Art Chowder September | October Issue No. 29 | Page 58

REGIONAL REPORT SPOKANE VALLEY ARTS COUNCIL Two of his works have been documented on video (see https://youtu. be/lsU647xOMUg and https://youtu. be/OzAFILwcXlM) and have had viral success across multiple online platforms. One of these works, Aura, received the prestigious Grande Pinnacle Award, presented in Verona, Italy in 2019. Joey has a standing invitation to intern at the acclaimed Massimo Galleni Scultore studio in Pietrasanta, Italy, but with the demands of business locally, has yet to find time to commit to such an opportunity. In the meantime, Joey’s company has invested in significant multi-axis block-working machinery to compete with the most advanced firms in the world. The synergy of this technology combined with Joey’s sculpting abilities will be displayed together in an ambitious new artwork in Italian Carrara and Grigio Carnico marble, commissioned by Spokane Valley Arts Council, to be unveiled late 2021. Spokane Valley Arts Council (SVAC) is a non-profit organization that awards art scholarships, donates public art, and promotes art throughout the Spokane Valley. Many donated art pieces are on view in different areas of Spokane Valley. A major source of funds comes from the annual art auction held on the second Saturday in October at CenterPlace Regional Events Center. This year’s event, like many others, has been cancelled due to concerns about COVID-19. Next year’s event will take place on October 9, 2021. If this sounds like an organization you would like to support, your participation is encouraged. Visit the SVAC website at http://www.spokanevalleyarts. org for more information.