Harry Engstrom will be among the artists honored at the Arlington Arts Council’s annual Art Reception from 5:30 – 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Arlington City Council chambers.
Engstrom is in the process of painting a mural on the second retaining wall on Olympic Hill in a project funded by the AAC 2007 Fall into Art many other murals in Arlington through the years, including “Westside Life: Species from the Pacific Coast to the Cascade Crest,” on the opposite side of the street from the new mural, along with “Three Beauties,” depicting three Holstein cows on the exterior wall of Arlington Health Food Store in the 300 block of North Olympic Avenue, “Stilly Valley Victorian” on the back of MeLady Lanes bowling alley, and “The Run of Number One,” facing the Centennial Trail from the back of Yvonne’s Antiques and Collectibles.
“This is a good opportunity to meet the artists and show our appreciation to them for making our town special,” said Jean Olson, treasurer of the arts council.
“Our mission is to bring art to Arlington and we have made great strides since launching the effort during Arlington’s centennial celebration in 2003.”
Olson was a founding member and she was instrumental in completing the process for acquiring federal nonprofit status this year.
Engstrom created three murals during the centennial year, to go with a carved granite bench, “Salmon Spawning Pool,” by Verena Schwippert, which is located on the Centennial Trail near Burke Street.
This year, Engstrom also painted murals for the Arlington Hardware Store and Playa Bonita Mexican restaurant. He did an inside mural at Action Sports last year. He teaches private art lessons at his home studio when he isn’t painting houses with his son to help pay for college.
Other new art projects this year include Steve Jensen’s “Norwegian Story Pole,” located on the Centennial Trail at Fourth Street and James Madison’s “Raven Captures the Sun” on the trail at Fifth Street, as well as the labyrinth that was installed by several community groups along the Centennial Trail behind the 76 gas station in August. The labyrinth was designed by the city’s recreation manager, Sarah Hegge. The idea was presented at the 2007 Fall into Art Auction.
The next Fall into Art Auction is set for Oct. 18 at the Hawthorn Inn in Arlington. Tickets are $30 per person including an Italian buffet feast and a chance to bit on a lot of original art and other artist offerings. Tickets are now available at Flowers by George, Favorite Pastime, and The Arlington Times, in downtown Arlington, and at Brushstrokes art supply store in Smokey Point.
Along with a nice spread of refreshments assembled by AAC member artist Helen Saunders there will be a chance to win a beautiful flower arrangement from Flowers by George.
The program includes a slide show by Hegge depicting Arlington’s collection of 25 public art pieces and the process of building the labyrinth, along with messages on the value of public art in a community by City Councilwoman Marilyn Oertle and comments from Engstrom, who will speak about public art from the perspective of the artists.
Images of proposed projects for the future will also be presented.
