Local artist organizes pandemic-conscious, in-person show ‘Art n Drive’

After handing the “Art on the Go” keys over to fellow artist Morgan Walters, Denny Carman and Brandy Seistrup quickly pivoted to organize “Art n Drive,” a pandemic-conscious, in-person art show celebrating local artists and their work at Wendle Ford. The show will feature music, exhibits, live painting and made-to-order jewelry.

Be sure to bring your face mask.

“Oils, acrylics, pastels, all the different mediums, and crafts, homemade candles, little knitted animals – just a little bit of everything you can think of,” Carman said.

When it comes to these local artists, Carman has endless enthusiasm for them.

“This may sound corny, but I just get excited when I see local artists in my community getting their work out there and starting to create … that makes my day,” Carman said.

With galleries only partially reopened and gatherings limited, he hasn’t been able to experience the art community in the way he’d like to since the pandemic began.

“That’s why I’m organizing these things,” he said. “Trying to get artists pepped up, creating and getting out there so the public can see and just keep that spark.”

It didn’t take long for Carman to find a suitable location to accommodate social distancing. Wendle Ford jumped on board immediately, agreeing to clear the necessary space.

The majority of artists will set up their exhibits on the north side of the car lot; a few will set up inside.

Artists DJ Moon and Sam White will be painting live, throughout the event, inside the antique car showroom at Wendle Ford.

Other artists participating include Walters, Nickola Hubiak, Ali James, Betty Gassert, Daniel Martin, Ginny Brennan, Lynne Morris, Dan Cronyn, Dominik Niccals, Karen Liere, Beth Heart, T. Kurtz, Rose Lodahl, Renee Raidt, L.R. Montgomery, Pete Canfield, Kessie Love, Irrissa McCallum, Cindy Parker, Leah Jane, Patty Driscoll, Ambrosia Evans-McMahan, P.J. McConnell, Jacquelinne-Arley Salazar-Londono, Sunshine Photos, Jessie Scoggin, Treasures From a Vardo, Ryker Murdock, Midge Cline and Wild Ink-Lillian Rose, with more added as Saturday’s event nears.

Leading up to “Art n Drive,” Carman has continued his longtime daily habit of honoring fellow artists and art supporters on his personal Facebook page.

“I’m up to 450 artists,” he said. In the beginning, he would honor local artist friends as they moved to and from Spokane. “Now I’m honoring artists here and around the country and around the world; they’re all talking to each other. I think everybody at the show has been honored on my page, but I mean, I still have about a thousand more to go. I can’t stop.”

“I just want people to support the artists and to remember that we have so much talent in our city, so much up-and-coming talent,” Carman said.