Oil and color pencil artist Judy Sleight is on display from February 25 - April 5.

Judy has enjoyed drawing and other artistic pursuits since she was a child. Drawing classes in high school and college gave her a good foundation. She started oil painting in 1974 after first attending classes at a local art store and then taking workshops from many different Northwest artists.

Her style is realistic and detailed and her medium is oil on nylon canvas. She also works with colored pencils. Judy strives to capture the magic of light and shadow and enjoys painting a variety of subjects from mountains, seascapes, gardens and florals to an occasional still life or building. The inspiration for her paintings comes from the wonderful variety of nature in the Pacific Northwest. Her work is included in collections throughout the United States as well as in England, Australia, & New Zealand.

Building Awarenss Quiz (answers below)

Which arts organization is celebrating its 25th year?

Which juried exhibit is entering its 53rd year?

What type of art classes can you take through the City's recreation division?

Renton Civic Theatre, Renton Annual Art Show, there are many - check out the classes online.

Become a fan of Renton Arts Network to be part of Renton's arts & culture community!

City Public Art Display at Renton History Museum

UW Museology graduate student Colleen Lenahan will be curating an art exhibit at the Renton History Museum showcasing works from the City of Renton's public art collection. The exhibit, which will run from June 4th through August 31, will focus on the concept of place, delving into some of the many ways we attach personal meanings to the places in our lives.

In order to fully capture what Renton means to its inhabitants on a personal level, Lenahan is actively seeking input from community members. If you would like to share your story about what places in Renton speak to you or how Renton informs your identity, she would love to hear from you and can be reached at cllenahan@gmail.com.

Arts & Culture = Jobs
Did you know that arts & culture is an economic driver in the economy? How many people do you know in Renton that earn a living from a creative endeavor? From graphic designers to museum professionals, the arts & culture fields contribute not only to the livability of the community but also it's economic base.  The RMAC has been selected as a pilot site to participate in the Washington State Arts Commission's Creative Vitality Index (CVI ) program.  This will allow us to examine the types of creative jobs that currently exist in Renton and develop strategies to support these industries or further develop emerging industries. 
If you are interested in participating in a focus group or to help make this happen or would like to learn more, please contact arts@rentonwa.gov.

Bravo Awards

The RMAC presented three Bravo Awards at the December 11th City Council Meeting. These prestigious awards are in recognition of individual efforts to make art and culture a vital part of the Renton Community. The recipients were Kevin Kaiser, Mike Simpson – and Doug Kyes who was surprised by this award at the time of presentation.

Mike Simpson is the leader of the Renton City Municipal Band, a previous president of Allied Arts, plays jazz on his French horn at many community occasions, and has taught at Renton, Lindbergh, and Kenwood High Schools. His talents and efforts have been valuable assets for music lovers in the community.

Kevin Kaiser is the Artistic/Executive Director of the Evergreen City Ballet. His passion and commitment to dance has led to bringing high level, quality performances to the City of Renton. The Evergreen City Ballet is unique in offering dance classes and performances, in a wide range of styles and provides community outreach, education and employment for many young dancers. 

Doug Kyes has served in leadership roles as a Renton Municipal Arts Commissioner, board member of Allied Arts of Renton, original official artist for Renton River Days, is an active member of the Renton Rotary Club, and has donated many of his original art pieces to the city of Renton where they are on public display. His devotion to the city of Renton in promoting his community as an art and cultural center is very much appreciated. 

The three were presented with plaques commemorating these significant achievement awards by Mayor Denis Law.

Public Art Piece

Untitled by Hai Ying Wu.

The bronze and stone sculpture, located at Renton Fire Station #14, is a tribute to all Renton firefighters. Fire Station #14 is located at 1900 Lind Avenue Southwest.

Hai Ying Wu (also known as Jason Wu) is a Chinese American sculptor best known for his firefighter memorials and his memorial commemorating the Auto-Lite Strike in Toledo, Ohio. A native of China, Wu received his degree in sculpture from the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and became staff sculptor for the city of Chengdu on the Chengdu Public Arts Commission. He worked primarily in public art and in the "socialist realist" genre. A large number of his public art works can be seen in Chengdu. He participated in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, and was caught in the square when the Chinese military attacked the demonstrators.  He immigrated to the United States later that same year, and in time became a U.S. citizen. He worked in construction and as a dishwasher before enrolling in the University of Washington School of Art. He graduated with a Master of Fine Arts degree. For his master's thesis, he designed a memorial to 19th-century Chinese American railroad workers which was later installed in a park in Tacoma, Washington. As of 2007, he divided his time between his home in Everett, Washington, and China.

Wu is best known for sculpting the Seattle Fallen Fire Fighters Memorial in Seattle's Pioneer Square. A design competition was held among all interested students in the UW School of Arts, and Wu's design was chosen. He has erected similar memorials throughout the Pacific Northwest. He also created the Auto-Lite Strike Memorial in Toledo, which commemorates the violent United Auto Workers strike of 1934. His work for Compass Health in Everett, Washington, was his first sculpture to focus on children.

Artist Statement:

My artistic focus is creating works that are meaningful, visually dynamic, and designed to fit the site's location, function, and social context.  As a public artist, I am sensitive to the various roles that artwork can play. I believe public art can form a natural link to the area that surrounds it. I also know public art can have a positive impact on a community by reaching the souls of a broad audience.