Highlands Council is delighted to announce a new collaborative relationship with the Kirkland Arts Center (KAC) to bring diverse and exciting art exhibitions to Issaquah Highlands. In January, the Soo Hong “Raindrops” exhibition opened at Blakely Hall, and continues with the Rain Village community art project on February 8, and the Rain Village community reception on March 19.
For many years, Highlands Council had a wonderful relationship with the local arts organization, artEast. This relationship included wonderful gallery exhibitions in the Blakley Hall Great Room, lectures and artist salons, outdoor community art project installations, Grand Ridge Elementary field trips, and swanky evening receptions.
Sadly, artEast closed as a non-profit organization and closed their Front Street gallery in 2019. We are grateful for artEast’s support of the “Rain Village” exhibition through the organization’s remaining funding. With community partners like the Kirkland Arts Center, the legacy of artEast and promoting the arts in Issaquah will continue.
The mission of Highlands Council is: to foster the development of a vibrant and caring community committed to service, diversity, stewardship and well-being.
The mission of the Kirkland Arts Center is: to unleash the power of art to ignite individual growth and self-expression, build community spirit, and cultivate cultural vibrancy.
What a wonderful match of our two organizations as we both work to build community! The Kirkland Arts Center is working closely with the Issaquah Arts Commission to fill the void left by artEast for both local artist opportunities and arts programming for the citizens of Issaquah. I am particularly grateful for fellow neighbor and City of Issaquah Arts Program Administrator, Amy Dukes for the introduction to Kirkland Arts Center’s Executive Director, Kelly Dylla.
We look forward to partnering with KAC to bring more arts programming to Issaquah Highlands this year. Be sure to follow the Issaquah Highlands Facebook page, subscribe to our weekly e-letter and check our online event calendar for updates on future programming.
“Rain Village”
A Community Art Exhibition and Cultural Conversation about Home
Saturday, February 8, 1:00pm
Blakely Hall
Presented by artist, Soo Hong
Made possible by Kirkland Arts Center, City of Issaquah, artEast and Highlands Council
You and your family are invited to a special community art project at Blakely Hall, led by artist Soo Hong, on Saturday, February 8 at 1:00pm. Together we will create artworks for Soo’s “Rain Village” exhibition.
From Soo’s website: “This project will be composed of installation art: a fusion of drawing, technology, sculpture, and community engagement.”
During a drawing exercise, Soo will guide adults and teens in a discussion about how culture and identity ties to our environment in the Pacific Northwest. Soo will then demonstrate how our drawings will be turned from two-dimensional images into three-dimensional sculpture using the technology of an onsite 3D printer! Children will enjoy a similar community art project at the same time, facilitated by the Kirkland Arts Center’s Educational Department, in the Blakely Hall studio.
Sculptures created from your art and children’s projects may become part of the “Rain Village” exhibition at Blakely Hall and featured at a special reception on March 19.
This event is free and open to everyone.
Photos: (top) Examples of Soo Hong’s 3D printed ceramic rain drops like these will be on display at Blakely Hall starting February 8. Photo by Tom Reese. (Bottom) Artist Soo Hong installing her piece, “Rainbow After the Rain,” as part of her “Raindrops” exhibition at Blakely Hall. Photo by Vicki Grunewald.
