Photo credit: Dean Davis
1.
KAREN MOBLEY
SPOKANE ARTS
PROGRAM CONTRACTOR
— PUBLIC ART —
Karen serves as a Program
Contractor for Spokane Arts. She
served as Arts Director for the City
of Spokane from 1997-2012. She
holds an MFA from the University
of Oklahoma and a BFA with Honor
from the University of Wyoming.
www.spokanearts.org
[email protected],
509-499-0784
62
ART CHOWDER MAGAZINE
Opening Act
PUBLIC ART BRIEFING:
W
hen you are out and about in Spokane, you will see art in most community
facilities and parks which greet tourists and the public. Stop by these locations to
see newly installed artwork and watch for additional works in progress.
At the First Interstate Center for the Arts at 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. in
Spokane, Opening Act was created by 2Simmons, the artists Bill and Karma
Simmons, as part of the renovation of the facility (previously known as the INB
Performing Arts Center or Spokane Opera House). This large overhead work was
created for the lobby and can be seen through the windows from the sidewalk
outside the building. According to 2Simmons, “The elegant figures suspended
from the hands are inspired by the performers that you see on the stage. The
three hands represent the people behind the curtain pulling the strings — the
stagehands, the costume and makeup artists, director, promoter, ushers, sound and
lighting, etc.” The sculpture is made from aluminum rod, aluminum plate and
includes lighting which showcases the work at night.