By MARY JANE GLASER
For the Reporter
In May 1997, a group of educators and community members convened to discuss ways the arts could be showcased and supported in the greater Maple Valley area. From that group, the Maple Valley Creative Arts Council was born. The non-profit group has held 10 arts festivals at the Lake Wilderness Lodge where local artists and performers displayed their talents. The arts council has been impressed by the incredible local talent of painters, potters, glass artists, sculptors, metal artists, textile artists, jewelry artists, singers, poets, musicians, dancers, actors, filmmakers and storytellers.
Over the past 10 years, the arts council has held music concerts and workshops and supported arts programs in the Tahoma School District. The Mary Lou Harting/ Tahoma Music Faculty Concert, Tahoma Jazz Band and Jazz Choir benefit, Cameras on Caffeine and The Visual Experience film showings are annual traditions produced by the arts council. Ensemble Ballet Theatre and the Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra have both partnered with the arts council on special events.
Based on the positive comments and conversations with artists, performers and community members regarding the arts, we knew that there was a desire to create relationships and partnerships with one another through the arts. The arts council believed that the community needed an art gallery and performance and teaching space.
A permanent home, the Creative Arts Center, 23220 Maple Valley Hwy. SE, Suite 15, Maple Valley, 425-432-0810, www.maplevalleyarts.com was opened in September 2008. It is designed to offer a gallery space for displaying visual art, a stage for performing and enough room for classes, workshops and meetings. Since the all-volunteer organization opened the CAC, it has held a two-day grand opening celebration and three artist receptions for featured artists and the community. The arts council’s version of an arts fair, Baz-Art, was held in November. Open mics are held every second and fourth Saturdays. Locals are invited to perform or enjoy as audience members. The gallery is open the second Friday evening of the month for the community to enjoy the artwork or share and converse about projects.
Proposals are currently being accepted for classes. A children’s art class, two youth improv acting classes, an adult drawing class and an adult painting class are accepting applications now. The Web site has more information on the classes.
The Tahoma Alumni Film Showing is scheduled 4 to 5:30 p.m. March 7. Tahoma grads that have gone on to study film in college or film school will show their latest works. All proceeds will go to the annual Tahoma Video Production scholarship. Garlic Jim’s will offer pizza by the slice during the dinner break. At 7 p.m., the film Expiration Date will be shown followed by a question and answer session with the director Rick Stevenson, and Tahoma grad, Jessica Skerritt, who was featured in the film. Expiration Date was shot at several Puget Sound locations, including Smith Brothers Farms.
The arts council’s goal is to create community through the arts in a busy and thriving hub of arts activities. The belief that a vibrant arts presence is a mark of a healthy, robust community is integral to the focus of the Maple Valley Creative Arts Council. New members and new ideas are always welcome. Monthly meetings are held the third Thursday of the month at the Creative Arts Center. Everyone is welcome.
Mary Jane Glaser is the president of the Maple Valley Creative Arts Council.
