pegs” salon show featuring new and old members and their creations, for sale at 48 Front St. N. ArtEAST also hosts a second open house for a potential community arts center at Lewis Hardware, 95 Front St. N. ArtEAST members and the building’s owners are negotiating a lease.
- Gilman Village: Sip on wine from Fles Wines, 317 N.W. Gilman Blvd., while enjoying music from the Collin Mulvany Jazz Quartet. There’s a free limo service between downtown and the village. It leaves from Front Street every 10 minutes and picks up at the Issaquah Library and the intersection of Rainier Boulevard North and Northwest Dogwood Street.
- Issaquah Valley Senior Center: Ready to rock? Then head over to the center’s second open-mic night. Featured performers include Fred Hopkins and The Studebakers, playing easy listening and dance favorites from 6:30-7:30 p.m., and Gordon Birse and the Train Wreck Band, playing pop and dance favorites from 7:30-8:30 p.m. There will be free food and beverages, and artists featuring their works. The center is at 75 N.E. Creek Way.
ArtEAST eyes new art center in old Lewis Hardware space
June 15, 2010
ArtEAST members have signed a letter of intent to lease Lewis Hardware for a future arts center.
Lease negotiations will proceed with the building’s owners this week, artEAST Executive Director Karen Abel said.
“It has been a goal of ours since the beginning to build an arts center,” Abel said.
The group started a grassroots fundraising operation prior to the June 4 Issaquah ArtWalk to raise $20,000 needed to proceed with signing the lease and paying rent on the property, should they get it. The group raised that well in advance of their June 11 deadline, thanks to generous donations from the community, Abel said.
If they do get the lease, the $20,000 will help artEAST officials sustain rent on the storefront.
ArtWalk returns Friday evening
June 3, 2010
NEW — 6 p.m. June 3, 2010
Head to ArtWalk Issaquah from 5-9 p.m. Friday in Gilman Village and downtown Issaquah.
Downtown’s live music includes Background Noise at the Hailstone Feed Store, and Fridrich and the Something at the library. Gilman Village features Nick Drummond, formerly of The Senate, and the original world music of Hejira.
In addition, artEAST presents two art exhibits:
- “Linear Progression: An Unconventional Approach to Line,” featuring local artists Etsuko Ichikawa, Margie Livingston, Carol Milne, Milenko Matanovic and June Sekiguchi, at Up Front [art], 48 Front St. N.
- The artEAST Art Center at Lewis Hardware, 95 Front St. N., with hopes of the old vacated store becoming a future exhibit showcase space for local artists.
ArtWalk returns with many new attractions
June 1, 2010
The second ArtWalk of the season is June 4.
Al Price and his blue grass band, the VZ Valley Boys, are among the artists who will perform from 6:30-9 p.m. June 4 at the Issaquah Valley Senior Center during its open mic-night. The performances coincide with the DownTown Issaquah Association’s ArtWalk. Contributed
Up, down and around Front Street and Gilman Village businesses and local arts organizations will be open late, so you can delight in sculptures, paintings, entertainment and crafts. The hours for ArtWalk are 5-9 p.m.
“It’s a chance to get out and cut loose on a Friday night with live music,” said ArtWalk organizer Michael Johnson, of the DownTown Issaquah Association. “It’s become a big social thing for our residents. They come to hang out, go to restaurants, sit outdoors and chat with friends.”
ArtWalk is full of hidden jewels on and off the main boulevard, Johnson said. His advice: Take the path less traveled or take a few steps further to see what artful treasures you can find.
At Gilman Village, listen to two bands — Nicholas Drummand and Hejira, a world music band — while strolling through the endless A-frame artworks by Donald Hausken.
There are other artists and galleries, like Revolution Gallery, in the village as well.
On Front Street, stop by UpFront Gallery, 48 Front St. N., from 6-9 p.m. to see the latest Collective Works exhibition, featuring five local artists — Etsuko Ichikawa, Margie Livingston, Carol Milne, Milenko Matanovic and June Sekiguchi.
The theme of the exhibition is Linear Progression, an Unconventional Approach to Line. The exhibit expresses how line is a fundamental element of art and how it has the power to describe an image, a story, feeling or thought, artEAST Executive Director Karen Abel wrote in an e-mail.
“I will say the Collective Works exhibit is an exceptional show,” Abel said. It is “very unique.”
If you miss the presentation at ArtWalk, you can stop by the gallery through June 27 to see it.
ArtEAST is also holding an important community reception at Lewis Hardware, 95 Front St. N. There, organizers will unveil a plan to lease the former store to open a community art center, something they have had as a goal since their inception.
To lease the building they need to raise $20,000 Abel said, which they are hoping to do by June 11 with the community’s help during ArtWalk.
