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To my village

Thank You illustration by Chandler O'Leary

I’m a little late to the party, because I was out of town when the “Best of Tacoma” issue of the Weekly Volcano came out. I finally managed to pick one up, and was shocked to find my name inside!

Best of Tacoma 2014

So I whipped up this little village illustration in tribute to my village—and the people in it. Tomorrow is my sixth anniversary of living here in T-town, so being picked by you folks has even more meaning for me. I’m so glad to call Tacoma and the Northwest home—thank you for adopting me, as well.

Detail of village illustration by Chandler O'Leary

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Ink This!

"Ink This" exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum

One exhibit might be ending this week, but another is just getting started. On Tuesday night I went to the opening for Ink This!, a new exhibit of contemporary Northwest print arts at the Tacoma Art Museum.

"Ink This" exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum

The place was completely packed—both in the lecture space and in the common areas.

"Ink This" exhibit at the Tacoma Art Museum

I spent so much time catching up with friends and colleagues from all over the region (which is the best part about this show!) that I barely made it upstairs to see the artwork itself.

"Local Conditions" artist book by Chandler O'Leary at the Tacoma Art Museum

And then when I got there, I had a pleasant surprise: my piece in the show is prominently displayed, right by the entrance.

"Local Conditions" artist book by Chandler O'Leary at the Tacoma Art Museum

It’s such an honor to have my book in a room with so many incredible prints, sculptures, artist books and other work by the people I admire the most.

"Local Conditions" artist book by Chandler O'Leary at the Tacoma Art Museum

Most of all, I can’t tell you how gratifying it was to see so many people come up and spend time with my book. That’s the highest compliment anyone could ever pay me.

Many, many thanks to the Tacoma Art Museum for putting this show together; to Margaret Bullock for her amazing work curating the exhibit; to Ann and Peter Darling who lent the book from their private collection for the exhibit; to everyone who has seen the show so far; to the artists themselves; and to the lovely man monitoring the gallery that night, who so kindly gave me permission to take some hip shots with my phone camera. (I couldn’t hide how excited I was to have my work in a museum for the first time—thanks for not laughing at my dorkiness!)

Ink This! will be on display through November 9 October 19 (update: show is closing early to accommodate the opening of a new museum wing), at the Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma.

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A thank-you note

"Best of Tacoma" sketch by Chandler O'Leary

(Since they tell me a picture’s worth a bucket of words…)

Thank you, everyone!

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Anniversary

Old City Hall photo by Chandler O'Leary

My goodness, how time flies.

As of this moment, I’ve been a Tacoman for exactly two years. Twenty-four months. Seven hundred thirty days. Seventeen thousand five hundred twenty hours.

And counting.

I’m hoping for several million more, because I’ve loved every one—thanks to you T-town folks. Guys, you’re awesome. And generous, to boot—I think I had a stroke or something when I picked up my copy of this week’s Weekly Volcano and found my name printed next to “Best Visual Artist.” Holy moley. Thank you for the vote of confidence—you’re inspiring me to git to work!

Mt. Rainier photo by Chandler O'Leary

Speaking of work, which I’m not quite ready to show you yet, evidence of the past two years has been on the front burner lately. Since I first came up with the concept for my Mt. Rainier book, I’ve covered a lot of miles in our fair state. And above all else, what I love about the Pacific Northwest are the contrasts. From oceans to mountains, rain forests to deserts, farm fields to bustling cities—it’s hard sometimes to remember that all of this is close to home.

So before I get back to a little picture-drawin’ next week, I’ve compiled a smattering of photos taken since my last anniversary post to illustrate what I’m talking about.

Washington wind farm photo by Chandler O'LearyWashington wheat photo by Chandler O'LearyHurricane Ridge photo by Chandler O'LearyDungeness Spit photo by Chandler O'LearyPort Townsend photo by Chandler O'LearySpace Needle photo by Chandler O'LearyHoh Rainforest photo by Chandler O'LearyYakima Canyon photo by Chandler O'LearyVashon Island ferry photo by Chandler O'LearyBainbridge Island ferry photo by Chandler O'Leary

In two years I’ve amassed nearly thirty thousand digital photos of the Northwest—and that’s just of the relatively small hunk of territory I’ve managed to cover in that time.

Here’s to the next thirty thousand photos, and the next seventeen thousand five hundred twenty hours—I wonder what they’ll bring.