Plum Street YMCA mural wins Arts Walk Innovation Award

If you have driven down Plum Street and thought you saw something new – well you have. The newest mural to grace downtown Olympia is on the wall of the Plum Street YMCA and has recently been selected for an Arts Walk Innovation Award.

The Arts Walk Innovation Awards were created to honor and support excellence and innovation in community engagement through the arts. In 2023, up to five awardees were selected for the spring event and another five will be selected for the fall event. Projects are selected based on how well they exemplify innovation/creativity and community engagement through the arts. Registered participants are automatically considered for the award based on the information included in their registration form by the corresponding event registration deadline. This year, five projects were selected out of 83 registered.

Projects can include but are not limited to new works of art, performances, and art activities designed to engage community members in unique ways. Projects must be free and open to the public. Selected awardees are highlighted in event publications and receive a complementary Olympia Arts Walk registration for the following Arts Walk.

YMCA mural is not alone

The YMCA’s mural design elements include images unique to our region and are also part of a larger, national project - You Are Not Alone Murals. The mural was developed by Olympia-based designer, artist, and business owner Elisa Del Giudice. According to the YMCA press release, Giudice weaves creativity and empathy into meaningful visual experiences. Guidice co-owns Bent Design Co. with her partner Tam. You can learn more about the artist and her work at elisadelgiudice.com | bentdesign.co

Reception to honor artist

The public is invited to join the Plum Street YMCA on Friday, October 6 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. during Olympia Arts Walk as they feature Giudice, with live music from Tacoma indie artist Great Comet.