The Clipper

Issue date: 3/12/10 Section: Art

Media Credit: Angela Cooper-McCorkle Local artist Janet Wold's vibrant puppy painting is on display at 2831 Wetmore Ave.

If you want to take in a little free culture, but don't want to spend an hour getting to Seattle, the Everett City Arts Walk offers an art-packed alternative every third Saturday of the month; the next walk is March 20.

In the meantime, a number of makeshift galleries open throughout the week fill vacant office space in downtown Everett. A recent stroll showed the artists to be congenial and the art to be vibrant and varied.

A stunning blue dragon, seemingly poised on the edge of attack, was one of the highlights at our first stop: a storefront cum studio occupied by artists Janet Wold and Jane Meagher. Meagher's version wasn't the least scaly though; the ephermal creation was crafted almost completely of custom tie-dyed t-shirts.

In contrast to the mythical, but very realistic visage of the blue-hued beast were two masterfully made quilts featuring an elk and a moose. Each of the hundreds of fabric squares was carefully selected for its relevance to the woodland scene.

Another eye-catcher was a bold, almost comic-book-like painting of outer space by guest artist Jeff Kirk. While the painting was compelling, the piece-de-resistance was the complementary frame, constructed of primary colored vintage legos.

Wold and Meagher's studio is one of nearly a dozen locations featured on the art walk; several other businesses feature local artists' works that change regularly.

"We were funded by the Arts Council of Snohomish County [starting] in August," said Meagher, "and once the funds ran out at the end of the year, we went month to month... luckily the landlord gave us a good deal."

Several other artists are taking advantage of similar deals, so students can enjoy an entire afternoon of unique art viewing and the opportunity to talk with the artists for free.

There is art likely to appeal to almost every taste; satire, nature, politics, romance, history and of course, the perennial Northwest favorite, dogs, are among the many themes featured in paintings, sculptures, and many other mixed media works.

Additionally, students who attend the offical art walk can look forward to complimentary refreshments and h'ors doeuvres.

For more information on the art walk and gallery locations, students can go to http://www.everettartwalk.org/.

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