Island Tidbits: First Friday Art Walk, Meet Artist Francene Levinson, City Launches New Publication, Beach Monitoring

Kevin Dwyer | Posted on June 5, 2024 |

Don’t Miss First Friday Art Walk June 7, Downtown Winslow

This popular event is held along Winslow Way and surrounding area, on the First Friday of every month, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Spend an evening experiencing all that downtown Bainbridge has to offer. Many galleries, shops and businesses will be participating this month showcasing the art of our talented creative community. Afterwards, stop by one of our many restaurants for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, or dinner.

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Enjoy an evening with a stroll through downtown visiting your favorite businesses and restaurants, shopping for gifts or items for yourself and yo.ur home. The walk begins on Winslow Way (near the ferry terminal).

A number of galleries – Jeffery Moose, Bainbridge Arts & Crafts, and the Bainbridge Island Art Musuem, along with businesses such as Fletcher Bay Winery provide, food beverages and music. Other businesses include Furnish Bainbridge, Coldwell Banker Bain, Hidden Gem, Sotheby’s, the Bainbridge History Museum and the Bainbridge Public Library.

You’re more than likely than not to run into a neighbor or someone you know going in and out of one of these businesses.

June is busting out all over … with art!

Celebrate the month with our June artist, Francene Levinson, opening her exhibit titled “Paper, Plastic and Pixels,” on First Friday, June 7, 5-7 p.m. in the library meeting room.

Here is the artist’s description of her work, according to Art Curator Linda Meier: ” As an artistic individual, I continually find it satisfying to create color, form, and composition with nontraditional art materials such as: pixels, paper, and plastic. Our environment, politics, and human experience are important sources of inspiration for my art. Now, as a ‘Techspressionist’ artist, I use my laptop and printer as my art studio. This technology allows me to express my inspired thoughts and emotions in the moment.

“Since I enjoy creative challenges, multi-modular paper sculpture evolved naturally from my previous skills as a stone sculptor. I find that paper has great strength in multi-modular numbers and an architectural beauty that deserves to be explored and shared. Because I care about our environment, I have created sculptures with transformed recycled materials such as cardboard boxes, plastic food containers, plastic bags, and hot glue. I thoroughly enjoy changing pixels, paper, and plastic from mundane to the magnificent.”

“You can view Francene’s work all month during regular library hours (unless a program happening). Some pieces will be exhibited the evening of First Friday only,” adds Meier. A portion of sales is donated to the library.

City Creates New Communication Tool – City Connects

Recently islanders received by mail a new and restyled COBI Connects. COBI Connects was the name of a print newsletter sent to every household on Bainbridge Island three or four times per year. It included information, news and interesting facts. “It has always been well received and appreciated by the community, but improvements could be made,” says City Manager Blair King. “The appearance was stale and had become dated.”

Viola! COBI Connects has been renamed City Connects. “When people receive their new City Connects, they will see a new print style and color palette,” King explains. Indeed, City Connects has a new style of graphics and a more visually appealing layout. The recent newsletter includes sharp articles and crisp information. King adds. City Connects will include articles about raising climate resilient trees, preparing for tsunamis, and exciting news, such as the Police and Courts move into the new Ted Spearman Justice Center. “I think the community is going to like the new City Connects,” says King, crediting Shannon Hays, the City’s Communications Coordinator, for adapting the new look.

Continues King, “change is a risky proposition. It is easy to settle into a comfort zone. Change pushes organizations out of their comfort zone and involves the risk of failure. Most successful organizations encourage some level of risk taking. Textbooks explain risk taking encourages innovation and leads to a better and more productive organization.”

“I believe the community will really appreciate the new City Connects, and as an organization, the City will continue to look to improve and encourage innovation.”

Summer Water Monitoring Taking Place at Kitsap Area Beaches

The Kitsap Public Health District’s Water Pollution Identification & Correction (PIC) team monitors popular swimming destinations such as Fay Bainbridge and Pritchard Park to keep your family healthy all summer long. When there are high levels of contaminants present, they issue advisories or warnings to let the public know to stay out of the water. That’s why you’re encouraged to sign up for email or text alerts and to watch for warning signs posted at local beaches.