Art on 3rd brings artists of all kinds to downtown Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — Downtown Moses Lake will be the scene of a local art show Sept. 14, as artists from around the area gather for Art on 3rd to showcase their own work, and also share some projects with attendees. 

“There will be artist vendors, and then we're also bringing in a ‘Make it, do it, buy it,” said Shawn Cardwell, director of Columbia Basin Allied Arts, which is sponsoring the show. “So there's opportunities to make your own art, either individual pieces (or as) part of group projects.” 

The Art on 3rd event, presented by Columbia Basin Allied Arts, will coincide with several other events: The Downtown Moses Lake Association’s Sip & Stroll, Care Moses Lake’s Care Fair, the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and, as on every Saturday this time of year, the Moses Lake Farmers Market.  

“This is a big day downtown,” Cardwell said. “The fact that we're all doing it together makes everybody more successful.” 

At one time Sip & Stroll included artists, but the event has since evolved to focus more on music than visual arts, Cardwell said, so this is a way of bringing back the art component. 

Art on 3rd will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot across from the Desert Plaza building at South Alder Street and East Third Avenue. 

The artists will have their wares out, and some of them will be creating more on the spot, Cardwell said. 

“There's opportunities to see art being made,” she said, “including weaving, spinning, possibly other things like felting.” 

CBAA was still adding artists until the end of August, Cardwell said, so the lineup hadn’t been finalized at press time. 

Art on 3rd is a continuation of CBAA’s work in recent years on extending local arts programs beyond the Wallenstien Theater, Cardwell said in an interview in May. The organization brings theater presentations to schools in Grant, Adams and Lincoln counties, as well as sponsoring civic events like the UMANI festival celebrating Hispanic heritage and the musicians who perform at the Moses Lake Farmers Market. 

Art on 3rd is made possible by funding from Grant County’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, as well as the city of Moses Lake, Cardwell said. 

“They are doing a really great job helping that have potential to build the tourism industry in our community,” she said. “We're recipients of that, and super grateful.”