Things to do

Support your local artists this weekend in Tenino

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Pablo Picasso once said, “The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”

This weekend you can take a bath from the daily humdrum by visiting the Creative Market at 147 Olympia Street North featuring local artists in and around the region.

There will be a healthy variety of works in the market, from stained glass works to watercolor prints, to wire wrap jewelry, and even local writers selling their books based on local settings.

Organized by Tenino Arts, the market is a product of the pandemic, explained spokesperson Jenny Hall, when other art events were shut down and canceled because of the lockdown.

“When all the events were canceled in 2020, a friend asked me, ‘Well, since our events are canceled, do you want to set up in my parking lot?’” shared Jenny. “We set up our booth in her parking lot and invited some other artists, and it grew through the summer.”

Grow it did, with the group hosting a holiday and spring market as well, with their pool of artists growing.

“One of the things that we want to do is help emerging artists and beginning artists to establish a presence,” said Jenny. “We try to highlight any of the artists that have connected with us, and then I also try to share other local artistic events happening because we just want to support the community.”

And even though she says they’re high-end, Jenny assures us there’s something for everyone in the market.

“I don't mean high-end as far as expensive,” she explains. “I mean, it's fine art, so there is quality.”

“The artists are not going to say professional, but they're much more professional. They're highly skilled is probably the best term.”

As for the cost? Jenny says it can range from a couple of dollars to a few hundred for the more intricate pieces.

Jenny hopes that by dropping by at the market, you’ll be able to appreciate local businesses and artists, see what they’re all about, and hopefully support them.

“When you buy local art – because when an artist creates a work of art, there's part of themselves that goes into each piece. You're investing in your community.”

“It's a person-to-person connection.”

Editors’ Note: Things to Do highlights activities and events in and around Thurston County that you may not know are happening that you might find interesting.

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