A monthly publication of the NCW Arts Alliance
Editor: Jamie Howell
Layout & Design: Ron Evans
Contributors: Scott Bailey, Thom Kokenge, Meg Sanders, Carla Wilson
NCW Arts - Elevating the Arts in North Central Washington
BY JAMIE HOWELL
The entire purpose of the NCW Arts Alliance is to help bolster the Arts. This month, we proudly roll out a new service designed to do exactly that – non-profit fiscal sponsorship for member artists!
The only way to truly bolster the Arts in North Central Washington is to support the people who make the art in our region. We do that in a lot of different ways – hosting workshops such as the one offered just last month about how artists can build their online presence; establishing the Artist Index to help businesses and the community find their way to our local artists; publishing articles in the ArtBeat to spread the word about what our artists are up to every month.
But, no matter how artistically pure one’s motivations, drill down into each artist’s true needs and you will find a bank account driving a lot of the day-today decisions. Full-time pros and tentative newbies alike, the more moolah artists have at their disposal, the more time, material and motivation becomes available for them to create their art. And there’s a huge pot of money set aside for precisely that purpose that many artists never dip into – GRANT FUNDING. Why are they missing out? A variety of legitimate reasons – not
knowing where to find the grant opportunities or how to write the grant applications, for example. But the biggest hurdle is that the vast majority of grants require you to be a non-profit organization in order to be eligible. Any artist can become their own non-profit, but it is, to put it mildly, a massive hassle – expensive, time-consuming, having to write the dreaded “mission statement” and keep meticulous records. No thanks.
But NCW Arts has already gone to that trouble and, it turns out, we can “loan” out our 501(c)(3) non-profit status to local artists. It’s called “fiscal sponsorship.” Say you’re an artist who has spotted the perfect grant for your project, if only you were eligible to apply. Well, you can be.
All you need to do is file a simple application with NCW Arts. Once accepted, NCW Arts becomes the applicant on your behalf. (Don’t worry, you still retain the joy of writing the grant application.) It costs you nothing unless you are awarded the grant, in which case, a 10 percent administrative fee goes to NCW Arts (because we have a bank account driving our day-to-day decisions, as well) and then we route that grant money directly to you.
Not only that, any fiscally-sponsored project is also able to accept tax-deductible donations – an appealing prospect for many businesses or private individuals who would like to support your work.
The fact that we’ve built an entire nonprofit organiz ation means that you don’t have to. You can spend that time on your art, we’ll keep the meticulous records.
If you’d like to find out more about how to set up your project for fiscal sponsorship, visit ncwarts.org/fiscalsponsorship or send us an email at arts@ncwarts.org.
ON THE COVER: Artist/muralist Kathleen Dyer’s skateboard art and other paintings will be on display at Pybus Art Alley during November.
BY SCOTT BAILEY
Spokane artist Ellen Picken opens a new exhibition entitled “13 Senses” with an opening reception at the MAC Gallery on the campus of Wenatchee Valley College starting Friday, Nov. 7.
Picken engages multiple senses through her paintings and interactive sculptures, exploring complex themes of existence, ritual, and nature. Meaning emerges not only from the symbolic colors and shapes in her paintings but also from the carefully chosen materials she uses to create her handmade paints. Personally meaningful substances collected from significant places — such as willow ash, sandstone, eggshell, copper, salt, brick, pinesap, beeswax, rust, alluvial sand, deer bone, and iron oxide — are ground up and used to make her colors, deepening the experience of the works.
The 13 senses to which Picken refers in her exhibition are: Smell, Sight, Taste, Touch, Hearing, Space (Proprioception), Time, Weather change, Anticipating the contact of another person, Knowing someone is about to or just died, Sensing
danger, sensing a constellation of energy (a spirit or magnetic field), and the Feeling of oneness (all senses at once, not differentiated).
Best known for her monumental public artworks, Picken has created large-scale murals across the United States for prominent organizations like Adobe, Google, and NYC Department of Transportation. She has exhibited regionally and internationally at venues including Samsøn (New York, NY), Gage Academy (Seattle, WA), GlogauAIR (Berlin, GER), Lowell Ryan Projects (Los Angeles, CA), and Entropy Gallery (Spokane, WA).
Picken holds a BFA in Printmaking and a BA in Visual Communication Design from Eastern Washington University. She resides in Spokane, Washington.
WVC MAC Gallery Nov. 7—Dec. 12, 2025
Wenatchee First Fridays Opening Reception: 5-7 p.m., Friday, Nov. 7
To find more local arts events taking place this month, please visit ncwarts. org/events
This holiday season, ArtBox emerges with not one, but two celebrations of creativity and local talent — fi rst in Cashmere’s Mission District on Sat., Nov. 29, and again at the new ArtWorx studio spaces in a former Wells & Wade warehouse in downtown Wenatchee on Fri., Dec. 5. These events invite you to shop local, connect with regional artists, and support the growing creative economy of North Central Washington.
The historic Mission District and the industrial charm of the Wells & Wade warehouse each provide an inspired backdrop for a marketplace of artistry and imagination. Visitors will discover dozens of local artists offering original works, fi ne crafts, jewelry, and art pieces. Whether curating a new piece for your home, fi nding the perfect holiday gift, or simply enjoying a day immersed in creativity, ArtBox offers something for everyone.
More than an art market, ArtBox is an initiative designed to benefi t
both the artists whose works will be on display as well as the NCW Arts Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that strengthens the Arts across North Central Washington. Proceeds from ArtBox fund programs that connect artists with opportunities, support arts education, and ensure that creativity continues to thrive throughout the region.
“ArtBox is a celebration of what’s best about our community — creativity, craftsmanship, and connection,” says Nena Howell, NCW Arts’ Exhibition & Fundraising Coordinator. “When people support ArtBox, they’re not just buying art, they’re investing in a sustainable arts ecosystem that gives young artists a reason to stay, work, and create right here in North Central Washington.”
Each ArtBox experience will feature live music, art demonstrations, and a cash bar—with all beverage proceeds benefitting NCW Arts. These festive gatherings engage every sense, offering a warm, welcoming atmosphere where art and community meet. Expect pieces that reflect the region’s rugged
THE ARTS NEED YOU: Get Involved With ArtBox and Help Build the Creative Economy
FOR THE SHOW
Artist Applications are available online at ncwarts.org
SPONSOR THE SHOW
Help to expand access to the Arts and strengthen the infrastructure that supports local artists. Sponsors are needed to make these ArtBox events happen. Sponsor information can be found at ncwarts. org. Sponsorship opportunities available include:
• Visionary ($2,500+) - Be the official presenting sponsor and receive premium placement in all event materials and promotions.
la ndscapes, agricultural roots, and enduring artistic spirit.
ArtBox’s focus on fine craftsmanship ensures that every purchase carries meaning — not only for the buyer but also for the creative community it supports. For those who love original work, discovering local talent, and keeping their dollars in the region, ArtBox is a can’t-miss addition to the holiday season.
ArtBox is more than an art market — it’s a movement rooted in community pride and creative possibility. From every artist booth to every glass raised, ArtBox fuels the future of the arts in North Central Washington.
When the Arts thrive, communities do, too.
Join NCW Arts and a host of local artists, Sat., Nov. 29, at the Mission District, 207 Mission Ave., in Cashmere; and Friday, Dec. 5, at ArtWorx, 15 Yakima St., in Wenatchee to discover the ArtBox, support local artists, and build a lasting creative legacy.
• Patron ($1,000) - Sponsor a specific event feature and receive logo recognition in all event materials and live appreciation during the events.
• Supporter ($500) - Includes logo recognition in all event materials and live appreciation during the events.
• Friend of the Arts ($250) - Includes acknowledgment at the events and on the NCW Arts website.
Join the team that is making ArtBox happen. Each event will be powered by a team of local artists, board members and arts advocates – and there is always room for more. Volunteers will assist with setup, hospitality, artist support, beverage service and guest experience. Whether you can help for an hour or a full day, your contribution is vital to make these events a success.
If you’re passionate about the Arts and want to volunteer for ArtBox, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Nena Howell at nena@ncwarts.org or (509) 668-9887.
Wren Wilder, Matt Demke, Christopher Alma, and Lauren Leith, artists. Enter our turkey coloring competition!
Doctor’s War.” Author’s presentation at 6pm. Signed books available for purchase.
10. Art Alley @ Pybus 5-7 PM Kathleen Dyer, artist. Just Us, live music. Beverages and hors d’oeuvres by donation.
Horan Estates
1. Horan Estates Winery 3-7 PM $2 off glass pours.
2. Crayelle Cellars 3-6 PM $2 off glass pours.
3. Visit Wenatchee Tasting Room 4-7 PM Happy hour special: $5 flights of cider or beer.
6. Steam Panda 4-9 PM Buy one noodle soup, get 2nd noodle soup $5 off when you mention First Fridays. Dine in only
4. Stones Gastropub 3-9 PM $10 specialty cocktail.
7. Cave Noire 4-10 PM Enjoy a complimentary glass after any wine tasting flight.
6. Steam Panda 4-9 PM
Buy one noodle soup, get 2nd noodle soup $5 off when you mention First Fridays. Dine in only
7. Cave Noire 4-10 PM
Enjoy a complimentary glass after any wine tasting flight.
5. Watermill Winery On The Ave 3-8 PM Wine specials.
8. South @ Pybus 5-9 PM Maria’s Dream cocktail special, inspired by the trailblazing Mexican artist Maria Izquierdo.
1. Horan Estates Winery
$2 off glass pours.
2. Crayelle Cellars 3-6 PM $2 off glass pours.
American Shoe Shop PM Extended hours
8. South @ Pybus 5-9 PM Maria’s Dream cocktail special, inspired by the trailblazing Mexican artist Maria Izquierdo.
6. Cave Noire 4-10 PM
Enjoy a complimentary glass after any wine tasting flight.
1. American Shoe Shop 5–7 PM Extended hours
3. Stones Gastropub 3-9 PM $10 specialty cocktail.
4. Watermill Winery on the
Mercantile Day $10 day pass for First Fridays.
The Original Children’s Shop 3-5 PM 10% discount on all merch when you mention First Fridays.
7. Epoch 3-11:30 PM $2 off all House Cocktails all night long!
2. Mercantile All Day $10 day pass for First Fridays.
4. Woody’s Classic Man 3-8 PM Happy Hour pricing on all beers and ciders. Extended hours.
8. A Touch of Soul 5-9 PM
4. Woody’s Classic Man 3-8 PM Happy Hour pricing on all beers and ciders. Extended hours.
5. Steam Panda 4-9 PM
Buy one noodle soup, get 2nd noodle soup $5 off when you mention First Fridays.
Join us for a traditional Louisiana shrimp boil!
3. The Original Children’s Shop 3-5 PM 10% discount on all merch when you mention First Fridays.
9. South @ Pybus 4-9 PM
5. Time Capsule 3-7 PM Roll a D20 and get up to 20% off your entire purchase. 30% off Funko Pop figures.
Cocktail special: Albizu’s Holiday, a limited time cocktail inspired by Puerto Rican painter Olga Albizu.
5. Time Capsule 3-7 PM Roll a D20 and get up to 20% off your entire purchase. 30% off Funko Pop figures.
1. Inspirations Ceramic & Art Cafe 5–8 PM
Ladies Night pottery painting class. Ticket $5. Pottery sold separately.
2. American Shoe Shop 5–7 PM Extended hours.
3. Mercantile All Day
$10 day pass for First Fridays.
4. The Original Children’s Shop 3-5 PM 10% discount on all merch when you mention First Fridays.
5. Woody’s Classic Man 3-8 PM
Happy Hour pricing on all beers and ciders. 15% off store merchandise. Extended hours.
6. Time Capsule 3-7 PM
Roll a D20 and get up to 20% off your entire purchase. 30% off Funko Pop figures.
Kathleen Dyer working on a skateboard.
Artist Kathleen Dyer is on a roll. First she took the top spot in Wenatchee’s first-ever Columbia Street Mural Fest this past summer, and now she’s wheeling her artistic wares out at Pybus Public Market as November’s featured artist in the Pybus Art Alley.
Bright, punchy colors and bold, vibrant designs characterize Dyer’s work. A graduate of the Art Institute of Pittsburgh where she studied Media Arts and Animation, the Park City, Utah-raised artist brought her artistry to Wenatchee nearly two decades ago. After some fits and starts battling with that familiar bane of so many artists
known as “imposter syndrome,” Dyer is back to putting her art out into the world.
Her original pieces grace walls, windows, canvases, signboards and, now, skateboards up and down the Wenatchee Valley. The one-ofa-kind deck designs Dyer creates shred as readily as they show.
Boarders and art buffs alike can meet Dyer this First Friday, Nov. 7, from 5-7 p.m. at the Pybus Art Alley inside Pybus Public Market.
Have a First Friday event of your own coming up? Make sure to make it known by filling out the short form at wenatcheefirstfridays.com
By Thom Kokenge
In the heart of the Wenatchee Valley, a group of high school juniors is making waves with a sound that’s loud, fast, and unapologetically raw. Meet Icarus: Rayce Jones (lead vocals/guitar), William Rodriguez (guitar/background vocals), Finnegan Hart (bass/background vocals), and Landon Ortiz (drums/“attempted vocals”) - a four-piece rock band formed by teenagers with a shared love for thrash, groove metal, and grunge. In a conversation with NCW Arts, the band opened up about their origins, influences, and what it means to make music with your friends.
The story of Icarus begins in an unexpected place: a ukulele class. “At one point, we all went to Pinnacles (Prep) together,” Jones explained. “We did a ukulele class all together. We all liked similar music, and it kind of fell into place.”
What started with small stringed instruments evolved quickly. “We had… a rock band class that we all took together,” said Jones. “The ukulele teacher left and so we got a different music teacher.” That class
slowly evolved into more of what the students wanted to do.
“I brought my bass to school, and (William) brought his guitar to school,” Jones continued. “We played the Apple Blossom Festival that year. That was kind of where it all started.”
Though three members now attend Wenatchee High School while one remains at Pinnacles, they’ve kept the band together. “It’s just kind of hard being at different schools and all that,” guitarist Rodriguez admitted. But the bond remains strong. “We just kind of fit well together, I guess. It just kept evolving. We started practicing here at Landon’s (the drummer), and decided, hey, let’s learn some other songs. Eventually … let’s just make this a kind of an official thing.”
The band’s name wasn’t always Icarus. “I think the first one was … Untitled,” Rodriguez recalled. That name didn’t last. According to drummer Ortiz, “I just thought of … something that we were learning at the time. I just thought of Ica-
rus, because it sounded kind of cool.”
Does it reference the myth? “Not really. I knew who Icarus was, but I guess it’s kinda centered around it, kinda like the style,” Ortiz explained. Jones echoed the sentiment. “Yeah, it’s just a name we really like. When I see the word Icarus or think of it, I don’t really think mythology. When we hear that word, we think of us.”
The band’s influences are rooted in heavy metal music. “We all kind of started to get into, like, Metallica and Megadeth and that whole thrash metal thing,” explained Jones. “Then, Alice in Chains, Avenged Sevenfold, bands like that. Pantera.”
They have differing descriptions of the Icarus sound. “Thrash groove style,” says one. “Thrash sludge,” offers another. “It’s a real kind of a… it’s a mixture,” said lead vocalist Jones, citing Layne Staley of Alice in Chains, and Mathew Sanders of Avenged Sevenfold as vocal inspirations. “Incredible range and sound ... able to, like, fry scream where it hits hard and works very great.”
Guitarist Rodriguez’ influences lean toward, “more sludge-based, like Acid Bath and 16 … and the sludgy side of Alice in Chains.” Bassist Finnegan Hart praised, “Cliff Burton (formerly of Metallica) and David Ellefson (former Megadeth bassist).” Drummer Ortiz named “Lars Ulrich (Metallica), Nick Menza (Megadeath), and Vinnie Paul (Pantera).”
The Icarus songwriting process is a collaborative one. “Some songs, just those two have written,” Jones said, referring to Ortiz and Rodriquez. “They wrote our first three songs or so.” Now, said Jones, they’ve developed a practice rhythm. “We’d practice on a Saturday from, like, let’s say, 1 to 4 p.m., or 1 to 5 p.m., go and get food, and then come back and, through the night, just jam and write. We’ve already gotten a sort of idea of five songs that haven’t been brought to fruition quite yet.”
According to Jones, lyrics are the hardest part. “It’s hard to write lyrics and not see them as really cheesy, you know?” Sometimes, cheesy is the way to go, though. “We did get to a point where we’re like, yeah, this lyric is not good, but the way it sounds
in the song is awesome, we’re just gonna keep it,” said Rodriguez.
Beyond the Music
While music is their main influence, other inspirations creep in. “Art-wise, I really like gothic architecture,” Ortiz said. “When I’m, like, writing something, I kind of just, like, think about that and, like, in a movie, what would be playing during a scene with that in it.”
As for a message? “Have fun with your friends, I guess,” Jones summed up. “The whole point of being in a band is not only to make music and have fun making music, it’s to have fun with your friends making music.”
Spreading the Word
For Icarus, promotion is a grassroots effort. “Instagram,” Jones said. “We just kind of go around and talk to people we know.” Their pitch to potential fans is simple: “Come see us, have fun, respect the people, respect everything around you, like the venue.”
They believe in supporting local mu-
sic. “There’s no point in supporting these big, like, billionaire pop stars, whereas there (are) local bands working really hard on their stuff. It doesn’t hurt to show up to a show.”
What’s Next for Icarus?
The band is currently working on their first single. “Obviously, the next step after that is a full album,” said Jones. “We’ve been wanting to do [that] for years now.”
A recent policy change at their regular venue, IOOF Hall, pushed them to focus on originals. “We quickly realized, hey, we’re one of the only bands who are still playing covers. Our own written stuff is how you get out there.”
Their goal? “To eventually release an album, and see how much farther we can go with that,” said Jones.
Icarus plays along with two other bands on Friday, Nov. 14, from 7 to 10 p.m., at the IOOF Hall located at 601 N Chelan Ave. in Wenatchee. Tickets can be found on eventbrite.com
$2,000 OUTDOOR MUSIC GRANT OPEN NOW
Next year marks America’s 250th anniversary, and to help celebrate the Washington State Arts Commission (ArtsWA) is offering grants to organizations of $1,000 to $2,000 to support free outdoor music performances.
They estimate that six to eight projects in total will be funded, but priority is given to project in rural communities outside of King and Pierce counties. (That’s us, North Central Washingtonians!)
The deadline to apply is Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, and projects must take place anytime before Aug. 30, 2026. For the full details and to apply, visit arts.wa.gov and find “Explore Grants” under Grants & Resources in the top menu.
Another grant specifically targeting Washington’s rural communities is a new exploratory program aimed at bolstering arts and cultural projects that build social connections and a sense of belonging, particularly in communities with a strong agriculture-based economy and generational agricultural and food processing workers.
According to the ArtsWA, rural communities such as theses often face limited resources to initiate projects that foster belonging, social connection and civic
participation, community cohesion, and overall well-being. Projects can span all creative disciplines and must be fully accessible by the public.
Research shows that participation in the Arts can reduce stress, anxiety, social isolation; improve mental health outcomes; and foster improved quality of life. Research also shows that the only way to receive grants is to apply for them.
To find out how, visit arts.wa.gov and find “Explore Grants”under Grants & Resources in the top menu.
