Artists on Board Project (2020)

Artists on Board is a partnership between the Olympia Artspace Alliance, the Olympia Downtown Alliance, and the City of Olympia. 

The arts are a vital part of Olympia’s character and have an essential role to play in our community’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this program was to quickly activate the local arts community in helping to build community resiliency, unity and compassion, look ahead to recovery and bring a small measure of financial relief to local artists. OAA and ODA worked with local business and artists to create and install temporary artworks on the boarded up buildings downtown due to the pandemic.

Background

In April 2020 the city of Olympia approached the Olympia Downtown Alliance regarding the idea of creating uplifting art on the boarded up buildings in the downtown core due to Corona Virus. The city contracted ODA to provide overarching administration of the project. As a result the ODA contracted with OAA to seek and hire artists as well as oversee the creation and installation of artwork. As is our directive, participating artists were compensated for their time, creativity, and all materials.

Participating Artists and Locations

• Yelizaneta (Leza) Bakhtina, Mills and Mills, 414 Franklin

• Stacie Jascott, Olympia Tattoo, 616 Capital

• Daniel Lovre, Exile Tattoo, 116 Legion

• Julie Simpson, Olympia Hotel, 116 Legion

• Vince Ryland, Cryptatropa, 421 4th Ave. E.

• Mimi Williams, Cheeky Martini Bar 203 4th Ave. E.

• Heidi Zarghami, SIZIZIS Coffee Bar 704 4th Ave. E.

• Carrie Ziegler SIZIZIS Coffee Bar 705 4th Ave. E.

• Carl Smool, Sorry Mom Ink, 307 4th Ave. E