Art’s Alive again in La Conner Nov. 5-8

After a two-year absence, Art’s Alive returns to Maple Hall next Friday, Nov. 5.

Through the following Monday, La Conner residents and other art lovers can view the work of a dozen invitational artists downstairs and more than 40 artists upstairs in the Open Show. As usual, patrons will bestow the People’s Choice award through their votes for their favorite Open Show work.

“I’m excited and glad to see something happening, after a year off,” said councilman John Leaver, liaison between the Town of La Conner and the La Conner Arts Foundation, the non-profit producing the show under a contract with the town.

This year’s show – the 36th since 1985 – is basically the show that did not take place a year ago.

“All the invitational artists had agreed to show in 2020,” said Sylvia Strong of the La Conner Arts Foundation. “When we had to cancel, they all agreed to do it this year.”

The theme “Legacy of Light” had also been selected. “We were particularly interested in the legacy of the light of Skagit County,” said Strong.

Glass art and Native American glass art in particular, was another catalyst for the theme. Artist Lillian Pitt, born and raised on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation, says the translucent effect of glass in her sculptures “helps to create the sense of being able to see through the current world and into the world of my ancestors.”

In her landscapes, Samish Island artist Lisa McShane says she “tries to capture the crystal clear light, early dawn, cold northern lakes, fog and long, dark shadows of winter.”

Strong says that many other invitational artists have “extraordinary gifts with light and explore light in many of their pieces.” Besides Pitt and McShane, they include Susan Bennerstrom, Coizie Bettinger, Brooke Borcherding, Mary Ennes Davis, Kris Ekstrand, Gary Giovane, Nicolette Harrington, Meg Holgate, Steve Jensen, Lisa McShane and Richard Nash.

Also included are several bronze works by Doug Bison, former owner of La Conner’s Blackfish Gallery. He had been discussing participating in the canceled 2020 show with organizers, but died in 2021.

Strong says Art’s Alive has made some changes to keep patrons safe, healthy and socially distanced. “There is no gala reception with big buffets and a wine bar, because we know that people will not come when they visualize 300 people in the building.”

Opening the show Friday at 1 p.m. instead of 5 p.m. will give visitors an opportunity to view the show without a crowd. “One of our volunteers has told me that La Conner Retirement Inn residents are delighted to have more time to visit,” said Strong.

Another amenity for older visitors and those with mobility issues: for the first time since 2016, they can access the second floor via the Maple Hall elevator, repaired in August 2020.

Hours for the rest of the show are the same as in years past: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday.

During the artist meet and greet from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, visitors can view the pieces and talk to their makers. It will be possible to purchase a drink with a complimentary sealed bag of snacks, but they must be consumed outside on the patio.

Masks, of course, are required. “We don’t want to be a super-spreader event,” said Strong.

Featured artist Kris Ekstrand is looking forward to the weekend.

“I love Art’s Alive and consider it one of the Skagit’s most beloved community and arts traditions,” she said. “I’m so happy that organizers could safely put it together and am honored to be included.”

As for the “Legacy of Light” theme, Ekstrand says whether or not they address it in their work, all Skagit artists are conscious of the unique lighting in the county.

“Driving from La Conner to Edison, you glance across the flats and see inky brown and purple fields in the foreground and it’s dark as far as you can see and then there’s this striking stripe of light hitting the horizon in the distance,” she says. “You can sentimentalize it, but there’s something happening here and I want to get to the heart of it.”