By MICHELLE SCHMIDT Inland360.com
More than 20 regional artists will be featured at the annual Palouse Artist Showcase in Palouse that begins Friday, June 20, and extends through the weekend.
Artists range in location, medium and subject, but all of them share a connection to the Palouse region. Oil paintings, photography, sculpture and art installations will be shown at participating downtown businesses that will each feature the work of one artist.
A walking tour map will be available at these businesses and at the Palouse Grange Hall, which will feature a collective exhibit of all participating artists.
“We turn it into a mini-gallery and that’s where we feature a little of everyone we have downtown,” says Shandra Bohn, president of the Palouse Arts Council and event coordinator.
New at the grange hall this year will be an interactive art experience for kids on Saturday. Kristin Jones will be leading a weaving project with recycled items, along with creating an interactive weaving installation that can be enjoyed by all ages.
The event is free to the public, with 15 percent of art sales going toward the Spark, an artist award given to one middle school and one high school student in the Garfield-Palouse School. The gift recognizes young artists with a financial gift that can be used to further inspiration. The work of current and prior award recipients will be featured at the event.
“It’s a way to promote our little town. Not everyone knows that Palouse isn’t just a region, it’s a town,” says Bohn, laughing.
if you go WHAT: Palouse Artist Showcase
WHEN: Friday through Sunday, June 20-22. Artists’ Reception — 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Palouse Grange, 210 E. Bluff St. in Palouse. Downtown Exhibits, Palouse Grange Exhibits and Children’s Art Experience at the Grange — 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Artists’ Exhibit — 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Palouse Grange COST: Free
Schmidt can be contacted at themichelleschmidt@gmail.com or at (208) 305-4578.