We are proud to announce an open house with Auburn artist Michael Taskey, who has been in residence at 104 E. Main Street since January!

March 24 from 6-9PM
104 E Main Street, Auburn

A skilled wood carver and music instructor, Michael will be showing his stunning wood carvings and feature live music from his students.  Taskey’s residency is coming to an end almost a month before it was slated to end, highlighting the Catch-22 in the Storefronts program.

In Auburn, 3 of the 4 spaces we have activated have leased before our projects completed, a bittersweet win for the program, since our ultimate goal is always to activate spaces and revitalize Main Street.  These three chronically vacant spaces have rented inside of six months, and Storefronts Auburn is delighted to have contributed to that rejuvenation, as difficult as it is to cut short a residency or installation.  We thank Mike for his graciousness and understanding and celebrate another lease for Main Street.

Penumbra
Miguel Edwards
One Main Street, Auburn, Wa
Through May 2013

Miguel Edwards has been an artist working in the Pacific Northwest for the last 20 years, spanning photography, painting, sculpture, and installation work. He has recently installed his newest work, Penumbra, on Main Street in Auburn at One Main Street across from City Hall.

This site-specific installation responds to the raw cavernous space and the constantly changing light that streams through the space’s wide glass facade. Made of molded and cut white plastic, the material reflects both natural light and the color-changing LED light installed throughout the installation, creating a shifting matrix of curving 3-D forms.

Visible best in the evenings, the work will remain installed through June 2, 2013.

Storefronts Auburn is currently accepting applications!

The deadline for completed applications is 11pm (PST) on March 17, 2013.

For more information, see the Opportunities link.

Woodcarver, musician, and teacher Michael Taskey has established his newest artist’s residency space on Main Street as part of the Storefronts Auburn project!

Michael Taskey’s new storefront on Main Street!

Michael’s residency is two-part; he’ll be working on a commissioned series of relief carvings based on subjects inspired by the Green River, as well as teaching an ensemble of young musicians. Drop by to watch the work develop through the windows, like Mike Mulligan, the more people watch, the faster and better he works!

Michael Taskey and the tools of the trade

Artist Hannah Viano says it so beautifully, I’m just going to cede the floor to her…

On a cold winter night in a tiny mountain cabin, I was listening to Radiolab and heard a new word that drew me in close, sketchbook in hand. I listened to this little clip of information, sounds, and ideas entranced (a whale-fall is when a whale dies in the open ocean and sinks to the sea-floor nourishing a whole ecosysten of creatures for decades). In the weeks to come I thought back to it again and again, so much that I began to look for ways to make it into an art project. Along the way I uncovered connections and emotions that continue to unfold and surprise me.  I’ve had the opportunity  to work back through an idea far enough  to see the web of influences show through.  Here are some of the pieces of this puzzle, stay tuned as the installation grows and changes in the next couple months.

Whale-fall, detail, by Hannah Viano, 2012

Procrastinators of Auburn, UNITE! Now is the time to see the Storefronts installations on Main Street before they’re gone. Fair warning.

First off, if you haven’t already, hie thee over to 123 Main to see Josie Elizabeth Davis‘ installation of paper dresses, coming to you straight from the PLOP! Literary series in Buenos Aires. The dresses, created from the pages of old books, are stunning (and wearable!) and are on display through the end of this weekend. Get there before they’re gone!

Meanwhile, just down the street, also check out Julia Haack‘s gigantic installation of new work, a poppy, celebratory, exciting series of painted wood assemblies, wrapping the corner of Main and Division Streets. Julia’s work was also recently featured in CityVisions Magazine, along with Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis!

Let’s also not forget our sister program, Storefronts Seattle!

Up in Seattle you’ve got your last chance to see Toshi Asai‘s installation at the Tashiro Kaplan building. Toshi has been sitting in that cavernous space for three months, obsessively drawing on well over 100 feet of gigantic paper scrolls, which have been installed trailing away from the windows into the recesses of the space. It’s lovely work, make sure to see it (and check Perri Lynch‘s new Storefronts work at the other end of the block).

Then get over to Chinatown, for the end of the IDEA Odyssey era. IDEA Odyssey, one of the longest-running temporary Storefronts projects to date, has just celebrated a full year of programming on South Jackson Street, and will be ending with their current exhibit, ONE, a group show. It’s been a beautiful project, they’ve supported some incredible artists and presented some stunning shows. Congratulations to all.

That’s it! stay tuned to see what’s on its way to Main Street when these installations are over, and for the future of Storefronts Auburn!

The Auburn Valley Creative Arts gallery was the first project in the Storefronts Auburn program this past spring. The project was cut short when the space they were in on Main Street rented. Now, after a six-month space hunt, the AVCA is back!

Join the gang TODAY and TONIGHT, Saturday August 4, to warm their new PERMANENT digs at 108 South Division Street. It’s part of the Auburn ArtRageous festival, and there will be a public participation painting event, tours of the new facility (including a gallery and three classrooms!), and of course a group show featuring the work of 27 members of the co-op.

It’s going to be a giant addition to the arts and culture scene in downtown Auburn, and we’re proud to have been associated with the group and its members. Congratulations AVCA!