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Islanders Featured in 'Women Painters of Washington' Exhibition

Mercer Island Visual Arts League members Esther Akrish, Nancy Axell and Seiko Konya are included in this exhibition, which stops next in Seattle on Tuesday, Jan. 8.

Works from local artists Esther Akrish, Nancy Axell and Seiko Konya are featured in a statewide traveling exhibition which holds their next opening on Tuesday, Jan. 8 in Seattle.

Professional art juror Barbara Matilsky, curator of the Whatcom Museum, has brought 70 "Women Painters of Washington" members together to create a traveling exhibition for the first time, featuring a wide variety of quality art. The show will open at the at the Women Painters of Washington's Gallery in the Columbia Center Building, running from Jan. 8 – Feb. 22.

This traveling exhibition, titled "Celebration", started in November and will run through July 2013, showcasing a strong, diversified array of excellent paintings that include the full spectrum of mediums. The quality of the work and the different styles suggests the essence of this historical exhibition.

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Mercer Island artists and Mercer Island Visual Arts League members Esther Akrish, Nancy Axell and Seiko Konya are included in this exhibition.

"We were just looking for the best work from all of our artists from the association," said Exhibition Chair Kristi Dyson. "'Celebration' is highlighting the best of women's art in this state. It's a diverse group of artist that happen to be women building on a legacy of women who gathered together 82 years ago to give them an opportunity to express themselves through art."

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All artists will show one piece of their art. Seiko Konya will be showing a watercolor titled "Sound of Sora", Esther Akrish will be featuring "Taking a Break" using acrylic paint, and Nancy Axell offered a watercolor for the exhibition, titled "The Stillaguamish".

The Women Painters of Washington Gallery in the Columbia Center Tower is the second of five venues for this presentation of artistic excellence, which started in Everett.

The Women Painters of Washington Gallery is located in the Columbia Center Bldg, 701 5th Ave., Suite 310, in Seattle.

Upcoming “Celebration” Show venues will include:

  • Women Painters of Washington Gallery, Seattle, Jan. 8 – Feb. 22, Hours; Mon-Fri 11-4
  • Childhood’s End Gallery, Olympia, March 1 – April 21, Hours; Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 11-5
  • Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend, May 3 – 26, Hours; Thurs-Mon 12-5
  • Clymer Art Museum, Ellensberg, June 7 – July 27, Hours; Mon-Fri 10-5, Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4

Founded in 1930, Women Painters of Washington is an association with a current membership of 175 professional artists residing throughout the state. Artists are juried for membership and exhibit throughout the United Sates and abroad.

For more information about Women Painters of Washington and the artists participating in this show, please visit www.womenpainters.com.


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