The gallery’s outreach team has been very busy this year, especially this summer!

Community Art Program (CAP)

Many thanks to Linda Nye for arranging to have Ruth Armitage present at our July Community Arts Program (CAP) event. It was both informative and well attended. And many thanks to the CAP team – Linda, Carla Ueki and Barb Sulek. Stay tuned for the next CAP event on Tuesday, October 21, details to follow. If you have any ideas for future presentations, please email Sharon at [email protected]. 

OUTSIDE SHOWS

This summer has also been full of opportunities for artists to be on display at several VGA Outside Shows in the community. VGA artists are currently participating in a second show this year at Beaverton’s City Hall. The show runs until Wednesday, August 27. Thanks to Sherry Hanson for helping with cataloging the art and to Medha Joshi, Vanaja Mulagada, Amy Mower, Sabrina Hammer, Marlene Huntsinger, and Chris Kondrat for hanging the show. 

Our second summer show was just installed on August 6 at the Ackerly at Reed’s Crossing. The show will run until Wednesday, September 3. There will be an Artist Reception and we hope to see as many VGA members and guests attend on Friday, August 22, from 5 – 7pm. A formal invitation will be sent later. Many thanks to Ric Ferrin and Jens Haetty for hanging the show and enabling all of the art submitted to be displayed! It was wonderful to see Ackerly resident and longtime VGA member, Laura Hopper there as the show was installed! 

A third summer show is scheduled for Haven Coffee in September. They have indicated that there is room for approximately 15 – 2D pieces. When Sharon receives the contract, she will send out a formal call to artists.

Several VGA members have also been juried into the Washington County Art Alliance (WCAA) Brookwood Summer Showcase which is currently running until August 31 at the Brookwood Library in Hillsboro. Sharon Dunham and Amy Mower were two of a handful of artists providing artist demonstrations at the reception on August 7.

Cedar Mill Farmers’ Market (CMFM)

Many thanks to Annette Wilkie, Judy Vatne, Sally Hopkins, and Garineh Bagjdasarian for hosting the Cedar Mill Farmers’ Market’s community table and promoting the gallery on Saturday, August 2. We gave out 20 art kits, handed out many scratch art bookmarks, and had several people sign up for more information about VGA. Sally was able to demonstrate stenciling with people of all ages giving it a try.

VGA at LaStrada Chalk Art Festival

It’s wonderful to see VGA involved again with the La Strada Chalk Art Festival in Hillsboro. Thanks to Annette Wilkie for organizing volunteers to table at the event on July 19 & 20. The event drew 35,000 people (30,000 over the weekend and an additional 5,000 for Monday’s walk and stroll before the artwork was washed away). The scratch art bookmarks were a hit and many signed up to find out more about the gallery. 

As always, if you have ideas for how the gallery can increase its reach within our community please email Sharon Dunham, VGA Outreach Team Coordinator at [email protected].