As the clock counts down to the June 22 opening of the 18th annual Kenmore Art Show, let me remind you that there is no down side – only benefits – to taking time for enjoyment of art.
Our art show is free, and parking is plentiful. If that’s not enough to inspire you to come, think about this:
Immersing yourself for an hour or so in an exhibit of the best work by the region’s leading artists offers a temporary refuge from your daily grind. As Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.”
Research has discovered mental and physical health benefits associated with art. A study by the University of Westminster found that busy office workers in London who visited a nearby art gallery on their lunch break showed a “rapid and substantial” drop in measurable stress levels, including blood pressure.
Art is for everyone – no matter who you are, no matter what your race, religion or national origin; no matter whether you are rich or poor, young or old, red or blue.
Unlike a driving test, there are no right answers in art. As the proverb goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. That’s you.
Come to the beautiful, lushly forested Bastyr University campus June 22-26 where you will behold a rich and colorful collection of paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography, and artisan works.
Sponsored by Bastyr University, our juried art show is presented by Arts of Kenmore Inc., a non-profit, all-volunteer organization that also produces a series of exhibits throughout the year at the AOK Gallery in Kenmore City Hall. Other projects: AOK art grants for schools, the Kenmore Fire Hydrant Project; and support of the new Kenmore Mural Project.
Organized by local artist Florence Lindstrom and her husband, Roland, the first Kenmore Art Show was held in August of 1999, in the Northlake Lutheran Church. The show moved to Bastyr University in 2013 after outgrowing the church.
I invite you to join us for the show’s opening on June 22. A sneak preview begins at 5:30 p.m., followed at 6 p.m. by a reception and award presentations with music from the Inglemoor High School Jazz Ensemble. The show’s hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, 10a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
We’re offering musical programs and workshops Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, including a featured event, the Savannah Fuentes Flamenco Dancers, from 7-8 p.m. on Saturday. A trio of food trucks with tasty snack, lunch, and dessert options will be on hand 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, visit www.artsofkenmore.org.
David Maehren of Kenmore is president of Arts of Kenmore, Inc.
