League Activities
Monthly Meetings
Olympia Art League members meets the third Thursday of each month, except June, July, August, and December. Meeting place is the First Christian Church, 701 Franklin St SE, in downtown Olympia. (see map).
Members arrive at 6:30 PM to socialize and share their newly created art with fellow members. Meetings commence at 7:00 PM with a short business meeting, followed by an interesting demonstration by an accomplished guest artist.
Meetings provide an opportunity to conduct business, socialize, network, and to learn new techniques and ideas from guest speakers. Visitors and prospective members are always welcome! Please see monthly newsletters to determine scheduled speakers.
Please see monthly newsletters to determine scheduled speakers.
Annual Juried Show
The League sponsors an annual juried show, a summertime regional show for artists in Western Washington. The League has enjoyed a long tradition of sponsoring regional exhibitions that have proven to be very popular with area artists. (Download the prospectus for the Olympia Art League Juried Show - July 13 – July 26, 2013)
Members-Only Show
The League also sponsors an annual Members-Only Show at a community location. It’s open to all members. Watch for more information in the monthly newsletters.
Paint-outs and Paint-Ins
Paint-Outs - When warm weather arrives, usually in April or May, members meet weekly at various scenic locations to paint together. They enjoy the fellowhip of other artists, and the special quality that painting outdoors contributes to their works of art. Non-members are invited to join them. A community exhibit of their work provides a finale to the outdoor painting season.
Download the paint out schedule
Paint-Ins - Starting in October Karen Crate hosts weekly Paint-Ins at the Clubhouse at Thunderbird Village, 716 Dennis Street, SE, Tumwater, WA where members and non-members may paint and consult with each other as they create their art.
Art in the Community
Member artists have an opportunity to display and sell their art at community locations which provide good customer exposure. No commission is taken on sales. The work is rotated bi-monthly, all members are eligible to participate. Monthly newsletters provide location and rotation details.
County Fair Art-for-All-Ages
The Olympia Art League has been a sponsor of the fine
arts exhibit at the Thurston County Fair for many years. The fair is a
precious, old-fashioned event complete with 4-H livestock exhibits, ferris
wheels, canned pickles and cotton candy. It is the League’s task
to staff the exhibit, and to select the award-winning pieces from a large
selection of fine art entries from all ages. Most League members sign
up to take a turn staffing the exhibit at this fun event.
The Thurston County Fair takes place annually the first week in August. All ages and artists at all levels of ability are welcome to enter.