Art came Alive! last week in La Conner

Close to 500 people, primarily area locals, opened the 34th Art’s Alive! show Friday night in Maple Hall at the annual reception. Lovers of the visual arts spent the weekend walking through the invitational and open shows at Maple Hall, walked up to the Skagit artists juried art show at the La Conner Civic Garden Club, wandered through the 12 galleries and businesses featuring area artists and listened to music at Maple Hall.

New this year was the high school artists exhibit at the Tillinghast annex on Morris. A spirited five member jazz band organized by Arlo Liddell opened the exhibit Saturday afternoon. Liddell also recruited the artists.

Music was alive at Maple Hall throughout the weekend, accompanying art lovers as they pondered the 14 invited artists’ works.

It was a particularly local show this year, including Craig Barber, Nick Fennel, David Hall, Bo Miller and Chris Wardenburg-Skinner, from Edison. Wardenburg-Skinner and Bellingham’s Lynn Zimmerman sold the most pieces. The initial sales total was over $13,000, with open show purchases over $2,500. The Town’s take for organizing the weekend is 40 percent.

Chuck Houtz was voted the open show People’s Choice Awards winner for his oil on canvas “Lost and Found.” Catherine Kerwick was second, winning $100 for her Clay/Glaze “Snow Goose.” Kerwick was a 2017 in vitational artist.

Hundreds of open show ballots were cast.

Nell Thorn gained the award for unannounced caterer heroes for their surprise addition at the reception.

Art’s Alive coordinator Rebecca Strong again thanked the participating restaurants catering the reception. Nell Thorn, she said, “just showed up on Friday and delivered deliciousness.

“Friday night’s attendance was the highest in the four years I’ve been on the committee,” Strong reported. For the weekend, Maple Hall attendance was 1,170. She noted Saturday “was well attended all through town.”