Artist Sandra Bocus
used with permission

The Yelm Business Association (YBA) and The Triad Arts Theater hosted their long-anticipated community arts and crafts show on Saturday, December 12th. This open-to-the-public event was held in the landmark Masonic Lodge (Crowe Law Building) adjacent Gordon’s Garden Center and the Yelm Food Co-op and showcased the wide variety of artistic talent residing in our community.

Steve Craig, chair of YBA’s Beautification Committee said, “Though a fundraiser, the emphasis is on supporting and featuring local artists,” with a minimal arts and crafts participants’ entry fee of $25. He added this was the first of several art shows to be conducted annually. Craig was at the entrance foyer welcoming folks, mingling and being available throughout the 2 floors of artists’ displays. Roving the artists’ displays was Triad Ats Theater co-sponsor Jayne Cameron, all decked-out in the Christmas Spirit and with her welcoming smiles.

When I arrived, I was pleased to see the parking lot and adjacent on-street parking packed with vehicles. For a rainy Saturday afternoon with several on-going Christmas events in the area, this first-of-a-kind Art Show had a nice flow of patrons. Crowe Law Building (the former Masonic Lodge) owners Dan Crowe and Molly Carmody (Yelm Councilor-elect) were on-hand to share their work and inspiration in converting this jewel of a structure into their new law building. The transition is absolutely amazing.

A PARTIAL ARTISTS LIST:
* Rory Sagner, award-winning Yelm photographer was the first artist encountered on entering the building. She was stationed in the new Crowe Law Conference Room, a wonderful new space created from the partially unused foyer. Sagner has developed quite a reputation for noted awards for her vision.
Click here for Rory Sagner’s websites.

* Sandra Bocas, noted local artist previously featured in the January 2014 Nisqually Valley News, walking into her display, I was moved in seeing the various facets of faces in Sandra’s unique paintings. She described how she combines what she sees as the “inner and outer” beauty of each individual she paints. Of course, a highlight of Bocus’s artistic creations, who is originally from Trinidad and Tobago, were the various types of her “Hot Babe Hot Sauce.” I sampled the “sweet” Hot Babe Sauce to my delight.
Click here for the Sandra Bocus FB page.

* Marcia Keilee, popular long-time Yelm-area photographer, painter, poet, artist and illustrator, her display was on the building’s second floor in the former Mason meeting room and showcased her recently published poetry booklets titled Look for Joy, “a rhyming picture book for children and the child in all of us,” now with a Kindle edition.
Click here for the Marcia Keilee FB page.

* J. Rick Poulsen, Totally Twisted Trees, from Roy, WA. had what he calls a “unique and whimsical” display of decorative wire tree sculptures. Very creative pieces of art form a very talented individual.

* Leonie McTainsh, Magical Creations in Silk and Natural Materials, created a delightful display of her scarves and wraps, joined by hand-crafted nature dolls adorned with leaves, flowers, feathers, mosses and natural colored silks. McTainish is from New Zealand and has lived in the area since 2011. She had such a warmth of delight in sharing the inspiration in her work.
Click here for Leonie McTainsh’s website.

I look forward to more Art Shows and even more wonderfully talented participants!


Yelm Blogger Steve Klein is a Yelm Business Assn. founding Board member.