Area art exhibitors look back on local art scene in 2021

Kirk Boxleitner | Dec 30, 20210

Exhibitors of area artists offered their thoughts on what the past year has meant for the local art scene and what the year ahead could bring.

Elizabeth Bennett, operational manager of the Rest-A-While RV Park, saw her annual art and music fair expand into an entire series of one-weekend-per-month events, running from spring through fall, with a growth in the number and diversity of vendors.

“It’s been a really special year, with a lot of new vendors,” Bennett said. “And the people who are already involved are so devoted that we had our biggest fair ever.”

Bennett expressed particular enthusiasm for the participation of lead vocalist and percussionist Theda Spracklin, guitarist Tom Quinlan and horn player “Cousin Vinnie” Anderson, who came together from Hoodsport, Port Hadlock and Port Townsend to perform as “The TNT Trio Band & Da Detonators,” just as the husband-and-wife songwriting and performing duo of Mick and Laura McCartney conducted sessions of “Open Mic with Rhythm & Sass.”

“We’ll definitely be continuing open mic sessions next year, since everyone loves them,” Bennett said. “We were able to incorporate some unique types of music while bringing the whole local community closer together.”

Elton Busby, co-owner of Crazy Hill Garden & Botanicals in Belfair, has seen his and his partner Michael Kerkes’ business host its own art gallery since this spring, making it as “transformative” a year for them as it’s been for a number of their artists.

“One of them has made it through each year by borrowing money from friends and family to get by,” Busby said. “This year, they did not have to do that. Another artist was making plans to put up shop when she started selling her work here earlier this year. She’s now redoubled her efforts to keep doing what she’s doing and is looking forward to next year.”

Busby noted that both artists were “the single biggest vendor payout checks I wrote, every single month.”

While Busby and Kerkes acknowledged that some artists whom Crazy Hill displayed this year “barely got noticed, and never moved,” but on the whole, Busby said, “If I had 25 artists in our gallery, just as a hypothetical example, then I wrote 20 checks that month. Only a small percentage of our folks didn’t sell anything or sold very little.”

Between Crazy Hill’s indoor fine art versus its outdoor and garden art, Busby declared, “I can safely say outdoor art was where it’s at this year. The plant industry skyrocketed due to COVID. Everyone was stuck at home, bored, and they found new inspiration to garden and improve what they see while at home.”

Busby correlates Crazy Hill’s art sales to the same factors.

“Folks seemed to be very willing to spend considerable money for outdoor-oriented art and maker creations,” Busby said. “It tied in with their interest in gardening. People have seemed quite hesitant to invest in indoor or wall display art.”

Busby said several of the artists who have been showcased by Crazy Hill have been involved in other art shows and studio tours this year, “all with mixed results. People were willing to spend up to $50 on pretty much anything, but especially outdoor functional art. By contrast, they were really hesitant to spend any amount of money on indoor nonfunctional art.”

Belfair Self-Storage owner and manager Barbara Treick has employed her facility as an art venue since this summer.

“I know so few artists, and don’t hear about many art events,” Treick said, who called for more “dedicated venues where artists, creators and makers can meet for support, or host shows and public events. There have been attempts to create synergy, but then, the pandemic hit.”

Treick regards herself as “very fortunate to work at a job that allows me to create my own opportunities,” as she noted that Belfair Self Storage has had “a few successful shows.”

Treick added, “It’s very heartwarming to witness an artist make a sale or engage with an attendee at a reception. It was important to learn that hosting a reception on a Sunday when the Seahawks are playing is not the best time, but I’ve enjoyed giving opportunities to fellow artists, no matter the outcome.”