Olympia Arts Walk runs two days - Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27 - with shows and events throughout downtown Olympia. It's one of the biggest arts celebrations anywhere, rivaling the Freemont Solstice Parade for fun, entertainment and colorful sights (the only thing missing is the naked bikers).
The following are a few events happening during the Olympia Arts Walk.
Susan Aurand's monotypes and Lisa Sweet's etchings, engravings and drawings are on display at Childhood's End, along with prints by Sherry Buckner, Kristen Etdumd, Mimi Williams, Yoshiko Yamamoto and Stephen McMillan. Aurand and Sweet are featured in the current show at The Evergreen State College, which I reviewed in last week's Volcano. The Gypsy Jazz Trio will fill the gallery with music from 6-9 p.m. Friday.
China Star, who did the intricate psychedelic-kaleidoscopic illustration for the Arts Walk map, will be showing in two venues: Yoga Loft with feather art by Chris Maynard, and at The Steam Plant along with Corney Kelly Photography and Peppin Photography, and acrylics by Darcy Goedecke.
Paintings by Peter Sheesley can be seen at Let's Paint!. Sheesley is currently showing paintings of naked people in oddly abstract fields at Fulcrum Gallery in Tacoma. These paintings illustrate Bible stories. That show is called What is Truth?. I don't know what he'll be showing for Arts Walk, but it's sure to be intriguing. Tacomans may also remember him from his excellent show of paintings of Chicago's Museum of Science & Industry two summers ago, also at Fulcrum, and from his painting demonstrations at Tacoma Art Museum during the Norman Rockwell exhibition.
I haven't seen this yet but it sounds fascinating: Author Author Portrait Photography and photo documentary of the Plastic Bag Whale Project at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts.
Bob Gillis is an excellent painter whose paintings can be seen at De Colores Books.
Textura is a group show at Northern with Valencia Ganoe and four other participating artists including painters, a visual poet, a photographer, and fiber artists. Ganoe says, "There are some great stories in this show (a grandson and grandmother, collaborations between partners, musings on the past/personal histories, and some unique translations of poetry into visual art forms). Textura, from the Latin root meaning "to weave," is an exploration of the intersections between text, textiles and textures.
Of course all you old hippies and youngsters who wish they could have been there must see the '60s psychedelic poster show at Olyphant Art Supply. There will be approximately 20-25 posters and eight to10 handbills in the show, most advertising concerts by bands such as Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Big Brother And The Holding Company, 13th Floor Elevator, Moby Grape, Steve Miller, Blues Project, Jimi Hendrix, Blue Cheer, Miles Davis, Chuck Berry, Daily Flash and more. Most of the posters are from concerts held at the Fillmore and Avalon ballrooms in San Francisco.
There will also be great performance art throughout Arts Walk. If you love smooth jazz, don't miss Red and Ruby, aka Vince Brown and Lavon Hardison, from 7-9 p.m. Saturday at Swing Wine Bar. And be sure to see Bil Fleming's Human Powered Kenetic Sculpture at 1 p.m. Saturday inside Matter! Gallery.
The main event - the thing that has made Olympia's Arts Walk legendary - is the Procession of the Species (elaborate animal costumes, no motor vehicles allowed), which has spawned a spinoff event, the Luminary Procession (lighting up the night as the name implies). The 8th annual Luminary Procession begins in front of the Capitol Theater at 9:30 p.m. Friday and goes to Sylvester Park. Weekend events culminate with the 19th annual Procession of the Species starting at 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Maps with complete listings of shows and events are available throughout downtown.