The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

WAITSBURG – Art lovers from across the valley gathered in the new Ten Ton Press building on Waitsburg's Main Street to welcome Seattle Artist David Allison at an artist's reception on Saturday afternoon.

The well-established Seattle-based artist is the first of several solo artists to be featured in the new Waitsburg Windows of Art program, organized by Waitsburg resident Karen Gregutt.

Gregutt said City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe had approached her with the idea after he'd heard of other towns using blank storefronts as mini art galleries. Gregutt, who serves on the ArtWalla board, and is an artist herself, was immediately intrigued.

She plans to arrange showings by three separate artists. Each will display their art in three-month blocks through the months of April through December.

Dena Wood

aitsburg Windows of Art organizer Karen Gregutt presents a toast to Allison.

"We have so many beautiful but empty storefronts in town," Gregutt said. "This turns the whole town into an art gallery. One 'one-of-a-kind' artist gets a 'one-of-a-kind' showing in the whole town," she added.

Gregutt said the showings provide a unique opportunity for students and art lovers who will get to see the work of established artists that seldom visit rural towns.

Allison's solo exhibition is titled "Seeing Sacred." His large-scale paintings of barns and churches will grace Main Street windows throughout historic downtown Waitsburg.

"In simple functional structures surrounded by vast space is the kind of form and serene beauty of the divine. I find holiness in the land, the work we do on it, the structures we put on it, and the tools we use," said Allison regarding the exhibit.

Allison's solo exhibition will run April 1 – June 27.