Your second chance (maybe more)

Your mom called. She said she’s not mad that you didn’t purchase “Common Ground” for her, just… disappointed.

Lisa Myers Bulmash, “Common Ground,” collage on paper. Now in private collection.

Even though you missed your chance during the Artist Trust online auction, I’m sure you could get back on her good side by Mother’s Day. Just take her to see one of my next exhibits — as a matter of fact… one opens next week.

“Like Mother…” returns to public view for the month of May. I’ve shown my work in this traveling exhibit since 2016; this time we’re going to the Vashon Center for the Arts. Opening reception is May 7th.

Lisa Myers Bulmash, “Tell Her Things Will Be Different” (detail)

Gallery One in Ellensburg, WA will present Lisa Myers Bulmash: New Works beginning June 4th. You might remember the pandemic forced my solo show and most other art exhibitions. The gallery kindly invited me to exhibit again, so people can see my work in person (properly masked up, of course). And if you haven’t visited Wa Na Wari yet…

At Wa Na Wari for an interview with KING5’s “Evening”

Good news: you haven’t missed out! But before you go: remember to schedule your visit, especially if you want to go on Thursday or Friday. Weekend hours are more flexible, but maybe think twice about it: pandemic safety measures mean the gallery has to limit how long you can stay. And you don’t want to disappoint Mom (again), riiiight?

Online auction: it's later than you think

Friendly reminder: you have less than a week to claim that artwork you’ve been eyeing all month. The Artist Trust online art sale closes on April 28th. And bidding shuts down at 10pm that night — not midnight, like many other deadlines — 10pm next Wednesday.

Lisa Myers Bulmash, “Common Ground,” collage on paper

Also, I wasn’t kidding last week when I said my collages are “only going to get more expensive from here on out.” See for yourself: go visit my online shop. (And no, the IRS doesn’t allow artists to write off the final auction price as a business expense.) So the person who takes “Common Ground” home will be helping me help other Washington state artists. Happy shopping!

Put a bid on it

Auctioneers astonish and confuse me, but I stand in awe of the bidders. How can they tell what the auctioneer’s even saying? Did I just buy a bridge in Brooklyn or something? Can’t I just bid and pay?

Why, yes, yes you can,… at the Artist Trust online auction. Last time I checked the site, two people were bidding on the collage I donated for this fundraiser. In an ordinary year, the auction is Artist Trust’s main source of funding for grants and other resources artists need. Once the pandemic struck, though, Artist Trust redirected their funds into emergency cash grants for artists. You remember how dire the need was last year, don’t you? Those grants were a lifesaver for some Washington state artists.

Supporters bid on artworks at the 2019 Artist Trust auction gala. Photo credit: Andre Ruth

Usually, a live auction follows a silent auction/ cocktail party. But because of pandemic gathering restrictions, the event’s become a month-long silent auction you can attend in your pajamas. If you’re in a position to do so, please find something you like and bid on it now — and keep checking your bid. Remember, no auctioneer this year to tell you if the artwork is yours… and my collage is only going to get more expensive from here on out.