Helping others Seth Everts’ way of life

The Spokane Valley Mall, with its chain stores, fast food and swarms of shoppers may seem like an inhospitable environment for an independent artist.

But, next to Sears, a new kiosk has become an outpost for artists struggling to break into the mainstream.

Musician and painter Seth Everts opened the kiosk not only to make a living but to help other artists do the same.

After Everts, 26, graduated from Valley Christian in 1999, his entrepreneurial and artistic spirit took off. He played percussion in a band for the next four years or so, touring as far away as Spain, sharing his love for music and meeting other artists.

His desire to help others led to his work with chemically dependent kids. He helped start a drop-in center in Kansas City and then, with help from AmeriCorps, he was off to Mississippi for hurricane relief work. There, he stayed in a tent for six months.

“While I was there, I had the opportunity to work with many different organizations,” he said, “All the large nonprofits were there, they were all doing everything, trying to help everyone, but people still fell through the cracks.” Everts is now developing an Internet resource for people in need called Adopt a Need.

While busy helping others, he discovered that his own needs weren’t being met.

“While I was in Kansas City my hands went crazy,” he said, “I needed an outlet.” He began finger painting, which he continues to perfect at his new business called Art, Music, and More (A&M).

Everts hopes that his business helps independent artists make a living.

Everts opened A&M in mid-September at a kiosk in the Valley Mall. He represents more than a dozen artists with dozens more on a waiting list. Many are local; others come from Seattle, Kansas City, San Diego and the Dominican Republic.

There are painters, photographers, sculptors and musicians. Everts displays their work at the small kiosk and plays independent music on his computer. His finger paintings also are on display.

In November, Everts will be moving into a storefront, giving him more space for more artists.

Valley artist Nic Wright, 24, displays his abstract paintings at A&M. Initially a musician, Wright injured his back.

“After my first surgery, I decided to pick up painting as something I would be able to do while lying around the house and as a way to release some of my pent-up emotion,” he said. Since his injury, he has been in chronic pain.

“Although the medicine regime helps control the pain I find that painting can help release the pain and feelings I have in my head onto the canvas.” His paintings are filled with texture, depth and emotion.

Last Saturday at A&M, Wright put a drop cloth under an easel and painted while musician Mordekye Layman, 20, played guitar and sang, and photographer Cory Kerr digitally manipulated his photographs on the computer. In the busy environment of the Valley Mall, passers-by slowed down to enjoy independent art in motion.

Every weekend Everts will host an event at A&M where artists can share the creative process.

“I have something I live by: If you help enough people, you will be fine,” said Everts. “That is how I live my life. I love helping people, and I have never been without.”