By RACHEL BRANT
Staff writer
The small, yellow house on the corner of Washington Avenue and Lowell Street in Old Town Silverdale is home to beautiful paintings, sculptures and photographs.
Silverdale Fine Arts will host its grand opening celebration from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14. The art gallery is the newest artists’ attraction in Silverdale.
“It’s a project that we’ve been working on for a long time,” said Paul Taylor, a member of the Silverdale Fine Arts board of directors.
A building in Old Town Silverdale became vacant about a year ago and Taylor decided the time was right to start the art gallery.
“We saw a building on the market and we thought maybe this was a good time,” he said. “I researched different studies for artist co-ops to see if we could basically afford a gallery.”
Taylor had a certified public accountant review the art gallery’s business plan and determined that the nonprofit organization could not afford the space.
“It gave me a starting point to know how much we could afford,” Taylor said.
Some time later, a few more properties became available in Old Town Silverdale and Silverdale Fine Arts found the perfect property to fit their needs.
“The Port (of Silverdale) owns this building, so they were very helpful in getting us in here,” Taylor said.
The Silverdale Fine Arts board of directors created bylaws and began preparing the building for opening in October.
“And then the work began,” said Joyce Jordan, Silverdale Fine Arts executive director. “We did a lot of painting, but not the kind of painting I was used to.”
The group painted the building and installed carpet and special lighting to showcase the artwork.
Ten artists, including Taylor and Jordan, will showcase their artwork at Silverdale Fine Arts. Photography, glass and alabaster work, watercolors, oils, pottery, wood turning and glass on metal pieces will be on display throughout the building.
Silverdale Fine Arts sits in front of Maria Mackovjak’s Old Town Custom Framing and Gallery. Taylor said there was some discussion about the two businesses joining to form one, but the art galleries still sit very close to one another and attract numerous artists.
“We’re about as close as you can get without being in the same building,” Taylor said.
Friday’s grand opening celebration will include refreshments and the music of a classical guitarist. The grand opening celebration coincides with the Old Town Silverdale Art Walk.
“We want to try and get the Port and county interested in supporting the arts because we think that cultural development should get some focus,” Taylor said. “Downtown Bremerton has an art district, but we think Old Town should be an art district. We’re pushing for that.”
Artists interested in showcasing their work at Silverdale Fine Arts may visit the gallery’s Web site at www.silverdalefinearts.com. Taylor said the most current information has yet to be posted, but once things settle down from the opening process, he will update the Web site.
“As soon as we get a chance to catch our breath we’ll get the Web site up-to-date,” he said. “Hopefully once they see our gallery they’ll come knocking on our door.”
Silverdale Fine Arts also plans to host various community events such as workshops and arts and crafts fairs.
“We think we’re going to be busy promoting the artists and gallery,” Taylor said. “We’re going to make a little noise so people can find us.”
Silverdale Fine Arts
9020 Washington Ave. NW
Silverdale
(360) 698-5527
www.silverdalefinearts.com
Tuesday-Saturday
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
