Artists transform cityscape
Published 4:00 pm Wednesday, September 2, 2009
While the dour status of the economy has put the kibosh on most development, the emerging framework of the impressive Artspace Everett Lofts and new digs for the Arts Council of Snohomish County are rising in a revitalized downtown core in Everett.
If you haven’t visited downtown Everett in a while, you might be surprised at some of the activity that’s taking place.
Tonight’s Arts Council Studio Walk (5-8 p.m.) offers a perfect opportunity. A parking space will be easy to find, and you won’t have to worry about the 90-minute daytime limit.
Begin your journey at the Arts Council’s offices inside the historic Hotel Monte Cristo at 1507 Wall St. There you can pick up a map showing the location of several “Art in Great Spaces” sites, which feature working artists in storefronts along Wetmore, Colby and Hewitt avenues.
The program kicked off this summer with a six-week session to promote the downtown renaissance. The second session started Aug. 16 and runs through Sept. 30, with tonight’s studio walk a highlight. You can also check out the opening of the newest exhibit “Of Clocks and Crows,” and even do a little shopping in the gallery store.
As you head down Hoyt Avenue, be sure to stop and see the construction project under way for the new Regional Visual Arts Center. An inspirational collaboration between the Arts Council of Snohomish County and Artspace Projects, Inc., the facility is set to open in 2010 and will incorporate flexible gallery and educational space with specialized artistic production areas — complete with public viewing areas so you can watch the artists at work.
On the upper levels, Artspace will provide affordable housing for artists and their families.
Despite a meager supply of economic optimism, the folks involved with the Snohomish County Arts Council seem to have embraced the philosophy behind this unattributed quote: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” While most nonprofits have been forced to focus on two colors (black and red) typically associated with challenging budgets, the arts community continues to dance and dream in Technicolor.
At this point, the funding for Artspace Everett Lofts is complete and the folks at the Arts Council have raised an impressive amount of money to open their doors next year. However, to fully realize their dream, they’re hoping generous donors will join them for a spin on their Technicolor dance floor.
More information is available at the Snohomish County Arts Council offices or at www.artscouncilofsnoco.org.
