Artists sought for 'Keep Music in Schools' month

Kirk Boxleitner | Feb 03, 20220

Belfair Self-Storage doesn’t have shows scheduled for February, but manager Barbara Treick hopes area artists will think ahead to her March fundraiser for “Keep Music in Schools” month.

She wants artists to create and display their works at her business’ art space for the occasion.

“I’d like to get the word out for this as soon as possible so artists can start working on their pieces during February,” Treick said. “Especially since the subject for all the pieces — artists’ interpretations of their favorite song or musical instrument — is such an abstract concept.”

Belfair Self-Storage’s dates for its “Keep Music in Schools” fundraiser run from March 1-31 — Treick needs to receive artists’ registrations by

Feb. 20.

To register, send an email expressing interest and your contact information to Treick at

[email protected], with the subject line “Keep Music in Schools.”

The drop-off day for artists to submit their works is Feb. 27 from 2-4 p.m. Art should be delivered to Belfair Self-Storage at 23270 NE state Route 3, with a suggested donation fee of $20, 100% of which will be donated to Belfair Elementary’s music program.

The art will remain on display through March, and Treick is planning a reception from 2-4 p.m. March 6.

“Belfair Self-Storage traditionally celebrates the talents and contributions of artists who display their artworks, by inviting them to host artists’ receptions of their own,” Treick said. “Whether or not such a large event can occur this year will be dependent on pandemic conditions at the time. Updates will be emailed to the artists.”

To be eligible, artists must live or work in Mason or Kitsap counties, the works submitted must be by living artists, and those works must have been completed within the past five years.

Each artist can submit one artwork, which must be framed or have finished edges.

Drawings, watercolors, oil and acrylic paintings, collages, mixed media, woodcuts and etchings are eligible, as are all categories of art styles, ranging from realistic to abstract.

Each artwork must be wired or include a claw hook, making it ready to hang.

Pieces larger than 1 foot on each side, with the frames included, or sculpture or installation pieces, will not be accepted, nor will media that are fragile, wet, or improperly framed or mounted.

The art committee retains the right to refuse work that, in its judgment, does not meet the eligibility requirements.Belfair Self-Storage does not take commission fees, and all sales will be handled by the artists. Although Belfair Self-Storage will inform artists of interested buyers, Treick explained it’s then “up to those parties” to make whatever transactions they see fit.

Sold pieces should remain on display until the end of the show, while unsold art can be picked up during Belfair Self-Storage’s office hours from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from March 31 through April 2.

Under the event’s waiver of liability, by submitting their work, artists agree neither Belfair Self-Storage nor its owners or employees are liable for any damage to their artwork.

Treick said all the artwork “will be handled with the utmost care and professionalism.”

There is an “event” for this fundraiser and show on the Facebook page for Belfair Self-Storage, and Treick encourages artists to post about this event on their own social media channels.