Vibrant corps of volunteers drive Art's Alive success

From start to finish, volunteers made this year's Art's Alive a success.

They greeted almost 1,800 visitors during the four-day show the last weekend in October, plying them with wine, beer and appetizers, answering questions and ringing up sales. Before and after, they planned the show, hung its art and took it all down again Monday, Oct. 28.

In between duties, they admired one another's art. Six of the 10 invitational artists featured on the first floor of Maple Hall and 16 of the 51 artists in the Open Show themselves are volunteers. Their commitment makes Art's Alive stand out among regional art shows and is a big reason why patrons love it.

During the opening reception, centenarian Grace Hubbard enthused about "walking two blocks and seeing this amazing show." Compared, especially, to driving to galleries in Seattle or flying to New York City.

"I like this one," said a woman examining Pieter VanZanden's sculpture "European Rhinoceros Beetle," a VW Bug with a rhino horn and a pair of wings tucked into its trunk.

Artists were happy, too. "It's the easiest opening I've ever been to," said invitational artist Maggie Wilder.

By the end of the weekend, red "sold" stickers were everywhere. Five out of Aleut artist Thomas Stream's nine paintings were spoken for by Sunday. So were half the oilstick paintings of Nicolette Harrington, one of the volunteers.

"I can't say enough about the dedication, time and labor and love of art that the volunteers have for this event," said artist Gene Jaress. "Without that it would not be possible to put on a show of this caliber."

His first volunteer role was helping take down the Art's Alive show. In 2023, he was part of the Open Show. This year, curator Sylvia Strong invited him to be part of the Invitational Show. "It is a boost to any artist invited to show here," he said.

Four artists earned People's Choice Awards. Lynn Zimmerman took first place and Elizabeth Moncrief second place in the Open Show, while photographer Craig Barber took first and Aleta Critchley second place in the Volunteer Gallery.

Zimmerman, Moncrief and Barber received cash awards. Critchley's prize was a Maggie Wilder print, donated by Wilder.

All $40,000 in art sales contribute directly to La Conner Arts Foundation's scholarship fund.

Seniors at three Skagit County high schools have received Visual Arts scholarships and Foundation board member Sheila Johnson says the foundation is exploring ways to award continuing education grants to Skagit Valley College art students.

This kind of acknowledgment provides young artists with "the means to accomplish their goals," says Jaress. "As someone who benefited greatly from unusually strong vocational high school art programs, followed by art school, I know the importance of education to furthering your goals in life."