Olympia Arts Commission approves selected local artists for the 2023 Arts Walk Cover

The Olympia Arts Commission approved local artists selected by the art jury to be featured in the 2023 Arts Walk Cover.

At an Arts Commission meeting held Thursday, December 8, Arts Program specialist Angel Nava introduced the four artists and presented their previous works.

The selected two artists are Jennifer Kuhns and Aimee Schreiber. Emily R. Lee and Collette Mason are the alternate artists.

Nava explained that they have alternate artists in case the selected artists are not able to fulfill the obligations of the city’s contract with them.

The Arts Commission will forward the recommendation to the city council, which would commission the artists to each create a new, original work of art for the cover of the Arts Walk 2023 maps and event posters.

According to Nava, they received 15 applications for the Arts Walk program.

Selected artists

The Arts Walk program would feature Kuhns and her work in the fall event.

Kuhns is a mosaic artist. She was first selected for the Arts Walk Cover in 2007. She began creating mosaic art in 2000 and making corporate and public art commissions in 2005.

"My artistic style ranges from photorealistic to wildly colorful and stylized, and is generally characterized by precision cutting of materials and careful placement resulting in smooth lines and strategic use of texture and reflectivity. My goal when creating art is to bring life and joy to living spaces," Kuhns stated.

Schreiber and her work would be featured in the spring event. She frequently uses jewel-tone acrylic paints with metal leafing, such as gold, for her artwork.

"Guided by curiosity, I love examining nature and am deeply inspired by the world's lands, creatures, and cultures. Insects, in particular, have always fascinated me with their otherworldly colors, intricate forms and evocative symbolism," stated Schreiber.

Alternate artists

Emily R. Lee is a figurative artist in traditional oil, ink, and watercolor painting. She studied drawing and oil painting as electives in college and studied Shodo – the art of Japanese calligraphy – for five years in Japan.

A native of Queens, New York, Lee moved to Washington State in 2019.

For Collette Mason, painting is her way to relax and connect with the natural world, and it soon became a passion.

"The beautiful landscapes and giant pine trees are what drew me to Washington and started my journey in watercolor," Mason said, adding, "my goal, when painting, is to capture the feeling that pulled my attention to the subject. Whether it is the quiet, eerie feeling of a November morning on the water or the shimmer of light off a rock's wet surface, I want to share my impression of the moment with my audience using a simple palette."