Fresh Paint to bring artists, art lovers to waterfront

Consider this weekend’s Fresh Paint in Everett an opportunity not just to look at art, but watch it being made.

Artistic glass pieces will emerge from the heat and flames of a hot shop near Anthony’s Woodfire Grill on the waterfront.

More than 100 artists, including painters, potters, jewelry makers, and photographers, will produce and sell their work at the Everett Marina.

About 12,000 people attended last year’s event, so festival goers are encouraged to take Everett Transit, with departures from Everett Station and the downtown Everpark Garage.

The first 200 riders will get a special edition Fresh Paint festival poster created by Everett artist Elizabeth Person. The ink-and-watercolor illustration depicts boats at the Everett Marina and colorful wind streamers.

“They provide such a beautiful background for the festival,” Person said.

Fresh Paint’s emphasis on having artists produce, not just sell, their work gives the event its special character, she said.

“It is unusual. It sets it apart from the others,” Person said.

It’s the first time Camano Island artist Jason Otto has participated in Fresh Paint, even though he’s shown locally for a number of years. The former Boeing Co. worker currently has a show at the Future of Flight Museum.

At Fresh Paint, visitors can expect to see his depictions of local scenes such as the Mukilteo lighthouse and waterfront.

Otto said he’s looking forward to the event because it gives him a chance to talk with fellow artists, as well as art lovers.

“I run into people who say, ‘I used to do artwork, but I kind of quit. I can’t draw a straight line.’ I always encourage them to do it and see what happens,” he said.

Carol Thomas, Everett’s cultural arts manager, said she thinks of Fresh Paint as a festival of artists at work. “People love to see the magic of artwork being created,” she said.

Fresh Paint began 22 years ago as a studio tour, said Juliette Ricci Lagman, special events coordinator for the Schack Art Center, which organizes the event.

It’s an opportunity for the community to meet artists and “see what vibrant talent we have here,” she said.

“I personally love events like this,” Lagman said. “Give me a food booth, and art to look at, and music to listen to, and I’m good. The setting is what make it so special.”

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.

If you go

About: Fresh Paint is a free annual summer festival of the arts, with glassblowing, live music and a chance to see artists at work.

When: Aug. 18-19

Where: Port of Everett Marina, 1700 West Marine View Drive

More: www.schack.org/events/fresh-paint

Parking: Free two-hour parking at the Port of Everett South Marina and Marina Village, but space is limited.

Transit: Visitors are encouraged to hop on Everett Transit at Everett Station, 3201 Smith Ave., or near the Everpark Garage at 2825 Hoyt Ave. Cost: $1.

Jetty Island: Search for Schack hot shop glass sea floats on the island Aug. 18. Jetty Island ferry reservations are recommended. Call 425-257-8304 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.