- Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park
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Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park 
Park entranceEstablished 1998 Location Thurston County, Washington Type Sculpture garden & art gallery Director Myrna Orsini Website Monarch Art Center Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park is a free-admission,[1] outdoor art gallery located along the Chehalis Western Trail[2] near Tenino, in Olympia, Washington.[3] Opened in 1998 by sculptor Myrna Orsini as "a gift to the community,"[1] the 80-acre (32 ha) park features sculpture gardens as well as indoor art galleries.[4]
In 1992, after visiting art symposia in Europe, founder Myrna Orsini and her business partner Doris Coonrod purchased land for the park.[1][5] In 1998, the park opened with a rock-carving symposium, which was attended by 13 artists who came from nine countries, including Lithuania, Austria, Cuba, Italy, and Canada; each artist donated a piece to the park's collection.[5] By 2009, Monarch had established a permanent collection of 28 works, many of which were donated by their creators, and also featured 87 other works on consignment.[1] The park exhibits the work of artists from around the world.[6] Local contributors include Valentine Welman,[7] Justin Hahn, and Tom Yody, and owner Myrna Orsini herself; international artists such as Urs Twellmann and Doug Neil have also displayed their work at the park.[1]
The park hosts workshops and classes promoting art creation. It also hosts open houses called "Art in the Park," which are biennial exhibitions where local artists display and sell their work;[8] these events feature live music, dancing, and art.[3][7] There are several distinct areas within the park, including a fantasy garden, a butterfly garden, a maze, and an interactive sound-sculpture area, set in the partially forested countryside.[9] The park also has studio space and provides boarding for several artists-in-residence, and has hosted visiting artists like Pat Warner.[1][10]
In the summer of 2011, the nonprofit park was set to close due to health and financial concerns, and the property was placed for sale.[5] In July 2011, the month the park would close, a group including the Woodland Trail Greenway Association and the Thurston County Commissioners stepped in to help keep the park open, providing temporary funding for the park's liability insurance and arranging volunteers to manage the landscaping, while looking for a permanent solution for the park's maintenance.[11][12]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Ponnekanti, Rosemary. "Monarch Still Reigns." The News Tribune, printed by The Olympian, September 13, 2009. Accessed on July 23, 2011.
- ^ Thorness, Bill. Biking Puget Sound: 50 Rides from Olympia to the San Juans. The Mountaineers Books, 2007: Page 243. Accessed on July 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "Wander 80 Acres of Art." The Olympian, August 13, 2010. Accessed on July 23, 2011.
- ^ "Monarch Contemporary Art Center and Sculpture Park." Monarch Art Center. Accessed on July 23, 2011.
- ^ a b c Hughes, Lee. "Popular Monarch Sculpture Park in Tenino will close next month." The News Tribune, June 27, 2011. Accessed on July 23, 2011.
- ^ Graves, Keven, et. al. "Sculpture park open year-round." Nisqually Valley News: Destination Rainier, 2011: Page 28. Accessed on July 24, 2011.
- ^ a b "Sunday, Aug. 15: Art In The Park." Weekly Volcano, August 11, 2010. Accessed on July 23, 2011.
- ^ "Looking Ahead." The News Tribune, August 20, 2000. Accessed on July 23, 2011.
- ^ Dunnewind, Stephanie. "Capitol Ideas For the Kids." The Seattle Times, July 22, 2006. Accessed on July 23, 2011.
- ^ Clayton, Alec. "Visiting artists draw on ancient cultures to create new works." The Olympian, June 22, 2001. Accessed on July 23, 2011.
- ^ Siemon, Dean. "Sculpture park gets reprieve from closure." Nisqually Valley News, July 15, 2011. Accessed on July 24, 2011.
- ^ Ponnekanti, Rosemary. "Monarch Sculpture Park in Tenino to remain open." The News Tribune, July 12, 2011. Accessed on July 24, 2011.
External links
Categories:- Sculpture gardens, trails and parks
- Parks in Olympia, Washington
- Arts centers in Washington (state)
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