Yes, it's April and November seems so far away. But if you're an artist wanting to reach out to a broader community, it's time to consider applying for participation in this fall's Clark County Open Studios Tour. Learn more in this issue.
ARTS brief is designed to intrigue you while sharing useful information, events, happenings, and current news related to arts growth in our region. If you love what you see here, please forward this to your friends and encourage them to join our email list and subscribe.
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Open Studios Tour set for this fall |
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APPLICATIONS DUE: May 31
This year, we look forward to the return of helpful and colorful printed guidebooks to accompany the online interactive tour map and website with its directory of participating artists,
Last year, with modifications for COVID safety, artists experienced record-breaking sales. The community was eager to reconnect with local artists and there is no better way to do that than in the studios where the creative process happens. We are gearing up for this year’s tour to be even bigger!
Artstra is honored to have three exceptional jurors for the 2022 tour.
Michele Hanlon: Clark County’s newly appointed Arts Education Commissioner, relocated to Vancouver from North Texas in 2021. She has worked in the arts as a performer, creator, advocate, and arts administrator for over 30 years. Most recently, she served as Associate Dean for the Arts at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) in Richardson, Texas.
Tom Anderson: Currently residing in Olympia, Tom has worked as a full time artist for over 30 years with a practice that includes painting, metal fabrication, mixed media construction and printmaking. Represented by galleries in Oregon, Washington, California, and Hawaii, he exhibits regularly and his work can be found in over 1,600 public and private collections.
Nancy Morrow: Owner and Director of The Gallery at Ten Oaks in McMinnville, Oregon in the heart of wine country. The gallery/tasting room showcases a variety of mediums and focuses on Pacific Northwest artists.
If you have a studio and an art making practice that you would like to share, check out the guidelines at to see if the Clark County Open Studios Tour is right for you.
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Art at the Cave
"Verdant" through April 30
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Rejoice in the art of the living or once alive. Celebrate Spring. Meet the artists who celebrate growth and life and begin to plan your gardens. Art at the Cave invites you to celebrate with them all April long. The show continues through April 30, 10 to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Initially inspired by the bouquets delivered monthly by Belle Flower Farms. The exhibit grew to include all growing plants, all the way up to the redwood and down to the smallest cells of slime mold. All things natural will change with time, and you'll be able to observe these changes during the month of April. Artists are asked to come and tend the living plants. You are are invited to view the exhibition as many times as you would like. Spring is here!
Opening Reception: First Friday, April 1, 4 to 8 p.m.
108 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver
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Tracy Leagjeld
Art on the Boulevard
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"Finding Peace" is Tracy Leagjeld's solo show on exhibit through April 28. Pictured is Leagjeld's painting Awe Struck.
Opening reception:
First Friday, April 1, 5 to 8 p.m.
210 W Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver
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Buffalo Soldiers
Fighting on Two Fronts
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Vancouver filmmaker Dru Holley's Buffalo Soldiers premiers at the Seattle International Film Festival. Come to the in-person screenings April 16 or 17, or join the virtual cinema from April 14 to 24.
Saturday, April 16, 4:15 p.m.
SIFF Cinema Egyptian
805 E Pine St, Seattle, WA 98122
Sunday, April 17, 3:30 p.m.
Ark Lodge Cinemas
4816 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
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Washougal Studio Artists Tour |
The 2022 Washougal Studio Artists Tour, to be held May 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, will include nine stops and features 18 local artists representing an array of creative works and mediums.
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Design and edit this newsletter! |
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If you are passionate about the arts in our community and want to make a difference, this may be an opportunity for you. Artstra is seeking a smart, tech savvy, knowledgeable designer/editor to produce ARTS brief. Ideally you will have experience with email marketing programs like Constant Contact and can bring your graphic design and writing expertise to share Artstra's news with subscribers. This is your chance to help shape what ARTS brief can be — limited only by the limits of your energy. The editorial focus, depth of arts content, and frequency (monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly?) are all open to consideration. Once you're up to speed with the development and delivery process, you can expect this volunteer position will require between 8 to 16 hours of work per issue in its current form. See back issues for examples of ARTS brief content mix. If you are interested, please send inquiries to artsbrief@artstra.com.
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Our all-volunteer organization works toward building greater arts awareness, rewarding creative excellence, and expanding arts accessibility. We are working to facilitate long-term arts development for Southwest Washington. We envision a stronger arts infrastructure that includes an art center and a community-focused performing arts facility.
Your support will help to make this vision a reality. Artstra's current programs include our annual Clark County Open Studios Tour and Poetry Moves, a collaborative effort that features the words of local poets on C-Tran buses. Both of these programs have already demonstrated the power of art in our lives to connect us, transform us, and fuel the economy.
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Five ways to support the cause |
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1- Donate
2- Declutter
Give useable items to Nifty and Thrifty at 6607 E. Mill Plain Blvd. And when those items sell, the money is split 50/50 with participating nonprofits. Just let them know your items are donated to benefit Artstra.
3- Shop
Link your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to Artstra using our code #84120. Just by using your rewards card number, and at no cost to you, every time you shop you'll help Artstra earn a quarterly donation from Fred Meyer.
4- Shop online
5- Volunteer
Artstra is an all-volunteer organization. If you have specialized skills, especially in fundraising, outreach and marketing, we'd love to talk with you.
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Editorial Policy and submission guidelines
ARTS brief is intended to be useful to readers by offering a curated selection of stories and announcements related to the growth of arts in our region. Submitted items should be newsworthy. This means that arts-related items for content consideration must perform well in at least two of the following five areas: timing, significance, proximity, prominence, and human interest. Please submit materials to artsbrief@artstra.org, no later than the 25th of each month. Note that submission does not guarantee publication. We evaluate each submission to determine how it fits our goals for ARTS brief and whether the item under consideration aligns with the mission and vision of Artstra. We do not accept materials that primarily have a commercial objective.
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About Artstra
Artstra is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization advocating for the arts in Clark County and southwest Washington. We envision a vibrant arts economy in our region, north of the Columbia River, with public/private investments and facilities that sustain artists and enrich community. Our mission is to elevate the arts, build greater arts awareness, reward creative excellence, and expand arts accessibility.
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