Poets at the Postmark
Wednesday, July 2, 2025 | 6:30-8:00PM
All Ages | FREE
@ Postmark Center for the Arts.

Come to our monthly Postmark Poetry Nights! Doors open at 6:00PM, poetry starts at 6:30PM.

Arrive early to peruse artwork by local artists, bring a poem to share during the open mic, and bring a poetry book to swap for a poetry book at our book exchange!

This month's featured poet will be Makayla Gay! Read her bio:

Makayla Danielle Gay hails from Southeastern Kentucky. Her poetry, comics, and essays have been featured in the American Literary Review, Adroit, Action Spectacle, Salt Hill, and Prairie Schooner, among others. Her debut poetry book, "Hackles" (Girl Noise Press 2025), is out now. She is a teaching artist with the Museum of Northwest Art and a member of the 2025 Jack Straw Writers' cohort.

Seattle Print Arts Annual Print Exchange
CLOSING RECEPTION
Wednesday, July 9, 5-6PM
@ Postmark Center for the Arts.

Join us for the closing reception of the Seattle Print Arts Annual Print Exchange! Guests will have the opportunity to view the wide array of prints and printmaking techniques on display, courtesy of SPA printmakers. Enjoy light refreshments and a chance to chat with the artists!

The 2025 Annual Seattle Print Arts Print Exchange invites Seattle Print Arts (SPA) members to showcase their work in an un-juried celebration of fine art printmaking. This exhibition highlights the diversity and creativity of both traditional and non-traditional printmaking, fostering knowledge sharing, professional development, and community engagement within the vibrant SPA network.

Unprecedented: The Inaugural Postmark Biennial
OPENING RECEPTION
Wednesday, July 23
@ Postmark Center for the Arts
20 Auburn Ave
& White River Valley Museum
918 H St SE, Auburn, WA 98002

Join us for a two-part opening reception on July 23rd!
5-6:15PM: Postmark – talk at 5:30
6-7:30PM: Museum – talk at 6:30

Postmark Center for the Arts and the White River Valley Museum are hosting a competitive juried biennial art exhibition, titled Unprecedented: The Inaugural Postmark Biennial.

How is art informed by the exceptional moment in which we are living? Curated by two esteemed jurors, Ellen Ito and Jabari Owens-Bailey, this exhibition includes eighteen artists living and working in Washington state. Unprecedented is interested in highlighting creative explorations in all media created from 2020 to the present.

This exhibition is held in two places, Postmark Center for the Arts and White River Valley Museum. Join us for a two-part opening reception, first held at Postmark Center for the Arts, then at White River Valley Museum! Listen to artist talks with exhibition curators Ellen Ito and Jabari Owens-Bailey, enjoy light snacks, and mingle with artists!

Mary Olson Farm Artist in Residence Events
All Ages | FREE

The City of Auburn program offers the opportunity for an artist to pursue their work in, and to be inspired by, the unique and beautiful setting of the Mary Olson Farm in Auburn, Washington. The residency lasts two months, providing the artist with a large indoor barn studio, a stipend, and access to the 67 acre farm.

• Open Rehearsal | Saturday, July 12 | 1-3PM 
  @ Mary Olson Farm
  Guests are invited to come and watch an open rehearsal session by Artist in Residence Jahnvi Madan, providing a preview of her new instrumental work.
  
  
• Final Performance | Saturday, July 26 | 3-4PM
  @ Postmark Center for the Arts
  Join us at Postmark Center for the Arts for the final performance of a musical piece by Jahnvi Madan, who has completed her residency! Inspired by the landscape and sounds of Mary Olson Farm, Jahnvi has created a special composition for all to enjoy.

Postmark Second Saturdays
Saturday, July 12, 2025 | 12-4PM
All Ages | FREE
@ Postmark Center for the Arts.

Visit Postmark Center for the Arts gallery, open to the public each Second Saturday from 12-4PM! Each month features FREE, all ages performances, crafts, and events!

12-4PM: Postmark Community Mural with Toka Valu

Join us Saturday, July 12 to participate in a community mural here at Postmark Center for the Arts! Guided and designed by local artist Toka Valu, contribute your artistic hand in an all ages, beginner-friendly painting experience that will brighten the Postmark art studios pathway. No materials needed, bring yourself, friends, and family and come prepared to paint!

Made possible by the Kiwanis Club of Auburn!

2026 Galleries in City of Auburn
DEADLINE: September 4, 2025 at 10:59PM

The City of Auburn is seeking artists and/or artist groups working in two-dimensional or small three-dimensional media to exhibit their work at City of Auburn gallery spaces in 2026. Galleries are within City operated buildings including the Auburn Senior Center (Cheryl Sallee Gallery) and the Community & Event Center.

Artists and/or artists groups of diverse mediums are encouraged to apply, including but not limited to: printmaking, painting, drawing, mixed media, textiles, mosaic, glass, recycled materials, photography, calligraphy, collage, fiber art, ceramics, jewelry, metal sculptures, etc.

Eligibility: Established and emerging artists and/or artist groups working in two-dimensional or three-dimensional media will be considered. 

To apply or view, please view the online application.

2026 Site-Specific Arts Galleries
DEADLINE: September 4, 2025 at 10:59PM

The City of Auburn, Washington, seeks 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 a $1,000 artist stipend to support the creation of new work and site-specific projects, or the installation of existing work.

Eligibility:

• Any individual artist or collaborative artist team in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Oregon, Idaho) may apply.
• Past participants of Art on Main are welcome to reapply.

For more information or to apply, please view the online application.

Postmark Arts & Cultural Programming Grant
DEADLINE: September 30, 2025

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 to $2,000 per project.

Application Resources:

• Postmark Programming Grant Guidelines (PDF)
• Sample of a successful programming grant application (PDF)
• Sample of a successful grant application budget (PDF) Please note the income must match the expenses.

For more information or to apply, please view the online application form.

Artist Project Support Grant
DEADLINE: September 30, 2025 

The goal of this program is to provide support to arts-related projects and programs within the City of Auburn to encourage the growth, innovation, excellence, and accessibility of the arts. This is an opportunity for artists to create art projects or programs that have free public benefit for Auburn residents and visitors.

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

Project Budget: Funding is typically awarded for $500 to $1,000. 

Application Resources:

• Artist Project Support Grant Guidelines (PDF)
• Sample of a successful grant application budget (PDF) Please note the income must match the expenses.

For more information or to apply, please view the online application form.

Postmark Center for the Arts Gallery
20 Auburn Ave

Seattle Print Arts Annual Print Exchange
Exhibition dates: April 16 - July 9, 2025

Join us for the closing reception on July 9th from 5-6PM!

The 2025 Annual Seattle Print Arts Print Exchange invites Seattle Print Arts (SPA) members to showcase their work in an un-juried celebration of fine art printmaking. This exhibition highlights the diversity and creativity of both traditional and non-traditional printmaking, fostering knowledge sharing, professional development, and community engagement within the vibrant SPA network.

Postmark Center for the Arts Gallery
20 Auburn Ave
& White River Valley Museum
918 H St SE, Auburn, WA 98002

Unprecedented: The Inaugural Postmark Biennial
Exhibition dates: July 23 - October 9, 2025

Join us for a two-part opening reception on July 23rd!
5-6:15PM: Postmark – talk at 5:30
6-7:30PM: Museum – talk at 6:30

Postmark Center for the Arts and the White River Valley Museum are hosting a competitive juried biennial art exhibition, titled Unprecedented: The Inaugural Postmark Biennial.

How is art informed by the exceptional moment in which we are living? Curated by two esteemed jurors, Ellen Ito and Jabari Owens-Bailey, this exhibition includes eighteen artists living and working in Washington state. Unprecedented is interested in highlighting creative explorations in all media created from 2020 to the present.

This exhibition is held in two places, Postmark Center for the Arts and White River Valley Museum.

Vault Gallery
20 Auburn Ave
Located within Postmark Center for the Arts

Roldy Aguero Ablao
Exhibition Dates: April 14 - July 7, 2025

We are happy to have an installation by artist Roldy Aguero Ablao titled ININA to Glimmer or Glow  in the Vault Gallery until the week of July 7!

Artwork Statement:

“In the Pacific, seafarers would look towards the stars to help guide them on their journey, listen to the ocean for safety and directions. Master navigators would share that before any journey across the ocean, one would have to believe in the destination they are heading to, even if they cannot see it. In this immersive installation, people are invited to enter a space of reflection and journey, a celestial canoe filled with hope and intention. Like stars in the sky, the space will be adorned with images and motifs of the Mariana Islands, symbols that glow and glimmer, offering the community a place to sit and reflect on their past, present and future journey.” - Roldy Aguero Ablao

Art on Main Gallery
East Main St between N Division St and Auburn Ave
Windowfront viewable streetside 24/7

Sarah Fetterman
Exhibition Dates: April 19 - July 7, 2025

Currently on display at Art on Main is an exhibition titled Weathervane for Brainstorms by artist Sarah Fetterman, on view until the week of July 7!

Artist Statement:

Art on Main Gallery
East Main St between N Division St and Auburn Ave
Windowfront viewable streetside 24/7

Lauren Boilini
Exhibition Dates: July 19 - October 5, 2025

We are excited to host a new artist at the Art on Main Gallery come July, Lauren Boilini!

Installation details are yet to come, but read her proposal: “I am honored to say that last fall I was the first artist-in-residence at the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium, through Montana’s Open AIR program. I explored their brand new building, eagerly learning from the entomologists and educators on staff. I gathered a tremendous amount of images which I propose to use as references for this installation. As I write this proposal, I am finishing up a residency on Vashon Island, which has given me the time and space to pull those images into a new body of work, which I propose to develop further into an installation for Art on Main. My interest in swarms and feeding frenzies leads me to very dense imagery that will fill and maximize the space. These large works would be very colorful, using gouache and ink on Arches watercolor paper.” -Lauren Boilini

Auburn Community and Event Center Gallery
910 Ninth St. SE

Annette Stiers Jones
Exhibition Dates: May 7 - July 10, 2025

Annette Stiers Jones is an emerging landscape photographer from Kent, Washington. In two short years of experience, she has already demonstrated her talent for capturing the beauty and wonder of the natural world. Her photographs transport viewers to breathtaking locations, evoking a sense of awe and wonder. Annette's portfolio showcases her ability to capture a wide range of landscape subjects. From majestic waterfalls to winding mountain trails, from serene woodland scenes to crashing ocean waves, and from tranquil lakes to dramatic sunrises, she has a keen eye for capturing the essence of each location she photographs. What sets Annette apart is her ability to create a sense of immersion for the viewer. Through her photographs, she transports viewers to the very heart of the scene, allowing them to experience the wonder of a new place or reminisce about a time when they witnessed it with their own eyes. Annette is thrilled at the opportunity to share her art with the community.

Auburn Community and Event Center Gallery
910 Ninth St. SE

Hae Chon Lee
Exhibition Dates: July 10 - September 4, 2025

We are happy to introduce Hae Chon Lee as our new Community Center Gallery Artist! Read their statement: “Despite the apparent severance of human relationships due to the constraints of time and space, humans are eternally connected across time and space. Furthermore, the past, wrapped in love, can be invited into the present time and space. A specific figure from the past, like an ancestor, is not a disconnected person from us but someone who lives with us in the present. The love and interest we have for people from the past play a crucial role in bringing the past into the present. This attention and love for past figures allow us to feel that they are living and breathing with us in the present. Therefore, our lives are not limited to a short span but extend like history, giving us a sense of living a longer life. The past, present, and future coexist, meaning our existence transcends into eternity and is never forgotten. This way, we gain a deeper sense of eternal life.” -Hae Chon Lee

Cheryl Sallee Gallery
Auburn Senior Center
808 Ninth St. SE

Kameh Saman
Exhibition Dates: April 30 - July 9, 2025

We are happy to have artist Kameh Saman at the Cheryl Sallee Gallery until July 9! Read her artist statement: "I'm a contemporary portrait artist who works with oil paint in the classical tradition. My main goal is to capture the true essence of my subjects by revealing their vulnerable selves, free from any masks. I want my art to make people think about the deeper meanings and connections in everyday human interactions, encouraging empathy and reflection in the midst of life's chaos. Portraits are at the heart of what I do, as they allow me to explore the depths of the human soul. I aim to present these portraits in a way that combines beauty, intelligence, and emotional depth. In my artistic journey, I'm guided by a respect for the human body, a love for nature, and a belief in the emotional impact of visual art." -Kameh Saman

Cheryl Sallee Gallery
Auburn Senior Center
808 Ninth St. SE

Ari Hoskinson
Exhibition Dates: July 9 - September 3, 2025

We are happy to introduce artist Ari Hoskinson at the Cheryl Sallee Gallery! Read their statement: “I was a writer before I was ever a visual artist. I can’t remember a second of my life before I fell in love with stories. It’s almost like my existence began not from birth, but from the moment I could hold a pen. Somewhere along the way, I began telling my stories through drawings rather than words. My work has a narrative quality that allows the viewer to get lost in the setting and characters. There’s something very strange and beautiful about capturing an entire story in a singular moment. I am always thinking about communication when I draw. I am painfully aware that every decision I make as the artist communicates something to the viewer. When the pen is in my hand, I’m the one deciding what that something is. Even the medium I’m using contributes to the message I am trying to get across. Black fineliner pens and ink give everything I draw a darker nature, I have to be conscious of that. This is something I choose to use to my advantage. Every scene I draw is laced with a hint.” -Ari Hoskinson

Make & Mingle
Every Wednesday, 10AM - 12PM
Ages: Suggested 18+ | FREE
@ Postmark Center for the Arts.

Stop by for our Artist Open Studio! Come join us for a cup of coffee with whatever art project you might be working on! This is 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! All are welcome. No need to sign up or register, just drop in!

Sit & Stitch
Every Wednesday, 10AM - 12PM
Ages: Suggested 18+ | FREE
@ Postmark Center for the Arts.

Come by Postmark Center for the Arts with your current sewing, knitting, crochet, or any other project fiber-arts related! Occasionally visited by fiber artist Christy Caravaglio, take time every Wednesday morning to sip coffee or tea, chat with other artists, and work on your project in a casual, no-pressure environment. Beginners to advanced welcome, stay for the whole two hours or only 10 minutes! No need to sign up or register, just drop in!

Drop-in Drawing
Every Friday, 10AM - 12PM
Ages: Suggested 18+ | FREE
@ Postmark Center for the Arts.

Come stop by for our new Drop-In Drawing sessions at the Postmark! A free, no-pressure environment for artists and creatives to drop-in. 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. On-site help for critique/questions/advice. All are welcome. No need to sign up or register, just drop in!

Drop-in Painting with Amy Sie
Every Friday, 10AM - 12PM
Ages: Suggested 18+ | FREE
Instructor: Amy Sie
@ Postmark Center for the Arts.

Amy Sie is offering Drop-In Gongbi Painting sessions at the Postmark! A free, no-pressure environment for you to start a new painting or work on an old one. Please bring your own tools and materials. On-site help for critique/questions/advice. All are welcome. No need to sign up or register, just drop in!

ROAD CLOSURE NOTICE

As part of the ongoing Downtown Infrastructure Improvements Project, full road closures began on Monday, June 2, impacting the following areas:

• East Main Street between Auburn Avenue and B Street NE
• Auburn Avenue between East Main Street and 1st Street NE

These closures are expected to last through the end of August 2025.

For ongoing updates, detour maps, and project timelines, visit our project webpage.