World Wide Sketch Crawl--A day in Olympia, Washington

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Sketch Crawl AM: the Legislative Steps and Olympia Capital Campus

I recognized Jane sketching at the base of the legislative dome.

It took me almost 3 hours to travel from where I live in North Marysville to the Washington State Capital Campus in Olympia, where Seattle Urban Sketchers were to meet at 10 AM. Roadwork, detours, two previous accidents, etc.- it's a whole other story. Needless to say, I arrived late.

Knowing that we would be sketching at the Olympia Farmers' Market later in the day, I parked my car there and rode the DASH shuttle bus to the meet up with Seattle and Tacoma Urban Sketchers at the Legislative Building steps.

We are taking part in the 48th World Wide Sketchcrawl. 

As I got off the bus, and stood there for a moment to orient myself, a voice in the air called my name. There was Kate, one of our USk Seattle contingent, choosing a spot to sketch near the bus stop in case more sketchers arrived. She had all the information needed, including helpful maps of the local area that she had printed out ahead of time. We also got new badges that Kate had prepared just for this occasion, The 48th Quarterly World Wide SketchCrawl Day in Olympia

Thank you, Kate and Jane!

Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbook, Micron pen, watercolor and a special badge!

I knew I had an abbreviated amount of time to sketch at the first location, so I chose a less challenging viewpoint that I had spotted on my bus ride up from the market.

It was amazing to think that people all over the world were sketching simultaneously today. While I was waiting for everyone to arrive for a group photo, my cousin from nearby Tumwater stopped by and surprised me! It was a nice sized group (at least 20 or more) from far and wide who shared their sketches at the end of the morning. Time for lunch!

Sketch Crawl PM: Olympia Farmers' Market

We moved straight down Capitol Way from the Legislative Building to the Farmers's Market for lunch and the afternoon half of the sketchcrawl. (See DASH map above)

The sign says "Make half your plate fruits and vegetables". Easy enough to do if you order a Gyro and Horiatiki Salata (Greek village salad) from Pithos Greek food stand.  Each food stand has at least one large picnic table for its customers. Some of us brought our lunch over to the huge covered stage and dining area in the center of the market, where Tracey Hooker and his band provided the day's live entertainment.

I spent a lot of time sketching my lunch while the band played on stage.

After sketching my lunch, then eating it, I only got a few speed sketches of the bass, trumpet and guitar players just as they finished their set.  It wasn't until later that I discovered that Tracey D. Hooker is a Grammy award winning trumpeter! I did get to see Tina's sketches of the performers before we said farewell.  I have long admired Jane's sketches of the market and now I can say it's one of my favorite places to experience as well.

Most of the sketchers drifted off during the afternoon to resume their own itineraries, but three hardy souls met in the little corner park to share our sketches at 3:00.

PM sketches shared in the little park at the market

I trust that all those taking part around the world have also enjoyed their own experiences today during the 48th Quarterly World Wide Sketchcrawl!

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Sketch Day in Olympia

What a treat to have so many sketchers in town - to share some of my favorite haunts. I don't often sketch on the Capitol Campus but once in a while I head up the hill to attempt the daunting task.

The last time was there was May 22, the day of the teacher's walk-out. The demonstrators filled the capitol steps with signs announcing, "It's time!" (to fully fund the schools). On that day I didn't have time to finish the sketch, not having enough room to fit the top of the dome on the page. Yesterday I finished the drawing by taping another sheet to the original.

After finishing I walked across to the Korean Memorial where the wreath laying ceremony commemorated a number of veterans who had served in that war. It was quite a nice ceremony. 

We migrated to the market, the place I most often sketch in Olympia. The peppers have arrived - not the full range of varieties, but it's a start.

Thanks to Kate Buike for organizing the day. I hope we can do it again sometime.

46th Quarterly Sketchcrawl with USk Seattle

I met up with Seattle Urban Sketchers for the 46th Quarterly Worldwide Sketch Crawl at the Frye Art Museum today.

The experience was a case of overlapping senses and time lines. It was multidimensional. 

Stillman and Birn Beta, graphite, Lamy pen, water soluble black ink and watercolor pencils.

I arrived early enough to sketch the domed tower from my car outside in the free parking lot. As far as I know, the dome is the only addition (1997) to the architecture of the building since the collection opened in 1952. At the same time, a cafe and reflecting pools were added on the north and west side of the building. Various interior remodeling projects have ensued. 

Haunting tones of the human voice echoed out into the entry way from Jessika Kenney's installation, "Anchor Zero". It's the last day of this show. I stood in the cube-like bamboo structure, called "Breathing Room" and read this poem:

I hadn't thought of breath as line before.

I wandered through rooms occupied by wall-sized videos of a figure walking through dreamlike forests, all in gray scale tones of black and white. The tonal scales of voice rose and fell, following me through to a side room of the next exhibit.

It was opening day of "Future Ruins" by Rodrigo Valenzuela. A "construction/destruction zone" of scaffolds and gritty papered floors is the environment, vague images of building shapes and bridges on the background walls. Large scale black and white images of "future ruins" hang from the scaffolds, dimly lit by spotlights. (See the artist's statement here.)

Already suffering from mid-winter grays, I found the color break I was craving in the gift shop. Giorgio Morandi himself (1890-1964) could have placed this collection of pots on one of the upper shelves. It warmed my cold winter palette and made me smile.

I felt present, past and future swirling around me at the museum today.