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ARTBEAT THE COMET

SEPTEMBER 2026

WVC ART FACULTY EXHIBITION PAGE 3

WENATCHEE FIRST FRIDAYS MAP INSIDE

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ARTBEAT

A monthly publication by NCW Arts Alliance and The Comet

Publisher: Ron Evans Contributors: Jamie Howell, Meg Sanders Callie Baker NCW Arts - Elevating the Arts in North Central Washington

ON THE COVER:

“Bill’s Execrable Island Adventure” (from the Billionaire’s series) by Edgar Smith. One of many pieces in the upcoming MAC Faculty Art Show. Story on pg. 3

CALLING ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES:

The Time Has Come to PARTNER WITH THE ARTS

By Jamie Howell

his September, NCW Arts Alliance is launching a new Business Partnership campaign — and we’re asking the businesses that make up our region to step forward and invest in the creative economy that helps make North Central Washington such a vibrant place to live, work, and visit. Here’s the thing: art isn’t just something nice-to-have alongside a thriving local economy. It is integral

to a thriving local economy. Washington State’s creative sector contributes nearly $120 billion to the state’s GDP — almost 20% of our state’s total economic output. That’s murals on walls, gallery openings, live music at the local wineries and pubs, painters capturing the orchards and hillsides we drive past every day. It’s the artists, makers, and creatives who give our towns their character and give visitors a reason to stop, stay, and spend. Investing locally in the arts doesn’t just pay financial dividends — it builds the kind of healthy, connected community we’re all proud to call home. Why partner with NCW Arts Alliance? We’ve been at this since 2021, and the work of NCW Arts is really beginning to show its impact. We’ve built an Artist Index to help connect you with our artists and creatives. We’ve created the monthly publication you’re reading right now. We are helping artists apply for much-needed grants through our fiscal sponsor-

ship program. We host community events around the Arts such as MusicBox and ArtBox. We provide educational opportunities for creatives. We advocate statewide on behalf of artists and all the communities in the region we serve. NCW Arts has come a long way in just a few years. We’ve actually just completed a new strategic planning process to map out the next five years. What we want now is for NCW Arts to go even further, having ever greater impact, sustainably into the future. And for that, we need our local businesses at our side, partnering with the arts. When a business becomes a regional arts partner, you’re not just writing a check — you’re fueling public art, expanding access to creative programming, helping build vibrant public spaces across our region, and contributing to the ability of creatives across our communities to not only survive, but thrive. In return, our business partners get real visibility and connection back into the community, including: • Arts partner assets including win-

dow clings, membership cards, and more • Logo placement on the NCW Arts Business Partner Page • Recognition in ArtBeat and on social media • Free access to workshops • Early access to event sponsorship opportunities • One-on-one guided tours of the Artist Index and matchmaking sessions (at our top partnership levels) How to become a partner of the arts Ready to partner with the arts? We’d love to speak with you. Reach out by email to arts@ncwArts.org or visit ncwArts.org/membership.

TURNS OUT, YOUR ART TEACHER MAKES ART AN INTERVIEW WITH SCOTT BAILEY

Art by Scott Bailey

By MEG SANDERS

t has been a few months since I was able to sit down in person with Scott Bailey, head of the art department at Wenatchee Valley College (WVC) and curator of the MAC Gallery, and pick his fascinating brain about all things art. So, I jumped at the chance to interview him and learn more about the upcoming WVC Art Faculty Exhibition that opens on Friday, September 4th. I have known Scott since 2021 when he organized the steering committee for what would eventually become the NCW Arts Alliance. Since then, Scott has become not only a friend but someone I consider a mentor in the field of visual art, which for me continues to be a fluid space that I have an occasional dalliance with, but have never committed to. Scott has dedicated over 30 years to his craft and it is always insightful to hear his take on all aspects of the art world—curating, teaching, exhibiting, traveling. Today, we focused close to home and he was eager to highlight several aspects of the upcoming WVC Art Faculty Exhibition for our readers’ consideration. Let’s dive in!

For people who may not be familiar with Wenatchee Valley College’s art faculty, who are they, and what makes their work unique? For starters, we have a surprisingly well-rounded art department for the size of the school, so we are able to offer a wide range of classes, including drawing, painting, printmaking, graphic design, illustration, art history, sculpture, and ceramics. Haha! Is there anything you don’t offer? Not much! We are a two-year college, which means our main role is to provide the foundational classes from the first two years of an artist’s journey. This could allow a student to take multiple entry level classes and try out different artistic media to get an idea of what they really love and what excites them. Or, a student could choose to take multiple levels of a single medium and go very deep into any of those specific areas. But creating an atmosphere and classes that support serious experiential learning requires that we have excellent and accomplished instructors in each discipline. All of our instructors have advanced degrees

Art by Elena Payne and their own professional art practices. among other things. For the pieces in the These roles really require both profession- exhibition, she used a fascinating process al skill and an ability to communicate and called cyanotype, which involves creteach effectively. I’m super proud of the atively exposing photosensitive chemicals team we have in the art department. to light, to create beautiful, large-scale, somewhat abstract images on silk. Are all of the faculty going to have Sarah Sprouse runs our ceramics propieces in the exhibition? gram. Her recent ceramics pieces are Yes, all of the instructors and even our large-scale, organic vessels that are very Instructional Technicians are contributing thought-provoking. She just got her PhD work to the show. in Art History with a focus on women in ceramics, so her work speaks on many levAre there particular works in the ex- els. hibition that you’re especially excited Arius Elvikis is one of our three full-time for visitors to experience? instructors. He teaches graphic and digital Yes! I’ll give you an overview of all the design, but he also draws and paints, and instructors and a bit of a description of has his MFA in more traditional media. what they are submitting. His students learn how to use computers Elena Payne primarily teaches graphic and software to approach their work, but design, but she works personally with for this show, he is submitting ink on paper painting and printmaking and lots of other drawings. media. She has some great recent paintNatalie Dotzauer teaches a bunch of ings, and has taken some of that imagery classes for us, including printmaking, and partnered with eqpd to use her designs sculpture, drawing and 2d design. Her art on their totes. It will be interesting to have reflects the wide range of media she’s flua fine arts piece on the wall and then some ent in. One project in recent months has examples of more commercial expressions revolved around making molds of of the idea on the bags. Linda Lyons teaches photography, continued on pg. 6

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. Ly n n A r t G a rdens 3-6 PM M ura l reve al and chili dinne r. M ura l fe at ures wo rk by loca l a r tist s : B et sy Wat ter s, Fa ith M erz , E l l e n B ruex and Sa ra h Si m s .

( fo r f i r st 1 0 0 k i d s) co u r te sy o f : 30 Ri ve r s i d e Paym e n t s . 8. Tu mblewe e d 4-6 PM Stupid St i tc h , s u st ai n ab l e . tLe mgoul o ha ndm ad e c4l o hin s i nCga fé & De l i re cyc l ed fab r i c4 s .-7 PM

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9. Grou n d Cont rol by 6S-9 u ePM Ed i ck , Ne n a Howe l l , 8 Mija n o u Fo r ten , M F Po t ter y, Cl a u d i a M u l l e k , Cyn d i Noyd , ce ra mi c ar t i st .

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. Lem ol o Ca fé & D el i 4 -7 P M G ro u p s h ow feat uri ng work by S u e Ed i ck , Nena H owe ll, C la u d i a Mul l ek , Cy ndi N oyd, N ik i Stewart , Jane Za nol.

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11. iLa Yoga 7-9 PM b e n e f i t t h e Cre at i ve Ar t s Shine S o n g C i rc l e. Free r - stch pa rtic i p ato r y Cl s i nugbi nagf te even . o o l p ro g ra m . N o exp er i en ce n ecess ar y.

St u p id St itc h , su st a in a b le h a n d m a d e c lo t h in g u sin g re cyc le d fa b r ic s. 9. Gro u n d Co n t ro l 6 - 9 P M M ija n o u Fo r te n , M F Po t te r y, ce ra m ic a r t ist . 1 0. P y b u s A r t A l l ey 5 -7 P M “ F lu id H o r izo n s,” A le ssa n d ra P iro, a r t ist . H a n s H e ssb u rg , ce llist . B eve ra g e s a n d h o r s d ’o e u v re s by d o n at io n . 1 1 . i L a Yo g a 7- 9 P M S h in e S o n g C irc le. F re e p a r t ic ip ato r y sin g in g eve n t . N o ex p e r ie n ce n e ce ssa r y.

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12. Wenatc he e Valley M use um & C ult ural Ce nte r 6 -9 PM Dia d e l o s M u er to s , D ay of th e D ead cel eb rat i o n . Fre e ad mi ss i o n . J o i n u s for c raf t s , mar i ac h i , face pa in t i n g an d mo re.

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1 . H o ra n E st ate s Wi n e r y 3-7 PM $ 2 o f f g l a ss p o u r s .

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1. Horan Estates Winer y 7. Arlberg Spor ts | 5-7 PM 2 . C raye l l e Ce l l a r s 3- 6 PM 3-7 PM Visit Arlberg Spor ts $ 2 o f f g l a ss p o u r s . 7. C ave N o i re 4 -1 0 P M at E AT &$2 D RI off N K glass pours. and meet our friends 4 3. Vi si t We n atc h e e Ta st i n g E n joy a co m p lim e n t a r y g la ss Buddies aCafe Ro o m f te r a ny Car w in e tt. a st inA g f lig h t . . H o ra n E states Wi nery 6 . Steam Pand a 44-9 PM -7 PM 2. Crayelle Cellars | o 3-6 where people 3 -7 P M Buy on e n o dH l easpopy uPM p,hgoet 11 u r2n s pde ci a l : $ 5business flights $ 2 o f f g l a ss p o urs . e s o u p $5 f fdwh u e r. o f oci e r en o r yo be 8. South @ Pybus 5 $2 off glassnoodl make meaningful mepours. ntio n Fi r st Fr i d ays . D i n e 5-9 PM . C raye ll e Cel l a rs 3- 6 PM in only E connections 4 . Sto n e s G a st ro pub M a r ia ’s and D re a m provide co c kt a il $ 2AVo f f g l a ss p o urs . 39PM PM sp e c ia l, in sp ire d by t h e 7. C ave Noire 4-1 0 DO 3. Stones Gastropub and 1 0 tsar p ye ci l t y co ckt a i ldelicious . t racoffee ilb la zin g M ex ic a n a r t ist . Vi s i t We natchee Ta st in g Enjoy a co mp l i $ men g laass Ro o m a fte r a ny wi n e t ast i n g f l i g h t . 3-9 PM snacks. M a r ia I zq u ie rd o. 4-7 P M 5 . Wate r m i l l Wi n e r y H a p py h our s p eci al : $5 specialty flights $10 cocktail. O n Th e Ave 3- 8 PM of c id e r o r b eer. 8. Sou t h @ P ybusWi n e s p e ci a l s . 5-9 PM 8. South @ Pybus . Sto ne s G a stro pub Ma ria ’s D ream co c kt ai l 4. Water mill Winer the 11 AM-9 PM 3-9 PM spe cia l , i y n s pon i red by the $ 1 0 s p e c i al t y co ckt a il. tra ilbl az i n g M ex i c an ar t i st Ave | 5-8 PM Cocktail special: Flores Ma ria Izq u i erd o. e 12r m il l Wi nery . Wate specials. Para Aliza, inspired , On The Ave 3-Wine 8 PM Wine s p e c i al s . by the work of Aliza ST A WN I MSteam Panda | 12-9 PM SH O P DO WNTO 5. Nisenbaum, representing K YA Buy one noodle soup, care, connection, and 1. American S hoe S hop 4 . Wo od y’s Cl a ssi c M a n get 2nd noodle soup the movement of culture 5–7$5 PM 3- 8 PM Ex tended ho urs p py Ho u r pCity r icin g and on betweenHa Mexico l S H O P off. D O WN TDine O WN in only, must a ll b e e r s a n d cid e r s . mention First Fridays. New York. 2. Merc ant ile E x te n d e d h o u r s . .

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1 . A m e r i c a n Sh oe S hop 4. Wood y ’s C l a s s i c M a n AD SPACE 5 -7 P M 10 AM -8 W E N AT C H E E F I R S T F R I D AY S.CO M PM Ex t e n d e d h o u r s . H a ppy H o u r p r i c i n g o n al l be e r s a n d c i d e r s - $ 3 W E N A T C H E E F I R S T F R I D AY S . C O M 2 . Me r c a n t i l e | A l l - day and $ 5 . B u y 1 p a i r o f $ 1 0 d a y p a s s for Fi r s t pant s a n d s ave 5 0 % o n PM Fri d a ys. a s ec o n d p a i r. E x t e n d e d hour s . t 3 . T h e O r i g i n a l Chi l dr en’s BOTTLE SHOP Sh o p | 1 0 A M - 5 P M 5. T he T i m e C a p s u l e 1 0 % d i sc o u n t on 11 AM - 7 P M all m e r ch w h e n you Rol l a D 2 0 a n d g e t u p m en t i o n F i r st Fr i day s . t o 20 % o f f yo u r e n t i r e pur ch a s e . 3 0 % o f f Funko Po p f i g u r e s . HEE.ORG

ONSORS AND SUPPORTING PARTNERS

ANNA JOY @

LEMOLO CAFE & DELI Anna is a South African based artist working in the medium of oil paint to create vibrance and depth, aiming to evoke a sense of

beauty and life in each piece. Her inspiration is often found in nature and capturing the effect of light.

Continued from page 3 architectural details from various points of interest around town. She has taken some of the plaster casts, cut them up, and re-formed them into very unique sculptures. Then she has used the traditional craft of “flocking” to make the surfaces beautifully colorful and fuzzy. Edgar Smith paints in a range of styles, including an incredible ability in photo-realism. Recently, he’s been using his skills to communicate on world issues in a way that is simultaneously beautiful and heartbreaking. Ellen Bruex teaches figure drawing, mural illustration, and art history. She is another fascinating multidisciplinary artist on our staff. She has been very interested in language, so for a lot of her works, she layers text to create a visual form of poetry in various forms. And then there’s me! I’ve spent a lot of hours this summer on a large painting—the largest one I’ve done in this particular style. It is 5’ x 9’ and is made up of over 4.6 million specs of color. It looks grey, almost monotonous from far away, but up close you can see that it breaks into patterns and interlocking compositions of colors, so you have different experiences from different distances.

sure I am thinking about that color theory as I’m making my own work. How does having a gallery on a community college campus contribute to the broader arts community? I feel that it’s very important to have a gallery on campus. We see ourselves as serving the needs of our students in our department by showing what professional artists do, but we’re also sharing the MAC building with music students who might engage with the work. Others from all over campus come by to experience something new, like when English professors bring their students over to use the exhibitions as inspirations for their writing projects. We are also open every day for anyone in the community to see and experience the work. I think all of this serves an important cultural need for the area. Not only for the art department, but for the campus and the whole community. We strive to have exhibitions that are excellent and evocative, no matter the medium, where there is always something to learn. For someone who says, “I don’t know much about art,” what would you encourage them to look for or think about when they visit the show? At a base level, there is going to be a wide variety of things to see and experience. There will undoubtedly be something for everyone. Even if the work isn’t someone’s cup of tea, something they’d like to have hanging above their couch, I hope they can respect its quality and try to appreciate how it communicates the artist’s vision and expression.

I can’t wait to see everything! It sounds amazing. Why do you think having a faculty show is significant? I think it’s our responsibility to show the students and community what we’re doing in our own studios. Maybe not every year, but it’s important that we put ourselves out there and demonstrate that we practice what That’s a great point. I feel like it gives we preach. We hope to inspire our students but also want to open a dialogue with them me permission to like what I like without and maybe even give them the opportunity thinking I “should” like something in particular. to critique their instructors for a change. Yeah, I think if people come with curiosI love the concept of students being ity and wonder, they will likely find someable to develop their artistic discernment thing that stimulates their senses and gives and critical thinking skills. Can you say them things to think about. When you go to a museum you might more about that? Well, it is a little tricky to put personal end up scanning a wall, looking past some work up in front of students. We are cer- pieces and getting sucked into others. The tainly not trying to suggest that they make MAC Gallery is small, so viewers will be work like ours, but we hope it is interesting able to give attention to the variety and for them to see where we are coming from. quality of everything there, and hopefully We do want to create opportunities for our they can hone in on something in particular instructors to deepen dialogue with the stu- that moves them. dents. It’s a special opportunity to connect Thank you so much, Scott! Is there and hopefully build trust and respect. anything else you wanted people to know How does teaching art influence the about this show? Most of the artists will be there for the faculty members’ own creative practicFirst Friday reception, so it’s a great opes—and vice versa? I think our work is a product of all the portunity for students and community things we experience in life, so everything members to meet them and strike up a is a potential influence. For example, I per- dialogue! sonally teach painting and color theory. We have lots of discussions about what it means 2026 WVC Art Faculty Exhibition to put different spots of color together, how MAC Gallery at Wenatchee Valley College Friday, Sep. 4 5-7 pm adjacent spots of complementary colors cancel one another out from a distance. I’m

Art by Linda Lyons

POEM OF THE MONTH Pig Skin Ana Coulier

The first cold Sunday still tightens something in me. Leaves scrape the sidewalk. Someone down the block has the game too loud. A whistle. A crowd rising together. That low October light through the living room blinds. I used to know the score by the way the floorboards sounded. Halftime meant quiet. Quiet meant maybe. Even now, when the announcer starts shouting, my shoulders remember before I do. Funny what the body keeps. Other people see helmets, beer, painted faces, a clean green field. I see the clock counting backward and wait for the door to open.