Molly Walsh
Writer, Reporter, Photographer
Freelance multimedia reporter with a versatile skill set of writing and photographing for both digital and print-based publications.
Thurston Talk
After Passage of New State Law, the City of Lacey Is Planning for the Future of Middle Housing
As the City of Lacey (City) works to support housing options that meet the needs of the community, Lacey residents may also expect to see more middle housing units available in the coming years. After the passage of HB 1110 through the state legislature in 2023, the City is setting out to follow guidelines within the statute that mandate cities like Lacey create a comprehensive plan that supports growth of middle housing.
Middle Housing in Lacey: An Option To Address the Housing Shortage
Jenn...
Thurston Talk
Remembering Thurston County’s ‘Mystical and Magical’ Music of the Delphi
Home to its own landscapes, cultural heritage, myths and legends, the Delphi region in Thurston County also holds claim to its own subset of music. Local musician Fred Doughty grew up immersed in Delphi music, with his uncle, Stanley “Freckles” Brown, a pioneering figure in the Delphi music community.
Doughty remembers the little details of Delphi music and community get-togethers that were often at Brown’s home when growing up. Chocolate cake and coffee on the woodstove. Brown’s wife, Marie,...
olyarts.org
Enjoy Music and Literature Across the Decades with Three Concerts From SPSCC
by Molly Walsh
This March, the Music Department at South Puget Sound Community College will be hosting three concerts that traverse time and genre, showcasing elements of classic poetry, grand overtures and big band sounds through the decades. All three performances will take place at the Kenneth J. Minnaert Center for the Arts Main Stage, beginning with “Poetry in Motion” from the SPSCC Choirs on March 15, “Beauty & Passion” from the Symphony Orchestra on March 16 and “Winter Jazz” from the ...
olyarts.org
Movements in Time: Art by Maureen Bridget Murphy at Schwartz’s Bakery
Artist Maureen Bridget Murphy showcases her journey of painting and printmaking through the exhibition, Movements in Time: Art by Maureen Bridget Murphy at Schwartz’s Bakery in Olympia. On display is a selection of pieces curated by Murphy, including acrylic abstract paintings, collage and monoprints.
Murphy said she has been creating for as long as she can remember, experimenting with almost every medium along the way. Since moving to Olympia sixteen years ago, Murphy has been able to comple...
olyarts.org
Getting Random: Selected Works by Jennifer West — The Evergreen State College’s Gallery Photoland
by Molly Walsh
Getting Random: Selected Works by Jennifer West includes physical and digitized artwork that spans almost two decades of West’s artistic career, from 2005 to 2023. This includes recordings of live performance pieces, film enlargements, digitized films and a catalog of zines created by West.
The work of artist Jennifer West, a graduate of The Evergreen State College, class of 1990, often extends beyond the bounds of genre, combining elements of fine art, performance and media. T...
olyarts.org
Sitting Down with Three Poets Featured in Mud Flat Verse (an anthology)
From the low tides of Mud Bay in the Pacific Northwest to the lush greenery of Mississippi and beyond, the works of 19 poets are joined through print in Mud Flat Verse (an anthology). The anthology is published by Olympia publisher Mud Flat Press, and is a follow-up companion to the short story anthology, Mud Flat Shorts (mostly fiction) published in 2022. Mud Flat Verse contains 81 pieces that span the human experience.
Within the anthology, there are poems that follow traditional form, some...
olyarts.org
In the Gutter at Olympia Little Theater
"In the Gutter" at Olympia Little Theatre is set to charm the audience with laughs, mayhem and elements of classic film noir.
olyarts.org
Black Art and Black Artists Exhibition at The Gallery at Tacoma Community College
Black Art & Black Artists Exhibition - featuring 14 artists from our region, the exhibition showcases works across mediums, exploring themes like historical education, healing and representation. It explores themes of Black culture, identity and society. At Tacoma Community College's gallery through March 17, 2023.
by Molly Walsh
Thurston Talk
The Oly Trail Runners Had a Successful Run at the 2023 Cascade Crest 100
The Cascade Crest 100 gathers dozens of trail running enthusiasts from the Pacific Northwest and beyond to the Cascade Mountain Range each summer. And in the over two decades since the race’s inception, the Cascade Crest 100 has developed a reputation in the trail running community for its shifting mountain landscapes and challenging terrain. This year, all nine members of the Oly Trail Runners who participated in this year’s Cascade Crest 100 completed the race.
Changes Made The 2023 Cascade...
olyarts.org
A Closer Look at Some of the Olympia Nonprofits Participating in Spring Arts Walk
Through participation in the spring Arts Walk, many Olympia nonprofits are opening their doors for attendees to explore unique exhibitions, displays and interactive activities.
olyarts.org
A Weaver’s Voice at the SPSCC Leonor R. Fuller Gallery
“A Weaver’s Voice,” an exhibition of Native American art within the Leonor R. Fuller Gallery at South Puget Sound Community College is a celebration of wool weaving within Coast Salish communities. Through the art of weaving, fibers are intertwined and unique patterns begin to form on the loom. A...
olyarts.org
The Washington Center Celebrates a New Interior and Equipment After a Multi-Phase Renovation Project
The interior of the Washington Center for Performing Arts has a new look. With the help of community support, an extensive theater renovation project is now complete. In addition to cosmetic upgrades to the lobby, main staircase and other community spaces, the Washington Center was also able to increase seating capacity and replace decades-old stage equipment over the course of the renovation.
Jil...
olyarts.org
Review: Jerome Bixby’s “The Man from Earth” Tackles Life, Love and Philosophy at Olympia Little Theatre
Science fiction writer Jerome Bixby’s "The Man from Earth" explores the nature of life, culture, faith, philosophy, and human history through the lens of John Oldman, who has lived countless lifetimes, ten years at a time. Olympia Little Theatre’s production of “The Man from Earth” was originally penned as a screenplay by Bixby.
Thurston Talk
Take a Day Trip and Explore Wildlife at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge
Home to many species of bird, mammal, reptile and other wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge is open to the public for activities like nature walks, bird watching and educational opportunities. Because of its central location in the South Sound region, the refuge is an ideal day trip destination for out-of-town visitors and local residents.
olyarts.org
A Proposition to Aid Olympia’s Art and Nonprofit Community
Olympia’s art and nonprofit communities are banding together in support of a new ballot measure that could have a profound effect on art, culture, science and heritage programming within the city. If voted into law, Proposition 1 would increase sales taxes within the City of Olympia by a tenth of a percent to fund a “Cultural Access Program.” Proceeds would directly benefit Olympia’s many art and nonprofit organizations. If it passes, the community could see millions of dollars in increased funding for theaters, museums, art installations, science centers and other community-oriented nonprofit