A University of Idaho graduate student is bringing attention to the local expanse of artists on the Palouse with a three-hour event 6 p.m. Saturday at One World Cafe.
The show — called ‘Scow Salon — is free to the public, showcasing more than 30 artists, including around 10 UI students.
Various forms of art, including sculptures, embroidery, paintings, spoken-word poetry, short stories and live music, will be found at Saturday’s event, said Justin Pickard, organizer of ‘Scow Salon.
Artists will bring original works, as well as merchandise to sell. All sales will go directly to the artists.
Pickard said the show takes after an old Paris salon, which was meant to showcase different up-and-coming artists working in a variety of mediums. Salons highlighted a group of artists, who created and helped each other.
Pickard is a graduate student studying plant sciences, but he learned to draw three or four years ago, and in the search of an artist peer group, began what he calls “art night.”
Pickard said he is in contact with 80 interchanging community artists who attend art night, which he hosts each week.
“It blows my mind how many creative people I have access to with my art group,” Pickard said. “There are 80 people in Moscow who regularly make things.”
It is from this group Pickard was able to find amateur artists looking to show their work — many for the first time.
Adam Lane, emcee and organizer of the music and spoken word portion of the event, said he is looking forward to the exposure ‘Scow Salon will give artists who are shy about publicizing their work or are unsure how it will be received.
“I hope it instills in the artists that their work is worthy,” Lane said.
Pickard said he hopes artists who might not have had the opportunity to show their work before can discover if they enjoy sharing their art.
“If people are not in art school, no one is going to tell them how to have an art show,” Pickard said.
Lane said he hopes the show encourages people to become more involved in making art.
Moscow is known as the heart of the arts, Lane said, but often students aren’t aware of the talent among them.
He said attending ‘Scow Salon is a good way to get plugged into the local art scene.
Pickard and Lane said they both hope the show becomes an annual event.
The ultimate goal for Pickard is to create something that is self-sufficient and brings the community together, he said.
Most people are exposed to either famous or upper-amateur artists, Pickard said, but it’s important to appreciate community artists.
He said he has previously shown his artwork and wanted to make that same opportunity accessible to others.
“Why don’t I just use that power to help other people?” Pickard said, spurring the event.
Jordan Willson can be reached at [email protected]