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The unjuried exhibit features more than 250 works by about 75 artists who range from the well-known — including Joe Batt, Marilyn Bedford and Steven Suski — to the novice — including 9-year-old Kianna Peebles.
This is the first public art show for Kianna, who’s in third grade at Griffin School. She studies art with Carol Hannum, who taught art at SPSCC before her retirement. Kianna’s mom, Aki Suzuki, teaches Japanese at the college.
“The art I made for the show was a cupcake and a pizza,” Kianna said. “My mom bakes a lot, and she likes baking cupcakes. And we do make our own pizza once in a while.”
The cupcake postcard is decorated with bead sprinkles; the pepperoni on the pizza card is made of cut-paper and buttons.
The exhibit was conceived to include a wide array of artists. The works will be sold through a silent auction to benefit the gallery.
“This is a way to connect with members of the arts community, and not exclusively artists with a capital A, but folks who have artistic tendencies,” said Mary Soltman, the college’s dean for humanities and communication who serves on the committee that runs the gallery. “We really opened the door for all comers.”
“It’s a great alternative to a full-on juried show,” said Batt, an art instructor at the college and part of the gallery committee. “We can have more artists involved, it costs them less to enter, and we thought it would be fun and fresh.”
The college’s popular Regional Juried Art Show was last held in January 2009 because SPSCC no longer has the money or staff to put it on. “We always had a huge turnout for the receptions for that, and all of the artists were really excited to be in it,” Batt sad. “We missed doing that kind of show with a lot of people and getting the community involved.”
Batt, whose sculpture was featured on the cover of the Arts Walk map in October 2009, has five works in the show.
“I took old pieces of mine — drawings and photographs of sculptures — and printed them out on cardstock, and continued collaging and drawing over them,” he said. “I added layers of found images and text.”
Other media in the exhibit include paintings, drawings, photography, fiber arts and even ceramics. The three-dimensional pieces have postcard-size bases.
“Most of the pieces are really reminiscent of postcards,” Soltman said. “Many of them have something written on them that says, ‘Wish you were here.’ ”
Proceeds from the auction will help pay the gallery’s operating costs.
“Some of these postcards are really cool, so there might be some competition,” Soltman said. ‘Wish You Were Here’
What: South Puget Sound Community College presents an exhibit and silent auction of postcard art in many different media, including paint, fabric, collage and sculpture.
When: Wednesday through March 2, with an opening reception from 6-8 p.m. Jan. 20 and a closing reception from 6-8 p.m. March 20. Gallery hours are noon-4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and by appointment.
Where: SPSCC’s Minnaert Center for the Arts, 2011 Mottman Road S.W., Olympia.
Admission: Free
Auction: Bidding for the silent auction is open from 7 p.m. Jan. 20 through 7 p.m. March 20. Bidding must be done in person at the gallery, so serious bidders should plan to be at the gallery March 20.
More information: 360-596-5527 or artgallery@spscc.ctc.edu
