Mighty Tieton Summer Solstice: Arts Unbound
June 21-22, 2008

Arts Unbound was a mighty solstice weekend celebration of art, art books, and book arts in the burgeoning arts community, Mighty Tieton, in Central Washington's verdant Yakima Valley.

Arts Unbound was a collaboration between Artist Trust, Yakima Symphony Orchestra, Mighty Tieton, and Tieton Arts & Humanities. Over 200 artists, book enthusiasts, and art supporters gathered for a full weekend of exhibitons, installation/performances, and workshops hosted by some of Washington State's finest artists.

Here are highlights of the activities and contributing artists from the 2008 event. Please check back to this site for information on Mighty Tieton 2009! 

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Art, Ink, and Paper: Exhibitions, Demonstrations, and Discussions

• 10,000 square feet of art and exhibits! Featuring the work of a broad array of Book Artists, plus NW artists working in all media: Books; Wood Engravings; Prints; Leterpress; Installations; Jewelry; Sculpture; Mail Art; Collage; Paintings; Photography.
• Exhibiting artists include: Mare Blocker; Timothy Ely; Jim Croft; Carl Montford; Deborah Lawrence; Diego Samper; Ruth Marie Tomlinson; Bob and Fay Jones; Kimber Leblicq; Heidi Kirkpatrick; Beverly Rayner; Michael Burns; Catherine J. Lee; Matt Sellars; Jesse Burke; John Jenkins; Doug Keyes; William Powhida; Students from the School of Visual Concepts; Molly Epstein; Susanne Lechler Osborn; Dorothy Cheng; Naomi Landig; Swaantje Miller; Sara Owens; Larry Calkins; and others.
• Bookstore; Art Exhibits; Demonstration
• Handmade wood and bone book arts tools and Medieval Bookbinding Exhibition with Bookbinder, Toolmaker, and Conservator Jim Croft
• Buy and Fly a handmade Book Kite designed by Drachen Foundation's Greg Kono
• Exhibition and sale of artists' books, prints, and books about artists:
• Wessel & Lieberman Booksellers
• Inklings Bookshop
• University of Washington Press
• Marquand Books
• Andrea Stettler-Kohler
• Blue Begonia
• Decode
• Thomas Matthiesen
• Anna Marie Seymour
• Moving Forward: Resources for Artists Workshop: Miguel Guillen, Information Services Manager for Artist Trust, discussed the essentials of presenting your work; how to get informed about the funding and exhibition possibilities available to Washington State artists; and information on professional resources, health care, insurance, emergency assistance, and legal services available to artists. Miguel also presented information about Artist Trust's grant programs, information services, and the EDGE Professional Development Training Program for visual artists.
• PUNCH! Gallery exhibition
• Art & book swap and rummage sale and surprises!

Tieton Solstice Benefit Feast and Performance
Benefit for Artist Trust and Yakima Symphony Orchestra!

• Musical Entertainment: William Walton’s Façade. Chamber music with oration of verses by Dame Edith Sitwell. Join members of the Yakima Symphony Orchestra and Sarah Mattox (soprano) and Noah Baetge (tenor) as they poke fun at England's imperialism, mores and customs with satirical and naughty poems.
• Silent auction of one-of-a-kind pieces from artists including: Koren Christofides; Ellen Ziegler; Casey Curran; Randi Parkhurst; Doug Keyes; Boucante World Traveler; Ellen Ziegler; Mare Blocker; Justin Gibbons; Joanna Thomas; authors Laurie Blauner, Julie Larios, Martha Silano, Ana Maria Spagna, Gregory Spatz, John Mifsud, Mary Lou Sanelli, David Shields, Kathleen Alcala, Bharti Kirchner; and many others.
• Shocking and amazing art installations and performances by: Trimpin (Conlon in Purple: Tieton & Liquid Letters: Tieton); Allan Packer: (The Ozone Room); and Thomas Matthiesen (Slide Watching: Tieton).

Sunday Breakfast

• Morning sustenance and conversation: Creative Communities in Collaboration led by Brooke Creswell, Director of Music of the Yakima Symphony, with Washington State Poet Laureate Sam Green and artist, activist, creative community builder, and City councilwoman Karen Guzak.

[photos: George Miller, IV]

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