Shelton's Museum Contempo teams up with artist

Mastrangelo wants to build community closeness

Kirk Boxleitner | Apr 21, 20220

Courtesy photo count

"High Mountain Desert" features an illuminated panorama by Rob Ellison and acrylic layering by Debbie Tracey. The cactus gardens are courtesy of Living Earth Growth Supply.

Shelton's Museum Contempo has used the social media skills of one local artist to provide all of the gallery's artists with global exposure.

Museum Contempo is at 68 SE Lynch Road in Shelton, but Shelton glass blower Ty Nault has also furnished the venue with a virtual display space.

Museum Contempo curator Andrea Mastrangelo credited Nault's photography skills and social media savvy with drawing the attention of Google Arts and Culture, and Gluseum, which she thanked for granting the virtual gallery world exposure.

Nault recalled passing Museum Contempo's 3,000-square-foot warehouse on his way to work.

"I was a new artist and decided to stop in and introduce myself as a glass blower," Nault said. "I'd created my own Molten Glass Works page on Facebook and asked Andrea whether she would be interested in setting up a page for Museum Contempo."

Mastrangelo told Nault she "doesn't do computers," so Nault created the page himself, making him the curator of the virtual gallery.

The physical gallery has exhibited, promoted and collected more than 350 artists from around the world, and its open floor plan is designed to exhibit more than 150 large art pieces at once and provide "small, intimate theater-in-the-round entertainment," according to Mastrangelo.

"Our multimedia exhibits focus on new art concepts and techniques from renowned local, regional, national and international artists," Mastrangelo said. "Our all-encompassing exhibit themes lend themselves to the unique creative interpretations of each artist."

Museum Contempo also has a small writers' library to exhibit "our talented authors" and artists' self-published art books, for which the gallery hosts book launches.

Mastrangelo was able to draw from significant experience in art when she started Museum Contempo. She has 16 years of experience as an Oregon coast artist whose work was displayed in 20 galleries.

"I formed a group of artists called 'Spiritworks' and I introduced those artists to all those galleries," Mastrangelo said.

"I already had a network of artists to appear in my own gallery."

She was also an art specialist for three schools in the Cascade Unified School District in California, and she used to create clay sculptures that sold for $25 to $50 each.

Mastrangelo said she hopes to build on the closeness of the Mason County community, citing a county artist named Willard Scott, an adult with disabilities, who was referred to Museum Contempo for what she deemed his considerable talent.

"We held a private family reception for him," Mastrangelo said. "It was a delightful gathering. We need to see more of this in Mason County. Art heals the soul."

Museum Contempo has a large dessert buffet area, open for all its thematic exhibits and entertainment, and has recently added a DVD watching area, to view and purchase collections of the gallery's shows and exhibits.

"The art you view here is available for purchase," Mastrangelo said. "We offer collector's discounts as well as seasonal sales."

Call Mastrangelo at 360-870-6619 for further details.