Pioneer Square art walk

Remember when you were a kid and you got a quarter from your mom to spend in the vending machine at the grocery store? I sure do. It was a rare treat and I still remember the excitement of hearing that little plastic container drop into the slot and the clink of the little metal door as I grabbed my prize and despite my mom’s warnings of future dental damage, I would frantically pop the lid off with my teeth. Then there was that split second of excited anticipation, wondering if I got the coveted sterling-silver-like ID bracelet (of which there were probably only one or two placed in the whole west coast vending machine circuit) or the very disappointing adjustable tin heart ring, which pinched your finger and left it green.

That moment of the unknown, that exhilaration and anticipation is what I feel these days as I wander the art galleries of the Northwest. Never knowing if the next gallery is holding a hidden jewel or a tarnished dud. And, of course, this is a very personal experience. One person’s silver-like ID bracelet is another’s person’s pot metal adjustable ring.

One of my favorite ways to visit local galleries and hunt for artistic treasures is by frequenting the various art walks around our area, my favorite being the first Thursday Pioneer Square Art Walk, which was one of the first in the country and was started by a small group of art dealers in 1981. Over 50 galleries currently participate and display a variety of art from full length knitted body suits (Greg Kucera Gallery) to a 3-foot pink mascara tube (Pacini Lubel Gallery). In addition to the galleries there are coffee shops and eateries that offer up art for your viewing pleasure as well.

This past month, as usual, we started our Pioneer Square adventure by hopping off the bus and heading down Jackson Street to the Zeitgeist Coffee shop, My husband ordered up his Americano and my Cappuccino as I wandered over to take a peak at the months art offering. Do I think it is a prize? Well truly art is in the eye of the beholder but I thought it was fascinating. I encourage you to come to the 1^st Thursday Pioneer Square Art Walk and decide for yourself.

It has been five months since my last blog. The irony being that I declared in my last entry that come hell or high water I vowed I would blog regularly. Well, Hell came and my world imploded when my mom, my best friend, died quite suddenly of cancer. I have been just getting by day by day, and my blogging and even my desire to create my art have been nearly non existent. But I am working every day to mend and grow and reach the potential as an artist that my mom always assured me that existed.

I try to keep this blog about art and not go on and on about unrelated topics, which is always my tendancy, but I just wanted to dedicate this moment to my mom and let everyone know what an amazing person she was. She grew up so poor and had to work so hard from the time she was old enough to push a broom or churn butter and had so much tradgedy; losing a baby, a husband and an adult daughter and yet she never complained and always kept her love of people and life. Another thing that has always amazed me is that she was raised in an envirnment that was 100% utilitarian, just surviving was the goal and yet from very young she somehow nurtured an exquisite sense of taste from interior design to fashion and art. She was always finding ways to bring art and design in to her life despite the financial and time restraints that were always working against her. I could go on and on about my mom and perhaps I will redirect these stories to a seperate journal but for now I must say I owe my love of art and my passion for the process of creating entirely to my mom.

My family and I have created a not for profit foundation called Arts for Healing Hearts to help provide art classes for kids who have lost someone they love to cancer. We are still establishing some of the legal aspects of this foundation but if you know of any kids who might benefit from the healing benefits of an art class please send me a note and let me know.

Thanks to you all who have helped support me during this difficult time. I can never tell you how much this has helped.

More to come about current shows and art adventures.

Lynn Garka

Happy anniversary to me

Ok...so clearly I have not mastered the art of consistent blogging. But I am making a commitment now to myself and anyone else out there who is interested that I will, as of today, blog weekly come hell or high waters or a niece’s wedding (that you have committed to being wedding coordinator for), or art show deadlines (which you are not quite ready for) or children graduating (which I will never be ready for) or family commitments (which, honestly, will always come first).

I am feeling very reflective today since it is the year anniversary of challenging myself to pursue my artwork, find what I am passionate about and try to become a real live artist. Actually it is the year anniversary of the Edmonds arts festival. I made the challenge to myself to enter the show January first 2008. I entered last year and had ten things accepted, won a third place in miniatures and sold four things. It gave me the courage to keep going and more importantly; allowed me to meet some phenomenal artists who's advice and support have been invaluable in my journey. I would be remiss in not mentioning Sue Robertson in particular. She invited me to join her experimental painting group which is this amazing group of prolific, professional, talented and honestly quite intimidating (their work...they didn't taunt me or anything) women who meet monthly. I am continually amazed at how open and supportive they all are and such a constant source of inspiration. So thank you, thank you, thank you to Sue Robertson (Joyful Art), Tracy Kay Fraker, Dawn Reick, Lynn Scott , Nancy Thompson and Mona Fairbanks. Check out their art and pick up a piece or two if you possibly can!

I feel a bit like I am giving an Oscar speech....I would also like to thank my mother........actually I would really truly like to thank my mother for always letting me make a mess (and believe me I did!) and for supporting and encouraging me to someday "do my art". I really believe that support from her and the rest of my family gave me the courage to take the leap into artdom.

I would also like to thank all the little people.......no, just kidding, you have to forgive me. I am feeling a bit giddy and silly because I just returned from the final day of this year’s Edmonds arts festival and I had a great time. I won two first places (prints and sculpture) and sold six pieces (to people that weren't even related to me....I checked). Check out the Edmonds Arts festival for pictures of my two winning pieces.

So what's next...we'll see....but for today anyway, I feel like a real true blue artist. Not because I sold work but because I am building bonds with artists that I so respect, and learning ways to grow in my craft (whatever that may be.....I have not gotten a grasp on the focus on one thing concept yet), and more and more venues to show and see and become inspired and invigorated by art; a truly essential part of my being. So thanks again to everyone who understands that art truly does feed the soul.

Now go out there and buy some art! Or make some art! Or, if you must, do the dishes.......then paint your cat (I think there are some very animal safe ways to do this; I saw a whole book of painted cats..really) or your kitchen chairs or knit a squirrel (not a real squirrel....I don't think there is any safe way to do that) or get your old rock polisher out or paper Mache a bust of your husband (or any bust you may prefer)....go have fun.....as I always tell my kids....Take chances, make mistakes, get messy! (Though I really meant it more figuratively that they took it.....oh well, live and learn)

Blog time

I am realizing that although establishing a blog was a challenge, finding the time to write on it is even more so. I naively envisioned writing as a relaxing way to end my day. I thought I would blissfully recount my day before fading off into la la land. Small detail....the order that you apply this plan is crucial. On two separate occasions I accidentally enacted the la la land part before the blogging part. (makes for a very very boring blog and funny keypad imprints on your face)

My second plan was to schedule time in the middle of my day. I thought it would be a nice break from working. I could refocus, drink a cup of coffee...well, obviously that didn't work either. I may be slow getting going but once the fur is a flyin,I don't want to quit. Which explains some really awful dinners that I have thrown together at the last possible minute usually involving leftovers, corn and cheese.

So I decided I would try mornings. I have never been known as morning person. In fact I'm sure there are many other things I have been called in the morning. I don't talk much let alone type so I thought it would be a long shot. More plausible than all those many workout plans I made for the morning time but not much. But since my son is at college and my daughter is a senior and drives herself to school, and apparently doesn't want my help fixing her hair anymore, I have some time after I kiss the hubby goodbye. So this morning bright eyed and bushy tailed (not really but lets pretend) I headed to my office to blog. Unfortunately, on the way I had this compelling urge to clean out my purse, get the gunk out of the prongs of my wedding ring and realphabetize my Cd's. But now with those urgent tasks completed here I am. .... On to the art part.

We went to Edmonds last night for the third Thursday art walk and as usual had a wonderful time. My husband took the sounder train from work and I met him at the train station and we headed off to Arnies's for dinner (utilizing their early dinner special of course) and then headed up main street. The next few hours flew by as we meandered in and out of the participating retailers, chatting with the featured artists, enjoying the array of different types of art on display from en caustic to watercolors to sculpture, and shopping a bit too. The weather was chilly but beautiful and it made me a bit giddy to think that spring was on its way. I think many people were in this mood as the streets were filled with art walkers excitedly following the rainbow windsocks to the next art filled venue. I love these events. I am always inspired by something; a new technique or color combination and leave anxious to get in my studio and create. Now if I could only find some outing that would make me want to run home and do laundry....oh well. A little febreeze should do the trick! (Just kidding mom).

Off to the studio...woo hoo.

My first blog....ohhh the pressure

I have been saying I was going to get my web site and blog going for some time now and thanks to my amazing husband I finally have. Those of you who know me well may be already cowering in fear knowing that this awesome new technology gives me the power to ramble on and on with unbridled abandon.

I was born in a small town in Oregon called The Dalles. It was a cloudy rainy day......o.k..........just kidding. I'll skip ahead a bit and I will try to keep this blog focused on my art and the art community.
I am currently showing at Sunset Bay Gallery. Thanks entirely to an amazing group of experimental artists that were generous enough to invite me in to their group. I have posted more information on my website if you are interested. (I am so exited to say that...I have wanted a website for so long! Thanks Steve!!) I am also working on entries for the many summer art festivals with particular focus on the Edmonds Art Festival.

There! I did it. I kept it brief. No promises but so far so good.

Thank you for reading my first blog and I guarantee more to come. I would love to hear from you and please visit my new website LynnGarkaStudio.com