EVERETT — It’s only been a year, but she already has earned the appreciation of many in the arts community.
Isabella Valencia, an artist and former photojournalist, opened her Black Lab Gallery on Hewitt Avenue in August 2016, and she plans to celebrate tonight during the Everett Art Walk.
One of the first things Valencia did was to resurrect the art walk in downtown Everett, placing it on third Thursdays and talking other businesses into joining her.
“I had never spent much time in Everett before I moved here,” Valencia said. “It’s beautiful. And all of the city’s outdoor sculpture convinced me this was the place.”
Black Lab — the same name of galleries she owned in the Seattle neighborhoods of Ballard and Fremont — offers poetry readings, live music and, of course, art exhibits.
The anniversary celebration will include the opening of a new art show featuring the prolific Seattle muralist Ryan Henry Ward. Earlier this year, Ward volunteered to paint a mural titled “Table of Diversity” on the west side of Everett United Church of Christ in support of a food program for homeless people.
The seemingly whimsical mural has a serious theme and features some of the artist’s signature colorful animal characters seated around a table laden with food.
Best known simply as Henry, the artist is bringing a dozen new small pieces to the Black Lab. They, too, include many animal characters, as well as some fantastical human figures. All the paintings have a message or at least are made to provoke some thought.
“It’s character-based surrealism in a primitive style,” Ward said. “With bold brush strokes and captivating emotions.”
Ward has painted more than 220 large-scale murals around the region and he plans soon to paint a mural at the Naked City Brewery &Taphouse on Camano Island.
“I’d love to do another mural in Everett. But for now, it’s great to be at Black Lab and be a part of Everett’s art scene,” said Ward, 41. “Isabella is pretty amazing, and I am glad to have met her.”
Ward grew up in Enumclaw and attended Fairhaven College at Western Washington University, where he constructed a degree program that mixed writing, art and storytelling for children. After college, he stayed in Bellingham as a social worker involved in art therapy. He now lives in Ballard where he owns a studio and takes mural commissions.
While strict art curation is Valencia’s focus, she has enjoyed encouraging young Everett artists, including poets and musicians. Her gallery also sells coffee, tea, wine, beer and snacks to help make the Black Lab a relaxed place to hang out.
“I now think of Black Lab as an event space for fine and performing arts,” she said. “I expect original work from all of our artists, no matter what they do.”
Valencia has a reputation as a tough critic. The tag line of her gallery is “Where the Art Doesn’t Suck,” which refers to her answer to young artists who ask to show at Black Lab.
“I will hang your work if your art doesn’t suck,” she said.
Despite her tough demeanor, Valencia has earned praise from the likes of Carol Thomas, the city’s cultural arts manager, who appreciates the gallery owner’s energetic work to keep the art walk going.
“Isabella is great,” Thomas said.
Her motivation is the support of artists, Valencia said.
“We need to change our perception of the starving artist,” she said. “Art should be appreciated so artists don’t have so-called day jobs.”
Black Lab Gallery anniversary party
With the opening of the Henry Exhibit during the Third Thursday Everett Art Walk, 6 to 10 p.m. Aug. 17 at 1618 Hewitt Ave. Pick up an Art Walk map and meet artist Ryan Henry Ward, whose website is www.ryanhenryward.com. More about Black Lab is at blacklabgallery.com.
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