Art school awash in colorful memories

The Spokane Art School is having a Looking Back/Moving Forward party tonight as it gets ready to clear out of its longtime home on North Howard.

The building was put up for sale in January, when the board decided it could no longer afford to operate the 10,000-square-foot facility. Also today, the school will hold the first in a series of sales to liquidate excess inventory.

“This is not a garage sale. It’s a sale for people who are going to the party later,” said Ann Glynn, a director at the Art School.

“I’m thinking we’ll mostly see instructors looking for memorabilia or some sort of equipment they can use,” Glynn said.

The party is open to the public, and attendees are invited to bring a written memory, photo or memento (no larger than 12 inches) to be included in a future collection about the art school’s history.

There also will be a silent auction featuring art in various media donated by local artists.

“There are at least 25 artists who’ve given pieces for the auction,” Glynn said. Proceeds will go to the school’s endowment fund.

Today’s party is meant as a tribute to people and instructors who’ve been part of the art school and supported it during the past 40 years. It’s been in the building on North Howard since 1984.

“We hope people will get to talk about their experiences here,” Glynn said. On the first floor, there will be a retrospective exhibit of memorabilia, photos, pictures and T-shirts from bygone fundraisers and campaigns.

Glynn said the building has attracted a buyer, but the deal is not final.

The Spokane Art School is not closing, but it’s uncertain where it will hold classes.

“People feel very passionately about the various options we are exploring,” Glynn said, declining to elaborate. “We need to spend some time with the various community partners we’ve talked to.”