One of the highlights of living in Thurston County is the variety and frequency of festivals celebrating our history, lifestyle and, in this case, art. Spring Arts Walk is the perfect event to welcome in new life and the emergence of the sun after a long winter while Fall Arts Walk focuses on our upcoming hibernation by diving into the rich and diverse artistic style of our area. On October 6 and 7, 2017, that style will be on full display for arts, entertainment and community lovers of all ages to enjoy.
In a town that thrives on artistic exploration, Arts Walk grew out of a necessity and desire to showcase the wide variety of artists living in our backyard. In 1990, the walk began during the annual Olympia Film Festival. It was an opportunity to expand on an idea by Jeanne Allan to spread art throughout downtown for a free viewing while people gathered for the cinematic event. Twenty-one businesses participated that first year. Now, the event has grown to include hundreds of artists from around the Sound and 30,000 attendees, annually.
Fall is a time of change and sets the tone for Fall Arts Walk to discover local art while at the same time, nature shows off some its most beautiful colors creating seemingly painted landscapes across the county. In downtown Olympia, Arts Walk offers pop up galleries within local businesses with each artist displaying their creations on once stark walls, turning them into gallery spaces open to all. It’s an opportunity to change the way a business once looked, just as the leaves change from green to shades of red, brown and gold.
One of the artists highlighted at this year’s event is Lonnie L. Spikes Jr. A Detroit native, Spikes moved to Lacey in 2006 bringing his stunning oils and watercolors along with him. “I take inspiration from the many little things in nature,” explains Spikes. “I believe too many of these things come and go. I believe working on art is a way to save all of what one sees, hears and experiences on paper and canvas.” His piece, “Fly Away” features a monarch butterfly after a long journey and is featured on the cover of the Fall Arts Walk edition of OLY ARTS. The painting shows beauty and grace but comes from an encounter at a funeral.
“I’ve been participating in Arts Walk since 2009,” says Spikes. “I have met and discussed my work and many other subjects with a wide variety of people. For the most part, I enjoy watching people going about among the stores and their wares. I believe it has a Charles Dickens feel to it…especially Fall Arts Walk.” Spikes art can be found online and he will have art displayed at Hot Toddy during the weekend events.
Along with indoor displays, the streets provide an acoustic performance of its own. Artists hit the paved stage on Washington Street from 4th Avenue to Legion Way and 5th Avenue from Capitol Way to Franklin Street. The intersections are alive with spoken poetry, music, theater and dance, all of which showcase the abundant talent found across the Puget Sound.
Along with the sounds from street artists, the Washington Center for the Performing Arts will play host to Random Acts of Dance Collective (RADCo) for their fourth annual Arts Walk recital. This group of movers includes dancers at all levels and abilities to explore the language of dance. For their Arts Walk performances, their planning a range of movement from reflection on major life events to collaborative creations with musical group, The Gravity Quartet. These performances are absolutely free and open to the public.
Arts Walk is more than just a display from professional artists. It’s also an open forum for those aspiring to take their work to the next level. Some of those budding artists include young musicians from the Olympia Waldorf School, Studio West Dance Academy students and the Student Orchestra of Greater Olympia. Fall Arts Walk is more than a performance space for these students, it’s an opportunity to grow their skills. Many of these children come back to perform every year to an open audience as they take on the position of artist in the next generation of Olympia’s art scene.
With so much to see and do, two days hardly seems enough time to enjoy the sights and sounds at Fall Arts Walk. Look ahead and plan accordingly by visiting the online interactive map or visit the Olympia Center for a full-colored version to take with you while walking the streets of downtown.
Friday, October 7, activities begin at 5:00 p.m. and end at 10:00 p.m. Saturday, October 8, is an afternoon affair from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thrifty Thurston highlights inexpensive family fun in Thurston County. The weekly series focuses on family-friendly activities throughout our community. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and the surrounding area, visit our complete events calendar.
