MAKERS MARKET MAKES PROGRESS OMAK STAMPEDE ART SHOW KICKS OFF

Since 1981, the Omak Stampede and Suicide Race has featured a cool indoor counterpoint to the knock ‘em sock ‘em action in the rodeo arena. This year’s Okanogan County Artists Western and Native Art Show will exhibit paintings and drawings from 23 artists, most from Okanogan or its bordering counties.

art and craft items, plus food and music to boot. Above is a colorful sample of whimsically decorated pots, heaps of knitted and hand-sewn items and nicely nurtured plants.

Entiat Valley Makers Market has found a formula for success with a professional manager (retired but fully energized), a handful of community-minded organizers and a local business base willing to fund the future, all in a region replete with artists and craftspeople.

On the first Saturday of each month, June through October, you’ll find up to 30 booths full of handmade crafts and delectables from watercolors and yard art to honey, hunting knives, pottery and potpourri lined up on a grassy lawn right in the center of Entiat. Food, music and games add flavor to the mix.

The Entiat Valley Chamber of Commerce project is now in its third year. The market’s steering committee is Renee Swearingen, Tina Stucky, Sara Stenberg, Susan Kidd and Sophie Campbell, and they have met their first goal of showcasing the creative talents of Entiat Valley artisans and craftspeople.

But something else happened on the way, and it’s all good. “For a few artists here in the Entiat Valley, having a booth at the market has been just a starting point,” coordinator Denise Carlson explained. “They produced art, they found a following, they built brand awareness online –

QUIZ: R.U. ART SMART?

Who are these local artists? Initials are given, see answers on page 8.

1. (M.L.) Besides being a symphony musician, he’s the brains and brawn behind the exciting lighting and sound effects we experience in the PAC theater.

2. (A.W.) Her belief in the power of public art and her love of the beauty of bronze motivated Art on the Avenues, which now features 85 sculptures.

3. (B.B.) Also a practicing architect, this Wenatchee artist not only designs struc- then they moved on, and we discovered we have room for more new artists.” How to fill the spaces?

The answer was simple. Rather than exclusively featuring local artists – though there are still plenty – they reached out regionally and welcomed participants from Waterville, East Wenatchee and Wenatchee. They’ll do the same when they promote the annual Christmas bazaar held late November in the Entiat High School gymnasium.

Denise has lived in town since 2018 in a home she and her husband built on a ridge above Entiat High School. Her longtime art form, crocheting, also has grown from a pastime to the online enterprise DC’s Treasure Box. But it’s now her administrative duties that keep her occupied. She said, “I’m so busy all summer with the market that I don’t have time put up a booth.” tures but creates realistic oil paintings of many of the region’s well-loved natural features.

You can enjoy this month’s Entiat Valley Makers Market from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday Aug. 5, at the Kiwanis Park (an easy turn off Highway 97A). Guitarist Mike Bills of Wenatchee will provide lively music, and the food truck du jour is Nomad, from the Chelan restaurant County Line. (For application information, email market@entiatchamber.org.)

4. (S.B.) This poet stays busy organizing open mics, educating and writing, publishing Shrub Steppe Poetry Journal and even writing her own good stuff.

5. (J.T.) Retired from a career in podiatry, this musician taught himself classical guitar to complement the folk and pop tunes he often plays with the Saddle Rockers.

3. (D.T.) She’s an active member of the board of Music Theater of Wenatchee and has acted in and directed dozens of productions on local stages.

The event’s chairperson, artist and art teacher Tina Reeve Tharp, explained that awards are given for the Best Western work (generally ranching, wildlife or landscapes) and Best Native work (culturally informed scenes often with teepees, horses and artifacts).

The Heritage Award goes to depictions of Okanogan County sites or antique items.

And for the Best of Show and the People’s Choice Award? The judges are serious about choosing the former, but Tina joked that the latter could be a measure of how big a family the artist has.

See the Okanogan County Artists Western and Native Art Show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 10-12 and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug 13 at the Elks Lodge, 110 South Ash Street, Omak.