OSO — There is always room for art at the Yantis farm.
The Arlington Arts Council is holding its fifth annual Art in the Barn show this weekend, even if it didn’t have the barn. The barn previously used as gallery space collapsed under a heavy load of snow this past December, but it didn’t deter organizer Monica Yantis.
“We were worried whether we could pull it off or not,” she said.
Yantis is a painter and a member of the Arlington Arts Council.
The council did pull it off.
Visitors on Saturday afternoon mingled with artists under sunlit white canopies in Yantis’ front yard.
“It’s really relaxed, easygoing and you just can’t beat the scenery,” said Laura Kuhl, vice president of the Arlington Arts Council. “It just all fits in with the art.”
Kuhl makes one-of-a-kind pottery in her studio in Arlington.
Holding the show at the Yantis property helps keep it a low-cost affair, she said. That means visitors can score a piece of original, local art for less.
About two dozen local artists showcased their work at the Yantis family ranch tucked away alongside Highway 530 about 12 miles east of Arlington.
Connections were made and artwork was sold. Visitors from Bellingham to Seattle stopped by to check out the show and enjoy the scenic drive.
Guests hailed from places as faraway and unexpected as Germany and France, Kuhl said.
The show was a success, even without the barn. Yantis’ son Brian just finished cleaning out the wreckage a few days ago. “A lot of buckets of rusty nails,” she laughed.
The show gives artists an opportunity to meet people in the community and learn more about each other’s art, Yantis said. For many young artists, it’s a chance to get their foot in the door, she said. Yantis’ 10-year-old granddaughter, who is an aspiring photographer, is the youngest participant this year.
For 16-year-old photographer Austin Smith, it’s a chance to get feedback from fellow photographers. They offered practical advice on what appeals to people and how to make art marketable. “It’s a very good learning experience,” he said.
This was Smith’s second show. By Saturday afternoon, he sold four pieces and was hoping for more customers.
He plans to study photography in college and to make a living off his art.
Jackie and Rachael Wilson wanted to do something different this weekend. The Arlington mother and daughter heard about the Art in the Barn show and didn’t want to miss it. The two were walking from tent to tent, discussing their favorite pieces.
“It’s fun. It’s close to home, and it’s free,” Jackie Wilson said.
Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
