Sammamish needs arts commissioners
December 24, 2011
New: Dec. 24, 10:18 a.m.
How’s this for a New Year’s resolution: Become more involved in your community.
The city is looking for local citizens to step up and serve on the city’s Arts Commission. City Clerk Melonie Anderson said arts commissioners don’t need to be artists, as the commission is in need of all sorts of skills: event planning, archiving, exhibit planning, bookkeeping, graphic design, community liaison or grant writing.
The commission was responsible for numerous arts and culture events in Sammamish this year, including Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar – A Turkish Cultural Event, the fifth annual Arts Fair, documentary film presentations and rotating arts exhibits. Commissioners will help plan similar events next year.
The commission meets once a month. Interviews for the open positions on the commission will begin Jan. 10 and the city will hold a meet-and-greet with current commission members at City Hall from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. before the Jan. 23 commission meeting. For more information, visit https://www.ci.sammamish.wa.us/Group.aspx?ID=3.
Screen printer Steve Harmston keeps his art pure
November 2, 2011
Steve Harmston has spent most of his adult life practicing an art that not many people know about — at least in its purest form.
“It’s pretty hard to explain,” he said while demonstrating the serigraphy process in his garage Oct. 26.
For the past 30 years, the longtime Sammamish resident has created vibrant, dynamic serigraphs of landscapes, animal portraits and nature scenes from the Southwest to the Pacific Northwest. Having spent the past 10 years traveling the country to sell work at dozens of annual art shows, he and his wife, Bonnie Harmston, are trying something different this fall. They will open up their garage-studio 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5 to show all of Steve’s work. It will include pieces from his entire body of work since the 1980s.
Steve Harmston, of Sammamish, demonstrates a step in the process of making a serigraph Oct. 26 at his garage-studio. Photo by Christopher Huber
Annual Sammamish Art Fair on tap in October
September 14, 2011
Sammamish artist Sarah Brighton considers herself lucky to be living her calling.
About 12 years ago, Brighton, a former kindergarten teacher in England, picked up some supplies and started creating works of art out of a variety of things — papers, recycled materials, vintage photographs. But just a couple of years into her artistic endeavor, she began teaching others, she said, mixing both of her passions into one.
Sammamish artist Sarah Brighton has created work and taught in mixed media arts and focuses on collage and vintage photos in her personal work.
Eastside Catholic student’s art displayed at Swedish
August 15, 2011
New: Aug. 15, 2:03 p.m.
If you’re looking at Stephanie Matusiefski’s photo, something bad has probably happened.
Her photo was chosen to hang in the emergency room area at the new Swedish Issaquah Hospital.
“It’s kind of exciting to see your artwork in a hospital and to add to the art scene in Issaquah,” said Matusiefski, a 2011 graduate of Eastside Catholic High School.
Stephanie Matusiefski, a 2011 Eastside Catholic, of Sammamish, poses next to her photograph as it hangs in an ER exam room at the new Swedish Hospital in Issaquah. Photo by Christopher Huber
Kathy Hastings exhibit will open next week at Sammamish City Hall
June 2, 2011
New: June 2, 3:22 p.m.
“Once upon a time a high school teacher gave me the assignment to find how math and art were alike. The assignment intrigued me, and I’ve been fascinated with the question ever since.”
This may not sound like a typical artist, and rightly so, because Kathy Hastings is anything but typical.
Kathy Haistings at work in her Snohomish studio. Photo by Indy Behrendt
Macklemore to play Sammamish Teen Fest
June 1, 2011
New: June 1, 2:16 p.m.
One of Seattle’s most popular hip-hop artists will help kick off local teens’ summers June 17.
Macklemore, who recently sold out three consecutive nights at Seattle’s Showbox at the Market and performed at Safeco Field for the Seattle Mariners’ opening day ceremony, will headline Sammamish’s fourth annual Teen Fest at City Hall.
Ryan Lewis (left) and Macklemore will perform at Sammamish’s annual Teen Fest. Photo by Greg Nissen
Donna Gelinas to make teaching easier for schools
May 10, 2011
Donna Gelinas is still figuring out where to put her boxes and boxes of art lessons and projects.
The longtime Sammamish resident has spent the past 10 years inspiring the creative minds of elementary school students in the Issaquah School District while pursuing her own passion for hand-crafted art.
Donna Gelinas, of Sammamish, poses in her home studio with one of her masterpieces, a Sterling silver woven chain mail necklace with garnet beads, as well as a larger-gauge chain necklace. Photo by Christopher Huber
Sammamish Art Fair needs artists
April 24, 2011
New: April 24, 10:18 a.m.
The Sammamish Arts Commission invites artists from Sammamish and the surrounding area to submit their application to participate in the fifth annual Sammamish Art Fair. The event features local fine artists, as well as a variety of family and children’s activities. In addition, it will feature live entertainment.
The art fair has grown to be a standout annual event, due to it being a juried show.
Artists selected to the art fair do not have to pay booth fees or a commission, but will be assigned a committee to help organize the event.
For more information and to download the application form, visit www.sammamishartfair.wordpress.com. The application deadline is May 15. The event runs 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct 8 and 9 at Sammamish City Hall.
Renowned artist Brian Bonebrake to exhibit in City Hall next month
March 22, 2011
A renowned artist who has had his work commissioned by several high-profile art collectors will be displaying a collection of oil paintings at Sammamish City Hall starting April 15.
A former Chicago resident, Brian Bonebrake made a name for himself with unique, color-saturated takes on commonplace objects – squirtguns, umbrellas and household appliances, for example. Bonebrake and his family moved to the Eastside several years ago.
Cupcake Painting by Brian Bonebrake
Eastlake jazz band gets ready to swing into spring
March 22, 2011
If you’re “In the Mood” to “Sing, Sing, Sing” or hear the jiving beat from the “Pink Panther” theme song as spring gets underway, then the Eastlake High School commons is where you’ll want to be April 8.
The school’s jazz band is holding its annual Jazz Cabaret night to entertain guests and raise support for the Eastlake music programs.
“The best part is when the kids get up and dance,” said booster club co-president Anita Donahou. Read more
