Mulkey makes a move

MOSES LAKE — It was snowing the first night Terry Mulkey and his wife arrived in the Columbia Basin.

"We wondered why we were moving here, but the winters after that were always quite beautiful," Mulkey recalled.

A longtime manager of the Moses Lake Museum and Art Center, Mulkey leaves Wednesday, but will be present for a going-away party Friday 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

"Seems things were just working out that way," he said. "I've been here 10 years, seen a tremendous amount of growth and it's a good time to give it to the next predecessor."

The City of Moses Lake heads up the search for Mulkey's replacement.

Mulkey and wife Ann are moving to the town of Sahuarita, Ariz., where he plans to pursue his "true passion" of painting and sculpture.

"I've put a lot of my creativity into this facility, into this program," Mulkey said. "But it's time for me to do a few things for myself."

His creativity was building the museum's exhibits and programs, he added.

Mulkey leaves feeling as though he's done all he can.

His biggest accomplishments at the museum include moving into its present location at 228 W. Third Ave., in 2003, a move which doubled the size of the center's space, and the Moses Lake outdoor sculpture project, Sculpture Without Walls, which is entering its third year.

"I feel really good the city finds this an attractive program, and they have actually built spaces into the redesign of the downtown that will display sculptures for this next session," Mulkey said.

Mulkey also pointed to a $1 million grant from the state's Heritage Capital Projects Funds for a new permanent facility for the museum as the third of his top three accomplishments. The new facility would also be a city hall expansion, he added, and is estimated to be constructed in spring 2009.

"I think the grantor liked the idea we were being creative with the space and able to have it a multi-use space without interfering with the identity of the museum," Mulkey said.

Mulkey considers his biggest disappointment the fact he won't be around to see the new building.

He joined the museum in 1997 as coordinator of public programs and exhibits, moving from Blair, Neb., then assumed the manager position in 1999.

He and his wife originally moved to Ephrata.

"What appealed to me most was the friendliness of the people, the open spaces and the unique landscape and climate," he said.

Mulkey advises his predecessor to get out and know the community. He would like to see someone with grant writing, fund raising and resource development experience come into the position.

"The art and the history are very rich in this area, and it needs to be preserved," he said. "We have programmed the rest of 2007, 2008 and much of 2009, the exhibits are scheduled, so somebody coming in should be able to spend time developing resources. There's no reason that million dollars couldn't be doubled with appropriate grant research."

Mulkey hopes the community continues its support of the facility and its programs, and adds he'd like to see more votes for the Sculpture Without Walls.

"We all get a little complacent when something seems to be going well, we sort of back off and take care of other business," he said. "I'd like to see more people get involved, particularly with the museum and art center, and how it is going to be built."