SISTAHS celebrates Black women making art from a diverse pallet of materials, from paper, fabric, and paint to cast offs otherwise destined for landfills. Their art is rooted in traditional African and African American techniques and cultural touchstones. The art they produce is a combination of Black storytelling and appreciation of Black beauty.

SISTAHS is an exhibit of four Pacific Northwest artists of African descent. Brenetta Ward is a fabric artist, third-generation quilter, and oral historian. Jite Agbro is known for her colorful figurative artwork featuring layered patterns, sharp contrast, and fabric and paper collage. Debra Harris-Branham conjures the energy of her storytelling into artistic imagery. Marita Dingus is an environmental feminist and mixed-media sculptor focused on using recoverable materials.

Make a postcard and participate in Postmark’s next exhibition, “Postmarked: Connecting Communities!” Postcards are now available at Postmark Center for the Arts during open hours, and at City of Auburn special events listed below.

The purpose of this project is to bring creative communities from around the world together under one theme: What does community mean to you? This intends to capture personal definitions of community and identity from artists of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. Please respond to the prompt on your postcard in artwork and/or writing, stamp, and mail or hand deliver by Friday, June 14th to Postmark Center for the Arts, City of Auburn, 910 9th Street SE, Auburn WA, 98002, U.S.A.

POSTMARK HOURS:

Wednesday: 12-4PM
Thursday: 12-6PM
Friday: 12-4PM
(Starting June 1st) Saturday: 12-4PM

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Pet Palooza (Game Farm Park, 3030 R Street SE, Auburn, WA | May 18th)
Auburn’s Farmer’s Market (Les Gove Park - 1140 Auburn Way S | Sundays, starting June 2nd)

We look forward to the opening of this exhibition at the end of July. We will provide updates as they become available. The City of Auburn is thrilled to be partnering with you to represent the creativity of people from around the world, thank you.

Seattle Opera Presents: Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers!
Saturday, June 1st | Free
@ Postmark Center for the Arts

The Seattle Opera Presents: Monkey and Francine in the City of Tigers! A 45-minute opera for audiences of all ages that fuses together music and folktales from India, China, and West Africa to tell the story of Monkey and his brainy sister, Francine. The siblings must learn to cooperate to escape a hungry crocodile and outwit the greedy Lord of the Tigers.

Saturday, June 1st | Free | All Ages
Register Session One: 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Register Session Two: 3:00 - 4:00 PM 

Poetry at the Postmark
Wednesday, June 5th | Free
6:30 - 8:00PM
@ Postmark Center for the Arts

Join us for Poetry at the Postmark! The City of Auburn is hosting a poetry reading series on the first Wednesday of each month at Postmark Center for the Arts on Auburn Avenue.  

Featured Reader, Joseph G. Sissón: After a thirty-seven-year education career in California and Washington, Joseph G. Sissón authored a historical memoir, Down the Road a Piece. Prior writing experience includes Plant Amnesty’s newsletter, University of Washington’s Voice, Sacramento’s Poet and other vers libre poetry. Speaking engagements include the American Association of University Women, the Veterans Day program at Seattle’s Museum of Flight, Seattle’s Highpoint and Douglas Truth Libraries, Radio Station KLOI-LP 102.9, and a True Voice Podcast interview. He co-chairs African American Writers’ Alliance meetings as well as attending writing groups in Renton and Sumner. As a world traveler, he has visited the Philippines, Japan, Australia, Papua New Guinea, all three North American countries, East Africa’s Zanzibar, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia and several countries in Europe: the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Ireland, Scotland, England, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Greece, and Turkey. His future travel plans include South America, Antarctica, and China.
An entrepreneur, he is completed graduate work at California State Colleges, the University of Washington, Harvard, and Columbia University. He is an avid hiker, yoga and Pilates participant, and a fair-weather cyclist, surviving Puget Sound’s rainy season by drinking black coffee and reading.

Intro to Portrait Drawing
Thursday, May16th
5:00-7:00PM

Come and learn the basics of portraiture by forming the proportions of the face and plugging in features! All ages and skill levels are invited to explore drawing a proper face in this beginner class. Please bring your own paper and drawing implements.

Ages: 12+ | Mixed
Instructor: Amanda Jenkinson
Date: Thursday, May 16, 2024 | 5:00-7:00PM
@ The Postmark Center for the Arts.
Register Now!

Intro to Guitar I
Thursday, May 23rd
5:30-7:30PM

This course serves as an introduction to the instrument and will provide students with instant access to making music on the guitar. In this class we will go over string tuning, and beginner chord shapes. Learn the first steps to becoming a guitarist or test your interest! Students should plan to bring their own guitar (6 string acoustic or classical) if possible.

Ages:  15+, Mixed
Fee: $20/$25 Resident/Non-Res
Instructor: Aidyn Dervaes
Date: Thursday, May 23, 2024 | 5:30-7:30PM
@ The Postmark Center for the Arts.
Register Now!

Intro to Guitar II
Thursday, May 30th
5:30-7:30PM

This course serves as an introduction to the instrument and will provide students with an instant access to making music on the guitar. Come back for Guitar Intro II! A space to review, practice what you’ve learned, and ask questions. We will learn additional chord shapes and practice transitioning between chords. Students should plan to bring their own guitar (6 string acoustic or classical) if possible.

Ages:  15+, Mixed
Fee: $20/$25 Resident/Non-Res
Instructor: Aidyn Dervaes
Date: Thursday, May 30, 2024 | 5:30-7:30PM
@ The Postmark Center for the Arts.
Register Now!

Introduction to Embroidery 
Thursday, June 6th
12:00-4:00PM

Learn to embroider the silhouette of Mt. Rainier behind a bed of Washington native wildflowers! You will come away from this class having learned a few basic stitches. Embroidery pattern and materials are provided to create a hangable 3-inch hoop. Be prepared to handle a needle.

Ages:  15+, Mixed
Fee: $20/$25 Resident/Non-Res
Instructor: Amanda Jenkinson
Date: Thursday, June 6, 2024 | 5:00-7:00PM
@ The Postmark Center for the Arts.
Register Now!

Make & Mingle
Every Wednesday | Free
10:00AM-12:00PM
Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave

Stop by the Postmark for our Make & Mingle session! Join us for a cup of coffee with whatever art project you might be working on. A free, no-pressure environment for artists and creatives to gather... you can talk with other artists, ask for feedback or critique from on-site staff if available, bring your sketchbook to work out ideas, or just quietly draw in the gallery or work on your art! Intended for ages 18+. 

Drop-In Painting with Amy Sie
Every Friday | Free
10:00AM-12:00PM
Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave

Drop-In Drawing
Every Friday | Free
10:00AM-12:00PM
Postmark Center for the Arts | 20 Auburn Ave

Come stop by for our Drop-In Drawing sessions at the Postmark! A free, no-pressure environment for artists and creatives to drop-in to draw from a still life or the gallery. Stay for whole two hours or only 10 minutes. Bring tools to either shade or color with, and your own sketchbook or drawing pad. There will be on-site help for critique/questions/advice. Intended for ages 18+. 

Postmark Center for the Arts Gift Shop Artist

The goal of the Postmark Gift Shop is to provide a platform to support local Washington State artists and create a retail destination offering a variety of unique handcrafted items for Auburn residents and visitors to enjoy. 

Eligibility: Artists are chosen on the basis of locality, artistic excellence, innovation, variety, and price point.

Deadline: May 27, 2024

For more information or to apply, visit this link.

2025 Site-Specific Art Galleries

Art on Main and Vault Gallery - Accepts applications from regional artists to install 3-dimensional or multi-media art installations in two site-specific gallery spaces in downtown Auburn: the Art on Main Gallery and the Vault Gallery. Both spaces provide an artist stipend to support the creation of new work and site-specific projects, or the installation of existing work for three-month exhibitions.

Eligibility: This is a call to artists residing in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon and Idaho).

Deadline: September 5, 2024

For more information or to apply, visit this link.

Postmark Arts & Cultural Programming Grant:

This program provides funding support for artists, arts or cultural organizations, or community members proposing ideas for free arts and cultural programs serving residents and visitors at the new Postmark Center for the Arts. We are excited about bringing local artist and community members together in a space that aims to provide opportunities for growth, creative participation, inspiration, and understanding through dynamic and multi-faceted programming.

Eligibility: Individuals, groups of people, neighborhood or business organizations seeking funding for an art program or cultural event at the Postmark Center for the Arts.

Project Budget: Grants are typically awarded from $500 - $2,000 per project.

For more information or to apply, visit this link.

VIDEO: Historic Postmark Center in Auburn | Spellman Award 

The Auburn Post Office was built in 1937, an elegant structure that served a growing community. Starting in 2016, the City of Auburn transformed the building into the Postmark Center for the Arts, a vibrant space for public music and dance programs, visual arts exhibits and classes, and other cultural gatherings.

The 2023 John D. Spellman Award for Excellence in Adaptive Reuse goes to the City of Auburn for their stunning rehabilitation of the Auburn Post Office as the Postmark Center for the Arts.