Arts Commission selects local artists for 2024 Arts Walk covers

The Olympia Arts Commission has selected the artists to do the cover art for the 2024 Arts Walk programs.

On Thursday, Olympia Arts Program specialist Angel Nava announced the jury's recommendations of cover artists for the spring and fall events.

The jury recommended Eileen Bochsler to do the cover art for fall while David Hoekje for spring. Two alternate artists, Danny Schreiber and Julie Kluh, were also selected in case the primary artists become unavailable.

According to Nava, the jury reviewed portfolios from 18 local applicants. She presented the jury's choices and the artists' past works.

"This is exciting because we have not had photography represented on the cover in a very long time," Nava said of Hoekje's artwork.

Nava noted that in Bochsler's portfolio, the works that resonated most with the jury were more abstract pieces from the second half of her submitted works.

The Arts Commission selected Eileen Bochsler to do the cover art for fall.

"The selection looks great," Commissioner Katherine Ransom commented. "It is nice to have two very different kinds of mediums…I think they are great pieces."

According to Nava, the Olympia Arts Walk celebrates the work of local artists by commissioning them to create original art for the posters of the spring and fall events.

Once chosen, the artists will be tasked with creating new art for the cover of the Arts Walk 2024 maps and event posters. These artworks will be a primary focus of event promotion and will be viewed in various ways, including up close and from a distance. They will also be reproduced in different media, including digital and print publications.

The Arts Commission selected David Hoekje to do the cover art for spring.