The Tamarack String Quartet performed at The Confluence: Art in Twisp during last Saturday’s art walk. The walk also featured performances on violin, Native American flute, guitar and vocals.
Despite the threatening showers that moved in Saturday, the Twisp Art Walk enjoyed a good turnout. The rain didn’t deter free choice demonstrators who preceded the Art Walk wielding “Bans off our Bodies” or similar signs as they marched down Glover Street to advocate the continued protection of women’s choice in reaction to the recent Supreme Court opinion leak, that will likely strip constitutional protections for abortion if upheld. Following the demonstration, Art Walkers fancied street games, live music, food and abundant booths of handmade crafts in a familiar festive Twispy way.
Previous Art Walks showcased the whimsical and eclectic Spartan Art Project. The Spartan Art Project was the brainchild of a few artists — Matt Armbrust, Steve Ward and Jeff Winslow — who set out to restore a 1951 Spartan Imperial Mansion travel trailer. The Spartan Art Project was converted to a space for a revolving collection of visual art, a live music venue, and all kinds of expression from late night poetry to art classes.
The trailer no longer lives at TwispWorks. But I am happy to report the Imperial Mansion has a new resting place tucked in a shared driveway along Burgar Street awaiting the next re-invention of its story.
Are you dis-Mayed about the weather this spring? If so, you are not alone. Besides the abatement of fire season season, the cooler temperatures make for less of a hectic rush to garden. Gardening, like all home improvement projects, gained renewed interest during the pandemic. As a safe and therapeutic way to stay safe from COVID and socially distanced, two local women set out last year to turn a new hobby into a social service for young adults through the local Eagles Scholarships.
Delynn Stacy and Margill Cargill began growing their own starts last year as way to pass the pandemic. New to this undertaking, they grew way more than they needed. In fact, they had over 500 plants in excess. As Eagles members, they were well aware of the scholarship fund that the organization raises and gifts to young adults each year. So, on a whim, they decided to have a plant sale to sell their surplus. With flyers, bulletin board posts and word of mouth, the sale was a hit and raised over $1,300 for the scholarship fund, enabling the organization to offer more to recipients.
This year the women decided to take the plant sale to a new level. Stacy got serious about growing starts and solicited generous endorsements from Ace Hardware for soil amendments and supplies, totaling over $500 in donated materials. She and Cargill converted their garages to grow rooms with lights and heaters as well built a green house. The plant sale will be held May 28 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Eagles, 205 Highway 20 in Twisp. Pre-sales will be taken starting the May 21 by calling Delynn at (425) 387-5240.
The Eagles Scholarships are awarded each year at the end of the school year. Depending on the level of funding, the organization gives multiple $1,000 awards to college- or trade school-bound youth. Unlike most scholarships, the awards are not strictly merit- or need-based. According to Chris Holm, the scholarship committee chair, they are often looking for applicants who demonstrate some financial need, but family incomes are not considered. Rather, they weigh heavily on letters of recommendation and are searching for candidates who may not otherwise be awarded scholarships, because many are based purely on academic performance. Students interested in vocational and community colleges are encouraged to apply.
Eagles also considers young adults who have not yet gone to college, or even adults who want to re-train or start college for the first time. Recipients can re-apply each year. While the majority of awards go to Liberty Bell graduates, homeschool students and non-traditional students are also eligible. This year’s deadline has passed for applicants, but the upcoming plant sale will help replenish the fund for 2023. Pro tip: Get there early before the plants run out!
