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?

Let's spend the Evening together

You heard about the house party, right? The virtual one at Wa Na Wari? We’ll have a live DJ and everything!

Artist Lisa Myers Bulmash, waiting to open her exhibit “Holding Patterns” at Wa Na Wari art gallery

I’d love to hang out with you tomorrow night at the opening reception for my exhibit, “Holding Patterns.” DJ Sureal opens the party at 6pm PST. And Wa Na Wari has made a breakout room where we can talk for a half-hour about my work on display, or just have a super-art-nerdy conversation. Then we can rejoin the DJ for the rest of the party.

Jim Dever and photographer Mark of “Evening” interview Wa Na Wari curator Elisheba Johnson

You can join us via Facebook, or you can visit through Zoom (see the Wa Na Wari website for the virtual keys to the room).

But if you really can’t make it, catch my exhibit on TV: “Evening” plans to feature me and my work at the gallery on Monday night, March 22nd. Then you can brag to your friends on Tuesday about all the fun they missed!

Wa Na Wari: a Seattle version of 'Hotel California'

When I reluctantly ended my first visit to Wa Na Wari, I told one of the co-founders if I didn’t get out now, I’d never leave this home-turned-gallery space. Apparently that was plan all along: get people in the door with the art, then lull them into staying. Kinda like Hotel California, but homey instead of sinister.

Wa Na Wari co-founder Rachel Kessler and visitors

Creative reminders of home are woven throughout the house, like the hanging sculptures by Henry Jackson-Spieker. They literally mark “places that were points of gatherings or comfort” when the Greene family lived there.

Henry Jackson-Spieker glass & wood sculpture above family table

Wa Na Wari continues the revived trend of home-based art exhibit spaces. Not pop-ups — permanent galleries. No surprise that New York artists have done this in apartments — or just in one apartment room — considering New York rents. The phenomenon seems to be solidifying in Seattle and nearby communities too, as real estate gets pricier by the minute.

Still from “Remembering Her Homecoming,” a film by Natassja E. Swift

The thing I love the most about Wa Na Wari, though, is it still feels welcoming like a home — not merely a house-shaped gallery. In fact, the view into the backyard shook me for a moment: it’s strongly reminiscent of my grandparents’ home in Kentucky, which no longer exists.

Contemplating art & community with Wa Na Wari co-founder Inye Wokoma

This weekend is an especially good time to visit: environmental artist and icon Marita Dingus is teaching a doll-making class on August 11th. Plus, her own doll sculptures are on display upstairs.

Selected works by Marita Dingus

If you have so much fun you can’t bear to leave, don’t say I didn’t warn you.