Hot Glass

When Uptown Glassworks in Downtown Renton got a financial reprieve late last year and continued to be a part of the art scene of our town, we all got lucky. Not every place you live will have such a creative hive of hot glass activity. You can just pop through the front door on any given day and see art being made - and being made extremely well.

Chris Heilman helps run the workshop area of Uptown Glassworks and won't hesitate to recount where his latest work had been purchased and sent. Uri Geller (remember the guy who could bend spoons with his mind?) has most recently become the proud owner of one of Chris' museum quality pieces, and there are more stories like that. When Renton's sister city in Japan sent a delegation over to visit, their trip highlight was an afternoon spent with Chris Heilman and a piece of his work accompanied them home to Nishiwaki.

Classes are taught by Chris and Uptown Glass works, if this sounds like a calling for anyone of you. Last year through a grant provided by the City Arts of Renton, 10-12 people were able to sign up for free and come experience the wonder of a making glass bowl. Chris hopes to apply for the grant this year as well - it seems he was the author of the idea.

Chris's work has been seen and acknowledged by many . How fortunate we are that genius is so close at hand. Just another reason why Renton is so cool.

Uptown Glassworks
230 Main Ave. S.
425 228-1849

Warped Toys

Welcome the World of Warped Toys as envisioned by local Renton artist, Kristi Hand. Happy Delusions, the indie craft store on South Third in Renton, had it's windows taken over by an amazing set of paintings, watercolors and toy creations this morn. And the world will never look quite the same again - thank god!

The reception is tonight, Friday, beginning at 7pm and is in cahoots with the First Friday Block Party and art showing that is happening next door at Liberty Cafe with Mary Clymer's Fun Felt Forest.

Irreverent? Wickedly humorous? Absolutely! Kristi has talent and spunk all rolled into one.

You may remember these small Pez dispensers that Kristi has taken over and made into the smallest of canvases for her detailed artwork. I love them.

There is a window full of Kristi's deft hand at painting that is not to be missed as well. I couldn't help myself - the toys were so captivating and demanded to be shot.

Greet and Meet the artists tonight - but if you miss the evening's fun, the work will be up for the entire month of May.

Happy Delusions
924 South 3rd Street
Renton, WA 98057-2734
(425) 255-6078

Master the Art Plan

Want to help steer the Renton art ship? Be entertained and become involved with the future of arts and culture in our town. Drawing for tickets of future events and lots of inter-community dialogue and networking.

Hosted by Renton Arts & Culture Master Plan Steering Committee

Tonight, 5 - 8pm

IKEA Preforming Arts Center 400 S 2nd St Renton, WA 98057

Geometric Art - Kim Sweet is featured at Liberty Cafe

Put a geometry teacher together with photography and a high regard for the craft of quilting and you get the artwork of Kim (kimiko) Sweet. Kim's work is up at Liberty Cafe this month, where the owners Mike and Johnny hang monthly shows of local artists. Kim Sweet grew up in Renton, lives in Renton and teaches Math in Renton. Couldn't get more local than that if you tried!

The photo essays are both organic and very structured. Kim looks for and reveals the fractal patterns in the world that surrounds us. The juxtapositions and layouts are precise and yet fluid. Like a quilt, carefully composed.

Come in and relax with the best cup of coffee in town and look at the artwork. Eggnog Breve and Spiced Cider is ready and waiting for you - yep, it's that seasonal drink time already.

Liberty Cafe
926 S. Third Street
(425) 235 - 1400

Art and Cars in the DTR

Today is the Art Walk right on our main drag in the DTR - S. Third Street. 65 artists all nicely packed in together in a couple of streets, so you don't have to go wandering all over everywhere to find them. Music - live music provided by the event as well as at the newly opening Tyrannosaurus Records. Plus a car show. I love car shows. Vintage cars are like art to me - here are some as yet unshared photos from Renton's last car show. Things start up at 11am. Head on down!

Renton Annual Art Show

Last night was the opening gathering for the Renton Annual Art Show that will be open free to the public for the next three days. I am going to just wet your appetite and show you a handful of goodies. Feel inspired to further explore the rest for yourself.
Art - we all need to heed the call and include it in our daily diet.

Little 17th and Roxbury by Terry Sargent Peart Winner of the Juror's Award

My Best Self by Jennifer Sain Winner Art Supplies 1

Yellow Sprinkle by Mike Ferguson

Night Glow by Julie Eggers Winner Lucille Culliton Award

Brit Petersen pictured here with her proud mother, Gloria beside her lovely colored pencil work that garnered her the Renton Municipal Arts Commission Award. Why, Brit is ON that council - how could this be? All entries were judged with only numbers assigned to them - Brit won this fine award fair and square. Congratulations, Brit! It's a beauty!

Renton Annual Art Show
July 24,25 and 26
Friday and Saturday 10 - 6, Sunday 12- 5
Renton Community Center
1715 Maple Valley Highway (next to Carco Theater)

Stone Man is back and smiling

The sculpture erected at the Northeast corner of the US Bank parking lot had taken a tumble a month or so ago. The sculpter, while repairing the "stone man" last month said he thought someone may had inadvertantly backed into his art piece. I told him I thought he was taking the high road on that! It seems that since his "reinstallation", the stone man has acquired a face ....and he is smilin'