Those who attended the #MetamorphosisOly mural dedication in October will probably remember Austin Davis, the young artist who gave a spontaneous, inspirational speech about the significance of the mural, the importance of public art, and the call to create the kind of community we want to live in. I met Austin while installing the mural and we have continued to discuss plans to add the Milkweed designs in my original vision. Austin is an artist who paints and maintains murals, and paints signs for local businesses to support his art. His business is Wideye Designs: https://www.wideyedesigns.com/about
During our last meeting, Austin brought sketches and we settled on a design that lends itself to a potential continuation of the mural, extending through the alleyway. Depending on how things develop and what kind of funds we can generate, the cost will be about $1500, give or take. More funds=more plants and flowers. We are excited about the notion that the mural will keep transforming, more fully embodying the concept of Metamorphosis.
Today, I sent Austin a deposit for design development and to hold the project on his calendar for spring. When weather permits, he’ll tackle the next phase, and we are hoping to have it ready to enjoy at Olympia Spring Arts Walk.
I’m planning to launch a studio clearance sale again for my upcoming birthday. I don’t think I can pull off an open studio event, but I would be happy to see visitors by appointment. I’ll be posting art that is available for sale on my social media and I’m going to make a discount code for my subscribers, all with the goal of offsetting the cost of the mural. *I also just had a heat pump installed in the studio, which is amazing and long overdue, but it came to $6200 and I’m still reeling a bit. I don’t have much new work to offer, but if there’s anything you’ve had your eye on, please reach out. I’ve been slowly getting everything listed in my shop and I’ll start promoting it next week. This includes my papercut artwork and pendants. Everything must go!
And in the meantime, I set up a new fundraising campaign through The Field (501c3) that will go live on November 30th (my birthday!) and will run through the coming year. It is intended as seed money to create a functioning community art program, and that applies to this effort, which I see as a big step to bring the concept of participatory mosaic into the Olympia art scene.
So that’s what’s happening! Metamorphosis is not done yet, and my goal is for it to lead to more artwork along that wall, and throughout Olympia. Incidentally: Anna Schlect is lobbying to have the alleyway renamed “Butterfly Alley” which would be so perfect, dontcha think?
